Preparing A Business Plan Template

You may wish to use this free business plan guide to step you through the process of developing a business plan that is solid, well-structured and tailored to your business, using the provided template.A business plan is a written document that outlines your business objectives and how you plan to achieve them.A business plan acts as a guide when your business is being set up and operating; how you work, planning the future and preparing for risks.

Editor's Note: Looking for a business plan template or service for your business?

If you're looking for information to help you choose the one that's right for you, use the questionnaire below to have our sister site, Buyer Zone, provide you with information from a variety of vendors for free: The Balance's business plan template is broken down into sections that will aid you in completing the best possible business plan, whether you are creating it for funding or strategy.

Create a blueprint for your business through your business plan.

Document your set of business goals, objectives, target market information and financial forecasts that you are aiming to achieve over a certain period.

Bplans' investor-approved business plan template has been used by Princeton University and Babson College to teach entrepreneurs how to start a business.

The template starts with an executive summary and then guides you through the other elements, including the financial plan, company overview and more.Regardless of the purpose, having templates at the ready can be helpful.If you've never written a business plan before or just want to save time and effort, here are 10 websites where you can download a business plan template and get started.The one-page business plan is separated into several sections such as vision, mission, objectives, strategies and action plans.You can answer all of the questions using keywords and short phrases.It has many functions, from securing external funding to measuring success within your business.Our business plan template is an interactive form designed to simplify the process of creating your business plan.According to the website, each section can be copied into Word, Excel or a similar word-processing app by simply copying and pasting the text.The website also breaks down each section and provides instructions on how to download and fill in the template.There's also a step-by-step guide for writing a business plan, and Bplans provides a library of sample business plans to ensure you're on the right track.MOBI, or My Own Business Institute, is part of Santa Clara University's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.