Writing a business plan is not intuitive. Sometimes it is hard to know where to begin. Here are a few suggestions to help get you started:
- Check out a business plan outline to see what is expected in a business plan
- Use this free fill-in-the-blank business plan template in the format preferred by the SBA and lenders.
- See if you have a local Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Business Resource Center, or SCORE office to get advice. Check our SBDC finder to find an SBDC near you. You might also want to check with your local Chamber of Commerce office for additional local resources.
- Read helpful articles written by industry experts on how to write a business plan
- Use business plan software to help guide you through the process of writing a business plan.
- Browse through over 500 free sample business plans in various industries for you to get inspiration from and use as examples.
As far as beginning, the success of any business plan is within the quality of the information provided. Once you determine the type of business you want to go into, the plan itself is to represent the operation on paper as if it already exists. How much revenue is expected, from where, the marketing plan that prompts the sales, the infrastructure needed to meet the needs of doing business as well as other related actions and costs. Take your time and talk to as many people as possible for information.
Doing your homework up front is like taking on an insurance policy. It increases your chances of succeeding by eliminating the unknowns. In the end there are always other variables.
I would also start by purchasing Business Plan Pro software and going through the tutorials.
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you for the excellent resources. These plans are a great place to start when crafting one’s own business plan.
this is prathap am a Business Development Executive in a software company,
my management need the business plan for my work,
my work is mainly into client intrection, getting new clients, work out on the requirement,and maintain the right relationship with the existing client,
for this please send a sample business plan
i’m student and i’ve some ideas for my business so i don’t know where begin??my ideas is export mango to america ( it’s so cheap and about quantity of that mango’s so good ) !!so monaything i don’t know !!! can you help me?? thanks you…..
Hi, I just graduated in an Economic University. I’m trying to write a bussiness plan to apply an intervestment, so I don’t know how to make a financial estimation about start-up or for 3 next years. Could you give me a guide? Thank you so much!
I need to see how a business plan sample looks like
i want strat my buissness in garment section plz suggsest me a good bussines plan
I want to start a restaurant business please help me with a business plan. Am currently a management student.
Hello, I want to bring my dream business plan into reality. I don’t know how to write a business plan or know where to start. Can you help me with this dream? Thanks.
Business Plan Pro will work perfectly for you to develop your own plan for your specific business, and it includes all 500 sample business plans as a source for inspiration.
Start by opening the sample plan you choose in Business Plan Pro, and then use the built-in wizard to step through the planning process. The wizard provides instructions for every step, and Business Plan Pro even puts your plan together for you when it is time to print.
Hope that helps!
Jake Weatherly
Director of Customer Experience
Palo Alto Software
my mother is looking to start a new business with SAQA. amd looking for the best wy to draw up her business plan. can u you pleas help us if any one knows about a wbsite to help her.
I need to see how a business plan sample looks like.
I need to see a business plan sample.
I need advice on how to write a successful business plan.
i want to start a business with my folks, but we cant design a business plan please help with the content of a business plan.
I’m trying to start a wireless business and I need a business plan, but I don’t know where to start. Please help me out
I’m trying to start a wireless business and I need a business plan, but I don’t know where to start. Please help me out
i have to write a business plan for my class but i doont know hoow to get started.
hello,
im planning to open a coffee shop and i dont knows how to make a business plan.can you help me,what i shoul do?i dont have any experience in opening a business?
Hello Yvette,
Business Plan Pro has everything you need to create a complete business plan. Business Plan Pro Version 11.0 is an easy step by step process, in an SBA-approved document format, complete financial plan, powerful forecasting tools and 500+ sample business plans included.
Goodluck!
Best regards,
Casi Deatherage
Palo Alto Software
Customer Care
I am trying to start an Internet Security company and i need to present prospective funders with a business plan but i dont know how to write it. Please help me out.
Thank you.
hi i want to open a business of making business plans for small starting businesess can you help me with the outline of the whole business plan
Hi
I want to start an ISO9000 consulting company for small businesses. I need help with business plan.
Hi,
I need to give a talk on business plan for some folks. Can you help me on what to talk about.
We are trying to draw up a busineness plan for a service station, no idea where to start. please advise!
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Zama,
Bplans.com is intended to be a resource to help you with general information and guidance. There are several free business plans on our website for you to use as guides in writing your own plan. We also have our software, Business Plan Pro, which will help walk you through, step-by-step, writing your business plan.
Good luck!
‘Chelle Parmele
Palo Alto Software
I would like to expand my business and would like some help in writing my business plan
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Kevin,
You have a couple of avenues available for assistance in writing your business plan. You can check out your local SBDC or SCORE offices, they’re always happy to help out new businesses. Try a consultant like Master Plans, but these can sometimes be fairly costly. You can also try software like our Business Plan Pro software. All of these resources are going to help you on the track to starting your own business.
Good luck!
‘Chelle Parmele
Palo Alto Software
hiya der!!…i want to start a coffee pub…cud u plz suggest me a business plan??..thanks guys
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We have several sample business plans on the bplans.com website. It’s possible you won’t find a plan that’s completely tailored for your business venture, and that’s ok! Because you want to use these samples as guides and resources, not templates where you put in your company name and hit print. I suggest looking around the sample plan pages for a plan to look through.
‘Chelle Parmele
Palo Alto Software
i have to make a business plan for my class project and dont know how to get started
Hi I am starting a security and investigations company i would like a sample of a business plan thanks frank
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Hi Frank,
You can find examples of all types of business plans on the bplans.com website. While you might not find a plan that matches your particular plan exactly, you’ll find the basic structure and examples of several different areas of business that should be helpful to you writing your business plan.
You could also look into our business planning software, Business Plan Pro. It would walk you through writing your own business plan, step by step.
The important thing to remember is that even if you found a plan exactly like the business you plan to start, it still wouldn’t be a plan of YOUR business. Every business is different and your best course of action is writing the business plan yourself so you make sure YOUR information about YOUR business is there.
I hope this was helpful to you.
‘Chelle Parmele
Palo Alto Software
I want a form buisness plan for cement for construction grade
Hi,
I am dream about own business plan for graphic design (freelance) and I don’t know how to write a business plan. Can you help me with this dream?
Thank you!
Dear All
I have some problem to write my business plan about medical single used instrument. could some one help to
me or have some advice for in tis case ?
sincerely
amir
Hai all,
I want to start a newspaper publishing business. CAn you please help me with the preparation og a business plan for the same?
Also I would like to know if I can obtain loan with the help of the business plan.
Please help.
I want 2 start a biz here in arizona and i need help writing a business plan to get it started
Hi there,
Please help me i want to start a business for computer school i wnat to teach people computer but i dont know where to start your help will be much appreciated, plaese help me write a bunessines plan.
Hi there.I want to enter a competition at my school but they want a business plan and I am hopeless.Please I need your help
my name is mogomotsi i have an idea of starting my own business but dont know where to start because i require a financial assistance and how to write a good business plan my dream business is to start a nightclub or sport bar but only big problem again is that i dont have any exprience on managing the if i became succeful as i only junior certificate and some short short courses certificate.
Thanks for understanding