Fundraising/Business Plans

Campbell Dallas will work with company management and owners to focus on the unique selling propositions of the business that should be highlighted in any business plan. We ensure that every plan projects a balanced view and includes the business' strengths, weaknesses and risks, with suggested actions to overcome any deficiencies.

The preparation of a business plan will enable company management and owners to focus on the following:

  • Where your business is now.
  • Where is it going?
  • How will it get there?
  • What resources and steps will have to be taken to achieve the goals set?

The business plan must portray the company in a way that captures its essential characteristics so that interested parties can see why it is likely to be successful. It should also provide a framework to monitor the performance of the company, and with which to make decisions.

In many cases people who know very little about your business or industry will read the business plan. Campbell Dallas therefore ensure the jargon and obscure technical terms are avoided and the plan is written in a style that is concise yet informative and clearly sets out the proposal, i.e. what are 'we' asking for and what do 'they' need to make a decision.

At the outset of any plan, the reader will need to know whether your business plan is being written primarily to help raise additional funding for an acquisition or MBO, to finance working capital requirements or to obtain longer-term finance to enable the business to expand.

Campbell Dallas will work with company management and owners to ascertain the extent of any funding gap arising, by preparing detailed financial models. These models will consist of an integrated Profit and Loss Accounts, Cash Flows and Balance Sheets. The models will be prepared based on a robust set of assumptions that can be verified to justify the company's current and projected financial performance.

The models will incorporate taxation implications of the proposal, such as corporation tax provisions and VAT quarters etc. as well as a preliminary assessment of the returns which institutions would be likely to receive on their investments, if that information is required.

The models will also be sensitised to examine the impact of any changes to key assumptions, such as a delay in a new customer coming on board, debtor days increasing or creditor days decreasing etc.

Based on the above information, Campbell Dallas will be able to produce an outline funding structure and comment on the most appropriate funder by considering the most appropriate sources of finance to meet the business and owner's strategy.

Sources of funding usually comprises of:

  • Banks;
  • Equity investment (either from a venture capital vehicle or private investor);
  • Government bodies.

Campbell Dallas are well known to all these sources of funding and have a successful track record of obtaining finance for business from a variety of sectors, for a variety of opportunities and all at various stages in their business life cycle.

Recent Successes

In recent times, we have successfully undertaken a number of business planning and fund-raising assignments including:

  • Restructure of a national food manufacturer, including additional working capital from the company's incumbent bank to fund the operational restructuring process.
  • Start up funding for a newly formed clothing design, import and wholesaler, who required a new financial structure to fund a front loaded trade finance cycle.
  • We obtained Government backed bank funding for a vending machine wholesaler and operator to aid expansion in a situation where only limited security was available. Our business plan demonstrated the financial viability of the current and projected operations giving comfort to potential lenders.

In addition, in 2010 the Corporate Finance Team were named Dealmaking Team of the Year at the annual Deals:Dealmakers Awards ceremony. In winning the award, the judges recognised the team's unique approach to each transaction and as mentioned earlier, the team's ability to 'think outside the box' and bring creative solutions to perceived problems.

For further information or advice please speak to Chris Horne on 0141 886 6644 or email corporate.finance@campbelldallas.co.uk.

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