Business Plan
Investor-ready strategy and financials.
A business plan is no longer a 40-page document gathering dust — it's a working tool for raising money, hiring senior staff, applying for grants and steering through uncertainty. Heartlands builds investor-ready business plans paired with three-year integrated financial models (P&L, balance sheet and cashflow), grounded in defensible assumptions and presented in a format that UK clearing banks, the British Business Bank, angel investors and venture capital funds actually accept. We work shoulder-to-shoulder with you over two to three weeks: a workshop to capture the vision, model build, narrative drafting, two rounds of revisions, and a pitch-ready PDF plus the editable Excel model so you can stress-test scenarios long after we hand over.
What this service does
A high-quality business plan combines three things: a clear, defensible narrative; an integrated financial model where P&L, balance sheet and cashflow tie together correctly; and a credible funding request linked to specific milestones. Heartlands delivers all three. We start with a structured workshop, build the model in Excel or Google Sheets with full transparency over assumptions, draft the narrative sections (market, product, team, traction, financials, ask), iterate twice with you, and deliver a pitch-ready PDF alongside the unlocked model. Optional add-ons include investor deck design, EIS/SEIS Advance Assurance preparation and grant application support.
- Secure debt or equity funding on the best available terms
- Pressure-test the business model against realistic scenarios
- Align founders, leadership and investors around a single plan
- Create a baseline against which to measure operational performance
- Turns a founder's vision into a document third parties will fund
- Identifies cash burn, runway and break-even before they become crises
- Provides the financial model needed for EIS/SEIS, R&D and grant claims
- Supports lender, investor and board conversations with hard numbers
Service capabilities
The measurable upside
Compresses what typically takes founders 80–120 hours into a 2–3 week engagement with structured workshops.
Improves funding terms — a well-modelled plan typically reduces lender margin or investor dilution by 1–3 percentage points.
Model integrity reviewed by chartered accountants, with full formula audit trails and locked drivers for transparency.
Plans drafted to meet the British Business Bank, Innovate UK, Start Up Loan and clearing bank submission standards.
The model becomes your live forecasting tool post-funding — not a single-use document.
Sectors we work with
What sets Heartlands apart
Chartered partners with 15+ years across UK SMEs, owner-managed businesses and scaling startups.
ICAEW, ACCA and CTA qualified specialists handling every engagement end-to-end.
From onboarding and software setup to filing, reporting and HMRC representation — one accountable team.
Birmingham-based with a direct line to your partner. No call centres, no offshoring, no surprises.
We train your team on Xero, QuickBooks and reporting workflows, then keep the system healthy month after month.
How we deliver, end-to-end
- 01ConsultationA free 30-minute scoping call to understand goals, structure, deadlines and pain points.
- 02AssessmentWe audit your books, filings and software stack to surface risks and quick wins before quoting.
- 03PlanningA written engagement plan: scope, deliverables, deadlines and a fixed monthly fee — no hourly billing.
- 04ImplementationSoftware configured, ledgers migrated, controls set up and the team onboarded with zero downtime.
- 05TestingReconciliations, trial runs and sign-off on the first month's outputs before going live.
- 06TrainingHands-on training for your team plus written SOPs so the process is sustainable, not dependent on us.
- 07Ongoing supportContinuous filing, monthly reviews, unlimited email support and proactive deadline management.
Frequently asked questions
What our clients say
Heartlands turned our business plan from a year-end headache into a quiet, predictable process. Their partner-led approach is the difference.
Switched from a high-street firm and immediately recovered tax we didn't know we'd overpaid. Communication is faster, advice is sharper.
Genuinely proactive — they call us before deadlines, not the other way round. Fixed fees, no surprises and our books have never been cleaner.
Ready to talk about business plan?
A free 30-minute scoping call with a chartered partner. No obligation, no sales pitch — just clear answers and a fixed quote if it's a fit.