What is a Business Plan?

A business plan is a document used to detail plans for a start-up or existing business. This document is used to describe business goals and strategies, as well as provide a blueprint of financing and marketing plans. Essentially, it provides detailed information about where a company is going and how it will get there. Many experts consider such a plan critical to the success of a business.

Often, a business plan is required when seeking a business loan or investment capital. Investors and loan officials need to know what a business owner hopes to accomplish and the steps he or she plans to take to meet goals. Business plans help those in the position to loan money determine whether or not a business is likely to succeed, based on information provided by the owner or owners. A company backed by a well-thought-out plan is a better loan or investment risk than one with a thrown together or incomplete plan.

Business plans aren't just useful for obtaining financing. A carefully considered plan can serve as a veritable road map to success for the business owner and company employees. It can help all involved stay on task while striving to achieve goals. Furthermore, this type of plan may be reviewed and revised when necessary, allowing those operating a business to keep the strategies that work, eliminate those that don't, and change objectives as the business evolves.

When preparing a business plan, it is vital to put maximum effort into researching every aspect of your venture. You'll need to include detailed information about everything from the basics of your product or service to how you intend to manage daily operations. If you plan to seek outside financing, you'll need to make your plan both informative and captivating. By doing so, you'll be able to keep loan officers or investors interested long enough to read the bulk of your plan and, hopefully, decide to provide the financing you need.

Your business plan should provide a detailed description of your business, including the products or services you plan to offer, as well as expected expenditures and profits. If you have products to sell, you'll need to include information about the manufacture of those products. A detailed description of the market for your products or services, along with competition comparisons, should be provided as well. You'll also need to include your plans for development, distribution, staffing, funding, and more.