Writing a business plan is a critical first step to selling your great ideas. But it is also about more than that. The first step of creating your business plan will be to make an outline that examines all aspects of the potential monetary value of your idea, including an explanation of your potential resources and assets.

No matter what the size or type of business you intend to run, your business plan is extremely important. Your plan is not only a plan to get your business started, but it can also be a helpful tool as you keep track of the money side of your business. A good business plan can help you communicate your ideas to potential investors, banks and other lenders and articulate the mission to your employees and customers.

You can find a business plan template online, in a library, or even in books you can buy in a bookstore, but you should be the creator of your own plan. Don’t be afraid of sounding bad and use your own words to articulate your business plan. It won’t be until you put your plan into your own words that you will fully understand what needs to be done. Be realistic and focus on short-term goals, the periodically update your plan to reflect the changing nature of your business and the economy.

Some fundamental parts of a business plan should include an Executive Summary that includes a clear vision statement, an Organization and Management section with resumes and brief information about those people involved in the start-up, a company description or business profile, and a Financials Report that includes an economic assessment, a cash-flow assessment, and a damage control plan. Whatever you include in your plan be sure to be thinking in terms of a sustainable business model that takes into account market forces, including economic downturns.

The Small business Association and several other websites can give you a good overview of the elements that should be in a business plan. Whatever you decide to do remember to be aggressive and sell your product and your skill set with assertive confidence, even while maintaining a pessimistic outlook on the market.

It does not hurt to run your business plan by trusted people inside and outside of your industry. If you have someone you can trust who knows something about the business you’re breaking into, that is your best resource for real-life information, and that person may be able to point you in directions you’ve never thought of, and to offer advice you can’t find anywhere else. However, make sure you file a copy of your business plan with your attorney – that way your original idea is safe and there can be no question about who thought of the idea or formulated the plan.

In some situations, you may choose to bring on a business partner – someone to help think of ideas and details regarding the business plan, and someone to help bear the financial burden. Starting a business is a big step – just make sure you’ve examined all of your options.

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