Ten days ago, we asked a difficult question.
Are Okehampton’s micro-businesses in a perfect storm?
A few reached out to us.
Many quietly read.
Some nodded.
Others blanked it.
Because once you recognise the seven hats… and step back to take control of them, for good, opportunities really start to open up, and you have a better chance of having a business or organisation that really works for you.
Now we move to the next question.
If the storm is real…no, I’m not talking about the excessive rain in Okehampton!—
Where is your anchor?
Q1 is a natural pause point
The start of the year isn’t just about targets. We know life isn’t just about money, right?
It’s about perspective.
Look down at your business like it’s a house you’re responsible for maintaining.
Ask yourself:
- What do I actually want from this?
- Growth?
- Stability?
- Less stress?
- An exit plan?
- A legacy?
- Better holidays?
- Proper pension contributions?
Because if you don’t define that, your business will decide for you. We naturally drift. Or, worse. The house falls apart.
The data is clear
In the Mid-Devon State of Marketing Survey that I created, I decided to think about founding a successful business. I discovered:
- Only 38.7% of micro-business owners had a business plan before starting.
- That means the majority began without one.
And many still don’t have one today.
This isn’t criticism.
It’s reality.
Most businesses begin with skill, passion, and necessity—not structure. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit concerned by what was exposed.
But here’s what happens without structure:
- Marketing becomes reactive.
- Pricing stays untested.
- Growth is accidental.
- Burnout creeps in quietly.
- Years pass without intentional direction.
Drift is subtle.
Until it isn’t.
“There’s loads of help out there…”
And there is.
You’ve got:
- Okehampton Business Information Point
- The local Okehampton BID
- Growth hubs
- Online courses
- Government advice pages
- Consultants
- Webinars
- Templates
Information is everywhere.
But leadership?
That’s different.
If you’re working on your own, no one is forcing you to zoom out.
No one is sitting opposite you asking the uncomfortable questions.
No one is joining the dots across finance, marketing, positioning, and life goals.
And that’s where businesses stall.
A Business Plan isn’t corporate. It’s clarity.
Forget 40-page documents. I’ve seen them. I’ve seen these little monsters physically repel people, like kryptonite to Superman. It’s easy to find a business plan template on the internet. However..
Thinking is not for everyone.
Admin is not for everyone.
Forces are pulling you in all directions.
So, my view is that if you’re going to start with anything, start with something simple. But make sure it’s ‘simply comprehensive‘ so you can make meaningful momentum.
A simple business plan should answer:
- What does this business exist to do?
- Who exactly is it for?
- How does it make money?
- What does success look like in X years?
- What are the obvious risks?
- What needs fixing first?
That’s it.
One clear page is better than none.
Think of it as the first page of your strategy story.
Why this matters in our rural landscape
In Devon and specifically Okehampton, we operate in a smaller market. With the rolling green fields surrounding us for miles, our biggest sector is agriculture, unsurprisingly. So, what does this mean?
- Fewer customers.
- Tighter word-of-mouth networks.
- Limited recruitment pools.
- Increasing regulatory pressure (Making Tax Digital and beyond).
- Rising costs.
You cannot afford strategic drift in a rural economy.
Clarity compounds.
So does confusion.
The hard truth
If you don’t have a plan:
You are not steering.
You are reacting.
And reacting businesses rarely scale.
They survive—until they don’t.
The most successful businesses can be dead overnight. So, why is this? It’s because they didn’t start with or have an eye on the ‘fundamentals’ to stay safe.
The Opportunity (If you act now)
When a business owner clarifies direction:
- Pricing improves.
- Marketing sharpens.
- Confidence increases.
- Decisions get faster.
- Holidays become possible.
- Pension planning becomes intentional.
- Exit strategy becomes real.
The same business.
Different posture.
Just take a Simple Step
If you already have a business plan, review it.
If you don’t—write one.
Not a perfect one.
A simple one.
You can use:
- Free templates.
- Growth hub resources.
- Chamber of Commerce guidance.
- Or sit with someone who will challenge and guide you properly.
If you want a structured, 1-to-1 working session to build a practical Simple Business Plan that fits a micro-business perfectly, design pitch and has a solution that’s specifically wrapped in a deal for Okehampton owners.
It’s £95.
One focused session.
You leave with clarity.
Because drifting into another year isn’t neutral.
It’s expensive.
Final Question
If you stepped back in three years and looked at today…
Would you be glad you paused and took control?
Or, frustrated you carried on reacting?
Up next in the series
Hope you enjoyed that. Stay tuned for the next installment of ‘Are Okehampton business owners in a perfect storm?’.
January is a time to take stock and look down at your business. So, what do YOU want?
We explore how there are loads of help out there, like Business Information Point, BID, consultants, and online courses; however, nobody is really there to practically lead you beyond an appointment or a template. After that, you’re on your own, and the business consumes you again. We explore the tools that can get you not just surviving, but thriving, for good.
