A trusted advisor in Milan for your business in Italy
Strategic guidance and a business plan built to be executed — for entrepreneurs and investors setting up, relocating or growing a business in Italy. In English, alongside your lawyer and accountant.
Where you are
You've decided to build something in Italy. You may already have — or will soon have — a notaio, a lawyer and an accountant for the legal, immigration and tax side.
What you also need is someone who understands the business itself: the market, the strategy, the plan that actually holds together. Someone based in Milan, discreet, who works in your language and stays with you from the first idea through to execution.
That's what I do.
What I help with
Four situations I work with
Bringing a proven business to Italy
You've built something that works abroad and want to bring it here — adapting the model to the local market, building the Italian supply chain, the marketing and the team on the ground. Strategy and business plan, but also the operational shape of the business in Italy.
Relocating and building here
You're moving to Italy — for personal or family reasons — bringing capital, skills and energy. What you need is the local mindset, the information and the network, and a business plan that speaks the language of Italian banks, institutions and the market.
Opening a commercial presence
You want a base in Italy to sell products you make in your own country — and a plan that makes that route to market real.
An idea conceived for Italy
You've had an idea worth building, you love this country, and you meant it to happen here. Let's turn it into something concrete.
What I do — and what I don't
I build business plans, provide strategic guidance, and stay alongside you through to execution — as your single point of contact on the business side.
I don't handle company formation, visas or tax. Those stay with your notaio, immigration lawyer and accountant. My role is to get the business right and to coordinate with them, so the strategy, the plan and the paperwork all point the same way.
Why the plan matters here
A business plan is not a document you file and forget. It's a working tool — to run the business, to raise money, to align partners.
In Italy, banks and partners assess forward-looking plans before they commit. A credible plan is not bureaucracy: it's what opens credit, alliances and access to the local market.
Your advisor
A manager who has represented foreign companies in Italy
For thirty years I've worked where foreign companies meet the Italian market. I've been country manager for international ICT companies, and international marketing director across electronics, marine, software, food and chemicals.
For groups of different nationalities — European and beyond — I've been their reference point for entering and growing in Italy, in sectors from finance and food to media, gaming, music and telecommunications. My experience also spans automotive, family services, business services, industrial goods and energy.
Not a compiler of numbers: someone who has represented foreign businesses in Italy, and who knows how the market, the banks and the local partners actually read a plan.
How it works
A clear method, a direct relationship
A confidential conversation
We talk through where you are and what you want to build. No commitment.
Understanding your objectives
What the plan is really for — growth, funding, partners, entry into Italy.
A structured, personal engagement
A clear method, but a direct relationship: you work with me, not a rotating team.
In person in Milan, and continuous remotely
We meet here; between meetings the work continues, in English.
What clients say
The trust of the companies we work with
We delivered the plan and brought the company back into profit after three years of losses of €400,000 a year. Above all, we acquired methods — and a different way of working together internally.
After five years of standing still, the turning point came thanks to Business Plan Milano. New products, high-impact ideas, e-commerce, a brand overhaul and new markets. Thank you!
The fund approved the plan after a first meeting that had been a disaster. Reworking the strategy — commercial and digital as well as operations — won the investors over. We did it!
Entrepreneurs, managers and professionals who have worked with Giovanni Viani
Giovanni worked alongside me to draw up a highly complex multi-year business plan aimed at growth and profitability across our different business lines. He is a manager of great depth and expertise, able to bring out the best in people through attentive, sincere listening.
Marco ColzaniEntrepreneur, automotive/retail
I got to know Business Plan Milano and appreciated its professionalism, its expertise and above all its ability to address business needs in a concrete, clear way. A serious service, with great attention to the client and a real willingness to find the most suitable solutions. Highly recommended.
Stefano CristianiEntrepreneur, flooring for construction and residential
Giovanni and I were colleagues for an important part of our professional lives. I valued his dedication, his great curiosity, his tenacity and his empathy. A competent colleague and a pleasure to work with as a team.
Antonio CrinieriEntrepreneur, telecommunications
A very experienced consultant — you can tell he has been working for more than 30 years. Truly capable; I recommend him.
Anna CazzanigaChartered accountant
I met Giovanni when he was working at Fastweb. I was with Kalicanthus, the first online game publisher in Italy. The first thing I noticed about Giovanni is the ability to have a global marketing vision. Very goal oriented, a detailed planner but with a creative minds. Giovanni was the first to believe to the power of gaming as marketing instrument although fully integrated with the company’s mission and vision. It has been a real pleasure working with Giovanni and I really hope to work with him again.
Fabrizio CalìEntrepreneur, gaming, USA
Having Giovanni as our consultant in building our marketing department was one of the decisive factors in our success. He is not only an experienced professional but a true mentor, able to listen carefully and lead with clarity.
Federico BissoliCMO, energy
Read 8 more testimonials
We used Business Plan Milano for our company’s business plan and were struck by the strategic quality of the work — as well as by the ability to listen, the outstanding quality of the service and the founder’s hands-on experience. We recommend them.
Lina BisoExecutive, public sector
I had the pleasure of working with the founder and the experience far exceeded my expectations. Not only does he have impeccable technical expertise, he has the rare ability to make even the most complex concepts simple. Professionalism, clarity and great availability. Highly recommended!
Lacramioara BorsanuOwner, wellness
I got to know the founder and can confirm his quality and professionalism.
Vincenzo d’IppolitoOperations Manager, luxury yachts
Giovanni is a nice person, really focalized on target and full organized in his activities. I should choose him to start up new working team.
Carmelo SessaSales Director, telecommunications
An excellent professional — practical and skilled at achieving the goals set.
Ada CaranoOwner, nutrition
Giovanni Viani is an executive manager able to apply AI strategically in a business context.
Marco BasileAI consultant
Giovanni has strong capabilities in online marketing, besides to be a complete marketing profile. He is a very energic person, opened to new challenges and really motivated in everything he does. His approach is focus on organization, planning, results and commitment and he has good relationships with all. I suggest to work with him if you are looking for a person able to manage news challenges.
Mariarita FallarinoLead generation consultant
We thank Giovanni Viani for the Mentorship that is helping us consolidate innovative services for the Italian financial market.
Alberto AstiEntrepreneur, fintech
FAQ
Questions people ask
Do I need to live in Italy to own a company here?
No. Italian law sets no residency or citizenship requirement for the shareholders or directors of an S.r.l. (the Italian limited liability company). You need an Italian tax code (codice fiscale), and for non-EU nationals without a residence permit a condition of reciprocity with your home country must apply. If instead you plan to reside in Italy and run the company yourself, that's a matter of visas and residence permits for your immigration lawyer. Please verify your specific case with your legal and tax advisors.
Do you handle visas, company formation or tax?
No. I work on strategy and the business plan. Company formation, visas and tax stay with your notaio, immigration lawyer and accountant. I'm your single point of contact on the business side and I coordinate with them.
Can we work entirely in English?
Yes. The whole engagement — conversations, working sessions and the plan itself — can be run in English.
Will you work with my existing advisors?
Yes. I act as the single point of contact on the business side and coordinate with your legal and tax advisors, so the strategy, the plan and the paperwork all point the same way.
Is this confidential?
Every conversation and document is treated as strictly confidential.
How long does a business plan take?
It depends on scope and on how ready the information is. Around eight weeks is realistic for a complete plan; in urgent cases it can be compressed. We set a realistic timeline in the first conversation.
I'm here to help you make it real — a concrete, achievable ambition. Together we'll build the business plan that delivers it.
A business plan is only real if it gets executed.
Get in touch
Let's talk about your business
Tell me about the project. I'll get back to you within one business day for a first, no-commitment conversation.
20154 Milan, Italy
info@giovanniviani.it
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