PCCLD LibGuides: Small Business Resources: Writing a Business Plan

Getting Started

What is a business plan?

A business plan brings together all the goals, plans, strategies, and resources of future business. You should write a comprehensive business plan prior to the commencement of operations as it may save you from significant financial and professional losses.

A business plan serves these purposes:

1. It helps entrepreneurs focus their ideas, and helps to determine whether a business idea is actually feasible.

2. It creates a track for management to follow in the early stages of the business, and created benchmarks against which the entrepreneur and management can measure progress.

3. It provides a vehicle for attracting capital to help with financing a business.

Most lenders will not discuss financing unless the entrepreneur has a business plan. The Federal and State governments provide assistance in helping you create your business plan and offer help in location financing opportunities.

Templates

Below are some Business plan guides/templates that will help with writing your business plan!

Write Your Business Plan
A guide on business plans from the Small Business Administration.
Bplans
Free business plan samples and templates, business planning resources, how-to articles, financial calculators, and more.
Business Plan Tutorial
Step-by-step guide to uses of and writing a business plan.
MOBI Business Plan Template
This MOBI Business Plan Template consists of sections that relate to the content included in the MOBI Starting a Business course. You can also use this template as a guide independently.

Resources

Business Plans for Dummies by Paul Tiffany; Steven D. Peterson
ISBN: 9780764576522
Publication Date: 2004-12-31
Whether you''re launching a new business or working to strengthen or expand an established one, a business plan is your road map to success Would you take off on a road trip to a new destination without a map or good directions? Probably not. Yet sometimes business owners go full speed ahead without objectives, a mission, or even a destination in mind, much less a map showing them how to get there. That''s why so many businesses have difficulty making it - and unfortunately, several don''t - in today''s competitive marketplace. Business Plans For Dummies helps you start a new business with clear goals and a path forward to reach those goals. If you already have a business, this no-nonsense and comprehensive guide can help you realistically determine where your business is and where you want to take it. You''ll learn to: Create a detailed business plan Put that plan into action (instead of in a drawer) Use the plan to secure financing Prepare for opportunities Avoid common pitfalls In short, Business Plans For Dummies helps you create a map to help you take your business where you want it to go. You''ll discover how to: Identify and approach potential financial backers, including venture capital firms, angels, bankers, and others Clarify and crystallize your company''s mission, vision, and values Analyze your industry and your competition Identify your customers, including their needs, habits, purchase triggers, and decision-making processes Objectively analyze your company''s strengths and weaknesses Analyze your financial situation to create realistic forecasts and budgets Recognize trends and anticipate changes, both in the overall economy and in your industry Plan for growth, based on new markets, your product''s life cycle, or the creation of new products Structure your organization Nurture leadership Complete with diverse techniques and approaches plus a sample business plan, Business Plans For Dummies gives you detailed how-to for designing a dynamic business plan that will help you navigate the inevitable curves and detours in today''s marketplace and keep you on course. If you''re a business owner or entrepreneur - or you want to be one - this friendly and accessible guide is a must-have resource.
The Plan-as-You-Go Business Plan by Tim Berry
ISBN: 9781599181905
Publication Date: 2008-08-01
The principal author of Business Plan Pro, the country's bestselling business plan software, simplifies the business planning process and reveals how to create business plans that grow with the business. Providing adequate guidance for every situation and every stage of business, readers are trained to ignore the traditional, formal cookie-cutter plans that other business planning resources offer and to focus on tailoring a plan to their company; allowing them to literally plan as they go and to, ultimately, steer their business ahead while saving time. Clear-cut instructions help business owners quickly build the type of plan that works for them; one that helps them take total control of their business, improve profits, raise capital, operate a profitable enterprise, and stay ahead of the competition. Very comprehensive, yet easy-to-understand, this business tool offers more than just the nuts and bolts of writing a business plan; the author also provides invaluable insight through real-life examples illustrating key points and avoidable mistakes as well as cutting-edge information for the 21st century entrepreneur. This guide is designed to be a reliable tool for those entering into the world of starting and owning their own business.
Choose by Ryan Levesque
ISBN: 9781401957476
Publication Date: 2019-01-01
The Right-Brain Business Plan by Jennifer Lee
ISBN: 9781577319443
Publication Date: 2011-03-15
Turn Passionate Ideas into Profitable Enterprises Do you dream of making a living doing what you love but find the process of creating a viable business plan like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole? Jennifer Lee knows what it's like to make the entrepreneurial leap -- and how to do it successfully. The key is using, rather than stifling, imagination and intuition. Lee's illustrated, colorful worksheets and step-by-step instructions are playful yet practical, transforming drudgery into joy. They'll enable you to define your vision and nail down plans for funding, marketing, networking, and long-term strategy. Discover how to: * Develop a financial plan with fun and flair * Select your circle of support to get the work done * Clarify your business values and goals * Paint a picture of your business landscape * Understand your competition and what makes you stand out from the crowd * Identify your perfect customers and create a marketing plan to reach them * Map out concrete action steps to bring your Right-Brain Business Plan to life
How to Write a Business Plan by Brian Finch
ISBN: 9781398605640
Publication Date: 2022-07-26
If you are starting or selling your own business, or wanting to expand your company, business plans are essential. Get expert guidance on how to make an impact with your business plan and successfully communicate your strategic vision.Whether it is to raise finance, sell a business or develop a specific project, this is your one-stop guide to producing the most professional and convincing business plan for a new venture. This 7th edition now features even more practical exercises, useful templates and top tips to help you write a comprehensive and compelling plan, as well as content on digital developments such as crowdfunding, online retailing and digital marketing.The Creating Success series of books...Unlock vital skills, power up your performance and get ahead with the bestselling Creating Success series. Written by experts for new and aspiring managers and leaders, this million-selling collection of accessible and empowering guides will get you up to speed in no time. Packed with clever thinking, smart advice and the kind of winning techniques that really get results, you'll make fast progress, quickly reach your goals and create lasting success in your career.
The Risk-Driven Business Model by Karan Girotra; Serguei Netessine
ISBN: 9781422191538
Publication Date: 2014-07-08
How to outsmart risk Risk has been defined as the potential for losing something of value. In business, that value could be your original investment or your expected future returns. The Risk-Driven Business Model will help you manage risk better by showing how the key choices you make in designing your business models either increase or reduce two characteristic types of risk--information risk, when you make decisions without enough information, and incentive-alignment risk, when decision makers' incentives are at odds with the broader goals of the company. Leaders who understand how the structure of their business model affects risk have the power to create wealth, revolutionize industries, and shape a better world. INSEAD's Karan Girotra and Serguei Netessine, noted operations and innovation professors who have consulted with dozens of companies, walk you through a business model audit to determine what key decisions get made in a business, when they get made, who makes them, and why we make the decisions we do. By changing your company's key decisions within this framework, you can fundamentally alter the risks that will impact your business. This book is for entrepreneurs and executives in companies involved in dynamic industries where the locus of risk is shifting, and includes lessons from Zipcar, Blockbuster, Apple, Benetton, Kickstarter, Walmart, and dozens of other global companies. The Risk-Driven Business Model demystifies business model risk, with clear directives aimed at improving decision making and driving your business forward.
The Mission Myth by Deirdre Maloney
ISBN: 9780984027309
Publication Date: 2012-02-01
Nonprofit? Business? Both?Most nonprofits believe that to achieve success all they need is passion and heart. This is The Mission Myth. The truth? It is only when they integrate the four Ms: Management Money Marketing Measurementinto their business practices that they truly achieve optimal results.The Mission Myth offers strategies, anecdotes, and practical tips for new levels of success – all derived from true stories of nonprofits that reached new heights by overcoming the mission myth once and for all.Offering validation, camaraderie, laughter, and hope along with practical solutions, The Mission Myth helps you do good. . . well. • “Let Deirdre help you navigate the whitewater of your nonprofit so you can move forward with confidence and renewed passion for your cause. Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The One Minute Manager® and Lead with LUV• "Packed with humorous tales and practical advice for new levels of nonprofit success."Barbara Stanny, author of Overcoming Underearning• “An inspiring cautionary tale, poignant and provocative.”David La Piana, President of La Piana Consulting• “What you need to know and do to make your organization thrive!"Mark LeBlanc, author of Growing Your Business and President of Small Business Success
Starting a Business All-In-One for Dummies by Eric Tyson; Bob Nelson
ISBN: 9781119868569
Publication Date: 2022-04-12
All the essential information in one place Starting a Business All-in-One For Dummies, 3rd Edition is a treasure trove of useful information for new and would-be business owners. With content compiled from over ten best-selling For Dummies books, this guide will help with every part of starting your own business--from legal considerations to business plans, bookkeeping, and beyond. Whether you want to open a franchise, turn your crafting hobby into a money-maker, or kick off the next megahit startup, everything you need can be found inside this easy-to-use guide. This book covers the foundations of accounting, marketing, hiring, and achieving success in the first year of business in any industry. You'll find toolkits for doing all the paperwork, plus expert tips for how to make it work, even when the going is rough. Access six books in one, covering the whole process of starting and running a new business Learn how to easily jump the hurdles that many new business owners face Tackle taxes, determine the best business model for you, and create a solid plan Keep the engine running with marketing tips, accounting ideas, and the basics on how to be a manager This book is perfect for any new or veteran entrepreneur looking to build a business from the ground up.
Starting a Business 101 by Michele Cagan
ISBN: 9781507221228
Publication Date: 2023-12-12
Become your own boss and make money your way with this helpful guide for hopeful business owners everywhere looking to begin the complicated process of starting a business. Starting a business can be an overwhelming and difficult process. From creating a business plan and budget to hiring employees and paying taxes, there are a myriad of things that need to happen on a relatively quick timeline. In Starting a Business 101, you will learn everything you need to know to start a successful business and handle any obstacle that is thrown your way during the process.
The Small Business Start-Up Kit by Peri Pakroo
ISBN: 9781413329438
Publication Date: 2022-02-22
Your one-stop guide to starting a small business Want to start a business? Don't know where to begin? The Small Business Start-Up Kit shows you how to set up a small business in your state and deal with state and local forms, fees, and regulations. We'll show you how to: choose the right business structure, such as an LLC or partnership write an effective business plan pick a winning business name and protect it get the proper licenses and permits manage finances and taxes hire and manage staff, and market your business effectively, online and off. The 12th edition is updated with the latest legal and tax rules affecting small businesses, plus social media and e-commerce trends.

MyBizColorado- The fastest way to register and manage a business. This is the official filing tool for the State of Colorado. We eliminated the guesswork and streamlined the process so everything you need, from multiple state agencies is in one place:

Licenses
Sales Tax
Wage Withholding
Unemployment Insurance Accounts

MyBizColorado has consolidated the state agency information that you need to start your business:

Small Business Administration - Starting a Business- Starting a business is an exciting proposition, but it’s also an incredibly challenging undertaking. The resources in this section will help you learn about what it takes to start a business.

Colorado State Business Organization Information- Where to register for your business and see if your name has already been registered. From the Secretary of State website.

USA.gov- Search information that can help current or future small business owners start and run their businesses. All of the content is from twenty-four handpicked official U.S. government websites.

Colorado Business Resource Book- From the Colorado Small Business Development Center, The Colorado Business Resource Book is a comprehensive business start-up guide for Colorado entrepreneurs.

Survey of Current Business- Monthly publication of the US Department of Commerce with reports and statistics on the current business situation and economy of the United States. Includes inventories, sales, and profits by broad industry group, and other industry statistics.

U.S. Census Bureau - Economic Census- Every five years, the U.S. Census Bureau collects extensive statistics about businesses that are essential to understanding the American economy. This official count, better known as the Economic Census, serves as the foundation for the measurement of U.S. businesses and their economic impact.

Explore Census Data- From the United States Census Bureau... a wide range of statistics available including demographic, housing, economic, and other statistics about American households and individuals

Data and Statistics about the U.S.- The United States Census Bureau provides data about the nation’s people and economy. Every 10 years, it conducts the Population and Housing Census, in which every resident in the United States is counted. The agency also gathers data through more than 100 other surveys of households and businesses every one to five years. You can explore the results of the surveys or find popular quick facts.

Colorado State Demography Office- In addition to census data, this site contains base industry analysis, economic projections, personal income, employment by sector at the state, regional, and county levels.

Business Source Premier This link opens in a new window
Provides full text for more than 2,150 journals, magazines & trade publications covering all business disciplines. It offers full text dating back to 1886. BSP's additional full text, non-journal content includes market research reports, industry reports, country reports, company profiles, and SWOT analyses.
Data Axle This link opens in a new window
Data Axle is a great tool for conducting business research, analysis & marketing as well as for finding company information by name, geographic location & industry and residential listings by name, address, city, state, or zip code.