business plan

A business plan is a document that describes the goals or objectives of a business, and outlines how these will be achieved.

They are regularly developed by both start-ups and established businesses, and are arguably the most important planning tool for business. A good business plan will test the assumptions of management, identify important risks, outline financial considerations, and define a strategic direction. In theory, this information can then be used as a frame of reference for important decision making, such as resource allocation and staffing, resulting in a more coordinated organization. In reality, they are often 'stuffed in a drawer' and forgotten due to a lack of relevance to daily activity.

Business plans vary wildly in size and shape based on the planning needs of the organisation they represent. They may consist of a single page (or napkin); or in the case of corporate or government business plans, they may be hundreds or thousands of pages long.

by Hugh G Are you a writer, passionate about this or any other topic? Join Blogcritics!

Latest blogosphere posts tagged “business plan”

• 5 Clever Ways to Market Your Product on Twitter

  
  Affiliate Marketing Reviews — Authority: 130
  Do you sell products online? Whether you run an online retail store or if you sell on eBay, internet marketing should be a component of your business plan. When you market your products, you increase your earnings potential. In terms of internet marketing, there are many successful approaches. These approaches ...
  12 hours ago

• Start your own online business with Troy Management

  
  Business Plans — Authority: 118
  Every journey requires a plan.  It is considered crucial to have a clear image of your goals, this will allow you to be able to take advantage of any unforeseen circumstances. In business, having a plan is not a guarantee that you will be successful, but it is certainly true that not having a plan is an invitation ...
  14 hours ago

• Business Plan Pro Advanced Training – Getting Help

  
  Business Plans — Authority: 118
  In this note, I want to share my learning on business plans with you. Because I am involved in Venture Capital and Private Equity, I get a lot of business plans. And going by the number of proposals we reviewed or prepared in the last one year, the global economy is doing great! A lot of individual professionals ...
  14 hours ago

• Free Business Plan For Affiliate Marketing Success

  
  Learn Free Internet Marketing Learn Free Internet Marketing Strategies using Video, Articles, Social Networking, Social Media, Web 2.0, Blogs, Affiliate Marketing — Authority: 165
  income4u.dealtap.com Find out why it is critical for you to have a proven plan to follow if you want to make money with affiliate marketing. get a free business plan to follow to help you with affiliate marketing for your success. Share on Facebook
  1 day ago

• Start A Small On-Line Business

  
  Your Online Security Authority Blog — Authority: 440
  Starting an online business all of your own requires planning, strong ideas, some research, facts, money and an urge to succeed and take your business to levels you have never before imagined. Some of the aspects you will read about may appear to be easiest to accomplish than other aspects. You should make sure you ...
  1 day ago

• Are You Ready to Write Your Annual Memo?

  
  Roundpeg — Authority: 472
  One of my favorite writes on the Havard Business Blog is Anthony TJan, who wrties a column entitled Upstarts and Titans. His thoughts, suggestions and ideas are often as relevant for the small business owner as they are for the  CEO of a multinataional firm. I thought that was especially true when I  read ...
  1 day ago

• Commission Ritual Review

  
  Build A Niche Store Blog — Authority: 129
  I have been hit up by two of my readers as to my thoughts on Commission Ritual training product. I hadnt had a chance to get to it until today. I never had heard of Brian Johnson beforehand so that is both good and bad deepening on how you look at it. I laid down the money today regardless to see what it was all ...
  1 day ago

• Internet Marketing Plan - A Vital Part Of Your Business

  
  Start Your Own Online Business Presence — Authority: 145
  When people decide to start the internet marketing business they often do not realize the whole amount of the work that needed to be done. In each business it is better to overestimate your abilities to conduct the internet marketing business than to underestimate them. If you want to be successful in your internet ...
  2 days ago

• Useful Business Forms, Calculators, Tools and Templates

  
  Accounting-financial-tax.com offers bookkeeping journal entry basic accounting financial accounting management accounting tax accounting cash management accounting cost accounting financial ratio budget forecasting — Authority: 129
  Many of you asked me for Business Forms, Calculators, Tools and Templates or anything that may help. Here I post some. This is by no mean all inclusive, in fact I spent a day to search and gather all these links. I hope it is useful. If you have good resource of such, please feel [...]
  2 days ago

• Pro Blogger or Social networking person needed (vancouver …

  
  New Web 2.0 Magazine — Authority: 157
  Pro Blogger or Social networking person needed (vancouver).
  2 days ago

• Way Of Thinking That Will Help You To Succeed

  
  Free Internet Marketing Information — Authority: 162
  When I talk about the best internet business I mean the internet business approaches and ideas suitable for you and with the help of which you can reach success. So everything begins with your skills and what is most important with your way of thinking. This is a common issue, as you as an entrepreneur run the ...
  2 days ago

• PeopleSoft Rel 9 certification materials for Self Study

  
  Business Plans — Authority: 118
  A business plan template is an important tool, especially for an entrepreneur learning business plan format for the first time. These are some of the benefits of buying and using a business plan template to create your business plan. Shortcut For Outlining A template will present you with a workable outline for ...
  2 days ago

• How to Write a Business Plan for an Online Business Directory

  
  Best Online Earning Ideas — Authority: 467
  Writing a business plan for an online business directory is as important as writing a business plan for any type of business. A proper business plan is essential to making an online business directory a success. A business plan will outline the type of business directory you will be running and how you will make it ...
  2 days ago

• Ninja Selling Webinars

  
  Reliberation | Real Estate Blog | Industry Discussion — Authority: 123
   Just wanted to pass on some great information: If you know Larry, have heard him speak or are aware of him by reputation you’ll know he is a unique person. He has a calm assertive energy that you can’t help but be attracted to. Plus, he’s quite brilliant and understands this industry and real estate ...
  3 days ago

• December Small Business Networking Events

  
  Ask Lori — Authority: 92
  MN Small Business Networking& Web Training GroupDecember 9th, 200911 – 122010 is Just Around the Corner… Do You Have a Plan?Learn the fastest, easiest way to write a business plan!”Starting a business or considering one? Ready to take your business to the next level? Changing careers? Need to “re-think” ...
  3 days ago

• Is Your Company’s Mission Statement Working it’s Hardest?

  
  Bloggy Business Today — Authority: 461
  Image by Ivan Walsh via Flickr Wikipedia defines the mission statement as: A mission statement is a formal short written statement of the purpose of a company or organization. The mission statement should guide the actions of the organization, spell out its overall goal, provide a sense of direction, and guide ...
  3 days ago

• The Formal Business Plan Document, Part 1

  
  Business Plans — Authority: 118
  A business plan template is a product which can give your writing a significant jump start, shaving hours and maybe days off of your business plan development time. Rather than working on a plan from scratch, pulling together directions and guidance from multiple websites or sources, using a business plan template ...
  3 days ago

• How to Make a Clear Marketing Plan Format

  
  Business Plans — Authority: 118
  A business planning template can be an invaluable tool for a first-time entrepreneur or any entrepreneur working in an unfamiliar business sector. Using a template that is specific to your business sector can shortcut the work and formatting you have to do significantly. Here are three steps to make the best use of a ...
  3 days ago

• How To Identify Profitable Niches As An Affiliate Marketer

  
  This Job's For You — Authority: 135
  So you have decided that you like the idea of the affiliate marketing lifestyle and want to set up your own affiliate marketing business for minimal capital outlay. But which affiliate programs do you choose and why? Once you get to this point, the most likely next step is to search online for ‘affiliate marketing ...
  3 days ago

• Car Rental Business

  
  Travel Tips — Authority: 135
  These days, people raise questions regarding the need to have a car rental business. Due to the growing industrial sector worldwide, the companies are renting cars every moment for various business ventures as well as offering the pick-n-drop facility to…
  3 days ago

Comments about business plan