The 5 minute planning system!

The reason that most people don't plan is, they think it's too complicated, they don't know how, so they don't! Yet look at the statistics of businesses that don't plan, and it's over 80%, and the subsequent failure rates, but also the success associated with those that do, you'd seriously think you'd need to plan; right?

The problem with planning is, it can be complicated, with a lot of information that will never get used. The truth is that at some point in a business's life, you might need a full-blown plan, especially when it comes to financing, and other investment, but for the majority of direction related needs, it can be done in five minutes, because you only focus on 3 core things, (and maybe six0, if you want to cover everything that can help successfully grow a business.

The five minute EzyPlan, identifies the income goal and then works backwards to identify the customer numbers you need. Take it one step further and you know what your marketing needs to do.

A business really needs to know about three things:

1. Customer numbers
2. How much the average customer spends.
3. How often they buy.

Understand those three things, and business work. Understand how to increase the customer numbers through effective marketing and sales, and businesses grow. Then get clear about profitability, and you make money.

If you'd like a copy of the 5 minute EzyPlan, One page Marketing and sales, just click the link below to download. It's easy, and it's 99% of the strategic planning you'll need to keep your business on track. 

Completing the one-page marketing and sales plan.

Once its downloaded, complete the nine boxes. Everything is designed to achieve the numbers you need attract and retain customers.

1. Lead numbers: Sales is a numbers game. How many per week, month, quarter, etc.
2. Conversion. The customers you end up with from the leads.
3. Non converted. The number that don't go ahead.
4. What's the average sale value? (And I know there are different price points, what's the average).
5. Frequency of the sale. How often do they come back?
6. Referrals: How many referrals do you get from each customer?
7. The turnover, per week, month, or year.
8. Now profit. Don't worry about gross and nett, work it out on nett. What's left. (Add your income and drawings back in if needed).
9. And lastly, measure the success by a monthly and yearly number.

Once that's done, print out to A1 (BIG) and pin it to your business and office wall. Focus on it, and keep everything on track daily. Business plans work, but more often that not, then end up in the desk draw, never to be seen again. Try it, it works.