INDUSTRY INSIGHTS YOUR PEERS ARE READING
As a full-time editor and academic mentor at an academic writing service, I have read hundreds of business plans over the years. To help students and startups, I have compiled a list of reasons business plans are rejected or given a low grade. Bad business ideas. MORE
Most technical entrepreneurs I know demand the discipline of a product specification or plan, and then assume that their great product will drive a great business. In reality, you need both, to clarify for yourself and team that you have a viable business solution. MORE
If you are one of the new age of entrepreneurs who hates the thought of doing a business plan as a first step in starting your new venture you will love this message. In that context, it could be a social enterprise, or even a hobby, and a business plan may not be beneficial. MORE
Many VC firms and investment banks receive as many as ten plans per day, so it’s hard to get them salivating. You can bet that if he ever sees a real business plan from you, it will go to the bottom of the pile. Send the plan without a summary. The base plan is a book. MORE
This article is part of our “ Business Planning Guide “ —a curated list of our articles that will help you with the planning process! What is a business plan? How to choose the right kind of business plan. What is a business plan? MORE
This article is part of our “Business Planning Guide” —a curated list of our articles that will help you with the planning process! Start from the very beginning understanding that your business plan ought to be specific to your business needs and objectives. MORE
You know you need a business plan if you want funding. And you know you should have and follow a plan to grow your business. But oftentimes creating a business plan takes too long. Below are some tips to help you complete a great business plan faster: 1. MORE
Writing a business plan can seem intimidating. You’re committing your great idea to paper and fleshing out the details of how you’re actually going to start and grow your business. A one-page pitch is a simple overview of your business. MORE
If you want people to invest in your idea, then my best advice is first write a business plan, and keep it simple. Don't confuse your business plan with a doctoral thesis or the back of a napkin. Keep the wording and formatting straightforward, and keep the plan short. MORE
You might be thinking that a business plan doesn’t make any sense for your small new enterprise. After all you are not planning on trying to get even a bank loan, let alone venture capital. Isn’t that what business plans are really for anyway: raising money? MORE
People ask me if they really need ANY business plan, unless they are looking for an outside investor. In fact, a business plan is needed more by you than investors, as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics. Explain the business model. MORE
Most people think of the business plan as a one-time event, something used to accomplish a specific goal—getting funded, usually. How you format your plan will depend on what your needs are. Describe your business in one sentence (what do you do, and who do you do it for?). MORE
In this article, I’ll give a quick overview of the best practices for validating your business idea in use today. See Also: Our Best Resources to Help You Find a Business Idea. Idea validation and Lean Planning. See Also: The History of Lean Planning. MORE
The business plan for strategic growth is one of my favorites because it’s about core business decisions, steps, metrics, and making things happen. It matches my vision of business planning as ongoing management and steering a business. MORE
If you want people to invest in your idea, then my best advice is first write a business plan, and keep it simple. Don''t confuse your business plan with a doctoral thesis or the back of a napkin. Keep the wording and formatting straightforward, and keep the plan short. MORE
Working out a business plan for your daycare center can be a challenge. As someone who owns eight successful daycares in the Chicago area, I know the strategies and approaches that work when it comes to developing a sound business plan for a daycare center. MORE
Every successful ecommerce business needs to begin with a plan. Plus, research shows that people who plan are more likely to be successful. The first step, therefore, is to fill in the details and create a structured approach for launching your online business. MORE
If you can’t see the video click here Filed under: Business Model versus Business Plan , Customer Development. Business Model versus Business Plan Customer Development MORE
This article ( Business Plans Are An Historical Artifact ) first appeared last week in the Wall Street Journal The Accelerators Column , which I’m contributing to on a regular basis. . In 1987 when I started my first company (Feld Technologies), I wrote a business plan for a course at MIT that I was in called 15.375: New Enterprises. I went on to create a company, with my partner Dave Jilk, that bore very little resemblance to that business plan. MORE
One of our Bplans writers described going into business in cannabis as a “ once-in-a-generation opportunity ,” with the product rapidly becoming legal for recreational as well as medical use in many states. You can choose from a few different types of business plans depending on your needs. MORE
If you sold your last startup for $800 million, you probably already know how to build a business, and even conservative investors won’t worry about the quality of your next business plan. Most investors tend to think of startups without a plan as expensive hobbies. MORE
A lean business plan does what every business owner and aspiring startup needs to manage strategy, tactics, execution, and essential business numbers. It’s a set of ideas that started about 70 years ago, revolving around PDCA: plan-do-check-adjust. MORE
As a startup mentor and investor, I am approached regularly by aspiring entrepreneurs who assert that business plans are a waste of time. They cite sources like the BusinessWeek story, “ Real Entrepreneurs Don’t Write Business Plans ” and this Forbes article. MORE
If you are one of the new age of entrepreneurs who hates the thought of doing a business plan as a first step in starting your new venture you will love this message. In that context, it could be a social enterprise, or even a hobby, and a business plan may not be beneficial. MORE
True story: As my software business began to grow, as we went from two employees to five, then 10, I discovered how hard real management is with startups and small business that grow organically. See Also An Overview of Lean Business Planning. MORE
If you’re seeking funding or looking to start a business, you need a business plan. The business plan isn’t just a document you create to get investors to dish out the dough. This is why you MUST write a business plan. Companies that plan, grow. MORE
Should you spend some time developing a plan for your business, or just dive in and start, figuring things out as you go? There has been plenty of debate on this topic, but no one has pulled together the scientific evidence to determine if planning is worthwhile—until now. MORE
When you start a new business one of the first things you need to do is write a business plan. Although it may seem unnecessary, a good business plan can really help you get where you want to go in your business a lot more quickly than if you didn’t have one. MORE
On a regular basis, I am approached by entrepreneurs who assert that business plans are a waste of time. They cite sources like a recent BusinessWeek story, “ Real Entrepreneurs Don’t Write Business Plans ” and this NY Times article. MORE
If you’ve been putting off writing your business plan, you’re not alone. Writing a business plan can seem like a daunting task, and lots of entrepreneurs avoid it for this reason. Some people like to call this your “business model canvas,” but it’s really the same thing. MORE
Writing a business plan is hard work, so I get lots of pushback from prospective new venture founders that it’s just a waste of their valuable time in this rapidly changing environment. They all claim to have the plan in their head, and writing it down will only slow down their success. MORE
Your business plan should accomplish certain goals: raise money, guide your team, and set strategies for growth. The format of your business plan will help you achieve these goals, so it’s important to think about the plan’s structure as you build it. MORE
Business plans go by many names: Strategic plans, operational plans, internal plans, and many others. Lately, I’ve been focusing on lean business plans. There are also one-page business plans, although those are really more summaries. MORE
A solid business plan will help you identify the goals you have for your business and make it easier to make decisions about which path to take when there are multiple options ahead of you. Jobs can be lost, or business shutdown if security isn’t taken seriously. MORE
This article is part of our Business Planning Guide —a curated list of our articles that will help you with the planning process! What are the most common mistakes when writing a business plan ? Unless the bank or the investors want a plan, there is no plan. MORE
A business plan is a very important business tool to have as an entrepreneur. When you write your business plan, avoid making these 7 common mistakes. This article 7 Mistakes To Avoid When Writing A Business Plan appeared first in YFS Magazine. MORE
. Making the decision to break the mold and start a business is an exciting step, but building a successful company is a challenging endeavor. In no small way, the success of your venture will depend on the details of your business plan. Develop a comprehensive marketing plan. MORE
If you are one of the new age of entrepreneurs who hates the thought of doing a business plan as a first step in starting your new venture you will love this message. In that context, it could be a social enterprise, or even a hobby, and a business plan may not be beneficial. MORE
Starting and running a nonprofit is an exhilarating experience, but it also requires thoughtful planning and execution to be successful. Nonprofit organizations share many overlapping needs with traditional for-profit ventures, including the need for a good business plan. MORE
We recently had Tim Berry, Palo Alto Software founder and business planning expert, present our Bplans audience with his latest advice on lean business planning. Start your lean business plan today: Download our Free Lean Plan Template one-page-pitch-download.pdf. MORE
Starting your own business is an amazing journey and one of the most empowering, positive decisions you can make. That’s the moment when many entrepreneurs realize that getting the help of a professional business plan writer can take their business concept from daydream to day job. MORE
Most people think that writing a business plan has to be hard. In fact, it’s possible to write your initial business plan in less than an hour. See Also What Type of Business Plan Do I Need? A new kind of business planning. MORE
It’s a common refrain these days, voiced by “experts” and busy entrepreneurs: business plans and business planning are pointless. There’s clearly no point in planning… On the surface, it’s easy to agree. Business Planning MORE
If you’re serious about opening a restaurant, you’ll have to draft up a formal and accurate business plan to pitch to banks, investors, and even potential employees. I won’t lie—writing a formal business plan isn’t exactly a breeze. See Also: Business Planning Guide. MORE
Business Plan Related Topics Up and Running
OCTOBER 17, 2018
Should you spend some time developing a plan for your business, or just dive in and start, figuring things out as you go? There has been plenty of debate on this topic, but no one has pulled together the scientific evidence to determine if planning is worthwhile—until now.
Up and Running
AUGUST 20, 2018
This article is part of our “ Business Planning Guide “ —a curated list of our articles that will help you with the planning process! What is a business plan? How to choose the right kind of business plan. What is a business plan?
Up and Running
SEPTEMBER 6, 2018
This article is part of our Business Planning Guide —a curated list of our articles that will help you with the planning process! What are the most common mistakes when writing a business plan ? Unless the bank or the investors want a plan, there is no plan.
Startup Professionals Musings
AUGUST 4, 2018
If you are one of the new age of entrepreneurs who hates the thought of doing a business plan as a first step in starting your new venture you will love this message. In that context, it could be a social enterprise, or even a hobby, and a business plan may not be beneficial.
Up and Running
SEPTEMBER 19, 2018
One of our Bplans writers described going into business in cannabis as a “ once-in-a-generation opportunity ,” with the product rapidly becoming legal for recreational as well as medical use in many states. You can choose from a few different types of business plans depending on your needs.
YoungUpstarts
AUGUST 10, 2018
When you start a new business one of the first things you need to do is write a business plan. Although it may seem unnecessary, a good business plan can really help you get where you want to go in your business a lot more quickly than if you didn’t have one.
Startup Professionals Musings
JANUARY 31, 2015
If you sold your last startup for $800 million, you probably already know how to build a business, and even conservative investors won’t worry about the quality of your next business plan. Most investors tend to think of startups without a plan as expensive hobbies.
Up and Running
JULY 16, 2018
If you’ve been putting off writing your business plan, you’re not alone. Writing a business plan can seem like a daunting task, and lots of entrepreneurs avoid it for this reason. Some people like to call this your “business model canvas,” but it’s really the same thing.
Startup Professionals Musings
AUGUST 5, 2017
Writing a business plan is hard work, so I get lots of pushback from prospective new venture founders that it’s just a waste of their valuable time in this rapidly changing environment. They all claim to have the plan in their head, and writing it down will only slow down their success.
Feld Thoughts
DECEMBER 4, 2012
This article ( Business Plans Are An Historical Artifact ) first appeared last week in the Wall Street Journal The Accelerators Column , which I’m contributing to on a regular basis. . In 1987 when I started my first company (Feld Technologies), I wrote a business plan for a course at MIT that I was in called 15.375: New Enterprises. I went on to create a company, with my partner Dave Jilk, that bore very little resemblance to that business plan.
Up and Running
FEBRUARY 14, 2017
If you’re serious about opening a restaurant, you’ll have to draft up a formal and accurate business plan to pitch to banks, investors, and even potential employees. I won’t lie—writing a formal business plan isn’t exactly a breeze. See Also: Business Planning Guide.
YFS Magazine
FEBRUARY 21, 2017
A business plan is a very important business tool to have as an entrepreneur. When you write your business plan, avoid making these 7 common mistakes. This article 7 Mistakes To Avoid When Writing A Business Plan appeared first in YFS Magazine.
Up and Running
MAY 8, 2015
A lean business plan does what every business owner and aspiring startup needs to manage strategy, tactics, execution, and essential business numbers. It’s a set of ideas that started about 70 years ago, revolving around PDCA: plan-do-check-adjust.
Startup Professionals Musings
NOVEMBER 7, 2014
As a startup mentor and investor, I am approached regularly by aspiring entrepreneurs who assert that business plans are a waste of time. They cite sources like the BusinessWeek story, “ Real Entrepreneurs Don’t Write Business Plans ” and this Forbes article.
Up and Running
MAY 14, 2015
Business plans go by many names: Strategic plans, operational plans, internal plans, and many others. Lately, I’ve been focusing on lean business plans. There are also one-page business plans, although those are really more summaries.
YoungUpstarts
SEPTEMBER 19, 2017
You might be thinking that a business plan doesn’t make any sense for your small new enterprise. After all you are not planning on trying to get even a bank loan, let alone venture capital. Isn’t that what business plans are really for anyway: raising money?
Up and Running
MAY 3, 2016
Your business plan should accomplish certain goals: raise money, guide your team, and set strategies for growth. The format of your business plan will help you achieve these goals, so it’s important to think about the plan’s structure as you build it.
Startup Professionals Musings
JULY 24, 2016
If you are one of the new age of entrepreneurs who hates the thought of doing a business plan as a first step in starting your new venture you will love this message. In that context, it could be a social enterprise, or even a hobby, and a business plan may not be beneficial.
YoungUpstarts
OCTOBER 3, 2017
You know you need a business plan if you want funding. And you know you should have and follow a plan to grow your business. But oftentimes creating a business plan takes too long. Below are some tips to help you complete a great business plan faster: 1.
Up and Running
AUGUST 16, 2017
As a full-time editor and academic mentor at an academic writing service, I have read hundreds of business plans over the years. To help students and startups, I have compiled a list of reasons business plans are rejected or given a low grade. Bad business ideas.
Startup Professionals Musings
NOVEMBER 26, 2013
If you want people to invest in your idea, then my best advice is first write a business plan, and keep it simple. Don''t confuse your business plan with a doctoral thesis or the back of a napkin. Keep the wording and formatting straightforward, and keep the plan short.
Up and Running
MAY 9, 2018
Starting your own business is an amazing journey and one of the most empowering, positive decisions you can make. That’s the moment when many entrepreneurs realize that getting the help of a professional business plan writer can take their business concept from daydream to day job.
Up and Running
JANUARY 25, 2018
Every successful ecommerce business needs to begin with a plan. Plus, research shows that people who plan are more likely to be successful. The first step, therefore, is to fill in the details and create a structured approach for launching your online business.
Steve Blank
OCTOBER 14, 2014
If you can’t see the video click here Filed under: Business Model versus Business Plan , Customer Development. Business Model versus Business Plan Customer Development
Up and Running
APRIL 27, 2016
Writing a business plan can seem intimidating. You’re committing your great idea to paper and fleshing out the details of how you’re actually going to start and grow your business. A one-page pitch is a simple overview of your business.
Up and Running
JUNE 8, 2012
It’s a common refrain these days, voiced by “experts” and busy entrepreneurs: business plans and business planning are pointless. There’s clearly no point in planning… On the surface, it’s easy to agree. Business Planning
Startup Professionals Musings
NOVEMBER 15, 2013
If you are one of the new age of entrepreneurs who hates the thought of doing a business plan as a first step in starting your new venture you will love this message. In that context, it could be a social enterprise, or even a hobby, and a business plan may not be beneficial.
Up and Running
AUGUST 30, 2017
Working out a business plan for your daycare center can be a challenge. As someone who owns eight successful daycares in the Chicago area, I know the strategies and approaches that work when it comes to developing a sound business plan for a daycare center.
Startup Professionals Musings
MAY 8, 2016
Most technical entrepreneurs I know demand the discipline of a product specification or plan, and then assume that their great product will drive a great business. In reality, you need both, to clarify for yourself and team that you have a viable business solution.
Up and Running
JULY 3, 2015
True story: As my software business began to grow, as we went from two employees to five, then 10, I discovered how hard real management is with startups and small business that grow organically. See Also An Overview of Lean Business Planning.
Up and Running
SEPTEMBER 15, 2016
Most people think of the business plan as a one-time event, something used to accomplish a specific goal—getting funded, usually. How you format your plan will depend on what your needs are. Describe your business in one sentence (what do you do, and who do you do it for?).
YoungUpstarts
DECEMBER 12, 2017
A solid business plan will help you identify the goals you have for your business and make it easier to make decisions about which path to take when there are multiple options ahead of you. Jobs can be lost, or business shutdown if security isn’t taken seriously.
Up and Running
NOVEMBER 13, 2014
If you’re seeking funding or looking to start a business, you need a business plan. The business plan isn’t just a document you create to get investors to dish out the dough. This is why you MUST write a business plan. Companies that plan, grow.
Up and Running
APRIL 20, 2016
The business plan for strategic growth is one of my favorites because it’s about core business decisions, steps, metrics, and making things happen. It matches my vision of business planning as ongoing management and steering a business.
Up and Running
MAY 28, 2015
We recently had Tim Berry, Palo Alto Software founder and business planning expert, present our Bplans audience with his latest advice on lean business planning. Start your lean business plan today: Download our Free Lean Plan Template one-page-pitch-download.pdf.
Startup Professionals Musings
JUNE 14, 2013
On a regular basis, I am approached by entrepreneurs who assert that business plans are a waste of time. They cite sources like a recent BusinessWeek story, “ Real Entrepreneurs Don’t Write Business Plans ” and this NY Times article.
Up and Running
JULY 8, 2014
Starting and running a nonprofit is an exhilarating experience, but it also requires thoughtful planning and execution to be successful. Nonprofit organizations share many overlapping needs with traditional for-profit ventures, including the need for a good business plan.
Startup Professionals Musings
AUGUST 13, 2012
People ask me if they really need ANY business plan, unless they are looking for an outside investor. In fact, a business plan is needed more by you than investors, as the blueprint for your company, team communication, and progress metrics. Explain the business model.
YoungUpstarts
APRIL 26, 2016
. Making the decision to break the mold and start a business is an exciting step, but building a successful company is a challenging endeavor. In no small way, the success of your venture will depend on the details of your business plan. Develop a comprehensive marketing plan.
Up and Running
APRIL 30, 2015
Most people think that writing a business plan has to be hard. In fact, it’s possible to write your initial business plan in less than an hour. See Also What Type of Business Plan Do I Need? A new kind of business planning.
Startup Professionals Musings
FEBRUARY 5, 2011
Many VC firms and investment banks receive as many as ten plans per day, so it’s hard to get them salivating. You can bet that if he ever sees a real business plan from you, it will go to the bottom of the pile. Send the plan without a summary. The base plan is a book.
Up and Running
MARCH 14, 2017
In this article, I’ll give a quick overview of the best practices for validating your business idea in use today. See Also: Our Best Resources to Help You Find a Business Idea. Idea validation and Lean Planning. See Also: The History of Lean Planning.
Startup Professionals Musings
OCTOBER 18, 2012
If you want people to invest in your idea, then my best advice is first write a business plan, and keep it simple. Don't confuse your business plan with a doctoral thesis or the back of a napkin. Keep the wording and formatting straightforward, and keep the plan short.
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