From Setback to Comeback – Part 3 From Vision to Action: Business Plan & KPI’s

Simple Business Planning for Small Business Owners

“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin

A business plan is your roadmap to success. It should be a living document you revisit regularly—not a 40-page epic that gathers dust. Keep it lean and useful.

Why it matters: A simple business plan helps you clarify your mission, understand your market, and define your value.

What to include:

• Your core offer
• Target audience
• Revenue model
• Marketing strategy
• Key milestones

Tools we recommend:

• Lean Canvas
• One-page action plan

Action Step:

Block out 2 hours this week to draft your plan. Don’t aim for perfect, just get your ideas down.

How to Prioritise What to Work On First

“It’s not enough to be busy. The question is, what are we busy about?” – Henry David Thoreau

First things first, you need to decide what you should be doing in your business to reach your goals. Ask yourself:

• What drives revenue or impact fastest?
• What’s draining time with little return?

When you have a better understanding of what has the most impact on you (as the owner) and your business, you will be able to start to prioritise what needs attention.

Utilise decision-making frameworks, such as the Eisenhower Matrix, to prioritise tasks by urgency and importance. This approach enables you to tackle tasks first, schedule them, delegate, and delete, as well as the Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 Rule, to identify high-impact tasks.

Also, check out Fix This Next by Mike Michalowicz for a needs-based hierarchy for deciding what to focus on in your business. Use the free evaluation tool to start.

Action Step:

Choose one core offer or service to focus on for the next 90 days. Let everything else support that.

Setting KPIs That Matter for Your Business

“The goal is to turn data into information, and information into insight.” – Carly Fiorina

KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) are how you measure progress toward your goals. They turn your data into decisions.

Start with 3–5 KPIs, such as:

• Financial: Monthly revenue, profit margin
• Marketing: Bookings, website traffic, email open rates
• Operational: Client retention, employee productivity

Action Step:

Track 3–5 KPIs such as monthly revenue, profit margin, client retention, and website traffic. Set realistic targets and review them weekly. Post them visibly to stay accountable.

Pricing and Packaging Strategies for Small Businesses

“Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.” – Warren Buffet

Pricing isn’t just about numbers – it’s about positioning, value, and sustainability. If you know your customer and solve their problems, they’ll pay for the value you provide.

Questions to ask:

• Do I know my target customer and what problems I solve?
• Is my pricing competitive and profitable?
• Do my packages make sense for my audience?
• Can I offer tiered options or bundles?

Ideas to explore:

• Introductory offers or trial packages
• Bundling services (e.g., virtual admin + bookkeeping)
• Value-based pricing for premium services

Action Step: Test one new pricing model with a small group or pilot offer. Or better yet – ask your customers what they want. They might give you your next great idea.

Why Imperfect Action Builds Momentum

“Imperfect action trumps perfect inaction.” – Harry Truman

Perfection is a trap. Progress is the goal. You don’t need to have it all figured out to start – in fact, being open to learning creates space for new ideas and opportunities.

Examples of imperfect action:

• Launching your product before it’s “perfect”
• Sending a simple email to your list
• Posting a behind-the-scenes update
• Attending a networking event
• Writing a blog about your business

Mindset shift:

Practice makes progress. Strive for excellence through learning. People love to share their knowledge, so reach out to someone who is a step ahead of you and ask.

Action Step:

Take one imperfect action today.

Creating a 30-60-90 Day Business Plan

Break your comeback into manageable phases. This structure helps you stay focused and celebrate progress.

30 Days – Foundation

• Finalise your lean business plan
• Launch your landing page
• Set up basic KPIs
• Start marketing to warm leads

60 Days – Momentum

• Refine pricing and packages
• Begin tracking KPIs weekly
• Test new marketing channels
• Host a small event or webinar

90 Days – Growth

• Evaluate results and adjust strategy
• Automate or delegate admin tasks
• Expand your service offerings
• Celebrate wins and share your story

Final Thoughts from Sam

Your comeback doesn’t need to be flashy – it needs to be focused. If you’re a small business owner in Central Queensland and want support with planning, admin, or strategy, reach out via www.smallbizhq.com.au. We’re in this together.

You’ve got this. One step at a time.