Looking for business plans for dummies? You could be after a cheap guide book of the same name, and more power to you, but if you just want to learn a little more about how resources can help you get your business plan under way (or finished), here are some ideas:
(1) There are explanatory books all over Amazon, your local library, etc. These won't help the business plan for you but you might be surprised what you learn about yourself and your business, the more you read.
(2) You can visit your local SCORE office and speak with retired business executives, or get a consultant to peek at your plan and offer ideas
(3) There are free review sites, including businessplan.com, where you can upload your plan for pointers
(4) You can find web-based tools like the Census Bureau helpful in collecting research
(5) There are downloadable tools on the Internet you can use to help understand calculations
(6) You can buy software to try to build a plan through a template on your computer
… and the list goes on. In all of these cases, the onus is on you to not only know what you're doing, but to have enough initiative with the process that you aggressively follow through. You need to do your own research, learn about the financial components and how they relate, and be comfortable approaching different people for guidance as you piece your plan together. It's hard work, no matter what “dummy†guides you might come by. Another option – and a much better one, by all accounts – is to work with a company that has a dedicated group of employees trained in nothing but business plan writing. MasterPlans has helped more than 8,000 clients get their business ideas onto paper since we started in 2002. Based in Portland, Oregon but working with clients worldwide, MasterPlans employs a full team of writers, researchers, and modelers who can take the time-consuming task of developing a business plan right off your plate. With an exceptional track record and the ability to tailor your plan for investment or bank lending, MasterPlans delivers. Call 877-453-2011 for a free quote.
