Factors Affecting the Development of Business Plans for Community consulting services

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to: (1) examine the factors affecting the development of business plans for community-based consulting services, (2) assess the level of community entrepreneurs’ perceptions regarding factors related to personnel, resources, operational processes, participation, and policy support, and (3) propose guidelines for developing effective and sustainable business plans for community-based consulting services. This study employed a quantitative research approach. The sample consisted of 115 community entrepreneurs. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire validated for content validity and reliability. Descriptive statistics, including percentage, mean, and standard deviation, were used, along with inferential statistics to examine the influence of the identified factors. The results indicated that all five factors significantly influenced business plan development at a high level. Among these, personnel and resources were identified as the most influential, followed by operational processes, community participation, and government policy support. These findings suggest that effective development of business plans for community-based consulting services should emphasize capacity building for entrepreneurs, appropriate resource allocation, structured operational processes, and integrated collaboration among stakeholders to enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of community enterprises in the long term.