Keep Your Business Plan Confidential

After all the time you've spent developing your business idea and plan, the last thing you need is for someone to steal your ideas and beat you to market.

Thankfully, most people you'll show your business plan to are professionals. If they think you have a viable idea, they'll want to invest in it or join your staff.

Just to be on the safe side, though, describe your product or service in your business plan, but don't include the full set of blueprints — critical data such as circuit designs or the secret recipe to your award-winning cheesecake.

To limit the circulation of your business plans, clearly state on the cover page of your plan that photocopying or duplicating your business plan is strictly prohibited. Going one step further, you could ask that anyone who reads your business plan sign a confidentiality or nondisclosure agreement. Additionally, you could create an individualized cover page stating the following: "This business plan was created specifically for John Doe. By signing the front of this document, he agrees to treat the enclosed information with confidentiality and professionalism."