You're at Stage 5 — Business Planning
You’re making excellent progress through the PACK & SEND recruitment journey. This stage focuses on developing your business plan and preparing for the final steps toward franchise ownership.
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1Enquiry
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2Discovery
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3Qualified
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4Initial Presentation
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5Business Plan
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6Discovery Day
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7Exec Interview
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8Franchise Award
Your Business Plan
Your business plan is an important part of the process as it allows you to bring together everything you’ve learned so far about the PACK & SEND opportunity and begin shaping how you would approach launching and growing your business. It also gives us the opportunity to better understand your vision, your local market, and how you plan to build and develop your customer base.
Within this section of the portal, you can download our business plan template, which has been designed to guide you through the key areas we recommend considering — from your local market opportunity and sales strategy, to financial planning and operational considerations.
Once you have completed your plan, you can upload it here for review. You will then have the opportunity to discuss your business plan in more detail with Richard, who will provide feedback, answer any questions, and help you refine your approach as you move closer to the final stages of the recruitment process.
Take your time with this stage — it’s a valuable exercise that helps ensure you feel confident, prepared, and ready to take the next step towards becoming a PACK & SEND franchise partner.
Creating a Strong Business Plan — Points to Consider
Your business plan doesn’t need to be perfect at this stage. It’s a tool to help you think strategically and give Richard a clear picture of your approach so he can provide guidance and feedback. Make sure to use our template as this includes our expected costs using our proven business model.
What type of location will best suit your business?
Consider footfall, local demographics, competition, accessibility, parking, and visibility. Your premises should support your target customer base and operational needs. For PACK & SEND we generally look for business parks or high street locations — consider your opportunity for fulfilment, size of the premises, and nearby businesses that could potentially turn into customers. Get realistic costings in your area to populate your business plan.
Setting up a lease agreement
If you’re setting up a lease agreement, consider the additional fees with solicitors. Some landlords now opt for smart leases that don’t require solicitors. Also consider that warehouses and business parks often have high volumes of enquiries and you may need to submit a bid for the premises — we have a document to support you with this. Speak to Richard if you require our support in this area.
How many team members will you need to run the business effectively?
Think about peak hours, roles required (customer service, operations, management), and seasonal demand. As well as whether you plan to have an active day-to-day role within the business or hire staff to run the whole operation.
What skills and experience will your team need?
Consider training requirements, recruitment strategies, and how to maintain high standards of customer service. Consider looking for staff earlier on, as they can join you at your initial training. We can also support staff training later down the line through your dedicated network sales and operations rep.
How will your day-to-day operations run?
Map out key processes such as customer service, order handling, invoicing, and shipping. Think about efficiency, technology use, and how you will maintain quality standards.
How will you manage suppliers, inventory, and logistics?
Include systems for stock management, vendor relationships, and reporting to keep operations smooth. This includes your GMX fees — these fees will already appear in our template business plan.
How will you attract and retain customers?
Outline strategies for local marketing, social media, partnerships, and promotions. Consider customer demographics and the best channels to reach them. Our initial fee to marketing is included in the business plan.
What are your expected start-up costs?
These are all included in the business plan template and include the initial franchise fee, technology platform fees and marketing launch fees.
What are your projected revenues and expenses?
Estimate monthly sales, operating costs, and overheads. This will help you understand break-even points and potential profitability. Richard will have shared our other stores’ sales and profits — you can set your goals and use these as a benchmark for your expectations.
What is your expected return on investment?
Think about timelines for achieving profitability and growth targets for your business and your own personal goals.
What are your personal objectives for the business?
Consider work-life balance, growth ambitions, and long-term plans for your franchise.
How does this business fit with your skills, experience, and lifestyle?
Make sure your plan reflects your strengths, motivations, and what success looks like for you.