Small Business Development

A good business plan is an essential business management tool. It guides all financial decisions. A plan provides benchmarks that guide production, sales, marketing and financial decisions. A business plan is required to obtain a loan or line of credit. A good plan helps the entrepreneur sleep well at night. Michael McLaughlin has assisted dozens of small business owners to complete business plans. Michael provides: Revenue/cost analysis: What is making money, what is not? Can you reduce expenses, increase revenue? Financial management tools: cash flow analysis, debt management Marketing planning: identify markets; get the most from your marketing dollar Competition analysis: Are you competitive? Do you have the optimal price point? Are there additional market opportunities? A sober second opinion: Look before you leap

Dr. Michael McLaughlin Lead Economist

Business Management

The business plan is an essential tool for business management, but it is implemented through your business structure and decision-making process. Michael’s approach to your business begins with you, the entrepreneur. What components of your business are you passionate about? Where there is passion, there is skill and beauty. All parts of your business should be fuelled by passion and skill. There are many ways to make that happen. Your business structure may be simple or complex. As business owner, you are the business manager, but that does not mean you should do everything. Michael assists you to identify the components of the business you should directly manage, and the components where additional skills and passion are required. He assists you with innovative ways to build the “team” your business needs for success. Michael will help you build the networks you need to grow or start your business. He will help you obtain financing and navigate through government regulations.

Please contact Michael at michael@ruralfutures.ca for a free appraisal of how he might assist your business to grow.