Writing a Business Plan


Recent Writing a Business Plan Articles

Start-up Step 1: A Culture Plan

By Frank Addante |  Feb 7, 2012

The formula for a great company is not a business model, or financial projection.  Read more


Know Thy Enemy, Befriend Rivals

By Dave Balter |  Jan 31, 2012

Scrutinize your competitors, and become friends with them, too. You just might partner to pitch a client, buy one out (or vice versa), or grow the industry t...  Read more


A Powerful (Mission) Statement

By Issie Lapowsky |  Jan 24, 2012

How Brooklyn-based Holstee's mission statement, which it styled into a poster, inspired millions of people.  Read more


The 2 Things About Your Start-up Idea That Actually Matter

By Garry Tan |  Jan 23, 2012

Y Combinator's Garry Tan hands you the only yardstick you need when starting a technology company. How does your idea measure up?  Read more


Who Will Survive After CES?

By Lindsay Blakely |  Jan 11, 2012

The Consumer Electronics Show is great for getting buzz, but it's no guarantee for success for start-ups. Here's what it takes to survive after Las Vegas.  Read more


3 Ways to Outwit Your Competition

By Wendy Lea |  Jan 10, 2012

Is it time to wage battle, leverage your business model, or just poke fun of your rival? Here's how to tell.  Read more


Let Your Employees Pick Their Titles

By Joe Reynolds |  Dec 15, 2011

Have you ever met a general counsel who goes by "Juggler of Justice" or a CFO known as "Duke of Dollars?" Why not?  Read more


Five Things You Shouldn't Do When Writing a Business Plan

By Scott Gerber |  Dec 13, 2011

Don't fall prey to these common business plan no-nos. Plus, advice from Daniel Gómez, co-founder of Solben, on how to separate the practice of your business...  Watch video


Elevator Pitch: Can Vayable Earn $500,000?

By April Joyner |  May 28, 2012

Vayable helps tourists get off the beaten path. Can this San Francisco start-up find its way beyond seed funding?  Read more


The Season to Pitch Friends and Family

By Howard Greenstein |  Nov 23, 2011

Is gathering around turkey and yams the right time to ask for a friends and family investments? The case for taking advantage of the season of giving.  Read more


Meet 5 Companies Created in 3 Days

By April Joyner |  Nov 16, 2011

Tech entrepreneurs explain how they launched their businesses--in 54 hours--at Startup Weekend.  Read more


Elevator Pitch: Verbling

By April Joyner |  May 28, 2012

Can you say $1 million? A language-learning start-up is hoping that investors can.  Read more


Creating the Lean Startup

By Eric Ries |  May 28, 2012

How Eric Ries developed a scientific method for launching profitable companies  Read more


Elevator Pitch: Take the Interview

By Issie Lapowsky |  May 28, 2012

This HR start-up makes it easy to screen job candidates. Can it raise $1.25 million?  Read more


How to Assess the Market Potential of Your Idea

By Darren Dahl |  Sep 6, 2011

Not sure if your new business idea is good enough to succeed? Here are six ways to test it.  Read more


How to Prepare to Launch Your Start-up

By Matthew DeLuca |  Aug 29, 2011

Preparing to launch your start-up means more than simply making sure you have a viable product and potential customers. Here are five tips on how to prepare ...  Read more


A Former NFL Player Tackles a New Restaurant Concept

By Nadine Heintz |  May 28, 2012

Former Patriot Matt Chatham opens Skycrepers, a fast-serve crepe shop.  Read more


The New Rules of Getting Press for Your Start-up

By Darren Dahl |  Aug 15, 2011

Think Facebook and Twitter are all you need to get the word out about your new business? Here are eight more ways to get some media attention.  Read more


The Third Part of Your Business Plan: How You’ll Fund Your Idea

By David Ronick |  Aug 9, 2011

Break a business plan into bite-sized pieces to save time, and focus on what matters most for you right now. The last of a three-part series.  Read more


How I Did It; Lessons Learned: Jack Cohen-Martin, DynamicVideo

By Andrew Maclean |  Aug 3, 2011

DynamicVideo founder and COO Jack Cohen-Martin discusses how he evolved his core customer base during the recession.  Watch video


What It’s Like…to Wait Out an Interminable Non-compete

As told to Lindsay Silberman |  Aug 2, 2011

After Hotels.com founder Bob Diener sold to IAC in 2003, he went to kite-surf camp in Costa Rica. And when his five-year non-compete was up he launched getar...  Read more


The Second Part of Your Business Plan: How You’ll Do It

By David Ronick |  Aug 2, 2011

Break a business plan into bite-sized pieces, to focus on what matters most right now. The second of a three-part series. Read part one Read more


How to Write an Operational Plan for Your Business

By Darren Dahl |  Jul 27, 2011

In 2010, Sean Bandawat acquired Jacob Bromwell, a specialty housewares company that's been in existence since 1819. Here, he shares his operational plan, foc...  Read more


Apple? No Competition

By Nicole Carter |  Jul 27, 2011

After two decades of working with the tech giant, Darryl Peck opened a small Apple retail store called PeachMac. Here's how he grew his business by imitating...  Read more


Take the Pain Out of Writing a Business Plan

By David Ronick |  Jul 19, 2011

Break a business plan into bite-sized pieces, to focus on what matters most right now. The first of a three-part series.  Read more