Developing your business plan links

You may wish to use the following links to find further information that may support you as you develop your business plan. The links below are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the information that may be available to you.

Your business Plan - template links
Your marketing links
Go direct to:
Advertising links
Promotion links
Public relations links
E-marketing links
Direct marketing links
Branding links

Your finances links
Your business framework
Go direct to:
Staff policies and procedures
Legal structures
Social care and safeguarding regulation
Business legislation
Other legislation
Premises and equipment
Management systems

Business Plan templates

www.gov.uk - writing a business plan	www.gov.uk is an online resource for businesses. This page will show you how to prepare a high-quality business plan using a number of easy-to-follow steps, and includes a template business plan.
Barclays Bank - Starting your own business - writing a small business plan	Barclays Bank website that contains a few tips to help you create your own business plan, including a downloadable guide.
HSBC - How to write a Business Plan	HSBC article on writing a business plan linking to a step by step lesson / guide on developing a business plan using a business planning template
Lloyds TSB - Writing your business plan	Lloyds TSB guide on writing a business plan.
Santander - Start up briefing - Writing a business plan	One of a range of no-nonsense independent guides on starting and running a business that provides a business plan template and guidance on what you may wish to include in it.
Imperial College London - Entrepreneurship Hub	A link to pages in the Imperial College Entrepreneurship Hub - a selection of resources to help the budding entrepreneur.
Social Enterprise London - A business planning guide to developing a social enterprise	Social Enterprise London is a private provider of training, research, networking and consultancy for social enterprise. This is their comprehensive guide for building a social enterprise business plan.
Wales CVA - It's an idea but is it a business, a guide to third sector trading	A very large but very useful document for third sector organisations for creating a business out of an idea, including a section on business planning
BPlans.co.uk - Your business plan starts here	A private site (Care - advertising pop-ups) that contains a number of sample business and marketing plans that you can access.

FURTHER SEARCH HELP - You may wish to use the following words (which are not intended to be an exhaustive list) for a further search for information on, and examples of, business planning templates:

writing a business plan; business plan; business planning templates; a good business plan; planning to start a business

Hampshire County Council is not responsible for the content of external sites.

British Bankers Association - Business Account finder	A link to Moneyfacts website, a comparison website, promoted by the BBA, comparing business accounts, loans, mortgages and other finance and products.
www.gov.uk - understand your business's cash flow	www.gov.uk is an online resource for businesses. This page may help you to find out what your business's cash-flow is and how understanding this can help improve your business.
www.gov.uk - avoid business cash flow problems	www.gov.uk is an online resource for businesses. This page provides advice on how you can avoid cash flow problems for your business and how to improve your finances
www.gov.uk - what is corporation tax?	www.gov.uk is an online resource for businesses. This page may help you to understand what Corporation Tax means for you and your business, how to pay it and what your accounting period is.
Department for Business Innovation and Skills - Finance fitness	Led by BIS, Finance Fitness aims to get Government and businesses working together more effectively to ensure small and medium sized businesses find it easier to access information about business finance, improve their financial planning and·make the strongest possible case to potential investors.
HM Revenue and Customs - Businesses and Corporations	The HMRC home page for businesses providing links to information on Corporation Tax, VAT, employing people and the HMRC Business Education and Support team.
HSBC Business Knowledge Bank - manage finances	HSBC guide to finding out more about how to keep a close eye on your spending, getting customers to pay you on time and how an accountant can help.
Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales - Example financial statements	On this page you can access a range of articles, books and online resources providing quick links to model financial statements.
LloydsTSB Business Banking - Business Guides (Financing)	A range of guides to help you around making and receiving payments, financing your business and monitoring your performance.
Small business.co.uk - Small business finance	A private site that contains finance information relevant to small businesses, including raising money, loans, tax and VAT, managing cash flows and other.

BBC - GCSE Bitesize Business Studies, marketing	A very simple explanation, as part of the BBC Bitesize GCSE revision series, on marketing mix and the 4 P's (product, price, promotion, place)
www.gov.uk - your business and selling to customers	www.gov.uk is an online resource for businesses. This page may help you to find out the different ways you can sell to customers and what options are right for your business.
Chartered Institute of Marketing	The world’s largest organisation for professional marketers. Provides information and support on marketing, including advice on marketing training and development within the marketing profession.
Information Commissioners Office - Marketing	The Information Commissioner’s Office is the UK’s independent authority set up to uphold information rights (Data Protection and Freedom of Information Acts). It provides information on data privacy issues in marketing campaigns.
BHP Information Solutions - The Marketingdonut	BHP Information Solutions are an independent business consultancy firm, providing Information, tools and resources on all aspects of marketing (strategy, research, advertising) developed specifically for small businesses.
BBC - GCSE Bitesize	BBC revision support for Business Studies Marketing GCSE - providing basic and simple understanding on marketing techniques and tools.

	Advertising
Advertising Standards Authority	The ASA is the UK's independent regulator of advertising across all media, including marketing on websites. These pages will support you in ensuring that your marketing and advertising is legal, decent, honest and truthful by applying the Advertising Codes.

	Promotion
Small Business Canada - Ten Low-Cost Ways to Promote Your Business	Although an independent website based in Canada, you may wish to consider the different promotional options suggested by this article.
Institute of Promotional Marketing	The Institute of Promotional Marketing is a trade association that represents organisations engaged in promotional marketing On these pages, you will find information about the Institute and the promotional marketing industry in general.

	Public Relations
Chartered Institute of Public Relations	A chartered body that offers membership to PR practitioners at all levels in their careers and in all sectors. Provides background on PR and other resources.

	E-marketing
Direct.Gov - Internet, mail order and telephone shopping	Directgov is the UK government's digital service for people in England and Wales. Although now archived this link provides information on the rights of consumers when e-shopping

	Direct marketing
The Direct Marketing Association	An association supporting the industry to do better direct marketing business.
The marketing donut - Direct Marketing	BHP Information Solutions are an independent business consultancy firm. This link is to their 'marketing donut' pages on direct marketing, looking at various aspects including mailshots and mobile marketing.

	Branding
Economic and Social Research Council - branding	Economic and Social Research Council advice on all aspects of branding and corporate identity. It explains how to develop a consistent brand for your project

	Staff policies and procedures
ACAS	Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) aims to improve organisations and working life through better employment relations through advice, guidance and tools and resources.
www.gov.uk - employing people	www.gov.uk is an on-line resource for businesses. These pages offer information, support, templates and other resources to help you with employing staff.
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development	The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is Europe's largest HR and development professional body supporting and developing those responsible for the management and development of people within organisations.
Direct.Gov - Employment section	Directgov gives you easy access to government information and services. These pages look at employment from the employee perspective providing information and advice about how employers should act.
Local Government Idea and Improvement - Organisational development good practice library	Local Government Idea and Improvement (previously IDeA) are a Government Agency. This link is to their case study library provides examples of good practice in the area of organisational development.
Inland Revenue Employers	HM Revenue and Customs pages showing all that you need to do as an employer around tax and national insurance
www.gov.uk - PAYE record-keeping	www.gov.uk is an online resource for businesses. This page might help you to keep accurate PAYE and payroll records and meet your legal duties as an employer.
National Council for Voluntary Organisations - People, HR and employment	Although primarily aimed at the 3rd sector, these pages contain a wealth of HR and employment practice resources.
Skills for care	Skills for Care ensures that England's adult social care workforce has the appropriately skilled people in the right places working to deliver high quality social care through working with partners to develop effective tools and resources that meet the workforce development needs of the care sector.

	Legal structure
www.gov.uk - choose a legal structure for a new business	www.gov.uk is an on-line resource for businesses. This page provides information on organisation structures and tools and resources to help you decide which will be most appropriate to you.
www.gov.uk - Set up a social enterprise	www.gov.uk is an on-line resource for businesses. This page may help you to set up a social enterprise, including background information and links to support agencies.
Charity Commission - registering a charity	The Charity Commission provide an online form for registering as a charity and useful tools and guidance as to whether it is right for you.
Charity Commission - Charities and public service delivery	The Charity Commissions publication CC37, introducing and giving an overview on how charities should deliver public services.
Community Action Hampshire - Social Enterprise Support	Community Action Hampshire have provided some information on social enterprises, an organisation type, that trades goods and services to create social change rather than personal financial return.
Community Interest Company Regulator	Department for Business Innovation and Skill guide to Community Interest Companies (CICS), which are limited companies, with special additional features, created for the use of people who want to conduct a business or other activity for community benefit, and not purely for private advantage.
Companies House - incorporating a c ompany	Companies House is a Government Agency that incorporate and dissolve limited companies. This is a link to their page on limited company registration.

	Social care and safeguarding regulation
Hampshire County Council - Protecting people from abuse	Hampshire County Council's guidance and information on Safeguarding adults and ensuring vulnerable adults are protected from abuse.
Hampshire County Council - Protecting people from abuse for professionals and practitioners	Hampshire County Council's guidance and information on Safeguarding adults for practioners and ensuring vulnerable adults are protected from abuse.
Care Quality Commission - Information for organisations we regulate	A link to the Care Quality Commission pages for information on standards, regulation and registering of health or social care services for owners of a new organisation or existing registered provider.
Independent Safeguarding Authority website	Information and guidance on The Independent Safeguarding Authority’s (ISA) role to help prevent unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults.
Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) - Adult Safeguarding	Advice, guidance and resources to support social care organisations to protect members of the public from harm and deliver high quality and safe services through six key concepts: empowerment, protection, prevention, proportionate responses, partnership and accountability.

	Business regulation
HM Revenue and Customs - Employers	HMRC pages specifically to support organisations that are employing people, providing resources, information and guides around all issues relating to taxes.
www.gov.uk - register your new business with HMRC	www.gov.uk is an on-line resource for businesses. Register your new business with HM Revenue & Customs in 1 transaction - Self Assessment, VAT, Corporation Tax, PAYE for employers, HMRC
Department for Business Innovation and Skills - Business Law	The Department for Business Innovation and Skills pages on world class legal and governance frameworks in place for businesses operating in the UK.

	Other regulations
www.gov.uk - running a limited company	www.gov.uk is an on-line resource for businesses. This page has links to information Including registering, setting up, company accounts and tax returns
www.gov.uk - health and safety at work	www.gov.uk is an on-line resource for businesses. This page contains links to information about health and safety at work.
www.gov.uk - Environment and efficiency	www.gov.uk is an on-line resource for businesses. These pages provide information on environmental and sustainability issues.
www.gov.uk - business tax	www.gov.uk is an on-line resource for businesses.These pages provide information on tax and financial regulation including VAT, PAYE and Corporation Tax.
Charity Commission - Registration	The Charity Commissions guide to registering as a charitable organisation and the regulation surrounding becoming a charity.
Department for Business Innovation and Skills - Community Interest Company Regulator	Information, guidance and regulation involved in becoming a Community Interest Company.
Department for Culture, Media and Sports	The Government Department responsible for promoting, and legislating, for arts, sports and other cultural, media and leisure activities.
Equality and Human Rights Commission	Home page of the EHRC providing advice and guidance and information on legal issues and policy on equality and human rights.
Food Standards Agency	The Food Standards Agency is an independent government department responsible for food safety and hygiene across the UK. We work with businesses to help them produce safe food, and with local authorities to enforce food safety regulations.
Health and Safety Executive	The Health and Safety Executive pages for businesses, providing guidance and resources to help them manage their health and safety.
Information Commissioners Office	The ICO is responsible for ensuring organisations meet all data protection, electronic communications, freedom of information and environmental regulations.
Trading Standards	Trading Standards home page, providing links to information for consumers and businesses on consumer protection issues including information on their 'Buy with Confidence' scheme.

	Premises and equipment
www.gov.uk - choosing your business premises	www.gov.uk is an on-line resource for businesses. These are their pages on all matters premises and property including information on choosing the right property, protecting your property, facilities and energy performance.
www.gov.uk - renting and buying business premises	www.gov.uk is an on-line resource for businesses. Find out what you may need to know before deciding whether to rent or buy your business premises.
Code for leasing business premises	The Code for Leasing Business Premises in England and Wales 2007 is the result of collaboration between commercial property professionals and industry bodies representing both owners (Landlords) and occupiers (Tenants). It aims to promote fairness in commercial leases, and recognises a need to increase awareness of property issues, especially among small businesses, ensuring that occupiers of business premises have the information necessary to negotiate the best deal available to them.
Hampshire County Council Economic Development - property and infrastructure	Hampshire County Councils advice and information on property and infrastructure for businesses in Hampshire.
Health and Safety Executive - Looking after your business	These pages provide a range of information, resources and guidance on Health and Safety to support people who are running businesses.
Small Business notes - Office space, equipment and supplies	A private site that contains information on equipping and kitting out new offices and / or business spaces for small businesses.

	Management systems
www.gov.uk - understanding your business's IT needs	www.gov.uk is an on-line resource for businesses. This page provides links to a range of resources looking specifically at IT and business systems.
Charity Commission - Internal financial controls for charities	This is a Charity Commission guide to support trustees to look at various areas of financial activity and provides examples of internal financial controls that are commonly used to reduce the risk of loss.
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development - A-Z of resources	A link to the CIPD A-Z of resources listing that includes, for example, (R) retention of HR records, amongst a whole raft of factsheets, podcasts and reports. You will need to register (for free) to access some resources.
National Council for Voluntary Organisations - Funding and finance	The NCVO guide to funding and finance providing a wealth of information, tools and resource, guidance and advice to help you to develop sustainable funding and good financial management.
Small business notes - financial management	A private site (with pop-ups) looking at financial management and systems.

Market Development

Developing your business plan links

Business Plan templates

Your finances

Your marketing

Advertising

Promotion

Public Relations

E-marketing

Direct marketing

Branding

Business framework links

Staff policies and procedures

Legal structure

Social care and safeguarding regulation

Business regulation

Other regulations

Premises and equipment

Management systems