By the time you have completed your business plan it may already be out-of-date. That’s why, in the rapid-changing world of today, we need to plan for the next step towards our goals without always knowing the full path of getting to the desired destination. This is pretty scary, since we must acknowledge that we will never know for certain exactly how things will pan out, even after completing our business plan. Use this one-page to go beyond traditional ways of planning for your business.

As business owners we are often so busy working in the business that we fail to work on the business. We are chasing the next transaction, dealing with a dissatisfied client, negotiating terms with a provider, or having problems trying to balance the cash flow. Over the years I have learnt that one should put aside enough time to consider the business’ current results and where it is heading. Here are three elements to help you decide where your business is heading.

All businesses strive for success. However, growth needs to be managed. If you don’t have the right structure in place, rapid growth can actually undermine all the good work you’ve been doing, and make your business fall flat. You need a plan. You need infrastructure. Don’t wait until your sales start to soar before you consider how to accommodate your business’ growth.

With employment levels falling, now is as good a time as any to consider the option of starting a business, developing an existing one, taking on a government or private sector contract or embarking on a management buy-out or buy-in. But how does one go about finding finance? Essentially, there are four principal types of financing available to entrepreneurs when they're thinking of starting or expanding a business.

For most business owners, vehicles are an important aspect of their business that ensure it runs smoothly. However, running a business can be stressful and expensive making it harder for your business to purchase a vehicle even though you may need it. But, there are ways that your business can afford a company car. If you are planning on purchasing a business car while saving money then read these helpful tips.

While many small businesses are struggling to keep head above water, others are considering expansion to take advantage of the opportunities that are still out there. If this is you, there are a few things to think about before going this route. There are plenty of ways to expand a business; some take a lot more planning, research and finance than others. Here are some considerations to keep in mind when deciding to expand or not to expand your business.

There is no getting around it: the traditional models of the past have no place in today’s fast-paced business environment. Those careerists at the top who expect to remain in those positions until retirement are deluding themselves. Unless you are prepared to recognise change and take the necessary steps to embrace it, you will very soon find yourself out in the cold. The last thing an employer wants is for staff to leave, so it is important that change is managed properly. Here are some handy pointers for overseeing the reform process.

It is said that business is simple, but it is definitely not easy. This article aims to highlight three ways for you to grow your business: by recruiting new clients; by selling more to existing clients; or by selling to existing clients more often. Read on to find out more about these strategies for effective business growth.

Every business goes through a growth spurt and, whether a multi-national corporation or an entrepreneurial venture, expansion is a tough process to navigate. The real danger for any expanding business is that it does so too quickly or in an uncontrolled way. The trick is therefore to manage the growth process so you reap the benefits in the medium- and long-term. Here are some important things to bear in mind and some pitfalls to avoid so that everything goes smoothly.

As your company expands, there are business assets that you will need. For starters, you might need to purchase an additional vehicle for your business. Having an extra company car can make it easier for your employees to run their business errands without causing delays for anyone else in the business. However, buying a car without financing can leave a dent in your business cash flow. Luckily, with vehicle and asset finance your business should afford a car of your choice. Here are a few helpful tips on financing a business vehicle.

The end of a financial or calendar year implies different things for each of us: it may be your business year-end; your peak season; or you may be getting ready to go on holiday. The reality, however, is that one or more of these scenarios is/are applicable to you, but there remains one important aspect that also demands your attention as business-owner – and that is to put your business plan for the next year in place. Here are a few helpful suggestions, if you're considering business expansion.

Generally, small businesses set out to grow. You want your business to thrive and make a name for itself. Most of all, you want to increase your profitability. So, you build your customer/client base, hire more staff and invest your time and energy to make your business a success. But how do you know it’s time for your business to grow? How can you be sure you’re up for the challenge? Here are some questions to ask yourself before growing your business.

For many South Africans, running a business can be challenging. The first challenge is to get your small business off the ground. Once your business starts doing well, there will be technological advances and refurbishments that you would need to undertake. It is understandable that you would want to keep up with these changes. Technology is growing and changing at an increasingly fast pace and it can be difficult to keep up, especially since these improvements requires money. Here are some tips for refurbishing your business.

Running a successful business whether it is a small or big business requires you to put a lot of work and time into growing it. More so when your business is still starting out there are times when it will seem as if your business is not moving forward which might leave you feeling discouraged. However, you aren’t alone many small-scale businesses have a few problems which make it seem as if your business is stuck in the same place and not making any progress. Here are some tips on how you can improve your business.

There will inevitably come a time (or many) in your entrepreneurial journey when you begin to consider or actively try to grow your business. This time often occurs at a point where you may not have the financial resources to grow your business according to the plan you identified. However, that should not stop you from doing it anyway. These 8 tips will help you achieve business growth at a fraction of the cost.

Marketing is one of the aspects of business that managers and entrepreneurs often struggle with the most. From determining the appropriate marketing budget to developing an effective marketing campaign or strategy, this business operation can be a source of a lot of stress. Especially when marketing efforts don't have the intended effect. This article shows how effective content marketing can grow your business.

Owning a successful business is difficult. A small business needs business loans to cover cash flow gaps, add to the working capital or to grow the business. There are many ways that you can finance an upgrade for your business by applying for a small business loan. Knowing how to get finance is important for small business owners. Here are a few helpful tips on how you can receive funding to upgrade your small business.

Owning a business can be stressful, especially when it comes to making decisions about assets. You will need to take numerous things into consideration, such as how often you will need to update the asset or equipment you need, how much the services or maintenance will cost, as well as what your budget for equipment is. These factors will help you to decide whether or not you should rent or buy an asset.

If your business is established, you already know the ins and outs of your business environment. However, with market trends changing as often as they do, it is important to stay abreast with these changes and keep your options open. With the SME environment becoming increasingly competitive, it's important to keep an eye out for new opportunities and possibilities. If expanding your business is something you want to explore, here are some tips to get your creative juices flowing.

In a healthy/growth economy, entrepreneurs should be looking for ways and means to take advantage of the opportunities the market is offering, and almost more importantly – the opportunities that will manifest in future. However, economists agree that economies can be volatile, and caution must be applied when evaluating growth opportunities and finding finance to make such opportunities possible. Here are a few pointers which could assist with gearing up for growth.