1.3.13

Advantages & Disadvantages of a Business Plan

Test yourself

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Business Plan

There are advantages and disadvantages of creating business plans.

Illustrative background for AdvantagesIllustrative background for Advantages ?? "content

Advantages

  • Business plans provide parameters for setting targets.
  • Management can check staffing, incomes, product ranges and lots of other things against previous business plans and expansion plans.
  • A business plan can be used as a benchmark against outcomes like cashflow, production outcomes or service delivery. The plan can also be compared to the behaviour of competitors and the business’ own performance in past years.
Illustrative background for DisadvantagesIllustrative background for Disadvantages ?? "content

Disadvantages

  • Businesses need to be flexible and able to adapt to a changing environment. A business plan may stop a company changing.
  • Business plans can be costly and time consuming to make. If an entrepreneur has less time to spend designing a good product and selling to customers, then the time spent making a business plan may be negative for the business.
  • Also, forecasts of revenue and profit may be misleading and lead to bad decisions.

Jump to other topics

1Understanding Business Activity

1.1Business Activity

1.2Classification of Businesses

1.3Enterprise, Business Growth & Size

1.4Types of Business Organisation

1.5Business Objectives & Stakeholder Objectives

2People in Business

3Marketing

3.1Marketing & the Market

3.2Market Research

3.3Marketing Mix

3.4Legal Controls

4Operations Management

5Financial Information & Decisions

6External Influences on Business Activity

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium