You need a business plan if you’re running a business.
A business plan is like a map and a compass for a business. Without it you’re traveling blind. With a plan you set objectives, establish priorities, and provide for cash flow.
You need a business plan if you’re applying for a business loan.
Most banks require it, and […]

Business plans are also called strategic plans, investment plans, expansion plans, operational plans, annual plans, internal plans, growth plans, product plans, feasibility plans, and many other names. These are all business plans.
In all these different varieties of business plan, the plan matches your specific situation. For example, if you’re developing a plan for internal use […]

Recently this question arrived asking about establishing a nonprofit agency.
“I recently moved into a neighborhood that would benefit from a Community Action Group. I would like to start and manage a not-for-profit, where lower income residents would have access to funds to renovate or update their homes, thereby attracting more business into the area and […]

Do you have a business plan for my business?
Unfortunately, no sample business plan will work perfectly for your business. After all, your business plan is about your business and how you will use it to succeed. You don’t want your business plan to read like a template - a plan for someone else’s business.
Sample plans […]

Milestones
The Milestones table is one of the most important in your business plan. It sets the plan into practical, concrete terms, with real budgets, deadlines, and management responsibilities. It helps you focus as you are writing your business plan, and then, the Milestones table and plan-vs.-actual management analysis helps you implement your plan as you […]

When you are starting a business and writing the business plan you need to know about your industry and business environment. You also need to explain the type of business you’re in. You’ll be expected to explain the general state of your industry and the nature of the business, especially if your plan is going […]

A complete business plan describes what you sell: either products, services, or both. This part of the plan is mainly description. Sometimes it will include tables that provide more details, such as a bill of materials or detailed price lists. More frequently, however, this section is mainly text. It normally appears in the plan, after […]

Start your business plan with a quick assessment. Even for an ongoing business, take the time to step away from the business and look at the basics. Do your business numbers make sense? One of my business school professors used to refer to this process as finding out “is there a there there?”
Objectives
Objectives are business […]

Basic company information
A standard business plan outline includes a chapter topic on your company. You may not need to include this chapter if you are writing an internal plan. However, any outsiders reading your plan will want to know about your company before they read about products, markets, and the rest of the story.
Summary paragraph
Start […]

Business advisors, experienced entrepreneurs, bankers, and investors generally agree that you should develop a business plan before you start a business. A plan can help you move forward, make decisions, and make your business successful. However, not all business plans are the same, not every business needs the same level of detail. You might develop […]