Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Now that you understand why you need a business plan and you’ve spent some time doing your homework gathering the information you need to ...

When starting a business, a business plan is essential. Whether you are launching an online store or opening a brick-and-mortar shop, having a well-written business plan is crucial to your success. A ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Melissa Houston covers financial issues that affect women in business. With so much to think about and plan for, when starting a ...

A business plan is an important document for entrepreneurs of all stripes – whether you’re just starting out or have been in business for a longer period of time. Your business plan tells lenders and ...

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 ...

You need to think of what you want and whether your plan’s findings suggest you’ll get it. For instance, is your objective to gain freedom from control by other people? If your plan shows that you’ll ...