Your plan needs to address the day-to-day running of your business. The operations section should address the stage of development and production process.
The development section should cover the following:
- How will your product or service be made? Describe the workflow in the creation of your product or service.
- What is your quality control in the development of your product or service? Have you created a process and checklist to ensure these problems are discovered?
- Is your work site WorkSafeBC, BC Labour Standards, municipal/building inspector ready and do you have procedures in place to mitigate risk and train staff?
- Outline which industry associations you will be or already are a member of. Most businesses are legally obliged to do so. Employers who should register but do not may be subject to fines.
- Who are your primary and secondary suppliers? Do you have any back-ups or options of other suppliers if they dont' work out? What are their terms of payment?
The production process section should cover the following:
- What are the essential requirements of your business - building space, land, office style (home or commercial space), zoning - and if you own, lease or rent include the value/costs in your start-up costs. Are any of these absolutely vital to the business, and if so, what makes it so?
- When can you start producing and deliver to customers? How long does it take to make one unit? How much lead time do you need from order to delivery? Will you produce on spec or on demand? What are the risks of each (time to customer, competitor modes of production, etc)?
- What materials do you require? How much do they cost? How are they delivered to your location and how long does it take? Do you have on-demand access to these supplies if you have rush orders?
- What will you do if your demand for your goods or services fluctuates?
- Have you done a test run of your facilities? processes? with the required people? Do your competitors have any stories of struggling at the beginning of operations?
- How will you track materials and production inventory? If you are not computerized how will you manage your data?
If you are a manufacturer, then your proposal should also briefly cover the:
- mechanics of your business' work flow,
- inventory controls,
- personnel requirements, and
- production schedules.
- Business Plans -
