--- title: ​Small ​Business Planning and Strategy description: The importance of building a financial plan to enable effective small business planning and strategy cannot be over stated. --- [![Digitol Services](https://info.digitolservices.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Digitol%20%26%20E%26S%20Co-Branding%20Logo.png?width=131&height=64&name=Digitol%20%26%20E%26S%20Co-Branding%20Logo.png "Digitol Services")](https://www.EandSsolutions.com) - [Home](https://eandssolutions.com) - [About Us](https://eandssolutions.com/about-us/) - [About Us](https://eandssolutions.com/about-us/) - [Endorsements](https://eandssolutions.com/about-us/endorsements/) - [Privacy Policy](https://eandssolutions.com/about-us/privacy-policy/) - [Expertise](https://eandssolutions.com/expertise/) - [Business](https://eandssolutions.com/business/) - [Finance](https://eandssolutions.com/business/finance/) - [Planning & Strategy](https://eandssolutions.com/business/business-planning/) - [Operations Management](https://eandssolutions.com/business/operations-management/) - [Supply Chain](https://eandssolutions.com/business/supply-chain-for-small-business/) - [Intellectual Property](https://eandssolutions.com/business/intellectual-property/) - [Mergers and Acquisitions](http://eandssolutions.com/business/mergers-and-acquisitions/) - [Sales & Marketing](https://eandssolutions.com/sales-marketing/) - [CRM](https://eandssolutions.com/sales-marketing/crm/) - [E-commerce](https://eandssolutions.com/sales-marketing/e-commerce/) - [Digital Marketing](https://eandssolutions.com/sales-marketing/digital-marketing/) - [Social Media Strategy](https://eandssolutions.com/sales-marketing/social-media-strategy/) - [Sales Channel Development](https://eandssolutions.com/sales-marketing/sales-channel-development/) - [Technology](http://eandssolutions.com/technology/) - [IT Systems](https://eandssolutions.com/technology/it-systems/) - [Software Development](https://eandssolutions.com/technology/software/) - [Digitol](https://eandssolutions.com/digitol-solution/) - [Free Tools](https://eandssolutions.com/free-tools/) - [Blog](http://blog.eandssolutions.com/blog) - [Contact Us](http://blog.eandssolutions.com/contact) Search … Search ![keyboard2.jpg](https://info.digitolservices.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ExecutiveStrategicSolutions_Sep2016/Layout/keyboard2.jpg?width=1280&name=keyboard2.jpg "keyboard2.jpg") # The Great Office Supplies Caper ## ​Small ​Business Planning and Strategy by [Ian M. Elliott](https://info.digitolservices.com/blog/author/ian-m-elliott) | 2/29/16 8:30 AM Find me on: [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/pages/Executive-Strategic-Solutions/235034643185168) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliottian) [Twitter](https://twitter.com/elliott_ian) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ### **![banner-strategicplanning.jpg](https://info.digitolservices.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EandS_Solutions/Blog_Images/banner-strategicplanning.jpg?width=960&name=banner-strategicplanning.jpg "banner-strategicplanning.jpg")** ### **The Importance of a Business Plan** It's nigh on impossible to get from point A to point B without a road map. The same is true for [small business planning and strategy](https://eandssolutions.com/business/business-planning/). For any business, whether it requires a transformation or not, a business plan is vital.Goals need to be set both for revenue and expenses. Revenue goals need to be realistic and should be related to product and customer forecasts. Depending on the sales channels this may be quite difficult to accomplish. For example, a small business selling direct to consumers cannot possibly forecast by individual customer and, if offering a catalog of thousands of products, cannot possibly forecast by individual product. Compromises in terms of the details have to be made. It's quite acceptable to forecast by product category rather than individual products and to forecast by sales channel rather than individual customers when the type of customer and product dictates so. It's always difficult to forecast and the further out into the future the forecast is established the less accurate it is likely to be. ![forecasting-finance_Crystal_Ball.jpg](https://info.digitolservices.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EandS_Solutions/Blog_Images/forecasting-finance_Crystal_Ball.jpg?width=200&name=forecasting-finance_Crystal_Ball.jpg "forecasting-finance_Crystal_Ball.jpg")Nobody can forecast with complete accuracy - even in the short term. The important part of forecasting is to recognize it will never be 100% accurate **BUT** at the same time to keep the plan realistic. A professional business plan should cover a three to four year forward looking period. In the first and second years of the planning period it should be built by month and in the second and third years by quarter or even year. The business plan serves two purposes. Firstly it creates a budget against which future performance can be measured and secondly forces the planner to think about the strategy required to execute the plan. Anybody can build a [small business strategy and plan](https://www.eandssolutions.com/about.html)that projects a glorious future and early retirement. However, it probably won't be possible to execute that plan. Unless the developer of the plan is willing to invest in thinking carefully and honestly about the strategy required to execute the plan then the chances of successfully executing will be reduced.  ***It's never too late to consider the forward financial planning for your business. ****Click on the button below to download our Business Projection Workbook.*** ***Includes Income Statement, Balance Sheet & Cash Flow for a 4-year planning horizon PLUS advanced business valuation calculators.***   ***[![Financial Plan Modeling Platform Start Here](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/885654/13deb993-4160-408a-b023-b55419f42867.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/885654/13deb993-4160-408a-b023-b55419f42867)*** Topics: [Business Transformation](https://info.digitolservices.com/blog/topic/business-transformation), [Information Technology](https://info.digitolservices.com/blog/topic/information-technology), [Business Planning](https://info.digitolservices.com/blog/topic/business-planning) ### Subscribe to Email Updates ## ![Digitol Logo](https://info.digitolservices.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EandS_Solutions/Blog_Images/DIGITOL_logo_HiRes.png?width=200&name=DIGITOL_logo_HiRes.png "Digitol Logo") Become a founding member of our Digital Business Transformation Service! Learn more with a no-obligation phone consultation. [![Learn More](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/885654/cef2e462-845b-41a2-b17e-511743e2c14c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/885654/cef2e462-845b-41a2-b17e-511743e2c14c) ### The Office Products Trilogy ##### Free e-Books Authored by a 35-year executive veteran of the Office Products and Supplies industry and containing unique perspectives on the industry, the modern digital world, and roadmaps for independent office products resellers to set off down the path toward digital transformations. **Book 1** - *The Path to a Business Transformation* [![Free e-Book DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION Click Here for Access](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/885654/e5cfbfc9-5025-45bf-aae4-8667e0394fdc.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/885654/e5cfbfc9-5025-45bf-aae4-8667e0394fdc) **Book 2** - *Mergers & Acquisitions: A $20 Billion Growth Opportunity* [![Free e-Book MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS Click Here for Access](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/885654/e492f60b-40c4-47ac-a016-98d7aed323f4.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/885654/e492f60b-40c4-47ac-a016-98d7aed323f4) **Book 3** - *How the Industry has Failed the Resellers* [![Free e-Book INDUSTRY FAILS RESELLERS Click Here for Access](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/885654/6050472f-7fae-4de4-b9f9-d25f0fc8be11.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/885654/6050472f-7fae-4de4-b9f9-d25f0fc8be11) ### Calculating Returns ##### For your Digital Strategy The world has transformed from analog to digital. Digital equals data and most business operators don't like messing with data! **Check out our suite of Business Calculators!** - Break the problem down into manageable segments. - Interactive - experiment and watch the results. - Develop a better understanding of how to translate effort into results. **Essential business tools to help you manage your digital transformation!** [![Calculators Click Here](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/885654/061e5699-fff0-4e75-a389-3429d133ef87.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/885654/061e5699-fff0-4e75-a389-3429d133ef87) ### Business Projection Model Download our *FREE* proprietary business projection model. It's been built to demonstrate a path for growth and profit potential that can be achieved in the office products channel on the back of an integrated business platform suitable for the 21st-century digital environment! [![Financial Plan Modeling Platform Start Here](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/885654/13deb993-4160-408a-b023-b55419f42867.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/885654/13deb993-4160-408a-b023-b55419f42867) ### IT Scorecard Download our proprietary Information Technology worksheet. Select answers from pre-populated drop-downs and develop your own task list and priorities for implementing a fully integrated software platform. Once an integrated technology platform is established, then start to have some fun transforming your business, as you leverage technology alongside **your** personality in **your** market. [![Access Free IT Scorecard](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/885654/8bd222da-4d6c-422c-92f3-5d4ba8006304.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/885654/8bd222da-4d6c-422c-92f3-5d4ba8006304) ### Posts by Topic - [Business Transformation (101)](https://info.digitolservices.com/blog/topic/business-transformation) - [Industry News (43)](https://info.digitolservices.com/blog/topic/industry-news) - [Web Traffic (37)](https://info.digitolservices.com/blog/topic/web-traffic) - [Small Business (30)](https://info.digitolservices.com/blog/topic/small-business) - [E-commerce (26)](https://info.digitolservices.com/blog/topic/e-commerce) - [Inbound Marketing (26)](https://info.digitolservices.com/blog/topic/inbound-marketing) - [Information Technology (26)](https://info.digitolservices.com/blog/topic/information-technology) - [Social Media (21)](https://info.digitolservices.com/blog/topic/social-media) - [Intellectual Property (16)](https://info.digitolservices.com/blog/topic/intellectual-property) - [Mergers & Acquisitions (11)](https://info.digitolservices.com/blog/topic/mergers-acquisitions) - [Business Planning (8)](https://info.digitolservices.com/blog/topic/business-planning) - [CRM (5)](https://info.digitolservices.com/blog/topic/crm) - [Big Data (4)](https://info.digitolservices.com/blog/topic/big-data) - [Channel Convergence (2)](https://info.digitolservices.com/blog/topic/channel-convergence) - [Operations Management (1)](https://info.digitolservices.com/blog/topic/operations-management) see all ### [Relevant Reading](http://blog.eandssolutions.com/blog/rss.xml) ### Free Tools - [Business Projection Model](https://info.eandssolutions.com/why-must-you-have-a-financial-plan) - [Business Transformation eBook](https://info.eandssolutions.com/building-blocks-for-restructuring-a-business-for-success) - [IT Scorecard](https://info.eandssolutions.com/it-platform-for-small-biz-to-compete-in-digital-world) ### Contact Us Executive & Strategic Solutions LLC P.O. Box 173 Nolensville, TN 37135 615.397.9291 [info@EandSsolutions.com](mailto:info@EandSsolutions.com?Subject=Tell%20Me%20More) - [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/Executive-Strategic-Solutions-LLC-235034643185168/) - [Twitter](http://www.twitter.com/elliott_ian) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/2294480?trk=prof-exp-company-name) - [RSS](http://blog.eandssolutions.com/blog/rss.xml?__hstc=80192520.6f984a39ab1a039ffabf3ead1b211925.1473752357127.1473752357127.1473752357127.1&__hssc=80192520.12.1473752357127&__hsfp=438014461) © 2011-2026 Executive and Strategic Solutions LLC ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Ian M. Elliott", "url" : "https://info.digitolservices.com/blog/author/ian-m-elliott" }, "dateModified" : "2022-05-24T04:19:29.854Z", "datePublished" : "2016-02-29T14:30:00.000Z", "headline" : "​Small ​Business Planning and Strategy", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://info.digitolservices.com/blog/small-business-planning-and-strategy", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://info.digitolservices.com/hubfs/Digitol%20&%20E&S%20Co-Branding%20Logo.png" }, "name" : "Executive & Strategic Solutions LLC" } } ```