This document outlines a 10-step strategic planning process for small businesses to develop and implement a strategic plan. The steps include gathering a team to brainstorm, conducting a SWOT analysis, researching competitors, analyzing markets, getting employee and customer feedback, identifying 3-5 major goals or "Big Rocks," assigning tasks and responsibilities for each goal, meeting regularly to track progress, and repeating the process annually. The process is designed to help small businesses identify where to focus efforts to take their business to the next level.

1. The
down
and
dirty
10-­‐Step
Strategic
Planning
Process
for
small
businesses
who
want
to
succeed

2. STEP 1: Gather your team

3. Off-site? On-site?

4. Full day? Half day?

5. Take turns leading

6. Get ready to brainstorm

7. STEP 2: Do SWOT Analysis
2 hours

8. Strengths

9. Weaknesses

10. Opportunities

11. Threats

12. Refine your SWOT
notes as you go
through the next
steps

13. STEP 3: Look at Competitors

14. Do your research
 Websites
 Print materials
 Advertising
 Ask friends, customers about
perceptions

15. How can you differentiate?

16. Do you need to add
services or products?

17. STEP 4: Look at your markets

18. STEP 4: Look at your markets
 Are they changing?
 Where can you sell deeper?
 What are customers asking for?
 Is there a better way to communicate?
 Any market specific opportunities or
threats?

19. STEP 5: Ask your employees

20. STEP 5: Ask your employees
 What would make your job easier?
 What would make you happier?
 What are the top issues you keep running
into?
 What do you think we need to do to get to
the next level?

21. STEP 6: Ask your customers

22. How would you rate our:
 Quality
 Efficiency
 Customer Service
 Reliability
 Communication
 Integrity

23. Open ended questions:
 What could we do better?
 What do you wish we offered in a product
or service?

24. And the bottom line
questions:
 Would you recommend us to others?
 How likely are you to do business with us
again?

25. STEP 7: Identify your Big Rocks
What are the top
3-5 things you can
do that would take
your business to
the next level?

26. The Big Rocks Example

27. STEP 8: List tasks for each
Big Rock identified
Big
rock
1
Task
1
People
responsible
Due
date
Task
2
People
responsible
Due
date
Task
3
People
responsible
Due
date
Task
1
People
responsible
Due
date
Task
2
People
responsible
Due
date
Task
3
People
responsible
Due
date
Big
rock
2

28. STEP 9: Meet regularly to
work on and report progress

29. STEP 10: Repeat Every Year!

30. Download this presentation at
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