Business Planning
Through our comprehensive business planning approach, we will work with you to develop the following elements:
Social impact and financial goals.
Organisational structure, governance, and management.
Market analysis (key customer segments and competition).
Marketing strategy.
Community education and engagement strategy.
Human resource strategy.
Operational strategy.
Financial projections.
Risk mitigation.
SUCCESS STORIES
Here’s what our clients have to say.
We have worked with leaders of social enterprises at every stage.
The REACH Foundation Inc.
“I cannot speak highly enough of Social Enterprise Solutions for their invaluable assistance to Reach Foundation in helping us create a comprehensive marketing and business plan for the expansion of our social enterprises. Andy and the team gave personalized service and they were always quick to respond to questions or needs. Couple this with their deep knowledge in social enterprise, and it made for an excellent experience. They guided us through each step of the planning process to help us create a well-crafted business and marketing plan with clear implementation steps. Social Enterprise Solution’s ongoing support ensures we stay on track to reach our goals. They have been instrumental in empowering Reach Foundation to realize our vision, and we are immensely grateful for their dedication and expertise.”
– Dean Constable, Executive Director
Fireloch Retreat and Gathering Place
“We were fortunate to collaborate with Andy on developing a business plan for our start-up social enterprise. Our journey began with a notable challenge: as founders, we lacked the expertise to craft a visionary document that could effectively organize our work and resonate equally with potential funders. Working alongside Andy, his insightful questions and strategic guidance challenged our perspectives, enabling us to see things in a new light. Through his mentorship, we not only developed a comprehensive business plan but also gained invaluable insights into navigating the ever changing landscape of local social enterprise.
Andy didn’t just assist us in crafting a document; he empowered us to articulate our vision with conviction and authenticity. His unwavering support and dedication ensured that every step of the process felt both manageable and clarifying. Thanks to Andy’s expertise and personal touch, we are now equipped to embark on our entrepreneurial journey with confidence and purpose.
Andy is more than just a consultant; he is a catalyst for transformative change. We wholeheartedly recommend his services to any organization seeking to make a meaningful impact in the world of social innovation.”
– Jennifer DeCoste, Founder
A Question of Care (QoC) – a local training initiative coordinated by the Peterborough Drug Strategy
“We worked with Andy over approximately 6 months to develop business and evaluation plans for our social enterprise. The process felt like a personalized business training course. The plans have since allowed us to confidently make decisions on how to operate our growing program for the last year. Not to mention when something comes up that we don’t know how to handle, Andy is only an email away and always quick to help with any questions. He’s very organized, smart and patient. A great coach that I highly recommend!”
– Sage Irwin, Project Lead
Edmonton Newcomer Centre
“Andy was brought on board by my manager to help me flesh out the plan for our social enterprise project, and I have worked closely with him since March 2023. Immediately, I was struck by how he put his energies into genuinely wanting to get to know our organization and its values on the deepest level. This thoroughness allowed him to understand the best approaches as we developed our business plan, marketing strategy, and other crucial elements. He was invested in our success, and seamlessly adapted to changes on our end by suggesting logical and creative solutions to hurdles we encountered.
I personally have never had such a positive experience working with a consultant. Andy is a natural guide and I feel like not only did our project benefit from his efforts, but that I learned valuable takeaways that will make me more effective as I further develop this project and others in the future. I would welcome any opportunity to work with him again and would unreservedly recommend him to anyone.”
– Julie R McCrea, eLearning and Employment Project Specialist
FUNDING
Find funding so we can help you start planning your enterprise.
We have curated funding resources that can cover the costs of this specific service.
INNOWEAVE
$15,000
Up to $11,250 (75% of a total project cost of $15,000). The applicant is responsible for the remaining 25% ($3,750).
This coaching stream helps participants explore ideas for how they can further their social impact goals and generate revenue through an enterprise model.
CBDC
$5,000
Consultant Advisory Services (CAS)
Up to $5,000 (75% of a total project cost of up to $6666). The applicant is responsible for the remaining 25% ($1666).
ACOA-funded, CBDC-managed grants to enable small and medium-sized businesses and non-profits to access technical and financial assistance.
*These numbers are exclusive of HST, HST is not considered an eligible expense.
ATLANTIC CANADA OPPORTUNITIES AGENCY
$25,000
Community Capacity Fund
Up to $25,000 (average grant = $13,000)
The objective of the Community Capacity Fund (CCF) is to build strategic capacity as it relates to regional development initiatives in rural areas of Nova Scotia. The CCF assists industry/sector associations, municipalities, social enterprises and not-for-profit organizations initiate small-scaled activities that are limited in scope, time-sensitive, require financial assistance to be undertaken, and usually assists these organizations to address timely issues, opportunities and/or challenges through the support of professional outside expertise. Over the lifetime of this project, 58 organizations were approved for CCF assistance for a total value of $755,857.
RESOURCES
We have curated a list of learning resources about this topic.
RESOURCE
Using the Business Model Canvas for Social Enterprise Design
BY: Ingrid Burkett
The essential first step before you do a business plan.
RESOURCE
Sample Social Business Model Canvas
BY: ANDY HORSNELL
You can use this Business Model canvas to get an idea of its structure and content.
WORKSHEET
Coming soon!
BY: ANDY HORSNELL
Check back soon for a new worksheet!
Social Enterprise Coaching Stream