Business Plan Help

No-Win, No-Fee Fundraising from Maxtian

If you’re looking to raise funding with your business plan and would like professional advice but don’t want to take the risk of failing and being left with a big bill for professional fees, Maxtian may be able to help you. They offer a No-Win No-Fee 'Investment Support Service' that can help to raise funding and hold your hand through the entire fund-raising process. If you only want to pay fees (5%) on a success basis Maxtian could be the answer.

The UK’s Biggest Single Source of Early-Stage Funding

NESTA (The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) was formed by an Act of Parliament in 1998 and is funded by the national lottery. They can provide funding and support for innovative businesses and their Invention and Innovation programme is the UK’s biggest single source of early-stage funding. The website gives you information to help you evaluate whether your business could qualify for funding and also provides useful advice on planning and funding your project.

64-Page Guide to Private Equity

The website of the British Venture Capital Association is worth a visit if you're producing a business plan with a view to raising money through private equity. There is a comprehensive 64-page guide to private equity that you can download for free and will answer almost every question you can come up with on the subject.

Two Free Funding Services for London Businesses

If you’re looking for finance to start or grow your business in London, Business Link for London has two free services to help you choose the right options for your needs. The Finance Diagnostic is an online tool that assesses the information you enter about your business and funding requirements, and provides you with a report on the best financing options for your business. Or you can complete the Finance Needs Assessment questionnaire and they will contact you to discuss your financing options in greater detail.

6 Golden Rules of Funding Your Business

The business planning guidelines Scottish Enterprise offer are particularly suitable if you are looking to raise money for your business. They give you their 6 golden rules when you are applying for extra finance. If you live in Scotland you can contact the Business Gateway on 0845 609 6611 to speak to a free business adviser on how to write a business plan to fund expansion.

Apply for a Subsidised Business Support Plan

Writing-a-business-plan.co.uk is backed by the Institute for Independent Business (IIB), a not-for-profit research and accreditation organisation. The site gives you the opportunity to complete an online registration form to apply for a subsidised business support plan to help you with funding and planning. Alternatively contact the IIB on 01932 210 357 to make an appointment with one of their accredited consultants in your area.

The Best Source of Finance for Your Business Stage

If you’re looking to raise money with your business plan, Innovateur’s run-down of your funding options is an essential stop. A handy chart, which plots the stage of your business against the amount of funding you’re looking to raise, tells you whether you should be writing your business plan for banks, business angels, venture capitalists or any of the other possible sources of finance.

Innovateur is a free resource for innovators and entrepreneurs. The guidance on writing a business plan is also particularly pertinent if you’re producing a business plan to raise significant funding.

Business Plan Tips from a Venture Capitalist

Advent Venture Partners – a UK venture capital company that invests up to £20 million - provide a business plan guide on their site. They advise that your business plan should not be any longer than 25-30 pages and that by following a few simple rules (eight DON’TS are listed) your business plan will get noticed and you’ll receive a quick response. You can also download a sample business plan that fits their criteria from the site.

Only 2% of Start-Ups Receive Funding

According to Manchester-based BestBusinessPlanning.com only 2% of business plans were described as ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’ in a survey of Business Angel Investor Groups. Can it be a coincidence that only 2% of new business start-ups receive funding from investors?

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