Does this sound like you?
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"I've been self-employed for years. I've never needed a business plan before and I have no idea where to start."
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"What even goes in a business plan?"
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"I'm worried I'll write the wrong thing and it'll hurt my application."
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"I only started trading recently and I don't know if I'll even be eligible."
What Access to Work requires from a business plan
Access to Work requires self-employed applicants to provide a business plan that a bank or other financial institution would accept. That's their own wording. It needs to be a credible, well-structured document that demonstrates your business is viable.
The most important element is a financial forecast that shows your business will continue to generate earnings at or above the Access to Work Lower Earnings Limit (LEL) of £6,500 per year. Without this, your eligibility is at risk.
There are words and phrases that Access to Work uses as grounds to question eligibility, and you would not know what they are unless someone told you. For example, describing your business in certain ways can flag it as not yet viable in their system, which can delay or derail your application.
This is one of the main reasons getting professional help with your business plan is worth it, especially if you are newer to self-employment.
This is a specialist document with specific requirements. It is not the same as a general business document, and getting the wording wrong can give Access to Work grounds to question your eligibility.
What goes in the plan
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Business description
A clear overview of what you do, who you work with, and how your business operates -
Market and services
Who your clients are, what you offer, and why your business is sustainable
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Financial forecast
Projected earnings that demonstrate you will meet or sustain the ATW Lower Earnings Limit (LEL)
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ATW-compliant framing
Specific wording choices that satisfy Access to Work's requirements and avoid common rejection triggers
If you’re newer to self-employment
If you don't yet have a tax return showing earnings above the ATW Lower Earnings Limit (LEL) of £6,500, you can still apply. Access to Work has a discretionary period of up to three years during which you can be eligible without meeting the LEL, but the bar is higher and the business plan becomes even more critical.
Haven't applied yet? Start with a consultation first.
Already applied without preparation?
What happens when you purchase
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I send you a list of questions about your business
After purchase, you'll receive a structured set of questions covering your work, clients, income, and plans. Answer these in your own words, no business knowledge required.
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We have a meeting to cover anything unclear
Once I've reviewed your answers, we'll meet on an online call to fill in any gaps and make sure I have everything I need.
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I prepare your business plan
Within 7 days, I deliver your finished business plan, written to meet Access to Work's requirements and framed in language that supports your application rather than undermining it.
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One round of revisions included
If anything needs adjusting or doesn't accurately reflect your situation, I revise it. The document should be both accurate and strategically sound.
Why Max?
Max Wayne, ATW Consultant
Most self-employed people applying for Access to Work have never written a business plan before. It's not something you need in the ordinary course of self-employment until Access to Work asks for one out of the blue, with specific requirements they don't fully explain.
Max understands both sides of this: the ATW process and what case managers are looking for, and the reality of being a self-employed neurodivergent person who didn't go into business to write financial forecasts. The plan I produce is written for ATW's purposes specifically, which is a different document from a general business doc, and the difference matters.
“ATW has requirements they don’t spell out clearly. I know what they are, and I make sure your plan meets them.”
This service is not the right fit if:
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Your case manager already asked you for the plan
The 7-day turnaround means I can't deliver in time if your deadline is already counting down on you. Contact your case manager immediately to ask for more time as a reasonable adjustment.
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You are employed rather than self-employed
This service is specifically for self-employed ATW applicants. If you're employed, you don't need a business plan (unless you’re both employed and self-employed and you’re asking for support for both jobs).
If you don’t have a self-employed job, the standard consultation is the right starting point.
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For general boundaries that apply to all my services, see Before you book.
