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”

• Tips on Free Amazon Tools Sites

  
  Internet Marketing Solutions — Authority: 491
  0 text-align:right; 4px type="text/javascript">
  20 hours ago

• Want To Know The WAT Story? Read On..

  
  WATBlog.com - Web, Advertising and Technology Blog in India — Authority: 543
  Its been a few years now since I first coined the term WAT – (which stands for Web, Advertising & Technology). Though Ive spoken at a few events and moderated a dozen panel discussions there are still a lot of people who are very curious about WATMedia Pvt Ltd (The company that runs WATBlog) and its business ...
  1 day ago

• 5 Steps to Starting Your Own Business During a Recession

  
  Create Business Growth — Authority: 117
  It’s bad enough that the unemployment rate is over 10 percent, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that your dreams of having your own business have to be washed down the drain. The following are five steps that you can take to starting your own business during an unfriendly economy: Hang on to that Day Job! For ...
  1 day ago

• Startup Plan vs. Business Plan

  
  Clarity Accounting Blog — Authority: 119
  You have a great idea for a new product or service and you are ready to start your own business. Now what? You have surely heard that you must a have “business plan”, but that is only one necessary item on your list. Whether your new business will be a retail operation in a mall, or a virtual business online, you ...
  1 day ago

• Things You Must Consider Before Starting Your Own Business

  
  MyWifeQuitHerJob.com — Authority: 457
  I’ve heard a ton of business ideas. I’ve listened to and read many business plans. And the one thing that always strikes me is how little most people think about the viability, profitability and end goals of their small business. Is the goal to become a millionaire? Is the goal to just make living? Is the ...
  1 day ago

• World Newspaper Congress begins in Hyderabad

  
  Thaindian News — Authority: 728
  Hyderabad, Nov 25 (IANS) The 62nd World Newspaper Congress began here Monday with delegates from around the world taking part in three round table discussions on future and challenges facing the media, including from the internet.The event, being held for the first time in South Asia, is taking place at the Hyderabad ...
  2 days ago

• Build Your Own Restaurant Business Plan

  
  Small Business Association — Authority: 141
  Having a thorough and all inclusive restaurant business plan is the first step toward increasing your chances of success in this rather competitive industry. As soon as you’ve decided to open a new restaurant, your next course of action should be writing a restaurant business plan, which is basically a document ...
  2 days ago

• Royal Cruise Matrix - No Sponsoring Necessary - Nov 29,2009

  
  The Real Deal Show on Blog Talk Radio — Authority: 100
  Network Marketings latest travel related company is now inpre-launch. Royal Cruise Matrix is backed by a multi-million dollarinvestment company and offers rewards points for cruises booked throughRCM or its affiliates. The hope is that Royal Cruise can capitalize onthe ever growing population of travelers and the ...
  2 days ago

• Beginning Your Own Online Business At Home

  
  Atomsantics.com — Authority: 155
  Ever wondered whether it is possible to start your own online business from home? Well it is possible, but like in all offline business, you should work hard in order to achieve good results. Eben Pagan Ignition teaches you how to start your own online business from home. But you need to understand one thing [...]
  3 days ago

• Winner’s Curse: Why Losing A B-School Biz Plan Competition Is Better Than Winning

  
  Technology Info — Authority: 454
  One of the best things about being an academic is being able to mold young minds and guide them to success. When one of my students, Andrew Leblanc told me he was entering the Duke Startup Challenge Elevator Pitch Competition, I told him to come and see me and do a practice run. After all, [...]Related posts: LG ...
  3 days ago

• YEA - Week Six

  
  The Women Entrepreneurs Blog @ Simon — Authority: 115
  by Claire Siegrist, YEA! member We have just finished week 6 in the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) and Im fleshing out my plan for an indoor dog park. Ive learned that theres a big difference between a business idea and a business opportunity; ideas are easy, filtering the idea into an opportunity is a ...
  3 days ago

• Winner’s Curse: Why Losing A B-School Biz Plan Competition Is Better Than Winning

  
  Technology Pundit — Authority: 170
  One of the best things about being an academic is being able to mold young minds and guide them to success. When one of my students , Andrew Leblanc told me he was entering the Duke Startup Challenge Elevator Pitch Competition , I told him to come and see me and do a practice run. After all, I had judged several of ...
  4 days ago

• Do Not Neglect Getting in Touch With Your MLM Prospects

  
  Sparkliesunshine.net — Authority: 155
  Assuming you are involved in a network marketing work from home business, also called out by some as “ MLM home business “, you understand the need for acquiring the art of hard-hitting recruiting. Your MLM prospects are all over the place looking for opportunity.. The competition is intense. The best thing you ...
  4 days ago

• Creating Free Grant Form Online For Businesses

  
  Make Cash Online Today — Authority: 155
  Within this article today, we are going to look at ways to help you in creating free grant forms online for businesses and where you can find money. We will give you a couple of different websites where you can put in your information and your ideas and see if you are able to get a grant for your small business. A ...
  5 days ago

• Social Network Business Plans: What Makes Them Different?

  
  Web 2.0 For Small Biz — Authority: 124
  This post has been moved.  CLICK HERE to view it.
  6 days ago

• Borrow only what you need and make certain your business plan makes sense.

  
  lets-talk-business — Authority: 131
  Three huge problems with SBA guaranteed loans,  they are now guaranteed up to 90%. In a word, the bankers who are lending, very few, even with a 90% guaranty, cannot  possibly lose any money and why aren’t they lending more under these guaranties? A rhetorical question, however those that are lending are motivated ...
  6 days ago

• Dubai debt problems hit markets, DP World not affected (Reuters)

  
  Blogger — Authority: 168
  Reuters – Dubai’s debt problems shook European banking shares on Thursday despite the emirate’s efforts to minimize the impact of a debt restructuring plan at two of its biggest companies that raised fears of default. See more here: (Reuters)"> (Reuters)">Dubai debt problems hit markets, DP ...
  6 days ago

• What Would The Perfect Affiliate Guide Have In It?

  
  This Job's For You — Authority: 135
  What Would A Beginners Affiliate Marketing Guide Include?Well I’m going to speak from experience.  I’m going to speak about the reports and guides I have purchased in the past that have been helpful to me when it comes to making money online but more importantly making money as a affiliate beginner!….Here are 4 ...
  6 days ago

• Tips On Starting Your Own Business

  
  Internet Marketing Blog — Authority: 123
  Starting your own business can be discouraging. There are just so many things to decide on that sometimes you might feel you’ve left something important out. Though there are quite a few best products to sell online and the rewards may be excellent, there are still risks that need to be accounted. A lot of ...
  6 days ago

• The Seduction of Internet Marketing Newbies

  
  JonClaytonBizBlog — Authority: 136
  If you got behind the wheel of a car without knowing how to drive, chances are, you’d crash. Yet, every single day on the Internet, thousands of newbies are performing the equivalent of the aforementioned driving analogy, by putting up a website without having the slightest idea how to promote it. And guess what ...
  6 days ago

Comments about business plan