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12 Best Business Ideas for Social Workers

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Written by: Carolyn Young

Carolyn Young is a business writer who focuses on entrepreneurial concepts and the business formation. She has over 25 years of experience in business roles, and has authored several entrepreneurship textbooks.

Edited by: David Lepeska

David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.

Published on April 22, 2023 Updated on July 17, 2024

Social work is a noble pursuit, though not terribly lucrative. If you want to help people but would rather make a better living, many alternative businesses might be right up your alley. Some fall into the category of social entrepreneurship – a business that makes money while serving a social purpose.

This handy guide highlights 12 great business ideas for social workers that can boost your income while making the world a better place. Now that’s a win-win! 

1. Consultancy

You can use your knowledge, skills, and experience to provide guidance and insight to nonprofits and social service agencies. If you have business knowledge, even better, as you can provide financial advice as well. Either way, you can charge a decent hourly rate and turn it into a profitable consulting business . 

If you have writing skills, you could start a blog, perhaps aimed at supporting social workers or a certain cause. You can make money with ads or affiliate marketing, which means making deals with companies to earn a commission if a sale of their product is generated from a link on your site.

3. Speaking 

Many organizations hire speakers to educate their members and employees about social problems and potential solutions. If you’re a great public speaker, you could choose a topic that fits your experience and speak at conferences and meetings. You could do the same at schools as well, and build up a nice public speaking business. 

4. Corporate Social Work

Companies these days are more focused on employee well-being and diversity and building a positive culture. You could work with companies to develop programs to advance those goals. It takes special skills to create a positive workplace, and your social work experience could be a great fit.

5. Online Social Work Courses

Millions of people are ready to learn online, which is why global e-learning is expected to be worth a trillion dollars by 2027. You can start an online social work courses business , spread some quality knowledge, and grab a sliver of this vast market. To get started, hop on a platform like Udemy, SkillShare, or MasterClass and start bringing in revenue right away. 

6. Life Coach

Business executives have long used life coaches to elevate their performance, but now people of all ages and backgrounds are seeking them out to boost personal and professional performance. You could launch a life coaching business from the comfort of your own home and help people lead more fulfilling lives while making a good living. 

7. Microlending

Microlending provides small, low-interest loans to those that lack access to funding to help them start their own businesses and become financially self-sufficient. Often, organizations like Kiva solicit the loan funds from individuals, who then receive payments from the recipients. The business earns revenue from the interest paid on each loan. 

8. Socially Conscious Products

Consumers are increasingly seeking socially conscious products, which come in many forms. You could produce sustainably made clothing or source products from people in developing countries, pay them for their work, and sell the items for a profit. 

9. Sustainable Packaging

Sustainable packaging is also gaining ground, as it’s less harmful to the environment. You could start a business creating sustainable packaging for small businesses, which you could start on a small scale and grow it into a big operation with its own facility. 

10. Thrift Store

Thrift stores are a great idea, providing places for people to donate their unwanted goods, which others then snap up at affordable prices. The revenue thrift stores earn sustains the business and pays the employees and could even  make a profit. You could start an online thrift store , where people send in their unwanted items to be offered for sale online.

11. Buy One Give One

Companies like Tom’s Shoes have popularized the buy-one give-one model, and you could do the same by giving one of item X to an underserved community for every one you sell. Maybe it’s coats, or textbooks, or T-shirts? Choose a product that can really make a difference. 

12. Mental Health Facility

Private mental health facilities, whether for people with disorders or those suffering from addiction, make good money. Many insurance companies and sometimes Medicaid will pay for client stays in these facilities, so you wouldn’t have to turn away people who lack the funds. You could make a huge difference in your community and use your skills by opening your own mental health facility.

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• Consultancy
• Speaking 
• Corporate Social Work
• Online Social Work Courses
• Microlending
• Socially Conscious Products
• Sustainable Packaging
• Thrift Store
• Buy One Give One
• Mental Health Facility

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Business Plan Template for Social Workers

• Great for beginners
• Ready-to-use, fully customizable Subcategory
• Get started in seconds

Starting or expanding your private practice as a social worker can be an overwhelming process. But with ClickUp's Business Plan Template for Social Workers, you can streamline your journey to success!

This template is specifically designed for social workers and mental health professionals, helping you outline and organize every aspect of your practice, including:

• Clearly defining your goals, services, and target market
• Creating accurate financial projections to ensure profitability
• Developing effective marketing strategies to attract clients

With ClickUp's Business Plan Template, you'll have everything you need to create a comprehensive and effective plan for your practice, allowing you to focus on what you do best: helping others. Start building your path to success today!

Business Plan Template for Social Workers Benefits

Starting or expanding a private practice as a social worker requires careful planning and organization. With the Business Plan Template for Social Workers, you can:

• Clearly outline your goals, services, and target market, ensuring a focused and effective approach
• Create financial projections to understand the financial viability of your practice and make informed decisions
• Develop marketing strategies to reach your target audience and attract clients
• Gain a comprehensive view of your practice, enabling you to make strategic decisions and achieve long-term success.

Main Elements of Social Workers Business Plan Template

ClickUp's Business Plan Template for Social Workers provides a comprehensive solution for organizing and creating a successful business plan for your private practice. Here are the key elements of this template:

• Custom Statuses: Track the progress of your business plan with statuses such as Complete, In Progress, Needs Revision, and To Do. Easily visualize which tasks are completed and which ones require attention.
• Custom Fields: Utilize custom fields like Reference, Approved, and Section to save important information and keep your business plan organized. These fields allow you to add specific details and categorize different sections of your plan.
• Custom Views: Access five different views to manage your business plan effectively. Use the Topics view to focus on specific areas, the Status view to track progress, the Timeline view to visualize deadlines and milestones, the Business Plan view to see the plan as a whole, and the Getting Started Guide view to get acquainted with the template's features.

With ClickUp's Business Plan Template, social workers and mental health professionals can streamline the process of creating a comprehensive and effective business plan for their private practice.

How To Use Business Plan Template for Social Workers

If you're a social worker looking to start your own private practice or expand your existing services, creating a solid business plan is essential. With the Business Plan Template for Social Workers in ClickUp, you can outline your objectives and strategies to ensure the success of your practice. Follow these four steps to make the most of this template:

1. Define your mission and goals

Start by clearly defining the mission and goals of your social work practice. What population or issue do you want to focus on? What impact do you want to make in your community? Take the time to brainstorm and articulate your vision for your practice.

Use the Docs feature in ClickUp to write a mission statement and outline your goals in a collaborative space.

2. Conduct a market analysis

To create an effective business plan, you need to understand your target market and competition. Research the demographics and needs of your local community. Identify other social work practices or organizations that offer similar services. Analyze their strengths and weaknesses to identify opportunities for differentiation.

Utilize the Table view in ClickUp to organize your market research and compare different competitors.

3. Develop your service offerings and pricing

Based on your market analysis, determine the services you will offer and how you will price them. Consider the unique needs of your target population and how you can provide value to them. Determine if you will offer individual counseling, group therapy, workshops, or other services. Set competitive and sustainable pricing that reflects the value you provide.

Create custom fields in ClickUp to track your service offerings and pricing details.

4. Create a marketing and growth strategy

Now it's time to plan how you will attract clients and grow your practice. Develop a comprehensive marketing strategy that includes online and offline tactics. Consider building a website, leveraging social media, attending networking events, and partnering with other professionals or organizations. Set measurable goals for client acquisition and retention.

Use the Goals feature in ClickUp to create and track your marketing objectives and key results (OKRs).

By following these steps and utilizing the Business Plan Template for Social Workers in ClickUp, you can lay the foundation for a successful and impactful social work practice. Remember to regularly review and update your business plan as your practice evolves and grows. Good luck!

Get Started with ClickUp’s Business Plan Template for Social Workers

Social workers and mental health professionals can use the ClickUp Business Plan Template to create a comprehensive and effective plan for their private practice.

First, hit “Add Template” to sign up for ClickUp and add the template to your Workspace. Make sure you designate which Space or location in your Workspace you’d like this template applied.

Next, invite relevant members or guests to your Workspace to start collaborating.

Now you can take advantage of the full potential of this template to create a successful business plan:

• Use the Topics View to organize your business plan into different sections such as goals, services, target market, financial projections, and marketing strategies
• The Status View will help you track the progress of each section, whether it's complete, in progress, needs revision, or still to do
• The Timeline View will allow you to set deadlines and milestones for each section to ensure timely completion
• Use the Business Plan View to have an overview of your entire plan and easily navigate between sections
• The Getting Started Guide View will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to use the template and create your business plan
• Customize the Reference, Approved, and Section custom fields to add additional information and track the status of each section
• Update statuses and custom fields as you work on your business plan to keep track of progress
• Monitor and analyze your plan to ensure it aligns with your goals and objectives
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10+ Best & Profitable Social Work Business Ideas [2023]

By Nick Cotter Updated Feb 07, 2024

Our List of 10+ Best Social Work Business Ideas:

Case management services, organizational consulting, individual, family and parent counseling, professional development and training, advocacy and community outreach, social media consulting, mediation services, senior care services, mental health services, trauma-informed care services.

Hello there, future entrepreneurs! Ever thought about how you can combine your passion for helping others with your entrepreneurial spirit? Well, you're in luck. As 2023 dawns on us, it brings with it a plethora of opportunities in the social work business sector that are not only profitable but also incredibly fulfilling.

Imagine waking up each day, knowing that your work is making a significant difference in someone's life. Sounds like a dream, doesn't it? But, guess what? It's entirely possible! And we're here to guide you through it.

Whether you're a seasoned social worker looking for a change, or a budding entrepreneur searching for a venture that aligns with your values, this article is your treasure trove. We've compiled a list of over 10 of the best and most profitable social work business ideas for 2023.

So, are you ready to embark on an entrepreneurial journey that promises both financial rewards and the satisfaction of contributing to society? If your answer is a resounding "Yes," then read on, my friend. Let's dive into the world of social entrepreneurship together!

Case management services is a way of providing support, guidance, and resources to someone who needs special attention with a particular issue or situation. It can help individuals, families, and organizations manage their current or future needs. Case management services can cover a range of topics such as health, mental health, housing, employment, finance and more. It is an effective way to help people who are unable to take on the responsibility of managing their own wellbeing on their own.

• Case management services can provide access to resources such as support groups, counseling and other services.
• Case managers can offer assistance in navigating the complexities of paperwork and legal procedures relating to an individual’s specific situation.
• Case managers are often case advocates and liaisons from government agencies or organizations.
• Case management services can drastically reduce the time needed for case resolution as well as costs associated with it.
• High-quality case management services will provide a customized approach tailored to the individual’s specific situation.

Organizational consulting is a field of professional services that helps organizations become more efficient and effective. Common organizational consulting services include helping with organizational strategy, operational process improvement, personnel management, financial planning and analysis, mergers and acquisitions, project feasibility studies, and other performance related services. An organizational consultant can offer a variety of services to help businesses become more successful and make their goals achievable.

• Assisting with strategy development
• Improving operational processes
• Assessment of personnel management strategies
• Providing financial planning & analysis
• Assisting with mergers & acquisitions
• Conducting feasibility studies
• Developing performance improvement plans

Examples of successful businesses:

Here are some of the most successful companies in the social work business industry:

• Viridian Associates
• At Your Service LLC
• The Social Workers Company
• Assisting Hands Home Care and Nursing Agency
• Social Justice Solutions International
• Social Work Consultants, Inc.
• Reaching Out Community Services Inc.
• Alpha Social Services, Ltd.
• Expert Community Solutions Group
• CareBridge Community Support Services, Inc.

Individual, family and parent counseling is a type of counseling that focuses on providing support and guidance to individuals, families and parents. It can be used to help people work through difficult situations and develop new skills, strategies and perspectives. It can also be used to help people manage stress, improve their relationships, identify their goals and enhance communication. These counseling services can be offered in person or online, making it an ideal business concept.

• Promotes mental health: Counseling offers a safe environment for individuals to work through issues which can help them cope more effectively with life’s challenges.
• Helps build stronger relationships: Counselling sessions provide an opportunity for families to explore their dynamics and learn how to better communicate with each other.
• Identifies weaknesses within family systems: Counseling sessions can help identify patterns of behavior within a family system that are contributing to issues or negative dynamics.
• Provides problem-solving strategies: Counseling sessions provide an opportunity to develop strategies for problem solving and dealing with difficult emotions or situations.
• Allows people to gain control over their lives: Counseling allows individuals to take control of their lives by helping them develop the skills they need to make healthier choices.

More resources:

Professional development and training is a system or process of equipping and empowering employees with knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to do their jobs effectively. It is an important part of any business and is beneficial in many ways. Some of the benefits of professional development and training include:

• Employee engagement
• Improved customer service
• Increased staff productivity
• Reduced turnover rate
• Enhanced job satisfaction

Professional development and training can be a great business idea as it encourages employee growth, motivation, and retention which in turn can help improve an organization's overall performance.

Advocacy and community outreach involve engaging with individuals and communities about their rights, needs, and interests. It is a way to promote social change and understanding between people. Advocacy and community outreach can be used to create awareness about an issue or to address inequities in access to resources. It can also be used to create networks of support for a cause or group of people.

• It encourages organizational collaboration
• It builds relationships between individuals and communities
• It allows individuals to come together for the common good
• It creates opportunities for systemic change
• It promotes understanding and mutual respect

Related business ideas:

Social media consulting is a business that provides advice, guidance, and specialized management services to small businesses and individuals regarding utilizing social media platforms to meet their marketing, communications, and advertising goals. It is a great business idea for those who are experienced in marketing and who have knowledge of how to best leverage the capabilities of social media. Here are some benefits of starting this type of business:

• You can help businesses engage current and potential customers
• You can create a unique value proposition for potential clients
• You will have the opportunity to stay ahead of emerging trends in the social media industry
• You will gain valuable insights into how certain platforms work
• You can develop personalized strategies based on data gathered from your clients

Mediation services are an invaluable tool in resolving conflicts between two or more parties. It is an impartial, cost-effective and time-efficient means of communication and problem-solving. A business offering mediation services can provide a valuable and beneficial service to clients. Here are some reasons why setting up a mediation services business could be a great idea:

• Flexible working hours which allow you to work full or part-time
• Minimal overhead costs due to the virtual nature of the services offered
• Offer clients a useful and beneficial service that can resolve conflicts quicker than through traditional court proceedings
• No need for expensive office space or staff as most mediation services take place virtually
• Can provide a steady stream of income as the demand for mediators is constantly increasing.

Senior care services provide support and assistance to elderly individuals with tasks such as errands, meals, transportation, and housekeeping. This type of business has the potential to become very profitable due to the increasing demand for these services. Some advantages of starting a senior care business include:

• Ability to help those that need it
• Low startup costs
• Flexible hours
• High earning potential
• Potential for long-term contracts

Mental health services encompass a wide range of different treatments, from counselling and therapy to prescribed medication and group support. Starting a mental health services business is a great way to make an impact on people's lives while also creating a profitable business. There are several reasons why starting a mental health services business is an appealing idea:

• High Demand - Mental health issues are increasingly prominent in today's society, with more and more people seeking help for their mental health related issues.
• Help Others - You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping others manage their mental health problems.
• Employment Opportunity - Providing mental health services offers the opportunity to provide employment to those who need it most.
• Flexibility - The hours of operation can be tailored according to your personal preferences and those of your clients.

Trauma-informed care services provide therapeutic and healing services to individuals who have experienced trauma and can be an important business idea. Trauma-informed care focuses on creating a safe and healing environment that recognizes the signs of trauma in those served and takes into account the impact of trauma on an individual’s overall wellbeing. Trauma-informed care services can offer a range of healing, therapeutic, and educational offerings such as:

• Individual counseling
• Group therapy
• Exposure therapy
• Creative arts therapies
• Trauma-informed yoga classes
• Psychoeducational classes about self-care, coping strategies, self-awareness, and mindfulness practices

More helpful resources about LLCs:

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Through meticulous research and firsthand experience, I uncover the essential steps, software, tools, and costs associated with launching and maintaining a successful business. By demystifying the complexities of entrepreneurship, I provide the guidance and support needed for others to embark on their journey with confidence.

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Social Enterprise Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Social Enterprise Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 500 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their social enterprise businesses. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning. We will then go through a social enterprise business plan template step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is a Social Enterprise Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your social enterprise business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for a Social Enteprise

If you’re looking to start a social enterprise business, or grow your existing social enterprise business, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your social enterprise business in order to improve your chances of success. Your social enterprise business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Social Enterprise Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a social enterprise business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to confirm that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for social enterprise businesses.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

How to write a business plan for a social enterprise.

If you want to start a social enterprise business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. Below are links to each section of your social enterprise business plan template:

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of social enterprise business you are operating and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a social enterprise business that you would like to grow, or are you operating social enterprise businesses in multiple markets?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. For example, give a brief overview of the social enterprise industry. Discuss the type of social enterprise business you are operating. Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers. Provide a snapshot of your marketing plan. Identify the key members of your team. And offer an overview of your financial plan.  

Company Analysis

In your company analysis, you will detail the type of social enterprise business you are operating.

For example, you might operate one of the following types of social enterprise businesses:

• Trading social enterprise : this type of social enterprise refers to cooperatives, collectives, and other organizations that are worker or employee-owned. This type of ownership structure allows a higher degree of economic resiliency compared to a traditional organization.
• Financial social enterprise: this type of social enterprise includes credit unions, cooperative banks, and revolving loan funds, which are all membership-owned. In other words, the money deposited from a member is used to help other members who may need financial assistance.
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and charity social enterprise: this type of social enterprise businesses are usually created to support a specific social, environmental, or political goal. The profits are used to further the social or environmental aims of the organization or to provide salaries for people who provide free services to specific groups of people.

In addition to explaining the type of social enterprise business you will operate, the Company Analysis section of your business plan needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to question such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of clients served, number of positive reviews, reaching X amount of clients served, etc.
• Your legal structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry analysis, you need to provide an overview of the social enterprise industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the social enterprise industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating. 

Secondly, market research can improve your strategy, particularly if your research identifies market trends.

The third reason for market research is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your social enterprise business plan:

• How big is the social enterprise industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential market for your social enterprise business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your social enterprise business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments:non-profits, individuals, social causes, etc.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of social enterprise business you operate. Clearly, social causes would respond to different marketing promotions than individuals needing financial assistance, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, include a discussion of the ages, genders, locations and income levels of the customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can understand and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other social enterprise companies. 

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t direct competitors. This includes social enterprise companies such as brand awareness companies, community organizations, government programs, etc.

With regards to direct competition, you want to describe the other social enterprises with which you compete. Most likely, your direct competitors will be social enterprise businesses located very close to your location.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their businesses and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as:

• What clients or causes do they serve?
• What type of social enterprise company are they?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you provide social enterprise services that your competitors don’t offer?
• Will your social enterprise business help more people in need?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.  

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a social enterprise business plan, your marketing plan should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of social enterprise company that you documented in your Company Analysis. Then, detail the specific products you will be offering. For example, in addition to social enterprise services, will you provide access to funding, marketing, counseling, and/or brand awareness, and any other services?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your marketing plan, you are presenting the services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the location of your social enterprise company. Document your location and mention how the location will impact your success. For example, is your social enterprise business located near an office complex, a university, an urban setting, or a busy neighborhood, etc. Discuss how your location might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your social enterprise marketing plan is the promotions section. Here you will document how you will drive customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Website and SEO marketing
• Community events
• Commercials
• Social media marketing
• Local radio advertising

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your social enterprise business, including communicating with clients, marketing, accounting, accounts payable, fundraising, and searching for grant opportunities.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to obtain your XXth client, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your social enterprise business to a new location.  

Management Team

To demonstrate your social enterprise business’ ability to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company. 

Ideally you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing social enterprises. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act like mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing a social enterprise business or are connected to a wide network of professional organizations that frequently tend to donate to various causes.  

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements.

Income Statement : an income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenues and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you take on one new service at a time or multiple services ? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets : Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your social enterprise business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a bank writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement : Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and make sure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt. 

In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a social enterprise business:

• Cost of social enterprise services
• Cost of overhead, marketing, and outreach
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Taxes and permits
• Legal expenses

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your social enterprise outline of services, types of customer and/or cause you will be targeting, and the areas your social enterprise business will serve.   Summary Putting together a business plan for your social enterprise business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will really understand the social enterprise industry, your competition, and your customers. You will have developed a marketing plan and will really understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful social enterprise business.  

  OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.

Click here to hire someone to write a business plan for you from Growthink’s team.   Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

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Creating a Winning Business Plan for Social Entrepreneurs

Published May.23, 2023

Updated Apr.22, 2024

By: Jakub Babkins

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Table of Content

1. What is a Social Entrepreneur Business Plan?

A social entre­preneur business plan is a de­tailed strategy and roadmap. The Nonprofit Start-Up Busine­ss Plan outlines the social ente­rprise’s revenue­ generation, financial manageme­nt, and progress measureme­nt. By creating a comprehensive­ business plan, social entrepre­neurs can ensure that their social enterprise is we­ll-prepared to meet its objectives.

2. Why do we need a social entrepreneur business plan?

A successful social e­ntrepreneur ne­eds an essential tool: a we­ll-crafted business plan. This plan serves multiple purposes. First, it helps in identifying the specific problem that needs to be addressed. Second, it sets clear goals and de­fines the target audience. Third, it devises strategies for achieving these­ objectives. Additionally, this plan plays a crucial role in identifying potential funding sources and resources. It also maps out a timeline for goal attainment.

A Homele­ss Shelter Business Plan aids organizations in de­veloping successful and scalable business models that can effectively achieve their de­sired impact.

3. Sources of funding for social enterprise businesses

Grants are one­ of the sources for funding social ente­rprise businesses. Social e­ntrepreneurs ofte­n receive grants from non-profit and government organizations. These grants serve as startup capital and provide ongoing operational support.

Links to funds for non-profit organizations: Newprofit: https://www.newprofit.org/ Ashoka: https://www.ashoka.org/en-us MassChallenge: https://masschallenge.org/

In addition to traditional funding sources like­ crowdfunding, angel investors, and venture­ capital firms, social enterprises can also e­xplore loan programs provided by the Small Busine­ss Administration. Two such programs are the 504 and 7(a) loan programs which offer financing options for social e­nterprises.

Furthermore, an increasingly popular ave­nue for funding social enterprise­ businesses is through social impact investing.

4. How to write a social enterprise business plan

• Start by Defining Your Social Mission: Before diving into writing your business plan, it is e­ssential to have a clear understanding of your organization’s purpose, values, and desire­d social outcomes.
• Describe Your Target Market: The target market description is a crucial aspect of your Strate­gic/Operational plan . It is essential to clearly identify your target customers, their needs and desire­s, and outline how you intend to address those­ requirements effectively.
• Outline Your Business Model: Then comes outlining your business model. This step involves de­termining how you’ll generate­ income, what products or services you’ll offer, and how you’ll deliver them to your customers.
• Develop Your Marketing and Sales Strategy: After your business model is outlined, you should then develop your marketing and sales strategy. This social enterprise business plan should include how you plan to market and promote your products or services, what pricing model you plan to use, and how you plan to generate sales.
• Describe Your Team and Resources: This includes showcasing the skills and experience of team members, outlining strategies for attracting and re­taining top talent, as well as identifying any necessary resources required for the success of the­ business.
• Outline Your Financial Plan: These include­ identifying the start-up funds require­d, determining the me­ans of financing operations, and planning for future investme­nts that may be made.

5. Executive summary

Our social ente­rprise, JYC, has a mission to empower vulne­rable communities in deve­loping countries. The JYC organization collaborate­s with various stakeholders like NGOs, governments, and corporations to establish a comprehe­nsive platform. This platform aims to empower individuals in de­veloping and sustaining their own businesses. Through our tailored training programs, financial resources, and me­ntorship opportunities, entrepre­neurs receive­ the necessary support to build and maintain successful ventures.

6. Company (Institutional) analysis

The social e­ntrepreneurship busine­ss plan aims to establish a sustainable, equitable­, and responsible economy. It does so by offering resources and training to e­ntrepreneurs, enabling them to create busine­sses that generate­ meaningful social and environmental advantage­s.

We strongly believe­ in equal access to resources and networks for building successful businesses, ensuring that everyone­ benefits from their success.

7. Structure and Background

JYC, a social entre­preneurship company founded in 2020, is de­dicated to tackling social and environmental challe­nges through the impleme­ntation of innovative and sustainable business mode­ls. Its main focus revolves around enabling unde­rserved and marginalized communities to access quality education, employment opportunities, and healthcare services.

Our team comprises skilled professionals from diverse­ sectors, including finance, technology, and social work. Their collective experience empowers us to create sustainable solutions that drive positive­ social change while fostering financial stability.

8. Market (Industry) analysis

The social entrepreneurship market is growing rapidly in the United States of America; estimated that 22% have over $2 million in revenue, 89% were created since 2006, and 90% focus on solving problems at home (2012).

Social Enterprise: Statistics from Around the World

JYC’s social entrepreneurship business plan will focus on providing innovative solutions to social issues and problems that have not been solved traditionally.

9. Competitor analysis

Our social entrepreneur business plan template competitors are:

• Social Impact Exchange – a global platform that helps social entrepreneurs connect with investors to fund their projects
• UnLtd – a social enterprise accelerator that provides support for early-stage social entrepreneurs
• GlobalGiving – a crowdfunding platform that helps social entrepreneurs and non-profits raise funds for their projects
• Ashoka – a global network of social entrepreneurs providing mentorship and resources to empower the social enterprise sector
• Social Enterprise UK – a membership organization that supports and promotes social enterprises in the UK.

10. Services and Products

Our components of a business plan social enterprise include services and products which are:

• Consulting services for small businesses and start-ups
• Advisory services for nonprofits
• Educational programs for children in underserved communities
• Professional development programs for adults
• Impact investing services
• Training and development programs for entrepreneurs
• Community outreach programs
• Corporate social responsibility programs
• Social enterprise incubator services

11. Sales and Marketing Plan

In order to ensure the success of a social e­ntrepreneurship company, an effective sales and marketing plan should incorporate the following key elements:

The business aims to develop a mission and vision statement that effectively outline­s its goals and objectives. This stateme­nt serves as a guiding framework for the­ organization’s future

In order to set the company apart from competitors and establish a unique­ selling proposition, an innovative social ente­rprise app is being created.

In order to effectively promote a product or service, it is important to develop a compre­hensive marketing strategy.

12. Operational plan

Our hybrid social enterprise operational plan’s format focuses on serving our community, creating jobs, and reducing our carbon footprint.

• Supporting local businesses
• Incorporating green practices into our operations
• Developing social programs to benefit the community
• Establishing a system of sustainable production
• Creating partnerships with nonprofits and public institutions
• Minimizing waste and energy consumption.

13. Evaluation/assessment

• Analyzing the mission statement and goals of the social entrepreneurship company.
• Examining the business model and resources required to achieve success.
• Assessing the impact of the company on the community.
• Examining the company’s financial health and sustainability.
• Evaluating the management team and their ability to execute the plan.
• Analyzing the marketing strategy and its effectiveness.
• Evaluating the potential for growth and scalability.
• Assessing the competitive landscape and how the company can differentiate itself.

14. Management team

Executive Team:

• Chief Operating Officer
• Chief Financial Officer
• Chief Technology Officer
• Head of Human Resources

Advisory Board:

• Business Development Advisor
• Legal Advisor
• Marketing Advisor
• Technology Advisor

15. Projection and Financial Planning

The social e­nterprise group aims to raise $1 million in capital over the next five years. This funding will support various aspects, including platform development, staff recruitment, and covering ope­rational expenses. The­ organization plans to generate re­venue through government contracts and by offering data analytics services to local governments.

Startup Costs

The initial startup costs for this business will be $200,000.

The primary source of revenue will come from government contracts and data analytics services. Government contracts will provide a steady stream of income, while data analytics services will provide additional revenue.

Financial Highlights

The projected financial highlights for the business are as follows:

• Revenue: $1.5 million by 2024
• Profits: $400,000 by 2024
• Return on Investment: 40%
• Cash Flow: $1.2 million by 2024
• Break-even Point: 12 months

16. Discover the Power of Social Entrepreneurship with OGS Capital

Highly efficient service.

Highly Efficient Service! I am incredibly happy with the outcome; Alex and his team are highly efficient professionals with a diverse bank of knowledge.

OGS Capital specialize­s in assisting entreprene­urs in developing and implementing impactful social entreprene­urship business plans. Our highly experie­nced team collaborates with nume­rous social entreprene­urs to create custom plans that yield me­asurable outcomes.

Whether you are an aspiring entrepre­neur trying to make your mark or a seasone­d professional in the business world, our Busine­ss Planning Services are here to assist you. We specialize­ in developing comprehe­nsive plans that fully embrace your unique­ vision and core values. Through close collaboration, we­ will work diligently alongside you to identify the­ optimal strategies for success and de­termine the necessary resources to bring your goals to fruition.

OGS Capital values the­ transformative power of social entre­preneurship. With our guidance, you can establish a social ente­rprise that leaves a lasting, me­aningful impression.

OGS Capital can be your re­liable partner in creating a robust social e­ntrepreneurship business plan. Feel free­ to reach out to us today for assistance.

Q. What are examples of social entrepreneurship businesses?

1. Revolution Foods: Revolution Foods is a social enterprise providing healthy meals to underserved students. https://www.revolutionfoods.com/

2. Kiva: Kiva is a nonprofit providing micro-loans to developing countries’ entrepreneurs. https://www.kiva.org/

3. Ecosia: Ecosia is an online search engine that donates 80% of its profits to reforestation projects worldwide. https://www.ecosia.org/

4. Warby Parker: Warby Parker is an eyewear company that donates a pair of glasses to someone in need for every pair purchased. https://www.warbyparker.com/

5. Solar Sister: Solar Sister is a social enterprise that helps women in Africa build businesses selling solar-powered products. https://solarsister.org/

Q. How do you write a social enterprise business plan?

When establishing a social enterprise, it is crucial to unde­rtake the task of crafting a comprehe­nsive business plan. This plan serve­s as a roadmap, outlining key aspects such as the e­nterprise’s objective­s and mission, the range of service­s or products on offer, an analysis of the intended audience and market, financial conside­rations, a succinct overview of the marke­ting strategy, and a timeline e­ncompassing both launch and growth milestones. A meticulously de­veloped social ente­rprise business plan sets the­ stage for success in this impactful venture­.

The plan should have­ a comprehensive e­xplanation of the enterprise­’s mission and values. It should also address the compe­titive landscape and any applicable re­gulations. When writing the plan, it is important to be thorough, re­alistic, and ensure clarity for easy understanding.

Download Social entrepreneur business plan Template in PDF

OGSCapital’s team has assisted thousands of entrepreneurs with top-rate business plan development, consultancy and analysis. They’ve helped thousands of SME owners secure more than $1.5 billion in funding, and they can do the same for you.

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Writing your first business plan

Wh y do you need a business plan .

A business plan will help you to clarify your idea, identify challenges and allow you to monitor the progress you’re making. Your business plan is not a static document, it is something you should revisit and update as your organisation grows.

” A goal without a plan is just a wish” Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Putting pen to paper

Writing a business plan may seem daunting, but you’ll probably find that writing down your idea will bring clarity and focus to what you are looking to achieve as a social entrepreneur.

Your business plan should demonstrate that your idea is well thought through and sustainable in the long-term. As a start-up you will find that funders, investors and stakeholders will request to see your business plan. Once you have your plan on paper it will be quick for you to pull together the information requested by funders or investors.

“The best business plans are straightforward documents that spell out the who, what, where, why, and how much.” Paula Nelson

What to include in your business plan

When you are writing your first business plan you should aim to answer the following questions:

• What is your idea?

What are you offering to your beneficiaries and customers? This is sometimes referred to as ‘value proposition.’

• Who are your customers?

Who is going to buy your product or service?

• Who are your beneficiaries?

Who will benefit from what you’re doing? For a social organisation your beneficiaries and customers may be different groups, so it’s important to think about what you are offering to each of them.

• How will you promote your organisation?

How will you market yourself to customers and beneficiaries? Now you know who they are, how do you plan to reach them?

• Who else is doing something similar?

Who are your competitors? How does your organisation differ? Take time to think about what they do well and learn from them, it’s unlikely your idea has never been done before so use others experience as a tool for learning.

• Steps to achieve your goals.

What do you need to do to achieve your objectives? Breaking down things into step by step actions will make your idea seem more achievable, it will also prevent you from getting distracted.

• What resources do you need?

What resources you will need to make this happen – people, premises, materials? Try to be realistic. When you are first starting out you might be able to beg, steal and borrow but if you want to become sustainable you need to be realistic about the resources you need.

• How much money will you have coming in?

What are people willing to pay for your services? Be realistic with how many sales you are likely to make and try to base this on evidence where possible.

• How much money will you have going out?

Once you know what resources you require, you need to work out how much will they cost you. The cost of people, equipment and premises all need to be accounted for.

• How much money will you have left over?

Will you break-even or have a profit? If you have a profit what you will do with it? You might not make a profit in your first year but you need to have an idea of when and how you will become financially sustainable.

How to structure your business plan

Once you’ve written your first business plan ask for feedback, then listen to the feedback you’ve receive. Be open to constructive comments and willing to add detail where it is needed.

Don’t forget to review your business plan regularly (don’t lock it away in a drawer!) Use your business plan to monitor your progress and keep you working towards your goals:

Further learning

• Learn to Build a Better Business Plan
• The Social Business Model Canvas

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10 Best Social Work Business Ideas

It’s crucial to understand the area of social work before looking at the best and highest-paying social work business ideas and careers. In general, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree to work in this industry, with most states needing a master’s degree as well. However, a few states allow for the completion of an associate’s degree in social work.

It’s crucial to understand the field of social work before looking at the top & highest paying social work positions. To work in this area, you’ll typically require a bachelor’s degree, with most states needing a master’s degree. However, an associate’s degree in social work is available in a few states.

What Private Social Work entrepreneur Ideas we have and Their Practices?

Some social workers start their independent practice instead of working for a managed care company, a health care organization, or another established institution. Private practitioners’ services extend far beyond their offices, according to the National Association of Social Workers, because they’re frequently hired by schools, courts, primary care centers, and other clinical groups.

Starting private social work business ideas, depending on your professional interests and career ambitions, could allow you to make a significant difference in the lives of numerous people in your community.

What are the Advantages of Building a Private Social Work Business?

For existing professionals and prospective students, pursuing a career as a clinical social worker in solo or group practice has several advantages. Private practitioners, for example, have more flexibility in their work schedules than those in traditional settings. They can schedule their appointments, take vacations as needed, and develop a clientele that matches their lifestyle and practice region.

Independent social workers have more control over their work environment, including the ability to meet with clients in person or via video conference, as well as the chance to earn more money.

Starting a Social Work Practice: A Brief how-to Guide

Building social work business ideas necessitate determination, careful planning, and a wealth of professional expertise in the field. Clinical social workers must achieve three primary criteria before commencing private practice, according to the NASW :

• Obtaining a master’s degree in social work from a recognized institution.
• Working in a supervised, clinical setting for at least two years after graduation.
• Obtaining a clinical license in the state in which the private practice will be located.

Private practitioners can begin setting up their businesses, filling out the relevant tax paperwork, and soliciting clients once all of the basic requirements have been satisfied. The following pointers can assist you in choosing from any of the social work business ideas:

• Create a business plan
• Apply for a National Provider Identification Number
• Get a tax ID number
• Buy professional liability insurance
• Create patient forms and supervision standards
• Market the practice
• Determine service fees

Listed below are the great social work business ideas that have been carefully explained for you to choose from;

1.      School Counselors

This is one of the nicest social work business ideas to explore if you are qualified. Social professionals are frequently employed as school counselors. Their job is to work with children directly in all educational settings. Their mission is to ensure that students’ mental health and overall well-being are maintained or improved.

They frequently collaborate with children who have social or developmental disabilities, as well as children who live in abusive situations. A school counselor’s income is mostly determined by the educational institution, the sorts of students, and the geographic region. The national average, on the other hand, is $56,160. A master’s degree is required to work as a school counselor .

2.      Speech Pathologists

Speech pathologists’ job is to make sure that speech abnormalities are identified. They then devote time to developing individualized treatment strategies to help their patients improve their speech. Although speech pathologists typically work with children born with speech impairments such as a harelip, cleft palate, or stammer, they also work with stroke patients and others with brain injuries. You can expect to make roughly $73,970 as a speech pathologist, which is a significant increase since the last average was obtained in 2010.

To work as a speech pathologist, you’ll need a master’s degree and a variety of other qualifications. To become licensed, you must pass a national exam, spend a certain number of hours in a clinical setting under direct supervision, and have a certain amount of postgraduate experience. Here, the service business ideas have requirements that differ from one state to the next.

3.      The Social Work Teacher

As a professor, you can expect to make an average of $86,073 per year as a social work teacher. An assistant professor’s salary will be lower. As a result, it is the highest-paying social work job in the country. To be a professor, however, you must have at least a doctorate in the discipline, usually a Ph.D. Training does take a long time and entails a significant financial expenditure.

4.      The Healthcare Social Worker

Here is one of the nicest social work business ideas as it relates to care for people’s health and saving lives. You will assist groups and individuals in coping with the psychological and social elements of diseases and illnesses as a healthcare social worker. The average annual wage is $57,000. Although a BSW would suffice for this job, a master’s degree will undoubtedly increase your career and earning chances.

5.     Clean Energy

It’s no secret that sustainable energy is becoming increasingly popular as well as necessary. A clean energy startup can be a product or service that uses a green method for energy production, such as electric bicycles or solar panels. Developing concepts and putting your company plan into action will necessitate either clean energy understanding or the assistance of someone who does.

Nowadays, it is much easier to determine and reach out to your target audience because of services that  provide interested solar leads . These are people who are already looking into alternative energy and have a bigger chance to convert into customers. 

6.      The Medical Social Worker

Medical social workers are not the same as healthcare social workers. Your job is to act as a liaison between community services (such as treatment centers and homeless shelters) and their clients. This is another one of the great social work business ideas. Frequently, you will work in emergency rooms or on discharge wards. The average wage, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, is $53,400. When compared to the average social worker, this is a huge increase.

7.     The Clinical Social Worker

Clinical social workers must complete extensive training and pass a range of exams. They work in a variety of industries and organizations. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, their average compensation is $48,010, though this varies greatly depending on where they work. Substance abusers, for example, will earn about $3,000 less per year.

8.     Micro-lending Business

A micro-lending business lends small amounts of money to people who are unable to obtain loans from traditional lenders. Normally, this startup charges a high-interest rate to its customers in order to reduce the risk of a borrower defaulting on their loan. Micro-lending enterprises in underserved areas can assist give chances for communities to introduce much-needed resources to their local communities.

9.      The Community Program Administrator

Some social workers aspire to managerial positions, which can be obtained through community program administration. They will be in charge of social assistance initiatives or charitable organizations that cater to specific demographic groups. Your job here is to create and implement strategic initiatives, raise funding, manage staff, and keep a budget under control. You may expect to earn roughly $57,950 per year, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. It is another of these very nice social work business ideas you won’t regret exploring.

10.  Charity App

Create a charity app to make donations more accessible. This might be a simple way to raise funds for charity, make donations, or meet a community need. Because the majority of individuals own smartphones, a charity app company can make it easier for charities to raise funds and support in order to aid those who need it most.

You might also need to check on some social media marketing strategies that could enhance or have a great influence on your niche of social work business ideas. Also, you can access and read about Return of Investment (ROI) in digital marketing .

Today’s social workers operate in a wide range of settings, including health care institutions, schools, government agencies, and charity organizations. Some clinical social workers prefer to go into private practice as their careers progress, allowing them to focus on the topics that are most important to them. However, before opening a private practice in social work, a person must first establish their credentials, earn the necessary certifications, and demonstrate skill in their practice area.

Check also: Ultimate Guide To Small Business Ideas

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Business plans for social enterprises (SE) and social businesses

Writing a business plan helps to ensure you focus on the core of your business. You must concentrate on key deliverables in a resource-constrained organization and communicate effectively with your stakeholders, including your funders or investors, customers, community, board, employees and volunteers.

The value of social enterprise business planning

Business planning will help any social enterprise (SE) or social purpose business (SPB) to:

• Attract investment
• Identify risks
• Measure social or environmental outcomes
• Demonstrate that you are using a business approach
• Showcase the management team
• Build alliances
• Check thinking
• Determine feasibility

In a business plan, you must clearly articulate:

• The mission of your social enterprise
• The outline of specific actions to achieve your goals and objectives
• Establish targets for planning, measuring and improving performance
• Project the necessary resources, costs and revenues of your program

Sample business plan templates

Many business plan templates exist in the public domain, including this one .

The elements are best used as prompts by social entrepreneurs to build their own plan, assessing along the way whether or not the question (or element) is relevant for the Social Enterprise or the social business.

Social enterprise business plans versus non-profit plans

Description of the business/mission statement.

The social mission and the importance of meeting both the financial and social goals should be discussed in this section.

Management and organization

Financing the capacity of the organization is as important as supporting the programs. Include an assessment of the current organization, planned additions and/or changes as well as the cost of building the team’s capacity in order to achieve the projected growth. Demonstrate that the staff has both programmatic and business skills.

Market assessment and marketing plan

The plan should focus on delivering market-driven products or services as opposed to program-driven products or services to the target customer .

You will also need to articulate how to promote your social objectives along with the product and service.  Partnerships and collaborations extend the reach of the social venture.  Highlight your partnership strategy in this section.

Your marketing plan includes the strategies and tactics to reach your customers, partners and the community.  Outline the public relations, media relations, and advertising that will be required to meet your objectives. The marketing plan should be linked in with your financial plan and your overall strategy.

A solid financial position will allow you to pursue your mission with flexibility and high-quality service, beyond mere stability.  Investors must feel confident their investment will be used effectively to achieve both the social mission and financial results that will enable your organization to thrive and achieve continued growth.

The financial plan provides the framework for social entrepreneurs to forecast the resources they need to create and sustain social and economic value. Commercial entrepreneurs prepare business plans to show why they need money and how they will use it.  Social entrepreneurs should use the same approach and not worry about the limited resources currently available.

Social Enterprise Investors

Investors and funders alike want to know the cost to develop, start up, offer and deliver services or products, whether or not any one user or payer is willing to cover it. When interacting with potential funders or investors, you need a detailed budget and projection of required outside investment tied in with a plan to reach the desired market position.

Investors want returns, typically a blend of financial and social. Your plan must describe the potential “return” on investment for investors and the desired social outcomes, and provide a framework for assessing social performance .

Remember that a social purpose business is similar to any other for-profit business, but the organization will likely raise financing from investors who are interested in a double bottom line. Social enterprises in the non-profit environment will typically raise funding from traditional fundraising, loans and other forms of social finance.

Dees, J.G., Emerson, J., & Economy, P. (2001).  Enterprising Nonprofits: A Toolkit for Social Entrepreneurs . Toronto: John Wiley & Sons.

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Business Planning for Enduring Social Impact: A How-To Guide

Andrew Wolk

Kelly Kreitz

Business Planning for Enduring Social Impact draws on Root Cause’s unique business planning methodology, developed through consulting engagements with dozens of organizations, and through the organization’s experience with the Root Cause social enterprises that it has started and grown. The guide is the first in a series of Root Cause How-to Guides, which provide practical advice for organizations in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors dedicated to solving social problems.

• Define organizational focus and strategy and establish a clear road map;
• Build a financially sustainable model by creating a plan to establish reliable streams of philanthropic support, earned income, and/or in-kind resources;
• Establish rigorous methods of measuring impact for the organization and its stakeholders;
• Make data-driven decisions that lead to improvements to the organization and its activities;
• Build partnerships with stakeholders in all three sectors — public, private, and nonprofit.

Key features include a glossary of business planning terms, plus an outline, sample work plan, and sample business plan for enduring social impact.

Table of Contents:

• Introduction to business planning for enduring social impact
• Planning to plan
• Articulating a social impact model
• Developing an implementation strategy
• Finalizing your business plan & putting it into action

Library of Congress Catalog Number: 2007943147

International Standard Book Number (ISBN) paper: 978-0-615-18284-1

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Building Your Private Practice

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By: Keisha Cox, LCSW, MS

When I was in graduate school, I remember a number of students who had plans to begin private practice right after graduation. I myself was intimidated by the idea, because I realized that private practice was a business venture, and graduate school did not prepare me for that aspect of social work practice. After gaining some years of experience under my belt and conducting much research about the business aspects of private practice, I felt confident to venture into this territory of social work, but not without first taking the following steps.

Establish Professional Supports

    Social workers who move from agency life to private practice gain the benefits of autonomy but lose the benefits of peer support unless they become connected with networks in the community. They can gain support by joining and participating in professional organizations, joining and participating in community organizations, or taking continuing education courses. In addition to joining a group, you may want to consider starting your own peer group with other social workers who share similar interests. Being part of a group will not only help you gain peer supports in the community, but it will also help you to establish a network for referrals and to keep up to date with developments and opportunities within your profession.

Create a Practice Design

    Before you begin recruiting potential clients, you must create a practice design. A practice design is a business plan for private practitioners. As a social worker venturing into private practice, you must ask yourself, “What type of clients do I want to work with?” Consider age, ethnicity, socio-economic background, and specific clinical/social issues when identifying the populations that you serve. You also need to determine where you want to practice. Consider immediate demographic populations, as well as convenience/accessibility to you and potential clients.

    When creating a practice design, you must also consider how much time you have to commit to your practice, including office hours and time for administrative duties. This must be weighed against how much you expect to earn and how much you can afford to spend. Take into consideration the number of clients you want to treat, as well as current insurance rates, private pay rates, and sliding scale fees, in addition to expenses such as office space, office furniture/supplies, telephone, Internet, marketing material, malpractice insurance, liability insurance, and so forth.

Create a Professional Profile

    In addition to a practice design, you should also create a professional profile. A professional profile is similar to a résumé or a curriculum vitae, but it is much more detailed, personal, and it is written in a narrative format. This profile includes information such as:

• Current position
• Past education
• Work experience
• Professional affiliations
• Treatment approach
• Professional goals
• Areas of special interest
• What makes you unique

    When creating a professional profile, it is best to include as much information as possible, as it is always easier to cut down on information when needed than it is to re-write or add more details to your profile. Once your profile is created, you will have your blueprint for marketing your private practice. The following are tools/tips for marketing your practice.

Brochures and Other Promotional Materials

    Brochures are an attractive way to publicize what you do. Use your professional profile to create brochures about your practice. When designing your brochure, remember to be creative, as it is your means to attracting the attention of potential clients/referral sources. The brochure should not be just a repeat of your professional profile, but also a source of information for the user so that he or she is inclined to read it, keep it, and even pass it along. For example, if you are practicing as a behavioral therapist, then your brochure should provide information about behavioral therapy or how behavioral therapy can help people with their problems, in addition to your qualifications as a behavioral therapist. Also, it may be helpful to have more than one type of brochure targeted toward different audiences with specific information such as “Living with Bipolar Disorder.”

    Business cards are another basic marketing tool and an essential for anyone in private practice. They are the least expensive to print and the easiest to distribute. However, many people don’t know how to make the best use of business cards. Most business cards include basic contact information, but because business cards are the most distributed and often the only marketing tool used, they should provide a snapshot of your practice. The following is a list of important information to include on your business cards:

• Qualifications
• Phone number
• E-mail address
• Services offered

    It is important to have a marketing image, so that people remember you. Other materials, such as your Web site, letterhead, note cards, and envelopes, should be coordinated to have the same look as your business cards and brochures. We’ll discuss those in more detail later.

Marketing Letters/Direct Mail

    In my opinion, your practice does not exist if people do not know about it. You must get the word out. I would start by creating a marketing letter that will be sent out to potential referral sources, such as medical offices, churches, schools, community programs, and so forth. When selecting potential referral sources, it is easiest and most effective to start with providers in your immediate geographic location before branching out further. The letter should introduce yourself, explain about your practice, and attempt to establish a reciprocal relationship. By reciprocal relationship, I mean that you should offer a service in exchange for referrals. The service must be something that is easy for you to provide, so that you do not exhaust your physical and financial resources. Some examples of reciprocal services are:

• Free telephone consultations
• Referrals to their service
• A brief workshop or in-service
• Written material on a topic of interest

    The marketing letter should be accompanied by brochures and business cards for distribution and can be followed by other forms of direct mail. Examples of other forms of direct mail are:

• Updates about changes to your practice (i.e., being added to an insurance panel)
• Holiday cards
• Written information/publications (either written by you or articles that you find that may be of interest to them)

Establishing Community Linkages

    Although marketing letters and direct mail are important, they cannot stand alone. They serve as introductions to your practice, but are most effective when they are followed up by a phone call or visit. It is extremely important to contact potential providers by phone or in person to establish a relationship with them. The call should be kept simple and informative, letting them know about your availability and offering your reciprocal service. Again, you should present yourself as a resource to your potential referral sources and offer to provide them with services such as telephone consultations, written material, and in-services or workshops.

Creative Use of Computers

    In this day and age, the use of computers is essential to any business. Having an e-mail address and Web presence is as important as having business cards and brochures.  There are many providers who will give you access to free e-mail, and some also offer a free Web page. Web hosting packages are also easily accessible and start with prices as low as $2.99/month with easy do-it-yourself options. I am by no means a computer whiz and have been able to design some pretty acceptable Web sites. When designing your Web site, you should keep in mind the same basic information as you did when designing your brochure. The Web site must be attractive, user friendly, and it helps to include helpful resources such as mental health or therapy information, articles written by you, or links to other articles that will attract potential clients and referral sources. Your Web site should also include your professional profile, your contact information, and should be designed in a fashion similar to your brochures, business cards, and other materials. If this idea is completely overwhelming to you, you should check out some Web sites of other practitioners and find out who designed their sites. (It is often listed at the bottom of the Web page.) Consider investing a couple of hundred dollars with that Web designer.

Writing and Public Speaking

    One of the keys to successful marketing is to make your name familiar by keeping your name in the public domain. You want to be known as the expert in one or two topics related to your mental health practice. This is known as your niche. Your niche should not limit the work you do, but identify you as an expert on a particular subject. When people think of your niche topic (or something related to it), you want them to think of you. The best way to do so is by writing and public speaking. These roles can be intimidating and are often careers themselves, but if planned correctly, they can be great ways to build your practice.

    You can start by writing articles for local magazines or newspapers. The smaller periodicals are often looking for new ideas and topics that are of interest to the general population. You can also print your own brochure or newsletter that you distribute to local community health centers. Be sure to include your contact information.

    You can also begin public speaking by contacting local social groups, churches, and schools and offering to do workshops on topics of interest, such as stress management, healthy relationships, handling peer pressure, and so forth. Again, it is helpful to provide resources that people will keep, use later, and/or pass along that also have your marketing message.

Press Releases

    We often forget that good news is newsworthy. If you are planning any speaking engagements, notify the local media (newspaper, radio, television) and get the word out with a press release. Although media coverage should not be the reason why you do charitable work, there is no reason why you should not be acknowledged for any charitable work you do. For example, if you are conducting a toy drive, writing a press release can help support your cause as well as enhance your public image.

    You can also create press releases about topics of public interest, such as the national suicide rate and your advice for living with depression. Another strategy for press releases is to respond to a topic already in the news, such as your experiences with teen violence in response to a school shooting. Be sure to include information about your practice, such as a brochure or professional profile, when submitting your release to the media.

    You must approach your practice as a business, and businesses are responsive to their environments. It is not a process that you begin and then sit back and it magically replicates itself. Managing a private practice is an active process, and you must maintain a hands-on approach throughout the life of your practice.  With that in mind, you must remember to periodically look over and possibly adjust your practice design, professional profile, marketing tools, and marketing strategies to maintain your private practice.

Keisha Cox, LCSW, MS, has been in practice as a clinical social worker since graduating from New York University’s School of Social Work in 2002 and currently operates a private clinical practice in Mount Vernon, NY. She has postgraduate training in loss and bereavement and in child and adolescent psychotherapy, in addition to more than 10 years of experience in the fields of mental health and substance abuse. Ms. Cox also has an MS in management from the Robert Wagner School of Public Service and is experienced in fundraising, marketing, event planning, program evaluation, program development, and as a social work manager. Ms. Cox is the founding and coordinating clinician of Community Counseling, a consulting firm that establishes linkages between mental health providers and members of the community.

All material published on this website Copyright 1994-2023 White Hat Communications. All rights reserved. Please contact the publisher for permission to reproduce or reprint any materials on this site. Opinions expressed on this site are the opinions of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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7 Business Plan Examples to Inspire Your Own (2024)

Need support creating your business plan? Check out these business plan examples for inspiration.

Any aspiring entrepreneur researching how to start a business will likely be advised to write a business plan. But few resources provide business plan examples to really guide you through writing one of your own.

Here are some real-world and illustrative business plan examples to help you craft your business plan .

7 business plan examples: section by section

The business plan examples in this article follow this template:

• Executive summary.  An introductory overview of your business.
• Company description.  A more in-depth and detailed description of your business and why it exists.
• Market analysis.  Research-based information about the industry and your target market.
• Products and services.  What you plan to offer in exchange for money.
• Marketing plan.   The promotional strategy to introduce your business to the world and drive sales.
• Logistics and operations plan.  Everything that happens in the background to make your business function properly.
• Financial plan.  A breakdown of your numbers to show what you need to get started as well as to prove viability of profitability.
• Executive summary

Your  executive summary  is a page that gives a high-level overview of the rest of your business plan. It’s easiest to save this section for last.

In this  free business plan template , the executive summary is four paragraphs and takes a little over half a page:

• Company description

You might repurpose your company description elsewhere, like on your About page, social media profile pages, or other properties that require a boilerplate description of your small business.

Soap brand ORRIS  has a blurb on its About page that could easily be repurposed for the company description section of its business plan.

You can also go more in-depth with your company overview and include the following sections, like in the example for Paw Print Post:

• Business structure.  This section outlines how you  registered your business —as an  LLC , sole proprietorship, corporation, or other  business type . “Paw Print Post will operate as a sole proprietorship run by the owner, Jane Matthews.”
• Nature of the business.  “Paw Print Post sells unique, one-of-a-kind digitally printed cards that are customized with a pet’s unique paw prints.”
• Industry.  “Paw Print Post operates primarily in the pet industry and sells goods that could also be categorized as part of the greeting card industry.”
• Background information.  “Jane Matthews, the founder of Paw Print Post, has a long history in the pet industry and working with animals, and was recently trained as a graphic designer. She’s combining those two loves to capture a niche in the market: unique greeting cards customized with a pet’s paw prints, without needing to resort to the traditional (and messy) options of casting your pet’s prints in plaster or using pet-safe ink to have them stamp their ‘signature.’”
• Business objectives.  “Jane will have Paw Print Post ready to launch at the Big Important Pet Expo in Toronto to get the word out among industry players and consumers alike. After two years in business, Jane aims to drive $150,000 in annual revenue from the sale of Paw Print Post’s signature greeting cards and have expanded into two new product categories.”
• Team.  “Jane Matthews is the sole full-time employee of Paw Print Post but hires contractors as needed to support her workflow and fill gaps in her skill set. Notably, Paw Print Post has a standing contract for five hours a week of virtual assistant support with Virtual Assistants Pro.”

Your  mission statement  may also make an appearance here.  Passionfruit  shares its mission statement on its company website, and it would also work well in its example business plan.

• Market analysis

The market analysis consists of research about supply and demand, your target demographics, industry trends, and the competitive landscape. You might run a SWOT analysis and include that in your business plan. 

Here’s an example  SWOT analysis  for an online tailored-shirt business:

You’ll also want to do a  competitive analysis  as part of the market research component of your business plan. This will tell you who you’re up against and give you ideas on how to differentiate your brand. A broad competitive analysis might include:

• Target customers
• Unique value add  or what sets their products apart
• Sales pitch
• Price points  for products
• Shipping  policy
• Products and services

This section of your business plan describes your offerings—which products and services do you sell to your customers? Here’s an example for Paw Print Post:

• Marketing plan

It’s always a good idea to develop a marketing plan  before you launch your business. Your marketing plan shows how you’ll get the word out about your business, and it’s an essential component of your business plan as well.

The Paw Print Post focuses on four Ps: price, product, promotion, and place. However, you can take a different approach with your marketing plan. Maybe you can pull from your existing  marketing strategy , or maybe you break it down by the different marketing channels. Whatever approach you take, your marketing plan should describe how you intend to promote your business and offerings to potential customers.

• Logistics and operations plan

The Paw Print Post example considered suppliers, production, facilities, equipment, shipping and fulfillment, and inventory.

Financial plan

The financial plan provides a breakdown of sales, revenue, profit, expenses, and other relevant financial metrics related to funding and profiting from your business.

Ecommerce brand  Nature’s Candy’s financial plan  breaks down predicted revenue, expenses, and net profit in graphs.

It then dives deeper into the financials to include:

• Funding needs
• Projected profit-and-loss statement
• Projected balance sheet
• Projected cash-flow statement

You can use this financial plan spreadsheet to build your own financial statements, including income statement, balance sheet, and cash-flow statement.

Types of business plans, and what to include for each

A one-page business plan is meant to be high level and easy to understand at a glance. You’ll want to include all of the sections, but make sure they’re truncated and summarized:

• Executive summary: truncated
• Market analysis: summarized
• Products and services: summarized
• Marketing plan: summarized
• Logistics and operations plan: summarized
• Financials: summarized

A startup business plan is for a new business. Typically, these plans are developed and shared to secure  outside funding . As such, there’s a bigger focus on the financials, as well as on other sections that determine viability of your business idea—market research, for example.

• Market analysis: in-depth
• Financials: in-depth

Your internal business plan is meant to keep your team on the same page and aligned toward the same goal.

A strategic, or growth, business plan is a bigger picture, more-long-term look at your business. As such, the forecasts tend to look further into the future, and growth and revenue goals may be higher. Essentially, you want to use all the sections you would in a normal business plan and build upon each.

• Market analysis: comprehensive outlook
• Products and services: for launch and expansion
• Marketing plan: comprehensive outlook
• Logistics and operations plan: comprehensive outlook
• Financials: comprehensive outlook

Feasibility

Your feasibility business plan is sort of a pre-business plan—many refer to it as simply a feasibility study. This plan essentially lays the groundwork and validates that it’s worth the effort to make a full business plan for your idea. As such, it’s mostly centered around research.

Set yourself up for success as a business owner

Building a good business plan serves as a roadmap you can use for your ecommerce business at launch and as you reach each of your business goals. Business plans create accountability for entrepreneurs and synergy among teams, regardless of your  business model .

Kickstart your ecommerce business and set yourself up for success with an intentional business planning process—and with the sample business plans above to guide your own path.

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Business plan examples FAQ

How do i write a simple business plan, what is the best format to write a business plan, what are the 4 key elements of a business plan.

• Executive summary: A concise overview of the company's mission, goals, target audience, and financial objectives.
• Business description: A description of the company's purpose, operations, products and services, target markets, and competitive landscape.
• Market analysis: An analysis of the industry, market trends, potential customers, and competitors.
• Financial plan: A detailed description of the company's financial forecasts and strategies.

What are the 3 main points of a business plan?

• Concept: Your concept should explain the purpose of your business and provide an overall summary of what you intend to accomplish.
• Contents: Your content should include details about the products and services you provide, your target market, and your competition.
• Cashflow: Your cash flow section should include information about your expected cash inflows and outflows, such as capital investments, operating costs, and revenue projections.

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Plan approved by North Carolina panel to meet prisoner reentry goals

A new state panel has laid out specifics designed to bring numerous north carolina state government agencies together to work on improving outcomes for prisoners when they are released, leading to reduced recidivism..

By Associated Press

Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. — A new state panel has laid out specifics designed to bring numerous North Carolina state government agencies together to work on improving outcomes for prisoners when they are released, leading to reduced recidivism.

The Joint Reentry Council created by Gov. Roy Cooper's executive order in January approved last week a plan to meet more than two dozen objectives by using over 130 different strategies.

The order directed a ''whole-of-government'' approach, in which Cabinet departments and other state agencies collaborate toward meeting goals and take action.

More than 18,000 people are released annually from the dozens of North Carolina adult correctional facilities and face challenges brought by their criminal record to employment, education, health care and housing.

The council's plan ''lays out our roadmap to help transform the lives of people leaving prison and reentering society while making our communities safe,'' Cooper said in a news release Tuesday.

Cooper's order also aligned with the goals of Reentry 2030, a national effort being developed by the Council of State Governments and other groups to promote successful offender integration. The council said North Carolina was the third state to officially join Reentry 2030.

The plan sets what officials called challenging goals when unveiled in January. It also seeks to increase the number of high school degrees or skills credentials earned by eligible incarcerated juveniles and adults by 75% by 2030 and to reduce the number of formerly incarcerated people who are homeless by 10% annually.

Several initiatives already have started. The Department of Adult Correction, the lead agency on the reentry effort, has begun a program with a driving school to help train prisoners to obtain commercial driver's licenses. The Department of Health and Human Services also has provided $5.5 million toward a program helping recently released offenders with serious mental illnesses, Cooper's release said.

The governor said in January there was already funding in place to cover many of the efforts, including new access to federal grants for prisoners to pursue post-secondary education designed to land jobs once released.

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No tax on tips: Why politicians love it, and economists don't

Luke Garrett

Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, signs a check "no tax on tips!!" as he leaves $200 in cash for a gratuity at the Park Diner, in Waite Park, Minn., on July 28. Alex Brandon/AP hide caption

Vice President Harris and former President Donald Trump don't agree on much — especially when it comes to economic policy. But they both want to get rid of taxes on tips.

At a campaign rally in Nevada, Harris joined Trump in supporting tax-free tips.

"It is my promise to everyone here, when I am president, we will continue to fight for working families, including to raise the minimum wage and eliminate taxes on tips for service and hospitality workers," Harris told a crowd at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas on Saturday.

Trump has been campaigning on the "no tax on tips" policy since June, after a Las Vegas server told him the government was taking too big of a cut from her tipped wages. Trump touted this policy in Milwaukee during the Republican National Convention.

But soon after Harris promised to do away with taxes on tips this weekend, Trump criticized the move as being done for "Political Purposes."

What is the new etiquette for tipping?

"This was a TRUMP idea - She has no ideas, she can only steal from me," Trump posted on Truth Social. "Remember, Kamala has proposed the LARGEST TAX INCREASE IN HISTORY - It won’t happen."

In response, a Harris campaign official told NPR that the vice president's policy proposal is distinct from Trump's — and she intends to deliver on it.

"As president, she would work with Congress to craft a proposal that comes with an income limit and with strict requirements to prevent hedge fund managers and lawyers from structuring their compensation in ways to try to take advantage of the policy," the official, who isn't authorized by the campaign to speak publicly, said. "Vice President Harris would push for the proposal alongside an increase in the minimum wage."

Regardless of its origin and ownership, the no tax on tips idea is gaining bipartisan political steam. On Capitol Hill, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, introduced the No Tax on Tips Act in July with the support of Democratic Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, from Nevada , and the powerful Culinary Workers Union Local 226. A companion bill — introduced by Florida Rep. Byron Donalds — is also making its way through the House.

But to senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center Steve Rosenthal, this idea is a "bad" one.

"We're in a campaign season — silly season," Rosenthal, who has years of experience designing tax rules for Congress, quipped. "A race to the bottom would be a better way to describe tax policy here."

To tip or not to tip? 3 reasons why tipping has gotten so out of control

For Rosenthal, the idea fails on three counts: equity, efficiency and revenue.

A national ban on taxing tips would disproportionately benefit, for example, a South Carolina server who earns a reduced minimum wage and makes a large portion of their income through tips. While a server in California, where tips make up a smaller portion of their income, would benefit less.

"Why treat employees, who perform similar kinds of services, much different from a tax standpoint just because the first earn tips and the second don't?" the tax lawyer said.

Rosenthal went on to say that a no tax on tips law would be extremely difficult to efficiently administer, regulate and oversee.

"How are we going to tell who is receiving a tip, and when that tip crosses a line into wages?" Rosenthal said. "How will we prevent investment bankers, say, from getting tips? And if we impose income limits, well, wouldn't we expect low paid workers just to demand a tip rather than compensation?"

Ultimately, he said, it would distort the labor market. But the biggest barrier for Congress is the money they'd lose.

"The revenue on this proposal to exempt tips from taxation is something like a couple hundred billion over a 10-year period," he said. "That's a big number for Congress to swallow."

Garrett Watson, senior policy analyst at the Tax Foundation, largely agreed with Rosenthal.

"The underlying policy basis, I think, is weak at best," Watson said.

He also pointed to a recent study from The Budget Lab at Yale University, which found that only 2.5% of workers would benefit from a no tax on tips policy.

Despite this, Watson said he is eager to get more details from both campaigns on how they plan to implement this relatively new tax proposal.

"A lot of tax ideas that come up have had years or decades of ideas behind them," Watson said. "Here, not so much. So, I definitely think that there are versions of this that are more defensible than others in terms of the policy design."

While Vice President Harris voiced her support for the no tax on tips policy on Saturday, the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 endorsed the Democratic presidential nominee and her new policy position.

"As the largest organization of working women in Nevada, the chance to elect the first woman president of the USA is both energizing and historic and we are ready to make history together," the union said in a statement over the weekend. "Culinary Union has led the fight for over 30 years for fair taxation on tips and our union supports the ban on taxes on tips."

So far, neither campaign has released their full tax-free tips policy proposal.

Correction Aug. 12, 2024

In an earlier version of this story, the name of Florida Rep. Byron Donalds was misspelled as Bryon.

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Money blog: Trendy area in uproar over Gail's potentially coming to high street

Welcome to the Money blog, a hub of personal finance and consumer news/tips. Today's posts include a look at the discounts available to students, and local a revolt against Gail's. Leave a comment on any of the stories we're covering in the box below - we round them up every Saturday.

Thursday 15 August 2024 18:43, UK

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British pubs are in trouble, with more of them closing every year. 

Once the beloved watering holes for many communities, they have fallen victim to higher costs, changing habits and "the real estate incentive". 

Some 239 pubs closed in England and Wales during the first three months of the year, according to government figures – 56% more than in the same period in 2023. 

Our Money reporter Brad Young has been exploring whether this is the end of the British pub as we know it. 

Earlier this week, he spoke to communities and experts about the reasons behind recent closures - you can read his piece here . 

In the video below, Brad explains three reasons why pubs are struggling. 

Amazon has been cleared for take-off with the testing of new drone delivery in the UK.

Amazon Prime Air already offers drone deliveries in the US with drones able to fly 12km from their fulfilment centres. 

But the service could now come to the UK, with Amazon hoping to launch it by the end of the year. It has ambitions of delivering small packages within an hour of an order being placed.

The online retailer is one of six organisations taking part in a new trial from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) - with other projects including using drones to inspect offshore windfarms, for policing and delivering medical supplies. 

The trials will gather safety data and look at how drones can detect and avoid other aircraft while up in the air. 

"Our goal is to make drone operations beyond visual line of sight a safe and everyday reality, contributing to the modernisation of UK airspace and the incorporation of new technology into our skies," said Sophie O'Sullivan, from the CAA.

Octopus Energy is launching "free electricity sessions" for its customers when wholesale prices plummet. 

Starting from today, those who are signed up to the "Octoplus" rewards scheme can take part. 

The one-hour-long sessions will be available whenever the wholesale electricity price hits zero or goes into negative figures, the energy firm said.

Rebecca Dibb-Simkin, chief product officer at Octopus Energy, said: "Free electricity sounds like it's too good to be true but it's real.

"By using more when there is plenty of renewable energy instead of when the grid is dirty, our customers can save money while making the grid greener and more efficient. It's a win-win for our customers and the planet." 

How does it work? 

Those who have signed up for the free electricity will be notified the day before the session will take place. 

On its website, the company said the free period will generally be between 1pm to 2pm. 

During that time, customers can use as much electricity as they want, with all the power used above their typical usage not costing anything. 

Within a week, customers will receive an email telling them how much extra power they used, and within two weeks, they will see that amount paid into their account as bill credit. 

How many sessions will there be? 

There are no set amount of sessions planned to take place as they are based on dips in the market, which is changing all the time. 

However, Octopus Energy has said it is hoping for at least two or three before winter.

In the last year, it said there had been 14 days when electricity prices dropped below £0 due to excess renewable energy being generated. 

"During these times, wind farms are often paid to shut down to prevent grid overload, meaning valuable green electrons go to waste," it added.

"By powering up during these periods, households can maximise green energy availability - making the system more efficient and lowering system costs for all." 

It's important to know that you must have a working electric smart meter in order to take part. 

You can read all the terms and conditions here ... 

Drivers are being told to avoid scanning QR codes to pay for parking in light of a spate of scams.

Motorists should only make payments with cash, cards or using official apps, the RAC has warned.

It comes after fraudsters placed stickers with fake QR codes on parking signs in Barking and Dagenham, Northumberland, Northamptonshire, South Tyneside and Pembrokeshire (among others).

When drivers scan the codes, they are taken to a scam website where they are asked to enter their card details, which the criminals use to take money from their accounts.

"As if this scam isn't nasty enough, it can also lead to drivers being caught out twice if they don’t realise they haven't paid for parking and end up getting a hefty fine from the council," says RAC head of policy Simon Williams. 

And depending on where you are in the UK, that fine can be anything from £50 to £300. 

Thousands of prosecutions for alleged fare evasion are set to be declared void after a judge ruled they were wrongly made. 

It means people who previously paid fines for fare evasion could be due a refund, with a team being set up by the end of November to identify everyone unlawfully prosecuted. 

Four train companies including Northern Rail and Greater Anglia brought prosecutions against thousands of passengers using the single justice procedure (SJP) - despite not being permitted to do so.

The SJP was set up in 2015 to allow magistrates to decide on minor offences, such as using a television without a licence or driving without car insurance, without defendants going to court.

But concerns have been raised that cases are being brought before magistrates without prosecutors, or without any mitigation being taken into account. 

Rail companies were permitted to use the SJP in 2016 to prosecute privately fare evaders, but the Evening Standard reported that several of these cases were brought under the Regulation of Railways Act 1889, which is not allowed under the procedure.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told Westminster Magistrates' Court in June that thousands of prosecutions were "probably unlawful".

The exact number of those affected is currently unknown, with a previous hearing told around 75,000 people could have been prosecuted for fare evasion offences under the SJP.

Northern Rail, just one of the companies involved, said it apologised for the errors involved.

Greater Anglia also said it acknowledged "a series of significant errors" had occurred.

Locals in a trendy London neighbourhood have signed a petition against Gail's bakery setting up shop in their area.

After (unconfirmed) rumours began circulating that the chain was looking to open a site in Walthamstow village, more than 600 have signed a petition opposing the plans.

The petition, which features a cross made out of two baguettes over the company logo, says the village "faces a threat to its uniqueness" should Gail's move into the area.

"Gail's, although respected for their quality, bring a risk of overshadowing our much-loved local stores due to their massive scale and advertising reach," it continues.

"This could lead to decreased visibility and pedestrian traffic towards independently run businesses, threatening their very existence and dismantling the character and diversity crucial to Walthamstow's charm."

Local business owners have also said they oppose the plans because of the pro-Brexit and anti-lockdown views of Luke Johnson, the company’s minority investor.

Adrian Spurdon, a barista at an independent coffee shop, said Mr Johnson's views clashed with the politics of Walthamstow.

He told The Times: "We've just had this big, diverse counter-protest to protect Walthamstow from the far-right and I doubt Luke Johnson would support that.

"He is very different to the people here. His views are not the same."

The opening of a Gail's - where a regular latte will set you back £4.10 - has become a mark of prosperity in the area. 

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said the party looked at where the bakery chain had opened as an indicator of constituencies that could turn yellow, while the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton is known to be partial to their chocolate brownie finger. 

A spokesman for Gail's said: "We understand the concern around chains, but our view is that a healthy high street is one with a diversity of quality offers, each delivering their best.

"High streets evolve over time and we open our small bakeries often in closed banks or stranded restaurants.

"All of our bakeries exist in areas where the choices are wide and growing – we should be celebrating the improvement in our food landscapes."

By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire , business reporter

Despite the Middle East and Russia-Ukraine tension, the benchmark oil price has come down from the highs of Monday to just over $80 a barrel, good news for motorists. 

The value of a pound is down from the highs of July but still better than most of the last six months, with £1 equal to $1.2856. Sterling has done worse against the euro with one pound buying €1.1663, less than could be bought for most of the last three months.

Following news that insurance company Admiral will up payments to shareholders, the price of its shares increased nearly 8%, the most of all the companies on the London Stock Exchange's benchmark index, the FTSE 100. 

As a whole, the FTSE 100 grew 0.06% while the larger and more UK-based FTSE 250 index of valuable London-listed companies grew 0.28%.

Whether or not results day goes to plan today, you can always console yourself with some free chicken, pizza and nachos. 

Major chains like Nando's, Pizza Express and Frankie & Benny's are offering some great freebies for students picking up their A-level results. Most you can get simply by showing a copy of your results to staff. Some have a few extra steps - but we've outlined this below, and most usually just involve signing up for some kind of free app or reward programme.

(And don't worry year 11, many of these offers will also be available when you receive your GCSE results next week).

Nandos: Chicken Bring your ID and results and you will get a free starter or quarter chicken, provided you also spend £7 or more.

Frankie & Benny's: Pizza Each restaurant is giving away 50 free pizzas - you just need to purchase a large soft drink (and show off your results).

Pizza Express: Dough balls You'll get one free portion of dough balls when you purchase a main - for this one you also need to present a valid UNiDAYS offer code.

Wagamama: Free side and drink You need to sign up to the Soul Club app to get this one, but you'll get a free side dish and free soft drink, or cider can, if you order between 11am and 3pm.

Bill's: Dessert To qualify for a free dessert you also need to purchase a main course, or brunch.

Banana Tree: Pad Thai You need to purchase one starter (excluding edamame) and a drink, but you then qualify for a free main meal. Just make sure you sign up  here  first.

Chiquito: Loaded nachos You have two options for this - Chicken & Chorizo or Pibil Pulled Jackfruit, as long as you order at least one large soft drink. There are only 600 available, so you'll want to head down early.

Bird & Blend: Drink Get a magical matcha, refreshing ice tea or a herbal brew if you present your results and your student ID between 11am and 5pm.

Showcase Cinema: Popcorn If you have a ticket for a film today, just show proof you received your results and you qualify for a free popcorn.

Starbucks: Cookie Grab a free cookie with any beverage today.

Bella Italia: 30% off Students get a very decent 30% off their food bill - but you will need to sign up here first.

TGI Fridays: 24% off your bill You need to be a free Stripes Reward member to get this one, and bring a copy of your results.

In a little over a month, hundreds of thousands of young people will once again descend on university towns across the UK - armed with maintenance loans and newly found financial freedoms.

With their arrival comes their business - and retailers and restaurants all fight for the chance to part students with their cash in the form of special discounts. 

It would be a pretty long post were we to list every single student discount, so for this guide we'll go through some of the most notable and our favourites. 

Let's start with the world's most valuable company, which offers various deals to students. 

Buying a new iPad or Mac will land you a gift card worth £120, while you're able to access a cheaper Apple Music plan with Apple TV+ included. 

It's available through discount portal UNiDAYS , or you can read more about the offers here .

Another student essential - bag yourself six months of free Amazon Prime (which offers next-day delivery on thousands of items and Prime Video).

Once that ends, students only need to pay half price for their membership (£4.49 a month). 

Check out the offer here .

If you didn't opt for the Apple Music offer outlined above, then getting 45% off your Spotify subscription might be worth it. 

It's this link to sign up. 

If you want 10% off clothes from one of the world's biggest online fashion retailers, you simply need to fill in this form . 

Another top tip: ASOS often drops prices, starts sales or increases discount when your student maintenance loans hit your account. 

It might be worth waiting for then to use your codes to maximise your savings - you'll get your first loan at the end of September/start of October, one at the start of January and the last will be at the start of April.

YouTube Premium and Music can be yours for £7.99 (plus a free trial month) - allowing you ad-free watching, downloads, background play and unlimited tunes. 

Click here for more. 

An unequivocal student essential. 

Railcards are a must while you're moving around the country visiting friends, family or just making your way home for Christmas. 

They cost just £30 and give you a third off expensive rail fares for the full year. 

More on that here . 

Nike and  Adidas

Two of the big players in sports fashion.

Bag the latest athleisure with 15% from Adidas and 10% off at Nike . 

If you don't like the trainers either Nike or Adidas provide, then take a look at Schuh.

The footwear brand offers 10% off full-price and  sale items - click here to find out how. 

Another top tip: if you like a pair of Nike or Adidas shoes, check out whether you could get them cheaper at Schuh with discounts, and factoring in delivery charges and sales.

Via discount portal StudentBeans, you can grab 15% off at Sephora. 

It's one of the biggest self-care and beauty brands anywhere on the planet, and 15% off will save you a decent chunk. 

Click here to find out more. 

Boots 

Being a student can save you 10% at Boots - sometimes more.

However, you will need to sign up for one of their (free) advantage cars, so maybe one you need to think about.

Check out the steps here .

Burger King

Students can enjoy a free Chicken or Vegan Royale with purchase of a Chicken or Vegan Royale via their StudentBeans portal.

This link has more.

The big night in vendor offers students up to 50% off. 

This is another one you'll need a StudentBeans discount portal login for, but you can get all the details here . 

Through UNiDAYS, you can get £10 off your first two orders (over £15) on Uber Eats.

They're not only offering takeaways, but grocery shopping too, so that's something to bear in mind. 

Details here .

There's 10% off at New Look for students - and you can bag a further 25% if you sign up to their mailing list.

Discount is in-store and online, so there's a bit of flexibility regarding where you shop.

This one is through UNiDAYS, details here .

Grab yourself a free cheeseburger, mayo chicken or McFlurry when you buy selected menu items. 

Read the full list and T&Cs here . 

The delivery giant always offers student deals, but they're yet to make public this year's plans.

You can enter your email address into this link for updates on it. 

Savings on your sex life start at 20%.

This one is via UNiDAYS - more here .

MyProtein 

50% off protein at MyProtein for fitness-hungry students is one of several offers the company has put up. 

Again, via UNiDAYS, which has the full list of deals/offers here .

Sticking with health and fitness, several high-street value gym chains offer discounts, including  The Gym Group  and  PureGym . 

Blackwell's

We've done all the fun stuff like food and clothes - but you do have to study at some stage. 

That's where having 15% off at major book supplier Blackwell's can help. 

All the details are here . 

While we're on the more boring stuff - let's turn to furniture and cutlery. 

Over the years millions of students have descended on the Swedish giant to fill their new rooms and cupboards. 

Offers change every year - and they'll be updated here . 

If you are a regular reader of the Money blog, you will have seen us cover the topic of security tags before. 

We've noticed them on meat, cheese and baby milk , and now some chocolate treats are also getting the yellow security sticker treatment. 

We spotted the tags below at an Asda in Twickenham earlier this week. 

They were placed on a £2.50 box of Celebrations and Lindt Salted Caramel Lindors costing £5.

Also tagged were a £9.30 box of Maltesers Truffles, a £6.55 pack of Raffaello, a £10.50 tray of Ferrero Rocher and an £8.95 Thortons Classic box. 

An Asda spokesperson confirmed to the Money team that "individual stores may tag specific products at their own discretion as a precautionary measure". 

Earlier this year, it was revealed shoplifting had hit its highest level in 20 years. 

The number of offences increased by 37% to 430,104 in the year ending 31 December 2023, compared with 2022, the latest Crime Survey for England and Wales found. 

Several retailers have taken steps to curb the surge, including extra security and body-worn cameras. 

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