One of the first things I was told to do when I set up my freelance business was to start working on a business plan. The whole process lasted over a year and, while fun, meant I had to do a lot of revisions. If I’d had the money, I would have purchased a business plan proofreading service.
Luckily, I wasn’t seeking investment or funding, so my business plan was mostly just for myself. Still, the amount of mistakes I’ve found in it since completion is ridiculous.
That’s why I offer a business plan proofreading service. Biased or not, I can tell you: you absolutely should bother to get business plan proofreading.
If you’re fortunate enough to know someone you can ask to proofread for you, brilliant. If you’re not, here’s why a proofreading service is something you should look into.
What is a business plan for?
A business plan focuses on your business’s objectives, structure, and journey. Including sections for goals, finances, marketing, research, and information for your products or services, a business plan is the definitive document for guiding your business to success.
It’s always a good idea to create a business plan to keep your mind focused, but it’s an essential document if you seek investors or funding.
For more on creating a business plan, check out Startups.co.uk’s free simple business plan template or Barclays’ business plan guide.
Business plans need to be detailed, specific, and professional. They need to outline your goals, how your business functions, and – if you want investment or funding – need to convince people of how viable your business is.
The impact of proofreading for business plans
Business plans must be edited for clarity and concision, but proofreading shouldn’t be neglected either. A typo in your projected finances could make funding impossible. If your plan is riddled with spelling mistakes, lenders won’t be convinced that you’re serious about your business.
According to Bridgehouse Company Secretaries, any organisation that makes frequent errors, including spelling mistakes, “does not come across as professional, which can be damaging to your reputation”. To have error-free copy “conveys credibility and reflects positively on you as an organisation that treats all aspects of its business as equally important”.
This is especially important for business plans because of how they’re used. Not every business needs a business plan, but those that do are bound to use it
What does proofreading entail?
For proofreading to be effective, you need someone who hasn’t worked on your business plan previously. Hiring a freelance proofreader is ideal if you want to ensure as many problems as possible are caught.
A proofreader primarily:
- Checks for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors
- Ensures consistency across spelling and punctuation use
- Looks for formatting mistakes
- Finds and adds missing words
I offer a business plan proofreading service from £20 per hour, with only the longest business plans costing more than my flat rate. Startups.co.uk recommends not going over 15 pages, which is definitely long enough. The longest UK small business plans can be up to 40 pages of content.
Want to know more or get a quote? Email me today.