Business Plans

Whether you're just starting out, need funding or want to monitor the health of your business, creating a business plan is your first step on the path to success. Read our extensive how-to to get started on your plan.

The Basics

Plan Your Plan

Elements of a Business Plan

Get Help With Your Plan
Measure Your Business Plan Results
No plan is ever right on, but having no plan is never right. Here's how to analyze the actual results compared to the plan.

3 Weeks to Startup: Week 1
Starting a business doesn't have to take weeks or years.

4 Big Fat Business Plan Lies
Get past these 4 myths and learn what a business plan is at its simplest.

Time to Quit?
It's not about starting over--it's about empowering yourself to keep going.

Do You Really Need a Business Plan?
The experts aren't so sure--but entrepreneurs like the founders of Roaring lion energy drink say it's a must. here's how to know if writing a business plan is for you.

Survive the Small-to-Big Transition
No man's land is territory many growing businesses encounter--too small to be big, too big to be small. What you do when you're there could determine whether your business will succeed or fail.

Get Back to Business Planning Fundamentals
In a recession, it's important to know what adjustments to make to your business plan. Here are three fundamentals to remember.

Economic Crises Call for Better Marketing Plans
Waiting for the next crisis to hit means you will have waited too long to revise your business plan.

Budget Strategically to Stay on Course
These 9 tips will help you manage your budget, steer straight and control your destiny.

College Business Plans that Made the Grade
Find out how these entrepreneurs took their business plans from the classroom to the real world.

The Facts About Financial Projections
Are you putting off making financial projections for your business plan? They're not as complicated as they sound.

Win Your Own Business
Don't overlook business plan competitions as a potential source of capital.