Every time I’m asked how I build my business plan, I’m reminded of a quote I read once by Bill Gates.
He said: “People overestimate what they can do in a day and underestimate what can be done in a year.”
I’ve read that quote a million times; there are so many layers.
First, as small biz owners we get knee deep in tasks rather than asking the question: “Is this task taking me closer to what I want to do, and who I want to be?”
Most times we get so focused on the micro and forget that good business planning is stacked on a strong foundation. The macro stuff.
Yes! This is the build your castle on the sand vs the rock moment.
You can’t have a successful year with a checklist alone and without having a clear focus on how it is serving your larger goals.
And you can’t tackle any list without being 100% clear of the road ahead because it will get bumpy
Look, I walk this talk every single day.
My entire business model is directed toward helping female founders + small biz owners and if I had to connect the dots when it comes to why most struggle when they build a business plan..
I’d draw it straight through these 3 points:
→ loss of momentum
→ budget
→ lack of accountability.
Today let’s sit down for a minutes and talk about these three things. I tell my students that understanding limiting beliefs makes a heap of difference on how you work through things.
Then we’ll work through the frameworks you need at a foundational level before I share my own 2025 business road map.
Let’s dive in.
What Doesn't Work When Building Your 2025 Business Plan
🚫 Loss of Momentum ➜ A new year is like fuel, right? Ambition, drive, excitement the possibilities seem endless.
But then, the middle gets hard. The number of stumbles rises.
Without a clear anchoring, goals get pushed to the side, you become frazzled and the momentum fades.
***Yeah, this was once me too.***
What’s left is a fizzle of what could have been.
I’ve seen this a thousand times and it looks a lot like this. ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
What I mean by the illustration (via Amanda Goetz ) is that the moment the ***shiz*** hits the fan, all that momentum around building a sustainable business plan fall apart over time.
Two More Obstacles
🚫 No clear idea of budgets when creating your business plan ➜ I can’t begin to tell you how much money is left on the table when you don’t work with numbers and define your budget.
It can be intimidating but if you don’t try to grasp what you’re working with. It can lead your losses being greater than your profits.
Wait, don’t think for a second I’m talking about lots of money. Even if its $100 you need to have a map of how you’re going to turn it into $500
🚫 No accountability ➜ I’m ten toes down on two things: planning and accountability. This year I formed an accountability sister circle. I’ve always had one but I’ve expanded to include more women.
Now, take a look at what the Association for Talent Development discovered about the likelihood of people achieving their goals based on the specific actions below:
- Simply having an idea or goal: 10% chance of achieving it.
- Making a conscious decision to pursue it: 25% likelihood.
- Choosing a specific time to take action: 40% probability of success.
- Creating a clear plan for how you’ll accomplish it: 50% chance of completion.
- Sharing your commitment with someone: 65% likelihood of following through.
- Scheduling a dedicated accountability check-in with the person you’ve committed to: 95% chance of achieving your goal.
Planning is the BIG start😏. Accountability to self and others is the execution. Discipline too.
No 1| Use This Powerful Framework To Build Your Business Plan
Ok, let’s get to the show and tell. Now, don’t ask me why I’m doing this.
The OG’s will know.
I can’t help but teach the things I’ve learned from hundreds of client and customer projects in my PR agency days—and my own giant steps into digital.
Plus, the stakes are too high.
The cash-flow need is serious for most small business owners, especially those who’ve made earning money their main focus this year…
….And I just want you to know, you can plan a success path in 2025.
This is my framework. These are the questions that I frame and answer to form my overarching plan.
I have 2 planks:
- The foundation, and
- The actual action plan for the year.
The foundation is tweaked but seldom fundamentally changed unless I need a major switcheroo.
And then there is the yearly plan, which shifts year-to-year as I knock off goals and add new ones or double down on the one pulling me toward a success path.
I’ve worked this system in my 7-figure PR business.
It’s what I did when I knew I wanted to transition to digital entrepreneurship
➡️ And it’s what I’m using now to double down on my efforts☝to get multiple streams of income from my digital business.⬅
Foundational Framing To Build Your Business Plan
- Mission: Why does your biz exist?
- Business Goals. What’s your North Star. What metrics do you want to achieve?
- The Competition + Admiration Circle. Who else is doing this? How are you different?
- Offer Matrix + Roadmap. What do you sell, and why is it different and when will it launch?
- Target Market. Who do you sell to?
- Brand Strategy. Why will you win?
Questions For Your Annual Business Plan
- What worked in 2024 and what did not?
- What will you change/keep?
- Strategy. How you will win in 2025?
- What will it cost to win?
- Anti-Goals. What will you choose not focus on in 2025?
- Resources. What/Who do you need to do it?
- How will you plan from month-to-month and day -to-day
- P&L. How much money will you have, save and invest back into my biz?
- Who is in your accountability circle ? 😲
GOT IT. 👆🏼👆 READ IT AGAIN TWICE IF YOU LIKE
*wiggles eyebrows knowingly.*
I know, I know, I am asking you to dig deep. You need to do this work. If I did it, so can you.
NOW YOUR TURN: In the above framework ask yourself these exact questions and get to your foundational planning.
No. 2| Use My Personal Foundational Planning Frameworks
Now in case these questions seem too rigorous – listen we all start somewhere – let me show you exactly how I use the foundational framework to ensure my “house” is built on rocks.
Remember we talked about the strength of your planning not founded on a check list that blows in the wind ?
That’s my approach and it starts with framing of my responses to these very singular questions.
These Responses Will Help Help You Build Your Business Plan
- Mission: Why do you exist? Your mission is the heartbeat of your business. For example, mine is: “I help female founders over 40 create profitable online businesses that bring them joy and freedom.
It’s simple, clear, and reminds me of why I started.
→ What’s yours? - What your North Star? The metrics you want to achieve?
Think big but measurable:Generate $100 K in revenue from digital product sales by December 2025.Grow my email list to 15,000 engaged subscribers this year.
→ Your goals should guide every decision you make day by day, month by month. - Competitive Landscape: Who else is doing this? How are you different?
Here’s an example: If you’re a coach targeting immigrants moving to a new country (this is my friend’s actual business model), then check out others in the space.
→ For me, I know other business coaches teach systems and strategy…
but few focus on the unique needs of women over 40—and that’s my edge. - Offer Matrix and RoadMap
Here’s the truth: to get from direction to action, you need a bridge.
What do you sell, why is it different, and when will it launch? Break it down like this:
Digital Course: “Launch Essentials: From Idea to Profit”—launching March 2025.
1:1 Coaching: Available year-round for select clients.
Live Training Events: Planning one for Q3 focused on content marketing.
→ A roadmap will keep you organised and focused on your revenue stream.
Specificity will help you build a better business plan
- Who Do You Sell To? Who Is Your Target Audience.
Be specific!
Here’s mine:
Female entrepreneurs over 40 who want to transition to online business, monetise their expertise, turn their knowledge into income, and build sustainable income streams.
→ The more precise you are, the easier it is to create content and offers they’ll love. - Brand Strategy: Why Will You Win?
For me, it’s simple. I win because I show up authentically, speak directly to my audience’s needs, and teach in a way that’s actionable and easy to follow.
In 2025, I’ve added: “Be more direct with my sales.”→What’s your unique selling point? Own it!
And ta-daaaaaa, 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 below you’ll my road map.
My intention. My direction. My execution in 2025.
It’s a road map, developed in conjunction with my Business Reset Guide that provided the annual focus.
There are check-ins and resets every quarter. Monthly accountability meetings with my sister circle + daily actions with plenty of room for breaks, rest + 2 digital nomad stints.
No. 3| Here's My 2025 Business Road Map
See what’s happening here? It’s not just about having a goal, a few resolutions.
To build a business plan focused on results you got to put in the work and design a path to get there.
No. 4 | A Guide To Help You Take Profitable Action
Now that you’ve seen how to set your foundation to bring your business goals into real reach, let’s talk about this year and the next four quarters.
I’ve pulled out all the stops and created a >>> Business Planning Series <<< and includes access to the 2025 Business Reset Guide + The Small Biz Budget Planner.
And because I’ve been exactly where you are—juggling all the things, wondering where to start—I created 3 specific tools with you in mind.
The series isn’t about overwhelm or guesswork.
It’s about clarity, momentum, and making 2025 one that is driven with focus.
Here is where you can view all my templates on business planning .
