The Operational Plan
Our Location
We are located in Dorchester, Dorset which is along the South Coast of England. As we are a mail order company then our location is irrelevant to the success of the business. To keep our overheads at an absolute minimum we work from home and will continue to do so in the short term. We have converted one of the rooms in our home into an office.
Client Support
Should our clients have any queries, then telephone support will be available throughout the completion of their business plan. We will only be too pleased to assist with anything from how to answer a particular question to whom the client should approach for finance. No charge will be made for this support and it is available to the client for an unlimited period of time.
Service Plan
All business plans need to be updated on a regular basis either biannually or preferably annually. We will maintain a client database and contact them shortly before their plan is due for renewal. After a client has used our services once, we aim to be able to provide them with our services for the duration of their business. As it is a service we provide, then after sales support is not an issue. However we will stay in contact with all our clients and hope they will use our services again.
Distribution Methods
As the geographical area of our target market is nationwide we will use the Royal Mail for all our client correspondence. Our business and marketing plans are light documents so our carriage costs only represent a small percentage of turnover. We will guarantee the client a service to compile their business and marketing plans within 14 days following the receipt of the completed questionnaire. This is exactly half the delivery lead time quoted by our competitors.
Making The Sale
In an ideal world every enquiry would turn into a sale with the client completing the application form and returning it to us. However, as we do not live in an ideal world then we will have to work hard to achieve our sales targets. If after a week we have not had a response from a prospect, then a follow up telephone call will be made to determine if the client is genuinely interested in our service. We estimate that for every three responses we get, one will develop into an order.
We will accept an initial 10 per cent deposit to compile a business plan. Then 50 per cent of the balance will be required when the questionnaire is returned and the remaining 40 per cent only when the client has received the plan and is completely satisfied with the service.
Samples
Sample business and marketing plans will be produced for members of the press as they request them. This will enable them to see exactly the service we offer and they will hopefully be able to include an appropriate article in their publication. Should they request it, clients will be sent sample pages of text so they can see the style and quality of our work.
Packaging
All business plans will contain a title page, contents page, main plan and financial details. These will be spiral bound and then despatched by first class post.
Job Responsibilities
As the manager I will produce each and every business plan myself. It is also my responsibility to actively promote the business and see to all aspects of its day to day running. My wife Helen is the proprietor and it is hoped that when our three young sons start school she will be able to take a more active role with the running of the business. At present Helen takes care of all the accounts and usually deals with all of the correspondence.
Insurance
We have discovered a very comprehensive home office insurance policy through our insurance broker, Connor Associates. The policy will be in force as from 9 December, 200X and will provide cover for the complete contents of our office including up to £2,000 in cash. We have also taken out an extra policy to provide cover against the increased cost of working due to business interruption. We have not taken out any public or employers' liability insurance as our clients use postal and telephone correspondence and at present we do not employ any staff members.
