Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Melissa Houston covers financial issues that affect women in business. Creating a successful business starts with a strong plan.

For the entrepreneur, knowing how to start writing a business plan can be as exhilarating as it is overwhelming. The business plan is a foundational document and the blueprint of your business and is ...

Matt Webber is an experienced personal finance writer, researcher, and editor. He has published widely on personal finance, marketing, and the impact of technology on contemporary arts and culture.

So you’ve come up with an idea for a business and made the courageous decision to strike out on your own. You’ll get to work on your terms, become your own boss, and hopefully turn a profit by doing ...

Whether you’re using your business plan to attract investors, support a business loan application or guide your internal strategy, providing a high-level snapshot of its contents up front is essential ...

A business plan can help you obtain financing by highlighting the characteristics lenders use to assess borrowers. Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners ...

At the foundation of every strong business is a solid business plan. A business plan outlines important information regarding a company's operations and goals and serves as a blueprint for achieving ...

A business plan includes details about your company’s goals and methods for achieving them Written By Written by Staff Senior Editor, Buy Side Miranda Marquit is a staff senior personal finance editor ...