Business planning

Question 1

What’s in a business plan?

Answer 1

-executive summary
-business description
-market analysis
-marketing / sales strategy
-product or service
-operation plan
-financial plan

Question 2

What is in your company business plan?

Answer 2

-EPC
-rebalance portfolio assets
-sustainability focus: all electric vehicles

Question 3

What are the ownership structures?

Answer 3

sole trader
parntership
limited liability partnership
private or public limited

Question 4

What’s a sole trader?

Answer 4

sole trader is an individual who owns and operates their business alone.

-personally liable
-Simpler and cheaper to set up.
-No distinction between personal and business assets — risk is unlimited.

Question 5

what is a partnership?

Answer 5

two or more people (partners) sharing the ownership and operation of the business.

-Shared responsibility: share profits, losses, and liabilities.
-Partners are jointly and severally liable — meaning each partner can be personally responsible for the debts.

Question 6

What is a limited liability partnership?

Answer 6

Combines the flexibility of a partnership with the limited liability of a company.

Limited liability: Partners’ personal assets are protected — only the capital they invested is at risk.
Flexible structure: Partners share profits and responsibilities, but liabilities are limited.
Must be registered with Companies House and follow certain reporting requirements.

Question 7

What is a private limited company?

Answer 7

eg Marston

-business structure where the company is legally separate from its owners.
-Limited liability: Shareholders’ liability is limited to the value of their shares (no personal liability).
-Ownership is restricted to a specific number of shareholders.
-Can raise capital by issuing shares but cannot trade shares on the stock market.
-register Companies House and adherence to statutory requirements (e.g., filing annual accounts, appointing directors).

Common for small to medium-sized businesses.

Question 8

What is a public limited company?

Answer 8

can offer shares to the public through a stock exchange.
Limited liability: Shareholders’ liability is limited to the value of their shares.
Can raise capital by selling shares to the public.
Strict regulatory requirements (e.g., annual general meetings, extensive financial disclosures).

Used by larger companies with ambitions to list on stock exchanges (e.g., FTSE 100 companies)