Now that you’ve decided that you’d like to open a small business, you should put your thoughts down on paper. This way, your business idea is expressed in a plan – a living document that outlines every critical aspect of its operation. This step might sound intimidating, but it’s important. So let’s get started!

Essential Elements of a Good Business Plan

A business plan should be a work in progress. That's because your business will evolve over time, and be influenced by outside factors such as the economy and local conditions. Even successful business owners should...

Finding a Niche: Make Your Business Plan Stand Out

Trying to tackle a wide market is usually too broad of a scope for any but the largest companies to handle. As a smaller business, it's often a better strategy to try to divide potential demand for offerings into manageable...

Templates for Writing a Business Plan

What goes into a business plan? There is no single formula for developing a business plan, but some elements are consistent throughout all business plans. Your plan should include an executive summary, a description of the...

Why Do You Need One?

Do you really need to make a business plan? The short answer is yes. The importance of a comprehensive, thoughtful business plan cannot be overemphasized. Many factors critical to business success depend upon your plan: outside...

For more information, visit www.sba.gov.