The number of resources available to help write a business plan is virtually infinite. With the aim of narrowing down the list to a helpful few, here are a few of my favorites:
BPlan Website: The Small Business Administration (SBA) at www.sba.gov. The specific link for business plans is:
www.sba.gov
BPlan Book: My favorite book is The Business Planning Guide by David H. Bangs, Jr. It explains each part of a business plan in clear, concise language without too much jargon. Examples can be found throughout.
In-Person Assistance: These wonderful organizations offer literature, seminars, workshops and consulting services at little or no cost:
• SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives): www.score.org
• SBDCs (Small Business Development Centers): www.sba.gov
Legal Issues: Nolo Press (www.nolo.com is the resource for legal information for consumers and small businesses. Their legal self-help publications address a wide variety of topics, and can be purchased online or found in local bookstores and libraries. More importantly, their information is trustworthy and easy to understand. Topics include patents, trademarks as well as how to decide on the best legal entity for your company (LLC, incorporate, etc.).
Creative Financing: In their own words, “Prosper (www.prosper.com enables borrowers to request loans of up to $25,000 by posting listings indicating the amount they want to borrow and the maximum interest rate they wish to pay. In other words, people who need money request it, and other people bid for the privilege of lending it to them.”
Venture Capital Due Diligence: For those considering venture capital for their funding, I recommend using TheFunded (www.thefunded.com in order to learn about potential investors. The website lets entrepreneurs rate and review venture capital firms and their individual partners.
To learn more about this author, visit Diane Tarshis's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 |
Related Articles |
|
 Why is a work at home business plan important?
|
| |
Why is a work at home online business plan important?
A strategic work at home business plan is basically a list of the things you would like your business to accomplish and how you plan to accomplish them. A onl...
|
|
Business Plan Software
|
| |
Business Plan Software
|
|
Things to Know When Marketing Your Franchise
|
| |
Marketing your franchise opportunity can be an endless task. There are many different avenues to take when marketing your large or small franchise opportunity. There are many potential franchisees and customers u...
|
|
Strategic Planning: Key Reasons Why Strategic Planning Is A Must
|
| |
You're a busy entrepreneur and small business owner. You have heard a lot about strategic planning, but figure it's for big business. Besides you just don't have the time and/or resources to spend on planning. You h...
|
|
Business Plan Basics
|
| |
A business plan precisely defines your business, identifies your goals, and serves as your firm's resume. The basic components include a current and pro forma balance sheet, an income statement, and a cash flow ana...
|
|
|
Diane Tarshis
(Visit Diane's Website)
Diane Tarshis is Principal of Springboard
Business Plans, LLC (www.spr
ingboardplans.com), and has been
writing business plans for more than 10
years. She brings her 20+ years of
business experience to each and every
business plan, whether for a biofuels
producer or a floral shop franchise.
Diane holds a degree in finance from the
Wharton School and spent several years
working on Wall Street. She is also a
published author.
|
|
|
Diane Tarshis's
Complete
List Of
Starting-A-Business
Articles
|
|
If you enjoyed this article, get Diane Tarshis's Complete List of Starting-A-Business Articles For FREE!
|
|
|
|
