| Step 1) Have a VISION for your Small Business. What | | | | stores is going to bring in $10,000 in revenue in the |
| exactly do you want to do? What is the specific niche | | | | month of December for example. Entrepreneurialism is |
| or demographic do you want to go after? The vision | | | | for realists--not idealists. That brings us to step 3. |
| should be focused, clear, concise, and very specific. | | | | Step 3) Detail your MONTHLY EXPENSES. What will |
| Without a clear vision for your small business, you'll be | | | | your expenses be in January? in February? in all |
| shooting hither and thither. You need to spend a good | | | | subsequent months of the year? These expenses |
| deal of time and deep thought creating a clear vision | | | | needs to be as detailed and as accurate as possible. |
| for your small business. Large businesses--and if you | | | | Set up different categories and subcategories for |
| become a large business--have the luxury of | | | | each expense. That brings us to step 4. |
| marketing themselves to many demographics. Think of | | | | Step 4) Be ACCOUNTABLE to your business plan for |
| how many demographics Coca Cola markets to. You, | | | | the whole year, especially to your monthly and yearly |
| on the other hand, as a small business owner, need to | | | | revenue as well as your expenses. Modifying your |
| go after one or two very specific niches in order to be | | | | marketing strategy is understandable if it's not hitting |
| successful. That brings us to step 2. | | | | your goals after 3 months; however, your yearly |
| Step 2) Create MONTHLY FINANCIAL OBJECTIVES. | | | | financial goals need to remain consistent. We're in small |
| How much money do you need to make in January? | | | | business to provide a good service and make a good |
| in February? In all subsequent months of the year in | | | | living so, by all means, don't sacrifice one for the other. |
| order to make your investment worth your while? | | | | I'm a professional business book how to writer. I meet |
| These need to be realistic financial objectives based | | | | with a lot of professionals in different industries to |
| upon marketing objectives. Have a goal with each | | | | research and write the how to books. One thing |
| marketing strategy you undertake and track your | | | | remains the same: all owners advise writing and |
| goals to see if they come to fruition. If not, modify the | | | | keeping to business plans. Business plans keep you |
| means of achieving the goals. Don't be a pie-in-the-sky | | | | grounded and accountable, enough said. |
| dreamer who thinks that their 15 flyers in local grocery | | | | |