The Latest News from PlanA

If your business is growing but cash is always tight — this article is for you. I’ve worked with a lot of SMBs over the last 15+ years. Many of them have grown from $2M to $5M to $10M+, but growth alone doesn’t guarantee success. 

One of the most common misconceptions I hear from business owners is that 'governance is only for big companies.' In reality, governance is not about ticking boxes or satisfying compliance. It's about building stronger businesses that last. In the SMBs I work with — especially those in growth mode — good governance is often the turning point between chaotic management and confident scaling.

You can have the best ideas in the world … but unless you execute well, growth stalls. We see this all the time in businesses between $500k and $2m turnover. We know you’re: Smart and capable, working hard, full of ideas and opportunities. But the reality ...

If your business has a business plan with 12-month objectives (as it should), then the turn of each 90 days is more than just a date on the calendar — it’s your call to realign, refocus, and reset. But in the busyness of day-to-day operations, many businesses miss the moment. Here’s why that matters — and how to make your next 90-day plan count. 

Struggling to stick to your plans? Learn why they fall apart — and how to turn things around. In this video, we reveal the top reasons your goals derail, from poor strategy to lack of accountability, and share powerful, actionable solutions you can implement today to overcome them. 

They used to joke they were like an old married couple. Coffee-fuelled strategy sessions one day, and snappy WhatsApp messages the next. What started as a tight-knit partnership between two best mates, wanting to build a $10m business slowly turned into a battleground of blame, resentment, and silence

So, you've got the vision, the drive, and maybe even a few loyal customers. You're building something awesome! But let's be real, as your business grows, so does the stuff. More decisions, bigger risks, and suddenly you're juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle (and your pants are on fire!). That's where governance comes in.

Using ChatGPT at Work? Here’s What You Need to Know – AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity are everywhere. They're helping people write faster, think clearer, and find better answers. But are they safe for business use? Here’s a quick look at what you should — and shouldn’t — do if your team is using AI tools.

We heard a lot of ‘Survive to 25’ and ‘Thrive in 25’ last year — catchy, but the reality in Hawke’s Bay is that it’s still tough going. Across the sectors I work with, the message is clear, there’s a light out there, but it’s still on the horizon. So, as we head into the new financial year, IT’S TIME TO GET SHARP!

“What would happen to Sweet Spot Confectionery if a major supplier shut down tomorrow?” The question hit Sophie Sweet like a splash of cold water. She had spent years growing her lollipop business, scaling from a modest $1.5 million in sales to pushing towards $10 million. But until now, she had been focused on growth—expanding into new markets, streamlining production, and strengthening her brand.