

The best way to ensure you create a superior business plan is to work with experts in business and co-operative development that can review your plan and provide the advice and expertise you need.ĭisclaimer: This business planning guide does provide examples where appropriate. Fabricating a business plan with unrealistic ideals and projections won’t help you promote your business and will lead to challenges down the road. New trends and the data show us that the best time to complete a robust plan may now come later. If your business plan will be used to attract funders, think of ways to set your business apart from others by making a clear case for why your business should receive their support. A business plan still plays a critical role in launching a profitable and sustainable venture today. When writing a business plan, consider who the audience might be. The co-op’s structure can be built into the business, but shaping and operating the business should make economic feasibility a priority. Co-operative businesses might be structured differently than other business models, but all businesses are built on the same foundational practices. Starting and building a business can be complicated, confusing, and frustrating - but with a well-crafted business plan in place your co-operative will be off to a good start. If you’re starting a new business, it’s important to clearly define and articulate your plans: what will we do and how will we do it? Every business, even co-operatives, should develop a business plan that can be used to engage new members, raise capital, attract investors, and provide guidance to those involved.Ī co-operative is a business and requires the same level of skill, energy, and commitment as any other business.
