Business Plan Guidlines.

**User_Name** · 09-06-2009 02:58 PM

Hi, everyone. Can anyone help me with a basic step by step guidline for a business plan? I am looking for simple instructions for now. What to include, what not to include... My plan is to start making a basic simple business plan for now and then to create a more in depth one later on once I know more about what I am doing.

Any Help would be great thank you.

**bizdev** · 09-07-2009 03:45 PM

I offer a step by step manual here:
You Can Write Your Own Successful Business Plan

(I will be shutting down that website soon to concentrate on providing funding for new startups so if you are interested better grab it while you can.)

**aa2202** · 09-07-2009 05:37 PM

There is no set of rules when it comes to writing a business plan but normally they are divided into seven parts. You can look on entrepreneur.com and I'm sure there is many other websites that can help you out. If you really want to learn more, your local Small Business Development Center (SBDC) can help you out. They probably have workshops you can attend to and maybe offer one on one consulting. My sbdc does and the workshops are very very helpful.

**tilva** · 09-07-2009 07:51 PM

Some other great resources are bplans.com forbes.com under the entrepreneur tabs that has helped me a lot best of luck and and change your dreams into reality and much success

**byrneof** · 09-08-2009 11:14 AM

Keep it straight forward and easy to read. Don't bother with a 50+ page document. Use your common sense. Put it together in the form of a 10-15 slide deck.

**bizdev** · 09-08-2009 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by byrneof

Keep it straight forward and easy to read. Don't bother with a 50+ page document. Use your common sense. Put it together in the form of a 10-15 slide deck.

I agree with a straight forward, concise approach. The lenders (including SBA reps) that I've dealt with all appreciated that my business plans were under 20 pages, yet complete.

Don't worry about a slide deck however. Lenders are fine with a paper copy.

**Lambo** · 09-08-2009 09:58 PM

include critical information, you can find some good templates online or go to a local university and ask in ther business development department, they usually also have sample templates

**DPayne** · 09-09-2009 11:42 PM

Originally Posted by User_Name

My plan is to start making a basic simple business plan

Your plan is to plan? haha Just write down the essentials. What you want to do, what you need to get started, check your market to see if there is an actual need for what you want, and get rolling. Don't waste months and months writing a business plan.

Set sail now and course adjust later. You won't know everything (or even most everything) you need to know about your business until you do it. Action pays, planning delays.