Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Writing a business plan is like the architectural plan for a home or a brick-and-mortar building. You need to know what materials you ...

A strong, well-thought-out business plan is crucial for a business's success. Without one, it's tough to maintain a vision of the future and what the next steps for your business should be. Think of ...

When you're contemplating starting your own company, crafting a detailed financial document that outlines your strategy and long-term goals may not be at the top of your priority list, but it should ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about the franchising, restaurant and food services industry. An executive summary is a short but powerful document that ...

Learn how to write an executive summary. This guide shows you why to write it last, tailor it to your audience, include ...

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 ...

Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full ...

Writing a business plan for a catering business shouldn't be that difficult; much of your plan will cover the basics of starting any small business, and you can find templates online to get you ...

When you are a small business owner heading off to ask the bank for a small business loan, one of the first documents the loan officer typically asks for is the business plan. Therefore, it is ...

There are two main types of business plans: the more common traditional business plan and the less common lean startup business plan. A traditional business plan is best for gaining funding and ...

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.