Write Your Business Plan: Get Your Plan in Place and Your Business off the Ground

by The Staff of Entrepreneur Media

A comprehensive companion to Entrepreneur's long-time bestseller Start Your Own Business , this essential guide leads you through the most critical startup step next to committing to your business vision—defining how to achieve it.

Coached by a diverse group of experts and successful business owners, gain an in-depth understanding of what’s essential to any business plan, what’s appropriate for your venture, and what it takes ensure success. Plus, learn from real-world examples of plans that worked, helping to raise money, hone strategy, and build a solid business.

Whether you’re just starting out or already running a business, to successfully build a company, you need a plan. One that lays out your product, your strategy, your market, your team, and your opportunity. It is the blueprint for your business. The experts at Entrepreneur show you how to create it.

Includes sample business plans, resources and worksheets.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Entrepreneurship

396 pages, Paperback

First published January 13, 2015

Reviews

[Darren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Planning and writing a business plan can be a traumatic affair for many, yet the action itself can be very effective and thought provoking. When done right, it can be a very beneficial process, even if you don’t need a business plan for external financing or anyone other than yourself.

You might know the approximate route to drive from Los Angeles to Washington, DC but having a map or a route written down with some diversion options can be a good backup plan. This is the same for business. This book promises to give you everything you need to know to write a great business plan. In fact it gives a lot more and can provide a reasonable at-a-glance look to so many business-related subjects, acting as a bit of an aide-memoire or checklist.

The only real complaint might be that the book should underline that not every business needs a detailed business plan, something fussed over and polished for several months. Dependent on your plan, maybe you need to get something rough and out there now, rather than waiting for many months and find that someone has beat you to the punch. With some innovative businesses, being first can be best. Setting up a pool cleaning business or café might not need you to rush to market.

Clearly this book is written for a predominantly American audience although it does have a lot of great information that is equally valid worldwide. The book’s very low price means you only need to get a little out of it to feel you’ve got your money’s worth.

A short but worthy glossary and index will further let you dig into the mass of information as you require. There’s not a lot more to say, it has great potential and can help you get on-board and along your own business journey.

Write Your Business Plan: Get Your Plan in Place and Your Business off the Ground, written by the Staff of Entrepreneur Media, Inc. and published by Entrepreneur Press. ISBN 9781599185576, 394 pages. YYYY

[Regina Foo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very comprehensive guide to prepare a business plan. This book is not only suitable for startups, but also for existing business owners who are considering to review their current plan and to bring their businesses further.

This book serves as a companion to Start Your Own Business published by the same publisher. A must-read for business owners.

[Rick Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the down-to-earth, practical advice to help me write a practical business plan without going overboard. The exercise questions are thought provoking and no doubt will save me time when I sit down to write the plan.

[Brendon Richey · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good book to inspire what goes into your business plan and how to apply a business plan if you are looking to gather capital for your business. Less helpful for the self-starters and people trying to start with barebones minimal capital.

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not so easy to read, but I got through. This was a good start for Business Plan reading.

[Brandon Minster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ideal for reference and spot reading, not for cover-to-cover reading.

[Odette Cortés · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very helpful and illumitating when seen as guidelines when approaching the idea of writing a business plan. But what really drove me crazy was the layout. I understand that this book is a derrivative of Entrepreneur magazine which is evident when reading. But for book format the constant interruptions set as tip boxes, stories and pointers really down your reading and eventually become very annoying.

[Alex Devero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even the most brilliant business dream won't become a reality without a well-conceived, strategic business plan. Your business plan gives you both, a route to success and a way of attracting investment. So outline your goals, analyze your industry, write an engaging executive summary and assemble a stellar management team. Write a plan that'll attract the kind of investment you need!

[M... · Rating 1 out of 5]

Much better books exist about business plans, including a lot of quality free information online.