Create Your Business Plan

Your business plan is a document that should grow with your business. It should undergo constant revisions as your business evolves and expands.

Navigation:

What Your Business Plan Will Do For You 

  • Be a reality check! It will force you to identify your business strengths and weaknesses.
  • Help you figure out your budget.
  • Provide a clear direction, which can keep you focused and help eliminate stress.
  • Be your timetable for operations
  • Help you coordinate all the diverse activities that go into running your business.
  • Serve as a resume when you seek lenders, suppliers, investors or partners.
  • Ensure you evaluate the market for your product or services and size up the competition.
  • Provide a clear starting point for future business planning.

Sample Business Plans 

  • Bplans.com
    This site offers a selection of free sample business plans, as well as articles on business planning. Bplans.com also sells business planning software.

  • Business Plans Handbook, Gale Publishing
    This is a database of actual business plans written by North American entrepreneurs seeking financing for their businesses. Includes examples of many start-up business ideas. Access is available through many BC public libraries, made possible by a generous donation from the Sutherland Foundation. Affiliates of UBC can start here.

  • Center for Business Planning
    The MOOT CORP® Competition simulated the experience of entrepreneurs pitching investors for funding. Although the competition is no longer held, the business plans presented by MBAs from the best business schools in the world can still be found on the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine.

Templates 

  • Futurpreneur - Business Plan Writer
    An interactive, online, tool that allows you to customize your business plan. Includes tips & tricks and can be downloaded to a word, excel or PDF file.

  • Business Development Canada (BDC) - Business Plan Template
    This is one of the best downloadable business plan templates. The business plan contains 2 sections, with a glossary and user guide.

  • Canada Business Site
    An excellent source for financing, permit, and business planning information. Includes a complete list of useful templates.

  • SCORE
    SCORE is a non profit association helping small businesses. Their library includes templates for business plans, SWOT analysis, financial projections and more.

General Business Planning Help 

  • Small Business BC (SBBC)
    SBBC is a great place to start for information on BC specific regulations and guidelines, for whatever stage you are in your business development. This is a great post on the topic.

    They have their own business plan resource guide available here
  • GoForthInstitute
    An excellent collection of free resources for entrepreneurs on diverse subjects. Of particular interest are the How-To Guides, templates and samples, and business calculators. They also offer low-cost video training.

  • Small Business Planner, the US Small Business Administration (SBA)
    This website includes information and resources that will help you at any stage of the business lifecycle. Watch their series of business planning videos here.

 

Need information on business research as you write your business plan? Check out our Beginner's Guide to Business Research, or go to our collection of 100+ Industry Guides for industry-specific research help.