Business Planning & Investment Support
Fund growth. Build value. Plan with precision.
For ambitious SMEs in manufacturing, retail, construction and energy, growth isn't just about more sales.
It's about having the right financial structure, funding strategy and business plan in place to scale sustainably.
Whether you're preparing an investor-ready business plan, building financial models for a bank lending application, raising equity capital, or planning a £1m+ expansion project, you need a finance partner who understands what stakeholders expect and how to present your numbers with credibility.
At Lock & Ledger, we turn your growth ambitions into investor-grade financial plans, forecasts and pitch-ready documents that stand up to scrutiny, backed by 20+ years of hands-on experience as an ACCA-qualified fractional Finance Director
How We Deliver
Investor-Ready Business Plans
Tailored for banks, VCs, and private investors, written in language they understand, backed by numbers that stand up.
Pitch Decks & Financial Due Diligence Packs
Designed to help you stand out in funding rounds or strategic negotiations
Ongoing Advisory
We stay on board post-investment or funding to ensure financial discipline and traction toward your milestones.
Cash Flow & Profit Forecasts
Built on real assumptions, tested against market data, and customised for growth ambitions
SPV Reporting & Control Structures
For property, construction, or multi-entity groups, ensuring clarity, compliance, and investor trust.
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A Plan That Investors & Banks Will Trust
We translate your goals into financial projections that hold up to scrutiny. Whether you’re seeking equity investment, debt funding, or growth capital, we prepare the models, documents, and forecasts that external stakeholders expect.
Business Plan Creation
We build investor-grade business plans that cover strategy, market opportunity, financials, and risk—designed to support funding applications and internal decision-making.
Investor & Lender Readiness
From pitch decks to financial due diligence packs, we help you tell a compelling story through numbers—backed by robust forecasting and clean financial data.
Benefit: Greater funding success and more confident conversations with investors, lenders, or shareholders.
2
Financial Models Built to Scale
Too often, SMEs rely on spreadsheets that break under pressure. We create scalable, dynamic models tailored to your business model—so you can test different scenarios, raise funds, or make big decisions with confidence.
Forecasting Models & Scenario Planning
We build flexible financial models that incorporate revenue projections, cost assumptions, and cash flow implications across multiple growth paths.
SPV & Project Finance Oversight
If you’re operating across special purpose vehicles or managing complex development projects, we ensure the structure, reporting, and controls are aligned for transparency and compliance.
Benefit: Professional, reliable models that support fast, strategic decisions and external funding.
3
Support Through every Growth Stage
Growth isn’t linear, and you need a finance partner who’s seen the road ahead.
Whether it’s scaling a team, opening new locations, or preparing for exit, we act as your advisor through every transition.
Pitch & Exit Support
We assist with investor presentations, exit planning strategies, and financial positioning to increase your business valuation and long-term return.
Capital Raising Support
We advise on funding structures, assist with negotiations, and support you through the debt or equity raise process, including liaising with investors and financial institutions.
Benefit: A trusted finance partner guiding you through the high-stakes moments of growth.
Business Planning & Investment Support in Action
Raising capital, planning a major expansion, or preparing for exit all have one thing in common - they demand financial credibility.
Investors, lenders and acquirers don't back ambition alone; they back businesses with clear plans, robust models, and numbers that stand up to scrutiny. These projects show how we've helped SMEs across energy, retail and manufacturing secure funding, control major capital projects, and position their businesses for successful sale
Common questions about business planning & investment support
What should an investor-ready business plan include?
An investor-ready business plan needs to go well beyond a summary of what your business does. Investors and lenders expect to see a clear market opportunity, a realistic revenue model, detailed financial projections covering 3 to 5 years, cash flow forecasts, a breakdown of how funding will be used, and an honest assessment of risks and how you'll manage them. It also needs to tell a compelling story, showing why your business is worth backing and what the return looks like. At Lock & Ledger, we build business plans that meet these standards across manufacturing, retail, energy and construction. We helped one renewable energy business create a 5-year growth strategy that gave the leadership team a clear, investable roadmap for the first time. Get in touch to discuss your funding goals
Can a fractional Finance Director help me raise funding?
Yes, and it's one of the most common reasons SMEs bring us in. A fractional Finance Director prepares the financial foundations that investors and lenders need to see before they commit. This includes building robust financial models, preparing cash flow and profit forecasts based on realistic assumptions, compiling due diligence packs, and often attending funding meetings alongside you to field financial questions with confidence. At Lock & Ledger, we've supported businesses through bank lending applications, equity raises, and major capital projects including a £5m retail expansion where we built the entire budgeting framework from scratch. See our full range of services or book a free discovery call.
How do I know if my business is ready for investment?
There are a few key indicators. You should have at least 12 months of clean, reliable financial data, a clear understanding of your unit economics and margins, a credible growth plan that shows how the investment will generate returns, and strong enough internal controls that an investor's due diligence process won't uncover issues that undermine confidence. If any of these feel uncertain, that's not a reason to delay. It's a reason to get the right support in place first. At Lock & Ledger, we regularly help SMEs move from 'not quite ready' to fully investment-ready, often within 60 to 90 days. We've prepared businesses for strategic exit and sale as well as growth-stage funding. Check our credentials or contact us to talk it through.
Is Business Planning & Investment Support Right for You?
You’ll benefit from this service if:
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You're preparing to raise funds or attract new investors
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You want a professionally written business plan and realistic forecasts
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You’re expanding into new markets or business lines
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You need financial clarity and confidence before making strategic decisions
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You’re running complex projects across SPVs and want better structure and reporting
Whether you’re scaling fast or planning for long-term success, Lock & Ledger brings the financial expertise and strategic thinking to make your next move your best one