A business plan is where you’ll put your strategies, sales figures and forecasts. It’s what most banks and investors want to see if you’re looking for investment. You can also use it to think about how you’d cope with any business disruption (hello, 2020) and plan for whatever the future might hold.

You are the greatest asset to your business. From the start, you’ll need to think about your approach to running your business and what support you might need to make it happen.

A little market research can help you define your business goals, look at your competitors and see what they’re doing well, and work out your markets too. It’s easier to do than you think.