Blog Post

Business Plan Challenge for Creatives

International Creative Women • 8 March 2021

“Going into business without a business plan is like going on a mountain trek without a map or GPS support – you’ll eventually get lost and starve!” 
- Kevin J. Donaldson

Starting and running a successful creative business is just like starting and running any other business. To create a vibrant and profitable brand you need more than talent or a good idea, you need business knowledge, an entrepreneurial mindset and a plan with clear strategies.

Why you need a business plan? 

Many creative entrepreneurs and freelancers think they only need to prepare a business plan to get financing from a bank or an investor.  Not true.  A business plan is your guide to success.  Every creative business should have one! 

Once you have validated your idea, you need to ask yourself a few important questions: What is the purpose of your business? Why you want to do it? What are your end goals? How will you finance your costs? Who is going to buy your product or service? If you can't find evidence that there's a demand for your idea, then what would be the point? 

All these answers should be well thought and included in your business plan!


Feeling already anxious, nervous?  probably.  This is the part many of us dislike,  many creatives feel completely out of the comfort zone thinking about financial planning, sales strategies and business models.


Creating a business plan is that ugly old hat we refuse to wear. We know the feeling, is overwhelming! A mix of despair, boredom and fear,   but don't quit yet!!


We  have created a solution for you!


The Business Model


There are many business models and templates we can use but they have a language we don't know or we don't understand very well.


We know how difficult and intimidating this can be, that's why we have transformed the classic business model Canvas into a business model that is easier to understand and to follow.


This adapted version is visually more appealing and for sure you will feel more motivated to use it.


The Challenge


Our mission is to help creative entrepreneurs and freelancers to build a profitable business that allows them to do what they love,  so they can transform their hobbies, talents and passions into thriving businesses.


The first step to achieve this, is to create a solid business plan!  That's why we created the Business Plan Challenge!


How often have you attended workshops, bought books or downloaded templates but you don't see results or you just abandon the task? Are you excited about learning something  but you cannot transform that knowledge into tangible actions?

It's not that easy, specially if you are alone!


Since February 2021, 26 women entrepreneurs divided in 3 groups have joined the challenge and together we are building our own business plan in a simple, real, and visual way using the adapted version of the business model canvas.


The challenge takes 9 weeks. 


The first session gives the participants an overview and some practical exercises for the next sessions.


Every week the participants receive a guide with extra resources to help them to complete each box of the business model.


Every week we meet online to discuss the results, exchange ideas, get feedback, and of course answer questions.  Every meeting is inspiring, empowering, and of course, rewarding because we see the results immediately.

Our next challenge will open at the end of May!

Stay tuned, meanwhile you can read what participants think about the challenge!

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