20 Reasons to Write a Business Plan

By Tim Berry

A list of 20 good reasons for business planning in all businesses, not just startups. Strategy, tactics, cash flow, and lots more Read More »

What Do Business Plan Financials Look Like

By Tim Berry

People often ask: What do business plan financials look like? You can get away with a sales forecast, spending budget, and cash flow plan. That’s enough for actually running your startup. It’s the essential numbers in a lean business plan. If you want to do it right you take it further and present projected (also... Read More »

Are There Statistics on Inaccurate Forecasts?

By Tim Berry

How often do forecasts fail? How many business forecasts are accurate? Are there statistics on inaccurate forecasts? It’s a good question. It relates nicely to my view that all business plans are wrong, with the addendum, but vital. While I almost never host guest posts on this blog – opinions here are mine – but... Read More »

Planning Principle: It’s Business Planning, Not Accounting

By Tim Berry

It’s business planning not accounting. Your projections, although they look like accounting statements, are just projections. They are always going to be off one way or another, and their purpose isn’t guessing the future exactly right, but rather setting down expectations and connecting the links between spending and revenue. Then when you do your monthly... Read More »

Planning Principle: Good Business Planning Empowers Accountability

By Tim Berry

It’s easier to be friends with your coworkers than to manage them well. Every small-business owner suffers the problem of management and accountability. Good business planning empowers accountability. Good business planning sets clear expectations and then follows up on results. It compares results with expectations. People on a team are held accountable only if management... Read More »

Planning Principles: Business Plan in Constant Change

By Tim Berry

One of the strongest and most pervasive myths about planning is dead wrong: planning doesn’t reduce flexibility. It builds flexibility. Lean business planning manages change. It is not threatened by change. This is the third of my five main principles of business planning. The first was do only what you’ll use. The second is that... Read More »

Planning Principle: Continuous Process, Not Just a Plan

By Tim Berry

Don’t think of planning as just a plan that you do once. Planning done right is a process of continuous improvement. Keep your business plan always fresh and current. Never finish a business plan, heave a sigh of relief, and congratulate yourself that you’ll never have to do that again. Don’t use it once and... Read More »

True Story: My Worst-Ever Business Plan Consulting Engagement

By Tim Berry

In more than 30 years with business planning, my worst-ever business plan consulting engagement was for a startup that should have been funded but wasn’t. It was a good business plan. But the business plan process became the fatal flaw. A good plan, excellent team, good startup I learned this lesson while sitting in a series of meetings,... Read More »