Emma R.

Business Plan Writer

Idea Expert Ltd • Freelance

Jan 2009 - Jun 2010 • 1 yr 5 mos

I researched and wrote 30+ business plans for Idea Expert, a North East startup support company that helped unemployed people return to work as self-employed business owners during the 2009 recession, supported by government-backed startup initiatives. Most projects started with little more than a founder’s notes, experience and an idea. My job was to work out whether there was a viable business hiding in there, then make the case for it. ◈ Researched unfamiliar markets spanning e-commerce, retail, construction, property services, travel and tourism, automotive, food, beauty, fitness, professional services and the creative industries. ◈ Built the commercial case behind each business through market research, competitor analysis, customer research, positioning, pricing, marketing strategy, sales channels and routes to market. ◈ Turned very different business models into credible plans, from one-person local services to national e-commerce businesses, multi-revenue-stream ventures and companies selling across B2C, B2B and public-sector markets. ◈ Some of those businesses survived well beyond the startup stage and were still trading years later.