What Can Help Me Write a Business Plan?

by Tim Berry

A common technique used to write a business plan is to use a business plan template, business plan example, or a business plan outline. You may see these terms as you browse the Web, but what do they mean?

Business plan template

A “business plan template” is a term used to describe a business plan outline that possibly has some sort of “fill in the blank” system to help you create your own plan. Using a “fill in the blank” approach to creating a business plan is not a serious way to write a plan, and it will not help you succeed in planning your business or securing financing.

“Business plan template” also is used to describe a sample business plan or general business plan outline.

Example business plan

An “example business plan” is another term that describes a sample business plan. A sample business plan is a full business plan that is either the plan of a real business or based on a real business. It shows you the actual text, financials, and charts for the business.
We have over 500 free business plans here on Bplans.com for you to view, and over 500 sample business plans contained in Business Plan Pro that can be viewed and edited for your own plan.

Business plan outline

Another term you’ll often hear is “business plan outline.” This term is used to refer to the basic structure of a business plan. While you can find some generic business plan outlines in books or on the Web, an outline should change to fit the type of business you’re involved in. For example, the business plan outline for a restaurant should be different from the business plan outline for a day care. For this reason, we don’t recommend using generic business plan outlines.
Business Plan Pro contains an EasyPlan Wizard that asks you questions when you first start writing your plan. As you answer the questions, the Wizard will create the correct business plan outline that you need for your specific business. It’s the fastest and easiest way to create the correct business plan outline to use for your plan.

Business plan software

Business Plan Pro
Business Plan Pro If you’re looking to work with a business plan outline, example business plan, or business plan template, Business Plan Pro is an excellent choice. It contains over 500 sample business plans which can be used to help create your own plan.

Sample business plans

The plans listed below can work as a business plan template for your plan, and are all included in Business Plan Pro.
Studio 67 – restaurant business plan
Studio67 is a medium-sized restaurant focusing on organic foods and an intriguing atmosphere, in a prime neighborhood of Portland.

AMT Computers – computer hardware business plan
AMT is an ongoing business computer reseller that also provides service and support.

Javanet Internet Cafe – coffee shop business plan
JavaNet is a startup business that will provide a unique forum for communication and entertainment through the medium of the Internet.

About Tim Berry

Founder and President of Palo Alto Software and a renowned planning expert. He is listed in the index of "Fire in the Valley", by Swaine and Freiberger, the history of the personal computer industry. Tim contributes regularly to the bplans blog, the Huffingtonpost.com as well as his own blogs, Planning, Startups, Stories, Up and Running, and Planning Demystified. His full biography is available at timberry.com.

More from Tim Berry


  • Daryl Mcgee

    I am interested in a sample business plan for a 24 hour currency exchange.

    —-

    Daryl,

    There are several different types of sample business plans on the bplans website for you to look over. While we might not have a sample business plan that fits what you’re looking for exactly, we have examples to help you get started writing your own business plan.

    ‘Chelle Parmele
    Palo Alto Software

  • Nomvuzo Mashiyi

    Plz help me .I need a Business plan S.A P.I will be very much happy ,if you can just sent me a business plan ,with blank spaces that I can just fill in details ,for a Liquor store or a Clothing store ,with shoes & bags .

  • http://www.bobsbanter.com Humour articles

    Thank you for bringing all of the resources together. I’m very impressed by all the thoughts and insights that went into this post.

  • http://www.forextradingsystemfree.info forextradingsystemfree.info

    Hi,
    Thanks for the post. I’m not a very good writer and I try to read about the topic as much as I can. Do you have any advice on books that would help on better bussiness plan writing?

    Best regards,

  • http://www.makemoneykingdom.com makemoneykingdom.com

    Great idea !!
    I’ve started doing that on one of my website, but I guess I should really start to do that more often. Sometimes we get a stream of very good ideas for an article, then the next time around, it’s all a complete blank.

    Thanks , This post made my day!!

  • Sherrie Brownlee

    I would like samples of a business plan for a school,possibly a charter school,early childhood preschool, also a how to to submit short stories,songs for monetary gifts
    thank you,

  • http://none Thandi

    I want to know the best medium of communication to 5members of the marketing team

  • allan otach

    Need your HELP.I need a business plan for a mens magazine
    please send me one that is viable.I surely don’t know where to start.

    Thank you

  • http://yahoo.com donna Johnson

    Hey Sherrie,
    I too would live to start my own Charter School. Could you direct me to the sample business plan for this information
    Thanks and goood luck to you

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  • brian mandela

    how to write a business plan.

  • Rose-Mary Gwambe

    Iwill be please if you can assist me with a wood factory business plan.

    Thank you

    Rose-Mary Gwambe

  • marcus

    can you please sent me a busines plan sample for coca cola depot I need it please

  • cindy williams

    I would like to start my own Homehealth business and i need some help to get it started.

  • http://emmaburge65@yahoo.com emma burge

    I’m trying to start a small business. But i need to put it in place.An off on a goodstart.It’s a art. well it other things too.

  • Titilope Adeboyejo

    Hi, i would like to know how i can start a fashion designing business

  • Jody

    Hi, I’m looking for a busness plan to teach educational enviornmental studies programs to K-12th grade. Can you help. Whre do I start.

  • Kgabo

    Hi
    please send me business plan with blank space I can just fill I really need it for Gym

  • raquel

    im an looking into buying a post office and i need to find a business plan that will help with financing thank

  • raquel

    im an looking into buying a post office and i need to find a business plan that will help with financing , it would be great if you could help thanks

  • http://www.bizplancorner.com Business Plan

    Business plan templates can prove to be useful for entrepreneurs with pressing deadlines. However, one should be very careful while using them, as a business plan’s only purpose is not to fetch grant funds, but it should be an assessment of current and future state of your business.

  • siyanda

    Can you please send me a blank business plan that I can just fill in?

    ————–

    Hi Siyanda,

    You are actually describing our software. That’s what Business Plan Pro does, it gives you a blank starting point where you can begin to put in your information. It walks you through step-by-step all the aspects of writing your plan.

    You can get more information by going to our retail website at http://www.paloalto.com

  • annah

    hi,
    please help me with a business plan for cleaning services.just send me blanks so that i can fill.
    thank you so much
    annah philemon

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  • Pushy

    Can you help me with the traveling agency business plan.

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