Why Most Business Plans Sit in a Drawer – and How to Make Yours Useful
Let’s be honest – most business plans aren’t really plans. They’re documents written for the bank or a funding application, and then forgotten.
I’ve seen plenty of beautifully formatted plans sitting untouched in bottom drawers. They had charts, mission statements, even cashflow forecasts. But they weren’t helping the business day-to-day.
If you’ve got one of those, or you’ve never made a plan at all, here’s what to do instead.
Write it for you, not someone else
The most useful business plans are the ones written by the owner, for the owner. It doesn’t need fancy language or corporate jargon. It just needs to help you make better decisions.
Make it short, sharp and specific
A business plan doesn’t need to be a 40-page document. It could be a single-page summary with clear answers to questions like:
- What are we trying to achieve this year?
- Who are our best customers, and how do we reach them?
- What’s getting in the way?
- What’s the plan for fixing that?
Update it regularly
Business moves quickly – your plan needs to move with it. I work with clients to review their plan every 3–6 months. That way, it stays relevant and useful instead of gathering dust.
Turn it into action
Once we’ve got the plan sorted, we break it down into tasks and get things moving. That might mean setting up systems, changing the team structure, or making time each week to work on strategy. The plan becomes a working tool, not just a document.
Need a hand?
If you’d like a plan you actually use, I can help. I’m a business consultant based in Timaru, and I work with business owners across South Canterbury to create practical, personalised plans – and then help implement them. Get in touch if you’re ready to move from ‘someday’ to ‘done’.