Writing a Business Plan

Just as there are many types and sizes of business in the world, there are many ways to go about writing a business plan.  A business plan for a small, neighborhood lawn service might only be 3-10 pages long, while a business plan for a major corporation would be hundreds of pages. Writing a 3-10 page business plan for a small start-up might take a few days, but writing a business plan for a large company could take six months or more.

No one ever knows everything about the business before they write the business plan. Writing a good business plan always requires some research and careful thought. As you write the business plan, you will make decisions and set up structures for operating the company. Although business plans can vary widely in length and amount of research required, all good business plans cover three main subjects:

1. Organization — how you will structure the business
2. Marketing — how you will sell your product(s) to customers
3. Finances — how you will handle your money

Under each of these main topics, there will be many other details. There is no “set in stone” outline for writing a business plan whereby you are “wrong” if you don’t follow that exact outline or business plan formula.  The most important thing is that your business plan is a working document that helps you become organized, implement a marketing plan, and manage your finances so that the company grows from an idea in your head to a plan on paper to an ongoing profitable enterprise.