PrintThe Web can be beneficial when looking for articles about business plans and for sample plans to guide you. Seek out plans for businesses that are similar to yours. Look at several examples to see how they are written and what is included.
Some key Web resources include:
BPlans.com. This site's entire focus is on business plans, including comprehensive breakdowns of each section of the plan, tips for startups, advice from experts, and additional places to seek help. Perhaps the highlight of this comprehensive site is the extensive A-Z list of sample business plans for various types of businesses. Some of the samples are free and others are available at a nominal cost.
The Small Business Administration. In addition to providing a wealth of information for small businesses on a wide range of topics, the SBA has a section devoted to business plans. Under the Starting a Business section, you'll find Business Plan information beginning with Business Plan Basics, which outlines the planning process needed before writing. Additional sections include an outline of the elements of the business plan and a brief section on uses of a business plan. There is also a link to the sample plans at Bplans.com and local SBA office information, where you may find assistance in writing your business plan.
SmallBusinessPoint.com (SBP). This company writes, develops, and markets business plans and business plan software for startups and existing businesses. The experienced team behind SBP has assisted thousands of entrepreneurs in writing their business plans since the company began in 1996. Sample business plans are available for $29.99. A simple business plan generator can serve as a guide if you choose to write your own plan. You can download it for $9.99.
There are many business sites that also offer articles, tips, or sample plans, including MoreBusiness.com, BusinessTown.com, and AllBusiness.com. It may be helpful to add articles of interest to your favorites list to refer back to as you prepare to write each section of your business plan.
