Start Your Consultancy in 28 Days - A Business Plan

It is an obvious fact that if you have no clients orexpect to sell to: who are they, what do they do,
prospects then you have no business! This is whywhere are they?), describe them
many of my newsletter articles get you to think about5. Find them and ask them what they want - tell them
getting the right clients and marketing your consultancyyou are researching their needs, get answers from at
business.least 10 people/businesses
However, getting clients is only one dimension of a6. Design your response to what they want - your
multi-faceted business. Before you go out and startproduct or service
marketing your products and services, you also need7. Identify what support you will need (financial,
to be clear that you have a plan. The plan is thepersonal, coaching, etc.)
foundation of your business. It needs to underpin to8. Locate where you can find this support. If this is not
your whole business.possible, move on regardless.
I realize the idea of a business plan is not appealing to9. Build a list of potential clients, customers, prospects
many people. People are easily tempted to just put it10. Send a strong CV to a couple of agencies that
off. Coming up with plans, targets, and missionrecruit freelancers
statements is just not what many entrepreneurs want11. Set up a website and start driving traffic to it
to think about.12. Refine your website (does not need to be perfect)
But every business start up needs a practical plan thatget it launched!
shows you what you need to do to start promoting,13. Get a sales letter and business cards prepared
marketing and delivering your services and products.14. Get your sales letter printed
This is an article about having a plan to start your15. Learn to write proposals - find samples
business in 28 days. It offers a list of things that you16. Decide your terms of business (e.g. how much you
need to do if you want to start your business in just 4charge, who you will work for, you cancelation policy)
weeks from now. You could treat it as a business plan17. Learn about your competition: who are they, where
- covering the main things that would get your businessare they, what do they do, how much do they
off the ground, or an action plan for 28 weeks. But ifcharge?
you work fast you can have your consultancy up,18. Be clear about your difference to your competition
running and open for business in 28 days. Whether youand offer alternatives
are still employed or are already running your own19. Identify a weakness you need to be trained in - act
business this 28 day plan can either launch you into theand get the solution to it
world of freelance working or help you inject some20. Write one online article and have it directing traffic
serious adrenalin into your business activities. So here itto your website
is. The numbers down the left refer to the day and the21. Create one online product that you could sell on
statement the action you need to take on that day. Inyour website (ebook, podcast, ecourse, CD, etc.)
28 days you will be ready to launch:22. Create one offline product (workshop, seminar)
1. Decide what your big idea is? What are you selling?23. Find a networking event to attend
To whom? In what way? Why? Where?24. Identify 10 more potential clients arrange meetings if
2. Decide your goals and targets (x3) make sure theynecessary
are S.M.A.R.T (Specific, Measurable, Achievable,25. Send out your Sales letters to your prospects
Realistic and Timebound)26. Refine your product or service
3. Who and where is your market? Find them online27. Decide on your customer service philosophy - fall in
and offlinelove with your market not your products or services
4. Profile your target market (the actual people you28.