How to Write a Business Operational Plan

Every business needs a plan of operation with definitive time lines to accomplish goals and deadlines for reaching those goals. Tracking the progress of sales, employee development and profits are important to keep a business afloat. An operational plan for any business must be flexible, but it must have expectations written into the plan. No business can succeed without a clear vision and methods for turning a profit that work repeatedly over time.

Things You'll Need

• Notebook for planning
• List of long-term business goals
• Timelines for major goals
• Deadlines for major goals
• List of most important projects
• List of resources available
• List of needed resources
• Operational budget

Instructions

1. Create a business operational plan by defining three or four major goals that should be met within the next three years. Make a list of major goals that relate to employee development, increase of profits or growing the business to include new products or services. Include all large goals that will take at least a year to address in the operational plan.

2. Write a list of short-term goals needed to support each long-term goal. Devise a time line and list of resources your business will need to carry out a good plan of action for each major goal. Break the plan of action for each large goal into monthly, weekly and daily tasks. Assign tasks to specific employees.

3. Document all obstacles that will impede the process of reaching long-term business goals. Name individuals or supervisors to examine obstacles and define new resources that must be acquired to go forward. Specify software programs, consultants, mentors or workshops that will help your employees achieve goals that are difficult. Reach out to experts in the business community for help in challenging areas.

4. Designate time frames for every long-term and short-term goal. Notice what is working and what is not working. Write an accountability system into the operational plan. Create data sheets, reporting systems and pre-planned meetings to review all operational activities that are needed to move the business forward. Develop alternative plans if goals fail to be met.

5. Review all business activities and profits you expect for every quarter. Make a list of all customers and clients and track their participation in your business. Acquire new customers if profits are not realized in specified time frames. Reward sales staff and marketing executives for meeting or exceeding goals regarding profits. Designate a way to compensate these individuals every quarter in the business operational plan.

Tips & Warnings

• Never make goals that you know you cannot reach. Instead, take time to figure out what's truly possible to accomplish. Look for systems that work or reinvent old systems to work better.

References

• Business Plans Guide: Writing a Plan
• SCORE.org: Business Operation Planning
• Biz Planit.com: Operational Business Plans

Resources

• Money Alert: Steps to Writing a Plan
• Business Plans: Component Parts