Growth Planning

Plan a little,
grow a lot

Don't tie your business to a rigid 40-page plan.

Instead, adopt a ‘Growth Planning’ mindset that helps you:

  • Quickly adapt to change and be ready for anything
  • Stay focused on your goals
  • Make decisions that drive revenue
See The Process
Growth Planning

Traditional business plans weren't designed for today's economy

Markets change faster than ever. Technology evolves at breakneck speed. And the pandemic has forever transformed the way we think about ‘work’.

A rigid 40+ page business plan can't keep up.

They take too long to write

It can take days — or even weeks — to write a formal business plan. That's on top of all the research required.

They're outdated almost instantly

You can't update traditional business plans quickly as markets change and your business evolves.

They're too difficult to put into action

It's tough to implement a business strategy when the most important details are buried within a massive document.

Applying for funding?

Some lenders, such as banks and government agencies will require a traditional full-length business plan. Learn More

The process is now more important than the plan

Growth planning is a quicker, more flexible way to figure out what works for your business — no matter what stage you're at.

Lightbulb

I have a business idea

Business Idea Stage

Turn your good idea into a great business

Plan: outline your idea

Create a one-page outline of your idea: what problem are you solving? Who do you think your best customers will be? How much money do you expect to make?

Forecast: talk to ideal customers

Do research to predict the potential of your idea. Talk to your ideal customers, look at industry data and write your findings down.

Review: examine your feedback

Look at all the feedback you gathered about your idea. Does it mesh with what you expected during the ‘plan’ step? Did anything surprise you?

Refine: ensure your idea works

Update your one-page plan based on what you learned. For example, you might need to change your target audience or lower how much you plan to charge.

Business Starting Stage

Give your business the best chance for success

Plan: clarify your vision

Document the vision for your business by creating a one-page business plan.

Forecast: set your goals

Build a budget and set financial goals before you launch — then you'll be 40% more likely to achieve them.

Review: stay on track

Track your performance against your goals and initial budget. Then evaluate your progress every month to stay focused.

Refine: achieve success faster

Did you hit your financial goals for the month? If not, looking at the numbers will help you figure out ways to improve cash flow, revenue and profit.

Business Running Stage

Grow your business with confidence

Plan: examine your goals

Create a quick one-page plan to think through your goals, target market, business model, competitors and more.

Forecast: build a roadmap

Know whether or not you're on track to hit your goals by forecasting sales, expenses, and cash flow.

Review: spot opportunities

Spot new opportunities while holding yourself accountable to your goals. Simply compare your forecast against your actual sales and expenses each month.

Refine: grow your business

Adjust your plan based on the numbers. Maybe your business model needs tweaking. Or your prices are too low. Or your product needs to change.

Learn More About The Process

Research shows that the principles of Growth Planning drive success

30%

Faster Growth

Businesses that continually track against their plan grow 30% faster than those that don't, according to a study in the Journal of Management Studies.

40%

Higher Achievement

Documenting and reviewing your goals makes you 40% more likely to achieve them, according to a study by the Dominican University of California.

129%

Stronger Start

Entrepreneurs with a plan are 129% more likely to push forward with their business beyond the initial startup phase and grow it, according to a study in the journal Small Business Economics.

Two ways to start Growth Planning

Do it yourself
with spreadsheets

This is a budget-friendly option for entrepreneurs who are comfortable crunching numbers. All you need is a single-page plan, a spreadsheet and the right mindset.

Time Investment

Financial Investment

Get Resources

Do it with support
from LivePlan

LivePlan software gives you everything you need for Growth Planning: financial dashboards, cash forecasting tools, video tutorials and expert help via chat.

Time Investment

Financial Investment

Try LivePlan