| There are a number of ways to find comprehensive | | | | plans. If you are a serial entrepreneur intent on creating |
| help in creating your own business plans. Each offer | | | | many businesses, this may be a useful tool. However, |
| their own pros and cons. Generally, the more cash you | | | | if you intend to open just one business, this may not be |
| have available to put into the product you choose, the | | | | any more helpful than a template, although it will cost |
| more value you will get back. | | | | more. |
| Book | | | | Business Planning Course |
| At the cheaper end of options, purchasing a book on | | | | A course on writing business plans or starting a |
| business planning will give you an overview of business | | | | business will offer all of the detail of a book, and may |
| plan format, the creation process, and what funders | | | | leave you with the equivalent of a template as well. |
| look for in business plans. A book cannot offer you | | | | There will also be opportunities for customized |
| customized advice, of course. | | | | feedback and advice from the professor who, if |
| Business Plan Template | | | | qualified, can be a bit of a consultant for you. However, |
| A business plan template offers a more interactive | | | | you must invest a great deal of time and probably |
| option. For a low price (generally under $100) a | | | | money in taking such a course, perhaps delaying your |
| template offers a customizable business plan and | | | | launch time by months. |
| financial model, usually including either guiding questions | | | | Business Plan Consultant |
| or sample text. A template can offer more | | | | Finally, working with a dedicated business plan |
| customized advice if you find one which is specific to | | | | consultant can offer the most value to you. A |
| the business sector you are in. This tool does more | | | | consultant becomes a partner in your success, as their |
| than merely inform you about what business plans | | | | reputation depends in great part on their ability to help |
| should look like. It actually saves you a great deal of | | | | their clients achieve funding and to launch. However, |
| time in the business planning development process, | | | | unlike most partners, consultants will not generally |
| especially through the use of the financial model. | | | | require equity in your company. If you have the cash |
| Business Planning Software | | | | available to afford a consultant's help, they can take on |
| Business planning software will offer much of the | | | | a number of roles in the process, from merely advising, |
| same value as a business plan template, but can be | | | | to actually doing the market research, financial |
| more robust, allowing the creation of many different | | | | projections, or drafting the entire plan. |