What is an example of a Good Business Plan?
If you call yourself a planner and love a good to-do list, you probably know that using a system improves efficiency and productivity. But it does more than that! Planning is thinking about the future, and it takes us out of the every day grind as we start to imagine what could be possible, different, or better. It also allows us to revisit why we started the dream of business ownership in the first place.
You are likely here because you are wondering how to write a business plan that can help you reach your growth goals for your small business. While there are examples of a good business plan out there, many are filled with jargon and buzzwords that fail to provide a clear, actionable path forward. I understand how frustrating it is to feel stuck when you’re trying to build a strong business based on your vision.
Below, I’ll share my personal example of a good business plan. Don’t worry, it’s not a complicated, 150-page document! Instead, it’s a practical approach that helps me stay focused on achieving my goals for 2025.
Focus on the Big Picture
As 2025 looms, I am focusing on the big picture using The Guided Small Business Planner. This tool helps me answer key questions: What do I want this year? Where do I need help? Who are my ideal customers in 2025? What marketing efforts will drive growth? What are my sales goals?
Here’s how I’ve used the planner to create an example of a good business plan for my own goals:
Me as the Business Owner (Chapter 1)
As I think about my sales goals, I have to also think about what that means for me as an individual. What do I want my day-to-day to look like in 2025? Do my sales goals align with my personal goals? How do I need to shift or move areas that could be challenging for me to reach both my personal and professional goals?
I’m not just a business owner and I don’t want to only focus on my business. I want both/and. Can I have my cake and eat it, too? Absolutely! But, I had to be realistic and honest with myself to decide what stays and what goes in 2025.
Thinking Ahead
One major shift I’ve implemented is planning further in advance. For several of the things that I do, it is essential that I plan further out, and that means that I’m looking at 90 days out for many of my in-person events. This is especially true for my speaking engagements. Up until this point, many of my speaking engagements have been scheduled around 30 to 60 days out, but that has proven to be a challenge for a myriad of reasons. By extending my planning window, I am hopeful that this will improve my workflow and productivity.
My Ideal Customers (Chapter 2)
I wrote The Guided Small Business Planner for business founders who find themselves asking, “How do I grow my business in a sustainable way?” When I was coaching business owners, I got the same questions every day about creating an effective marketing plan, how to price their products or services to pay themselves, and how to build a profitable business. My ideal customers are people who understand the value of planning before action–not necessarily because it’s fun, but because it allows them to work forward intentionally.
I don’t always enjoy the process of planning but it feels so much better than the chaos I feel when I fly by the seat of my pants. My customers are business owners who want to grow with intention and not spend a lot of time guessing how to do something effectively. They want a trusted guide to walk them through the process and they are focused on building a business for the long-term–one that will last.
My Marketing Plan (Chapter 8)
When I practiced individual business coaching, I often heard, “I'm just not good at marketing,” and that really resonates with me. Marketing is a skill and a talent. It requires grittiness and the ability to ask for help.
I’ve been in the entrepreneurial world since 2007 and have found that marketing continues to be one of the most important and most challenging parts of building many businesses–especially in the early stages of growth. That’s why I am working with a marketing firm to expand my own marketing efforts in 2025. I’m also asking for help from my informal advisory board, made up of friends and professional acquaintances who want to see my business grow and believe in The Guided Small Business Planner as a tool that helps business owners grow and scale.
One of my favorite parts about The Guided Small Business Planner is the marketing section, which allows business owners to name and map their marketing touchpoints in a way that intentionally connects with their ideal customer(s).
Some of my marketing touchpoints are:
- Speaking engagements to small business owners
- Tabling at events where entrepreneurs are present
- Facilitating workshops for those who support entrepreneurs
- Teaching on social media
- Educational blog posts
- Peer referrals
Using these touchpoints, I’ve created a customer journey map (found on page 159 of the planner) and continually refine it based on customer feedback.
Breaking Down the Plan into Daily Actions
After outlining my big-picture goals, I break them down into smaller tasks. I personally need more than one method to track these activities, so I use a paper calendar, a paper to-do list, a software project planner, and my trusty digital calendar reminders. While it may seem like overkill, having multiple systems helps me balance my long-term vision with the day-to-day things without feeling overwhelmed.
My Example of a Good Business Plan
That’s my business plan for 2025! It’s not super fancy and it’s not perfect, but it’s doable and aligns with my business growth goals for 2025.
Remember, a good business plan is your roadmap from where you are at to where you want to be. It doesn’t have to follow a one-size-fits-all format, and it can–and should–be something that you are using regularly to guide your process. And The Guided Small Business Planner was designed to be just that. A tool for business owners who want to have a real-time reference for what to do next. What’s your plan for the future? Let’s build it together!
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About Flourish In Growth
We help business owners navigate the ups and downs of building the business they want. Our rules are: Clear, simple, no-fluff, and actionable! Stop doubting yourself. Meet your small business map — The Guided Small Business Planner™. This is a workbook guide with step-by-step instructions for building a strong business foundation. It's your go-to instruction manual with clear instructions for creating a sustainable business. It's not a calendar. It's a guided workbook.
