Prepare a business plan

It is essential to have a realistic, working business plan when you're starting up a business.

A business plan is a written document that describes a business, its objectives, its strategies, the market it is in and its financial forecasts. It has many functions, from securing external funding to measuring success within your business.

This guide will show you how to prepare a high-quality plan using a number of easy-to-follow steps.
Subjects covered in this guide
Introduction
The audience for your business plan
What the plan should include
The executive summary
Your business, its products and services
Your markets and competitors
Marketing and sales
Your team's skills
Your operations
Financial forecasts
Presenting your business plan
Here's how having an up-to-date business plan helped my business