Writing a business plan is one of the most important aspects of starting a business. Proper planning is needed for success in business and, for that matter, anything you do in life.

• What is a Business Plan?. A business plan precisely defines your business, identifies your goals and serves as your firm's resume.
• Why Are Business Plans Important?. If you're wondering why business plans are an important part of small business planning, read this article on business plans.

• Why Write a Business Plan?. If you run a business by the seat of your pants, you end up with torn pants. It's extremely important to take the time to write a business plan.
• How to Write a Good Business Plan. Your business plan is your roadmap for building your business and it's the admission ticket for the investment process. In order for you to succeed, your business plan has to be as good as it can possibly be.
• Business Presentations. Presenting your business plan to investors and others is an art form. Each group requires different information about your business. Read this article and learn how to present your business.
• Reasons to Write a Business Plan. Need a few good reasons to write a business plan? We've outlined the answer to "Why Write Business Plans?" and it's a compelling argument.
• Free Business Plan Templates. Looking for sample business plans? Start with a blank slate with one of our free business plan templates. The business plan outline is there. You just need to customize it to describe your business and what you hope to accomplish.
• Business Plan Software. Writing a business plan? Wouldn't it be nice if there was some business plan software to do it for you automatically. Well, not quite, but there is something very close.
• The Art of the Executive Summary. Writing a good executive summary for a business plan is essential. Indeed, it's best to assume that the executive summary is the only business plan section that will be read.
• Business Plan Mistakes. Business plans don't have to be perfect, but there are a few common business plan mistakes you will definitely want to avoid.
• Business Plan Contests. Winning a business plan contest is a great way to get started on a new venture. Not only do you get credibility and validation, but you also often will get some helpful startup funding to boot.
• Tracking Business Plan Distribution. How many business plans have you sent out and who has them? Business plan tracking is an often overlooked but essential part of raising capital.
• Expert Advice on Business Plans. What do the experts know about business plan writing that you don't know? Quite a bit, as it turns out.
• Find Sample Business Plans Online. Writing a business plan doesn't mean you have to start with a blank piece of paper. Instead, find sample business plans online and use them as a starting point.
• Business Plan Outsourcing. Delegation is a key business skill, but can you outsource writing a business plan? Here are our thoughts on the subject of business plan outsourcing.
• The Right Way to Write a Business Plan. The right way to write a business plan starts with an understanding of the different types of business plans. We provide some excellent business planning advice in this article.
• Effective Executive Summaries. The executive summary of your business plan is the first thing investors read, and they may not get much further into your business plan. Here's how to make the most of your executive summary.
• Industry Analysis Mistakes. Conducting an industry analysis is an essential part of writing a business plan. We discuss some common industry analysis mistakes you'll want to avoid making.

• Documenting Your Exit Strategy. At the end of the day, investors need to believe that one day you will be able to sell your business. Here's how to document your exit strategy effectively in your business plan.
• Keys to Better Business Plans. Is your business plan compelling? If not, here are a few tips to take a business plan from good to great.
• Management Team Tips for Business Plans. How you document your management team in your business plan is critically important. We offer advice on how to approach this important section of the business plan.
• Dismissing the Competition. When review a business plan, investors prefer that you acknowledge that you have competition and explain how you can beat them. Dismiss the competition too quickly, and investors may just as quickly dismiss your business plan from serious consideration.
• Hockeystick Projections. Do your business plan financial projections show you making zillions of dollars within a year or two? Stop the presses! Investors will appreciate it if you skip the hockeystick projections and provide more realistic pro forma financials.
• Business Milestones that Matter . Business plan milestones? We know we need to include them, but what's a milestone that matters and what milestones don't deserve a busines plan mention? Here's our take on business milestones in business plans.
• Forecasting Revenues, Costs and Labor Requirements. The creation of a long-term plan and strategy is not enough to adequately prepare the small business for the ups and downs in their markets. By outlining different forecast scenarios, the small business can be better prepared for any volatility in their market.
• Planning for Success. Be careful what you wish for. Business success can tank your business if you are not prepared for greatness.
• Organizational Planning. Thorough planning is necessary for the success of almost any company. Planning takes place on many different levels throughout an organization and needs to incorporate many different functions.
• Effective Business Planning. The process of forming a business plan is very important, because it gives the small business or startup a foundation to build upon. This greatly increases the chance for success in the long run. With various software used for business planning available, creating business plans are much easier to do than before.
• Writing a Business Plan (Part One of Four). Before starting a company, make sure you have a solid business plan. This article discusses some things to include in your research and where to find it.
• Writing a Business Plan (Part Two of Four). Starting a business without a business plan is a recipe for disaster. This article discusses the importance of tailoring your presentations of your plan to fit each audience and why that is important.
• Writing a Business Plan (Part Three of Four). When deciding to start a company it is important to have a formal plan. This article discusses the importance of making the decision moving forward with your plan, taking feedback and adjusting the plan, or possible just cancelling it.
• Writing a Business Plan (Part Four of Four). When starting a company it is important to have a formal business plan. This article discusses the importance of finalizing that plan and implementing the steps you have decided to take.
• Important Elements of a Good Business Plan. A business plan is not complicated to write but a botched business plan will get you nowhere with future investors. This article will highlight some common mistakes when writing business plans.
• What Is Business Planning?. New to business planning? No problem. We explain what business planning is. After that, we'll walk you through what you need to know to write a great business plan.
• Business Plan Length. When it comes to business plan writing, size does matter. Some say a short business plan is the way to go, while others argue for longer business plans. What do you think?
• How to Prioritize Business Plan Writing. Which sections of your business plan should you spend the most time on? We discuss how to prioritize a business plan.