Are you struggling with how to write a business plan? Last week, during a strategy session, my client Jessica burst into tears at the mere mention of it. “I’ve downloaded twelve templates,” she told me, “and I still don’t know where to start!”
I get it. When I was first learning how to write a business plan, it felt like trying to learn a foreign language while blindfolded. Everyone kept telling me it was essential, but nobody explained it in a way that made sense for real women running real businesses. That’s why I’m so passionate about teaching others how to write a business plan that actually works. Today, I’m going to share what I wish someone had told me – no jargon, no stuffy corporate speak, just real talk about creating a roadmap for your business success.
What’s in a Business Plan?
Before we dive deep, let me share the key sections you’ll need in your business plan:
- Executive Summary – Your business story and big-picture vision
- Market Analysis – Understanding your industry and ideal clients
- Products and Services – Your unique solutions and offerings
- Marketing Strategy – How you’ll reach and serve your people
- Operations Plan – The day-to-day of running your business
- Financial Projections – Your numbers and growth plans
- Implementation Timeline – Making it all happen
Don’t let this list overwhelm you! I will break down each section in a way that makes sense for real women running real businesses. Remember, your business plan should work for you and not the other way around.
Now, let’s dive into how to write a business plan that truly reflects you and your vision.
Let’s Start With Your Story
You know what breaks my heart? Watching brilliant women entrepreneurs try to stuff their amazing visions into stuffy, corporate-style business plans. Just last week, I sat with a client (let’s call her Jill) who was completely stuck trying to write her business plan. She kept using words like “synergy” and “market optimization” – language that didn’t sound anything like her.
“Jill,” I said, “tell me why you started this business.” Her eyes lit up as she shared how she’d discovered her passion for helping working moms find balance through simplified meal planning. Now, that was the real story that needed to be in her business plan!
Think of this section as the heart of your business. What problem did you see that needed solving? What moment made you think, “Someone needs to do something about this… and that someone could be me”? This isn’t just fluff – it’s the foundation everything else builds on.
Understanding Your Market (Without Getting Lost in the Data)
Here’s where so many of my clients get stuck when learning how to write a business plan – market analysis. One of my clients, a talented photographer, was ready to throw her laptop out the window trying to find industry statistics. But here’s what I told her: while numbers matter, what matters more is deeply understanding the people you want to serve.
Instead of drowning in data, start by getting crystal clear on your ideal client. Who are they? What keeps them up at night? What have they tried before that didn’t work?
I had another client who runs a wellness coaching business. She was struggling with her business plan until we shifted focus from generic market size data to really understanding her target client’s journey. She realized her ideal clients weren’t just looking for workout plans – they were busy professionals seeking someone who understood their crazy schedules and guilt around self-care. That insight transformed her entire business model.
Your Solutions and Services (The Heart of Your Plan)
When it comes to describing your offerings in your business plan, I want you to think beyond simple lists. Let me tell you about Michelle, who came to me frustrated because she couldn’t figure out how to differentiate her social media management services in her business plan. But when we dug deeper, we discovered she had a unique approach to helping introverted business owners find their authentic voice online. That wasn’t just a service – it was a solution to a real problem.
Take time to explore:
- The specific problems each of your offerings solves
- How you deliver your solutions differently than others
- Why your approach matters to your ideal clients
The Money Talk (Yes, We Need to Have It)
I know this is the part that makes many of us break out in a cold sweat when learning how to write a business plan. But let me share something that changed everything for one of my clients. Rachel was avoiding the financial section of her business plan like it was carrying the plague. When we finally sat down to work on it, she realized she’d been undercharging for years because she hadn’t really understood her numbers.
Start with what you know:
- What are your current expenses?
- What do you need to charge to make this sustainable?
- What does growth look like for you?
Remember, these numbers aren’t set in stone. They’re guideposts to help you make better decisions.
Making Your Marketing Make Sense
Let’s talk about the marketing section of your business plan. This is where I see so many women get caught up in what they think they “should” do. Take my client Anna, for instance. She was convinced she needed to be on every social media platform and write three blog posts a week because that’s what her competitors were doing. But when we sat down to write her business plan, we discovered her ideal clients – busy executive women – were really only active on LinkedIn and preferred quick video content to long-form blogs.
This is why I love helping clients figure out how to write a business plan that’s real, not aspirational. Your marketing plan should reflect where your people actually are and how they want to connect with you. It’s not about doing all the things – it’s about doing the right things.
The Team Behind the Dream
Even if you’re a one-woman show right now (and many of us start that way!), your business plan needs to address how you’ll handle growth. I remember working with Elena, who was trying to do everything herself – from client work to bookkeeping to social media. When we worked on her business plan, she realized she was spending 60% of her time on tasks that could be delegated for a fraction of what she charged hourly.
Your plan should outline:
- What you’ll keep doing yourself (because it’s in your zone of genius)
- What you’ll eventually delegate (and to whom)
- How you’ll build your support system
Making It Actually Happen (The Implementation Plan)
Here’s something most guides on how to write a business plan won’t tell you: the magic happens in the implementation. One of my most successful clients, Kenna, keeps her business plan in a beautiful leather notebook on her desk. Every Monday morning, she reviews it over coffee. It’s not gathering dust in a drawer – it’s a living document that guides her decisions.
Your implementation plan needs to be realistic. I worked with a client who planned to launch six new programs in her first three months. When we dug into the actual time and energy each launch would require, we created a more sustainable plan that wouldn’t lead to burnout.
Think in terms of seasons:
- What needs to happen right away?
- What can wait until you’ve built some momentum?
- What might change as you grow?
The Money Mindset Piece
Let me share something personal. When I was first learning how to write a business plan, I was terrified of the financial projections. I thought I needed to predict exact numbers three years out. But you know what? Business doesn’t work that way. Instead, focus on understanding your basic numbers and creating flexible goals.
One of my clients, Patricia, transformed her approach to business planning when she started thinking of her financial projections as a story she was writing about her business’s future. Instead of getting stuck on precise numbers, she focused on understanding the relationship between her efforts and her results.
Bringing It All Together
Your business plan isn’t just a document – it’s your roadmap to success. But here’s the thing: the best map in the world won’t help if you never look at it. Set regular dates with your plan. I have a client who calls them her “CEO Days” – once a month, she reviews and adjusts her plan based on what she’s learned.
Taking Action (Your Next Steps)
Ready to write your business plan? Start here:
- Block out dedicated time – this isn’t something to squeeze between client calls
- Begin with your story – it’s the foundation everything else builds on
- Focus on one section at a time – no overwhelm allowed!
I’d love to help you create a plan that works for your business. Join us in the Leading Ladies Facebook group, where we talk about this stuff all the time, or book a discovery call with me. We can take a quick look at your business plan during that call and then figure out how we can work together to dive deeper and set you up for success.
Remember, learning how to write a business plan isn’t about creating a perfect document – it’s about getting clarity on your vision and creating a roadmap to get there. You’ve got this, leading lady!
Join the Leading Lady Community
Ready to embrace a growth mindset? Let’s stay connected:
- Join my Facebook community to connect with other women who are working on their growth mindset
- Follow me on Instagram to see how I implement these strategies in real life
- Tune into the Leading Lady Podcast to hear more about strategies like these and many others that will help you continue to embrace a growth mindset
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