Help with new business plan

<p>Hi guys, I'm new to this website but hoping I could get some help/advise on my upcoming business. There are two sides that I'd like to achieve but finding it hard to work out the best way to accomplish it.<br>

Firstly I am looking to setup a freelance photography business most likely in real estate and drone photography but I also would like to setup a store business for selling prints and the like. If things go well I'd like to expand upon the store into things like graphic prints and maybe homeware items.<br>

Originally I was going to try and combine both into one company name but now I'm not sure. Ideally it would be good to have then connected in some way so people buying prints may be interested in hiring me or visa versa. The other thing that is really stumping me is the name. Do I just go the norm and have the business be 'my name photography' or create a whole new brand.<br>

Sorry for the shambles of a post but any outside advise is most welcome at this point.</p>

<p>My view is that one cannot develop a Business Plan until one has a <strong>"Definition of Business" </strong>and that defines<strong> exactly</strong> what is the business that one is building.</p>

<p>From that point then more information is necessary to build the plan - that "more information" means details like Capital; Location; Experience (Work and Life); Skills' set; Education; Professional & Social Network; and some other matters. </p>

<p>I think that the salient point is - your comment <em>"Sorry for the shambles of a post but any outside advise is most welcome at this point"</em> hits the nail squarely on the head - you have <strong>no definition</strong> of your business.</p>

<p>*</p>

<p>Two examples of the <strong>(preliminary)</strong> Definition of the two Businesses (taken from bits of information in your Opening Post) <strong>could</strong> be:</p>

<p>*<br>

<em>The Business “Meighan Amy Photography” will specialize in Drone Photography for Real Estate Publications, Advertizing and Marketing.</em><br>

<em>The only Photographer will be Meighan Amy and she will be available on a pre booked basis seven days per week 50 weeks of the year.</em><br>

*<br>

<em>The Business “Meighan Amy Unique Homewares & Gifts” will be a bricks and motor establishment displaying unique and unusual articles for purchase, including but not limited to Prints; Artworks and Nick-nacks.</em><br>

<em>The store will be open 5 days per week and will need to facilitate an office area to allow the running of the Business “Meighan Amy Photography”</em><br>

*<br>

From those two examples of a <strong>Definition of the Business </strong> - then a <strong>framework</strong> of the <strong>Business Plan</strong> can be developed. That framework <strong>will initially be questions. </strong><br>

<strong> </strong><br>

Don't give up just work through the framework systematically applying the details necessary from the information that you have - and if you don't have the information then get it - and continue asking simple questions - especially HOW, WHAT and WHEN.</p>

<p>For example - addressing the first Business definition, simple questions which spring to mind are:<br>

HOW will I facilitate photographing during periods my illness?<br>

HOW many Drones do I need to have enough back up gear?<br>

WHAT are the types of drones that I need?<br>

HOW much is the cost of each drone? <br>

WHEN am I going to allocate time to my marketing/office work/maintenance etc - [idea] is there a day or two when Estate Agents are not likely to want my services? <br>

WHAT talents, skills and experience do I bring to the Business</p>

<p>. . .</p>

<p>Notice how the questions are relatively easy to find, but answers might need more hard work: so at first don't inundate yourself with seven volumes of questions, keep the questions simple and keep the questions basic - and find the answers.</p>

<p>Notice also how the Business is an ENTITY - it is NOT you. </p>

<p>The more answers that you find the more easily you will be able to craft a more precise Definition of Business - so do not be afraid to re define if necessary. Once you have that precise Definition of Business, (should be about four or five very concise and precise sentences) you can then get a really detailed business plan together, because you will have many of the answers to "HOW" "WHAT"and "WHEN" .</p>

<p>WW</p>