Business plan: time line and action plan

Lynne Franks talks about preparing a plan of action to start your own business.

A business timeline is essentially an action plan, with each activity aimed at being achieved within a certain timeframe.

To give you an insight into how much to prepare your own timeline, here is my first year's planned activity for SEED, which you may want to refer to as a model.

SEED timeline 1999

January-March, 1999 structure legal and financial parameters trademark SEED in appropriate markets secure website names confirm agreements with publishers create separate timeline for book production

April-June 1999 prepare initial cover design for book start planning website concept and partners research case histories in Unites States, UK, and elsewhere network with women's groups begin writing initial business plan open SEED bank account

July-September 1999 finish book plan roadshows for 2000 negotiate roadshow sponsors and media partners

October-December start PR programme for 2000 launch open office secure sponsorship for road shows get initial website up and working hire initial staff/team write treatment for SEED TV series on women entrepreneurs