Planning resource

Small business growth plan template

Choose a growth direction and turn it into evidence, priorities and actions.

Define the outcome

Describe the change you want, your current position and a measure you can collect. Separate a business outcome from an activity: qualified enquiries matter more than simply publishing a campaign.

Compare your options

Consider selling more to existing customers, reaching a new segment or introducing an offer. Compare customer evidence, expected value, delivery capacity and the uncertainty of each option. Choose one priority and explain what will wait.

Build your plan

Record your priority customer, offer, reason to choose you, assumptions, actions, accountable owners, milestones and review dates. Treat the plan as a decision document you can update.

Fictional example: a design studio

A studio wants more repeat business. It reviews previous work and interviews clients before testing a quarterly design support offer with three suitable customers. It judges the pilot by paid take-up, delivery effort and client feedback rather than assuming demand.

Review before expanding

Use the 90-day planner for implementation and the monthly review to record evidence. Revisit your assumptions when results differ from expectations. InkWell can help you explore the business model and value proposition behind the plan.

Continue with InkWell

Explore how InkWell helps develop business strategy and translate it into clear communication. See how InkWell works.