Having a business plan / making a business case for your activity is crucial if you want to access finance.
A business plan is a written document that describes a business, its objectives, its strategies, the need (or market it is in) and its financial forecasts. It can help measure success as well as being a vital tool in attracting funding.
Business Link Yorkshire have useful factsheets and other information on preparing a business plan, go to: http://www.businesslinkyorkshire.co.uk