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How To

How to Start Writing a Business Plan

Contributor
By Jami Mack
eHow Contributing Writer
(17 Ratings)
Start Writing a Business Plan
Start Writing a Business Plan

Writing a good business plan is essential to starting your own business. Business plans help set the stage for your company's goals. Follow these steps to write a successful business plan.

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Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Product or business idea
  • Lots of paper
  • Computer
  • Internet access
  • Research data

    How to Start Writing a Business Plan

  1. Step 1

    Determine the best business for you, and whether your business going to be a sole proprietorship, corporation or partnership.

  2. Step 2

    Financing your business can be a challenge. If funds are not readily available to you, you have other sources from which to obtain funds. Government grants are available to those who qualify, as well as small business association loans, bank loans and private party loans. Determine how much money you will need to start and run your business for at least 3 years. If a loan is necessary, you must have a written business plan to propose to the lenders.

  3. Step 3

    Included in your business plan is the financial state of the officers of the business/company, as well as any current business information available if you have already begun your business, and are now in need of financial assistance.

  4. Step 4

    Also in your business plan is research information regarding your business. Include your competition, pricing, city statistics, selling factors, selling differences and comparisons to your competition.

  5. Step 5

    Market analysis is essential to your business plan. If you are competing with a like or similar product, your business plan must explain why yours is unique to the industry, city or town.

Tips & Warnings
  • Your resume is also a key factor in your business plan. What have you done in the past that can assist in the decision making of the financier? Include specifics to detail that will enable the bank or loan officer to say yes!

Comments  

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on 11/12/2009 Really cleaver ideas you've got here, thanks for sharing.

wiselee said

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on 11/12/2009 It really gives a overall idea on how to start writing a business plan. Personally I think there are more works to do when you go details into each steps.

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on 11/12/2009 It is so easy like that?

vikki9 said

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on 11/12/2009 Thank you for this overview.

aether said

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on 11/12/2009 Very simple and understandable. It gives a clear idea of what needs to be done. Good article.

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