Business Plan Help

Business planning help and funding in Camden & Islington

The Innovation Central website is worth a visit if the business plan you're writing is for a business that will be based in the London boroughs of Camden and Islington. The site lists a myriad of events that run across the area including; Business Plan Workshops, Business Start-Up courses and Networking events.

They also award bursaries and you can apply for an award of up to £3,500 towards the cost of developing and implementing your business plan.

Free Signposting Service for Businesses in Wales

Business Eye is a free, impartial information and signposting service for businesses in Wales. Whether you are an existing business, sole trader or simply researching a business plan, Business Eye can help you to find guides, events, research and statistics on key topics such as; Managing a Business, IT & e-Commerce and Finance & Tax and Sales & Marketing. Visit the Starting Up section of their website for factsheets, events and links on starting a business and writing a business plan.

Business Planning Advice from Business Link Staffordshire

If your business plan is for a new business in Staffordshire – the Starting Up section of the Business Link Staffordshire website is worth a visit. There’s a free guide giving you advice on why you need to prepare and how to write a business plan. Additional guides on ‘Researching your Market’ and ‘Financing your Business’ will also help you to prepare and develop your business plan.

Registering a Trademark, Copyright and Patent for Your Business Plan

If your business plan includes a trademark, patent or copyright a visit to the Patent Office website may be in order. The site gives you information on the various protections available to you, explains the procedures and gives you access to the forms required for you to file for a trademark, patent and copyright.

Wired Sussex

Wired Sussex is the business development and networking agency for companies operating within the digital, media and technology sectors in Sussex. Their site gives some concise advice on Key Elements for Your Executive Summary and Business Plan including a draft structure for a business plan and what each section of the plan should cover. If the business you’re planning fits into their remit they may be able to provide further help for your business to grow.

Business Plan Tips from Connect Yorkshire

Connect Yorkshire – a body that aims to unlock the full potential of the wealth of technology business in the Yorkshire and Humber region – may be able to help you if your business fits their remit. To increase your business plan’s chance of success they give you 5 Tips for Getting Your Business Plan Noticed on their website. The tips are written by a venture capitalist and provide an interesting insight into what they look for in a typical business plan.

Support for Innovative Businesses

NESTA – The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts – can provide funding and support for innovative businesses. They aim to invest in talented people and ground-breaking ideas. If you think you qualify you’ll need to write a business plan to apply for support. To help you develop your plan their site gives you a guide to Preparing a Business Plan.

Assistance for Businesses in South-West Wales

The University of Wales Swansea-run Knowledge Exploitation Centre (KEC) can provide local entrepreneurs with assistance for start-up costs, specialised business mentoring and business planning workshops. Your application requires a business plan and their site gives a thorough guide to what a business plan should include.

Business Plan Help from Business Link Wessex

If you’re based in Wessex and need help to develop your business plan, Business Link Wessex may be able to help. Their website provides a range of information (registration needed) on developing and writing a business plan. The site also lists local seminars, events and workshops to support local businesses.

Writing a Business Plan in Cornwall?

If the business you are writing your business plan for is based in Cornwall a visit to the Enterprise Edge website will be worthwhile. The site is backed by Business Link, Cornwall Enterprise and a host of other bodies and provides a range of useful services.

Business Plan Assistance in Wales

Run by the Welsh Development Agency, the becauseyoucan.com website provides some guidance on how to write a business plan. There are useful tips on what you should include and how to structure a business plan but the business plan template they provide is very poor so don't bother downloading it.

Business Plan Advice from Ross & Cromarty Enterprise

Ross & Cromarty Enterprise (RACE) aims to help and encourage people who want to start their own business in the area. Their Into Business Programme gives you a one-to-one meeting with a business adviser and a three-day Business Planning Course that aims to give you the basic marketing and financial skills to develop and write a business plan.

East Midlands Business Innovation Centre

If your business plan is for a business based in the East Midlands have a look at the Pronovus website. Pronovus is the East Midlands Business Innovation Centre. This not-for-profit organisation aims to 'help your innovative ideas achieve their commercial potential'.

Lincolnshire & Rutland Business Link

Lincolnshire & Rutland Business Link provides advice on writing your business plan. You’ll find useful help on marketing, pricing, budgeting and financing for a business plan. The site also provides a free downloadable business plan template and cashflow and profit & loss forecast tool for which you’ll have to register.

Business Link for Suffolk

Business Link for Suffolk aims to offer ‘real business help from real business people’. You can find more help and assistance on their website which you’ll have to register to use. Business Link for Suffolk runs regular business planning events.

Business Link for London

Business Link for London provides 10 Essential Tips on Writing a Business Plan. They believe that a well-constructed plan can make a huge difference when it comes to raising finance or expanding your business. Follow their ten steps and write a business plan that should help you to raise funding and expand your business. You can also download a free factsheet on writing a business plan.

Support for London Small Businesses

Centa Business Services is a not for profit business support organisation with over 20 years' experience in providing impartial advice and hands on support to small businesses. Their website has some useful advice on preparing your business plan. They can also help London-based businesses on an array of issues from securing finance, to mentoring, training, and practical help when setting up and running businesses.

Business Gateway Planning Advice

The Business Gateway website has a good range of advice on business plans ranging from the market research through to the actual writing of the business plan. There is even a comprehensive 9-section Online Business Plan Workbook that guides you, step-by-step, through the whole business planning process. This does require a short registration process but is worth it.