Business Planning Resources - Compiled by Professional Business Plan Writers

As expert business plan writers, we come across and use many informational resources helpful to the business planning process. Listed here are some of the websites and other tools we think are particularly useful to those who seek to develop good business plans. We hope you find them useful; these tools won't write a plan for you, but they'll familiarize you with the process and the issues involved, and prepare you to work with professional business plan writers like us when you need development and writing assistance.

In October 2006 Stone Business Magazine published Part I of this informative article, written by professional business plan writer David Speaker. It addresses why business plans are important, how to get started, and why writing a good plan can improve your bottom line. Stone Business Magazine is a premier industry trade magazine for the natural stone and stone fabrication industries.  

In November 2006 Stone Business Magazine published Part II of this business planning article  In Part II, we review:

• the tools you need for conducting your market analysis;

• how to gather statistics;

• the essentials of financial information and basics of presentation; and

• how to shop your plan and find the right audience.

Recommended Websites:

http://www.entrepreneur.com – contains a wealth of information for startups and entrepreneur, including segments on business plan writing.

http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/business-plans/ - here you will find many real business plan illustrations and related links.

http://www.bplans.com/dp/ - contains a number of articles on a variety of business planning subjects.

http://www.StartupNation.com - StartupNation presents an uncomplicated process to help first-time entrepreneurs get started.  Its aim is to get you over the 'but I don't know where to start' hurdle.

http://www.startupnation.com/pages/topics/BusinessPlanning.asp - also contains useful articles on various aspects of writing a business plan.

http://www.startupjournal.com - a great site for any small business. It’s rich with ideas, relevant articles, and resources, including business planning resources. Look for Tools / How to Guide, which offers planning assistance, and see over 100 sample business plans.

The United States Small Business Administration website has many useful tools for business. The portions of the SBA site relevant to business planning include:

o http://www.sba.gov/sbdc/aboutus.html

o http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/index.html

o http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/planning/basic.html

http://www.secureplan.com - here you can post your business plan in a secure environment for those you wish to share it with.

Recommended Business Planning Software:

Business Plan Pro - Palo Alto Software, Inc.

Recommended Books:

Rich Dad's Advisors®: The ABC's of Writing Winning Business Plans: How to Prepare a Business Plan That Others Will Want to Read -- and Invest In
by Garrett Sutton

Business Plans that Work (Paperback)
by Jeffry A Timmons, Andrew Zacharakis, Stephen Spinelli

Anatomy of a Business Plan: A Step-By-Step Guide to Building a Business and Securing Your Company's Future
by Linda Pinson. Chicago, IL: Dearborn Trade Publishing, 2005.