Business planning

Tip: Do not restrict yourself to voluntary sector only resources, more commercial resources will help you get onto or keep on a surplus making footing!   Remember social enterprise is business for social purpose; the books need to balance and ideally a surplus made to reinvest for social gain.

Business Link offers excellent basic information for anyone considering setting up a business social or otherwise.  Topics covered by Business Link include:

  • Finding and managing the money
  • Forming and naming your business
  • Business names & structures
  • Buying a business
  • Your workplace
  • Choosing and setting up premises
  • Keeping the workplace safe and your employees healthy
  • Taxes, payroll & returns
  • Taxes, records and returns - getting started
  • VAT
  • Income, Corporation and other business taxes
  • PAYE and National Insurance
  • Employing people
  • Becoming an employer for the first time

Useful links

Business Link – Starting up

Together for children - Children's centre business planning toolkit

Sheffield Out of School Network – Business plan template [pdf 40kb] and cashflow templates

Dotted line

Go to next page: Choosing a legal structure

Return to social enterprise menu

Return to useful links menu