Coaches vs. Consultants vs. Business Plan Writers

My coaches vs. consultants post on Planning Startups Stories has gotten a lot of traffic, and some good comments. Some way it's an interesting distinction. I say:

• A business plan writer is a dangerous phrase because it supports the myth of the business plan as a finished document that you do once, and then you're done. Having a business plan written doesn't work well because the day after it's done, it's already obsolete.
  
• A business plan coach is a much better idea. A coach is somebody who knows something well, has experience, but helps you do it yourself, doesn't do it for you. That's better with business planning because to make it work you're going to be reviewing and revising regularly. A good business plan is never done. A smart coach will work with business plan software, too -- good software, not just pre-written rehash, software that's a tool -- so you can collaborate, work the plan, and own the plan.
  
• A business plan consultant is hard to define. Typically a consultant studies and analyzes and prepares a report. The best consultants that I've seen are really coaches. They facilitate. If you work with a consultant, make sure you define your terms and get what you need before you sign on. I've known some very good business plan consultants, who roll up their sleeves and work with you, accept only potential successes as clients, and help make that success happen. But that's rare. Don't look for consulting if you really mean coaching.