Business Management Consulting London

Business Planning That Drives Results

In today’s fast-moving business environment, writing business plans is essential — not optional. SMEs that plan effectively grow faster, make better decisions, and are more resilient. At Secantor, we help ambitious businesses create focused, actionable business plans that deliver commercial value. Our experienced Fractional Directors and Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) work closely with you to sharpen your strategy, align your team, and hold the business accountable for results.

Read our in-depth guide: Why Every Business Needs a Business Plan.

Why Write A Business Plan?

The process of developing your business plan is often more valuable than the document itself. It forces you to step back and ask the tough questions: Where is your business going? What markets are shifting? What’s your competitive position? How do you focus your resources to make the biggest impact?

Clarity and direction: Aligns leadership on vision, goals, and strategy.
Business accountability: Sets measurable targets and drives performance.
Improved decision-making: Supports investment, hiring, and operational choices.
Risk management: Identifies and mitigates threats early.
Increased stakeholder confidence: Investors, lenders, and teams trust a business with a plan.

Planning + Financial Forecast = Strategic Control

Every great business plan should be backed by a robust financial model. Our part-time Finance Directors and Management Accountants build forecasts that convert strategy into numbers — helping you measure progress, secure funding, and adapt in real time. A typical forecast spans 3–5 years, with the first year acting as your monthly budget and operational roadmap.

How To Write A Business Plan

There’s no one-size-fits-all format, but most effective plans follow a structured approach that links vision, strategy and execution. A well-written business plan helps you focus, stay accountable, and turn your commercial ambitions into reality.

Here’s how to get started:

Set your vision: Define what success looks like.
Understand your market: Conduct external analysis (customers, competitors, trends).
Use SWOT and PESTLE: Identify internal strengths and external influences.
Set goals: Clear, time-bound, and measurable objectives.
Turn strategy into actions: Assign ownership and deadlines.
Build a financial plan: Include budgets, forecasts, and KPIs.
Review and refine: Keep the plan alive with regular updates.

What Makes A Successful Business Plan?

Our experience shows that the most effective business plans have:

Clarity: Jargon-free and to the point.
Realism: Based on data, not wishful thinking.
Flexibility: Can adapt when circumstances change.
Actions: Clear owners and timescales for delivery.
Review cycles: Regular progress checks to stay on track.
Independent challenge: External input from a Non-Executive Director or Fractional Director adds rigour, objectivity and commercial insight.

Learn more in our blog: The Blueprint for Success: Why Writing Business Plans Is Essential.

“Secantor has been instrumental in helping us secure our future, bringing great insight, experience and expertise to the management team. Our Secantor Executive has integrated perfectly into our senior team and with a fresh approach and external perspective has helped us transform the business.”

Mark - Managing Director, Manufacturing Company

Want to Boost Your Business Profits?

Profitability is the heartbeat of any successful business. Ready to take your business to the next level? Download your free guide and discover 10 powerful strategies to increase your business profits today!

Inside this guide, you'll discover how to:

✓ Create a budget that works for you

✓ Identify profit hotspots (and tackle any losses)

✓ Maximise sales while keeping costs in check

✓ Master the difference between 'Mark-up' and 'Margin'

…and so much more!

Click the button below to get instant access to your free guide and start growing your profits now!

Ways Secantor Will Help You

Develop & Implement A Successful Plan

Optimise Your Finances

Develop A Strong Accountable Team

Build Value In Your Business

Improve Operational Efficiency

Exit Your Business Successfully

Free Business Review

No two businesses are the same. This is why we offer a free business review. We can arrange an initial chat with one of our experts to get things started. Then a couple of our team members will visit you to listen to the story of your business. From this meeting, we’ll be able to provide you with some interesting insights into your business from our independent experience. This will allow you to see how we work and help us to select the right expert for your business. Contact us to book a free consultation.

Why not read one of our short case studies to learn about Secantor's impact.

“We will never forget your huge contribution to Montezuma’s and your constant support, encouragement and all the board room laughs. Thank you for everything!” - Helen Pattinson, MD & Co-founder of Montezuma’s Chocolates

Talk To Paul About Your Business Goals

Book A Call With Paul Today!

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What Does It Take to Build a Successful SME?

For over 20 years, Secantor has worked with hundreds of SME businesses, helping them overcome challenges and achieve growth. This guide outlines the practical strategies and essential practices that every owner should implement to drive their business forward.

Learn what works and start making meaningful progress today.

Simply confirm your details on the form provided to get instant access to your free copy!

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Our Services

We help you make strategic decisions

Secantor provides expert financial and management support to SME owners and directors. Our commercially experienced team covers the following roles.

Non-Executive Director

Strategic support and experience to guide you as you make decisions and build value in your business. A NED acts as a sounding board for your ideas, improves business performance, holds you and your team to account and helps you achieve a successful exit.

✓ Strategic business planning

✓ Support strategic decision-making

✓ Set business goals and objectives

✓ Rejuvenate struggling businesses

✓ Manage growth effectively

✓ Implement best practice

✓ Sounding board for your ideas

✓ Set and communicate vision

✓ Hold you & your team to account

✓ Build an effective management team

Learn More

Finance Director

Expert financial leadership from a commercially experienced, qualified accountant. An FD will create financial plans, report your monthly performance against budget and interpret the figures to help you make sound decisions & improve profitability.

✓ Expert financial advice

✓ Interpret financial results a support decisions

✓ Develop & oversee your finance team

✓ Improve profitability & control costs

✓ Prepare management accounts

✓ Create 3-5 year financial plan

✓ Budget setting

✓ Source appropriate funding

✓ Cashflow forecasting & management

✓ Prepare reports & commentaries for your bank

Learn More

Operations Director

Strategic operational leadership to transform your people and business processes to improve efficiency and profitability. An Operations Director helps you build a strong management team, delegate operational actions and improve business performance.

✓ Develop strength in your management team

✓ Establish key performance indicators (KPIs)

✓ Hold people accountable to achieve results

✓ Process and quality improvement

✓ Help you delegate effectively

✓ Create clear job descriptions

✓ Identify and recruit talent

✓ Implement robust operational systems

✓ Establish clear goals and expectations

✓ Enable your team to achieve excellence

Learn More

Develop & Implement A Successful Business Plan

Business Planning That Drives Results

Why Write A Business Plan?

Planning + Financial Forecast = Strategic Control

How To Write A Business Plan

What Makes A Successful Business Plan?

Need Help Writing Your Business Plan?

“Secantor has been instrumental in helping us secure our future, bringing great insight, experience and expertise to the management team. Our Secantor Executive has integrated perfectly into our senior team and with a fresh approach and external perspective has helped us transform the business.”

Want to Boost Your Business Profits?

Ways Secantor Will Help You

Develop & Implement A Successful Plan

Optimise Your Finances

Develop A Strong Accountable Team

Build Value In Your Business

Improve Operational Efficiency

Exit Your Business Successfully

Free Business Review

Talk To Paul About Your Business Goals

Paul Gibbins

Read Our Latest Case Studies

Achieving the Dream Business Exit

The Value of an Interim Finance Director

Resolving Boardroom Conflict

What Does It Take to Build a Successful SME?

“Secantor has made a world of difference - we are now in control. It's a very cost effective way for us to have high level management and strategic help”

Read Our Latest Blog Posts

Has Your Business Growth Stagnated? Here's How to Recover.

Thinking Of Exiting Your Business: What Are Your Options?

The Blueprint For Success: Why Every Business Needs To Write A Plan

Our Services

We help you make strategic decisions

Non-Executive Director

Finance Director

Operations Director

Free Business Review