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Planning

Clarify and understand your objectives. Use our selection of articles, reports, books and links to find more information on all aspects of business planning.
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Latest on planning

Exclusive Effective scenario planning
  • Article
  • 13 Dec 2021
Own the unknowns and create order out of chaos
Woolcool targets opportunities for better business
  • Article
  • 22 Nov 2021
Sustainable wool-based packaging firm Woolcool is pushing the boundaries of what a future company should look like. Its managing director explains what role the business plans to play in wider society.
Climate change must be part of your business plan
  • Article
  • 22 Nov 2021
Climate change risk must be embedded into business risk planning, backed by cohesive policy changes from government, says GARP Risk Institute president.
Climate risk is an “inescapable” part of chartered accountants’ remit
  • Article
  • 01 Nov 2021
For those looking to future-proof their career, being able to embed climate change and wider sustainability issues into business strategy and planning, risk management, procurement and performance management is essential.
3 Steps to Driving Agility in Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting
  • Article
  • 17 Sep 2021
Do you have the right resources to focus on strategic business priorities? Can you plan at the customer level, volume or unit price, and dynamically see the impact through your financial statements? Is your organisation maximising the time available for analysis, scenario modelling and other value-added activities? Learn more in this solution brief.
Exclusive Digital transformation will power your business
  • Article
  • 14 Sep 2021
Key steps to successful cost-effective investment

Reports

Preparing smarter business plans
  • Report
  • 2020
The ICAEW Business and Management Faculty shares hints and tips for businesses writing a business plan at a time when many businesses are applying for finance to help them through the pandemic.
Special Report - Strategic planning
  • Report
  • 2004
A special report on strategic choices, the role of the finance director and the core elements of corporate strategy.

eBooks

The ICAEW Library & Information Service provides full text access to a selection of key business and reference eBooks from leading publishers. eBooks are available to logged-in ICAEW members, ACA students and other entitled users. If you are unable to access an eBook, please see our Help and support advice or contact library@icaew.com.

Exclusive How to write reports and proposals
  • eBook
  • 2013
  • Patrick Forsyth
  • Kogan Page
A practical guide to writing persuasive business proposals.
Exclusive How to write a business plan: creating success
  • eBook
  • 2013
  • Brian Finch
  • Kogan Page
A guide to writing business plans for non-specialists.
Exclusive Making the business case: proposals that succeed for projects that work
  • eBook
  • 2009
  • Ian Gambles
  • Gower
A practical guide to writing a business case. It is written for anyone, novice or expert, who needs to produce a business case, whether for a defined project or a broader programme.
Exclusive Consultant's quick start guide: an action plan for your first year in business, The
  • eBook
  • 2009
  • Elaine Blech
  • Pfeiffer
A guide to working as a consultant from a US perspective.
Exclusive How to prepare a business plan
  • eBook
  • 2008
  • Edward Blackwell
  • Kogan Page
A practical guide to writing a business plan for SMEs.
Exclusive How to build a successful consulting practice
  • eBook
  • 2006
  • Jack Phillips
  • McGraw-Hill
Practical guide to creating and sustaining a consulting practice.
Exclusive Anyone can do it: building Coffee Republic from our kitchen table
  • eBook
  • 2004
  • Sahar Hashemi, Bobby Hashemi
  • Capstone
Takes the reader step by step through every aspect of starting and growing a business.
Exclusive Business plans that work
  • eBook
  • 2004
  • Jeffry Timmons, Andrew Zacharakis, Stephen Spinelli
  • McGraw-Hill
A guide for small businesses to writing a successful business plan.
Terms of use

You are permitted to access, download, copy, or print out content from eBooks for your own research or study only, subject to the terms of use set by our suppliers and any restrictions imposed by individual publishers. Please see individual supplier pages for full terms of use.

Business press

The Library provides access to leading business, finance and management journals. These journals are available to logged-in ICAEW members, ACA students and other entitled users subject to suppliers' terms of use.
Exclusive Text analytics and the accounting profession
  • Article
  • 01 Jul 2021
  • John Alarcon, Liu Yue, Kevin C Moffatt, Sheneya Wilson
Article discuss the latest trends in text analytics in the accounting profession where firms are using text analytics software in accounting, auditing, tax, and business advisory for automation, compliance assurance, fraud detection, or planning purposes.
Exclusive Exit planning for small business
  • Article
  • 01 Jun 2021
  • Jon Augelli
  • Strategic Finance
Article on the exit planning process for small businesses owners. Areas discussed include assembling an advisory team, determining financial goals, exit strategies, succession planning and personal considerations for owners and their families.
Exclusive Be ready: How business continuity planning helps organizations plan for emergencies
  • Article
  • 01 Nov 2020
  • Dan R.Reid
  • Quality Progress
The COVID-19 pandemic is just one example of why organizations need a business continuity plan to protect their resources and supply chain. The article gives a business continuity process example and looks at some of the ISO standards relevant to continuity planning.
Exclusive Right and wrong approaches to marketing planning
  • Article
  • 25 Apr 2019
  • Lee Frederiksen
  • Accounting Today
Article looks at the difference between marketing and business plans and the four methods for marketing plans that accountancy firms use and their varying results.
Exclusive Effective financial projections for a startup
  • Article
  • 01 Mar 2019
  • Tiffany Hovland
  • Journal of Accountancy
Practical considerations to help startups develop a business plan with meaningful financial projections.
Exclusive Develop a business plan that propels your entrepreneurial success
  • Article
  • 17 Jul 2018
  • Morey Stettner
Tips for writing a business plan that provides direction, offers a framework to follow through and a basis for measuring your progress.

Articles and books in the ICAEW Library collection

The collection of the ICAEW Library & Information Service includes a range of articles, books and reports on business planning. Use the links below to see what we have available to request in our Library catalogue (Libcat).
Turnaround management: unlocking and preserving value in distressed businesses
  • Library book
  • 2019
  • A.Tilley
  • Globe Law and Business
This practical book draws upon the author's 25 years' experience in turnaround management. It guides the reader through the key issues including staunching cash burn, creating cash generation, identifying viable business elements, eliminating loss-making sectors and excess cost, and identifying a revised strategy, a credible business plan and the management team to implement them.
How to write a business plan
  • Library book
  • 2013
  • B. Finch
  • Kogan Page
Designed to lead you through writing your own business plan, including the structure, business background, proposal, financial information and using business plans for bidding.
The business plan workbook
  • Library book
  • 2012
  • C.Barrow
  • Kogan Page
A guide to all aspects of business planning, aimed at entrepreneurs, senior executives and students. Based on methodology developed at Cranfield School of Management and using successful real-life business plans, book brings together the process and procedures required to produce that persuasive plan.

To find out how you can borrow books from the Library please see our guide to borrowing books.

You can obtain copies of articles or extracts of books and reports through our document supply service.

External resources - Templates

Business planning templates
  • Start Up Loans Company
Business plan template from the Start Up Loans company, the UK government funded scheme which provides advice, loans and mentoring to start-up businesses. An annotated version of the template provides guidance on the type of information, examples and evidence that should be included.
Free sample business plans
  • Bplans
A large collection of free business plans for a wide variety of business sectors. Each plan outlines the following sections: executive summary, objectives, mission, keys to success, company summary, products, market analysis summary, strategy and implementation summary, management summary, and financial plan.
Growthink business plan template and guide for entrepreneurs
  • Growthink
Detailed template and guide from the US consultancy firm, updated for 2021. The template covers the following sections: executive summary, company overview, industry analysis, customer analysis, competitive analysis, marketing plan, operations plan, management team, and financial plan.
Prince's Trust business plans
  • Prince's Trust
The Trust's 'Where to start' section provides a business plan template (Word and pdf format), plus business plan financial tables (Excel format).
Terms of use

ICAEW accepts no responsibility for the content on any site to which a hypertext link from this site exists. The links are provided 'as is' with no warranty, express or implied, for the information provided within them. Please see the full copyright and disclaimer notice.

External resources - Advice and guides

Business & IP Centre
  • British Library
The British Library's Business and Intellectual Property Centre offers information and workshops on business planning and growing your business in general.
How to write a business plan
  • Startups
The planning section of startups.co.uk includes information on what a business plan is, what it should cover and what not to include. The website also provides news and information to get your small business going.
How to write business plans and business cases
  • Walkerstone
Guide from business trainers Walkerstone, setting out a detailed structure for a good business plan.
Incorporation and names
  • GOV.UK
Guidance from Companies House setting out the main requirements for incorporating a company in the United Kingdom. Includes guidance on choosing a name for your business.
Terms of use

ICAEW accepts no responsibility for the content on any site to which a hypertext link from this site exists. The links are provided 'as is' with no warranty, express or implied, for the information provided within them. Please see the full copyright and disclaimer notice.

External resources - Atom Content Marketing guides

Finance your high-growth business
  • Atom Content Marketing
Whether you need to invest in developing new products and approaching new markets, or fund increasing levels of working capital as sales increase, the right financing lets you make the most of your growth potential.
Find the right premises for growth
  • Atom Content Marketing
If you expect your business to grow quickly, it can be difficult to get suitable premises for your needs. Though you may not need much space now, the situation could be very different in 12 or 18 months' time.
Plan and budget for growth
  • Atom Content Marketing
Business planning is particularly important for businesses targeting high rates of growth. You need to be able to respond immediately to developments in what are often young and fast-moving sectors.
Write a business plan
  • Atom Content Marketing
A well-researched and written business plan is an essential tool. Discover how to structure and write a business plan and what information to include. Section includes business plan templates, business plan checklist and short video explaining business plan layouts.
Terms of use

ICAEW accepts no responsibility for the content on any site to which a hypertext link from this site exists. The links are provided 'as is' with no warranty, express or implied, for the information provided within them. Please see the full copyright and disclaimer notice.

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