Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Melissa Houston covers financial issues that affect women in business. Creating a successful business starts with a strong plan.

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 ...

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If you are building a startup long enough, someone will ask for your business plan. Sometimes it is an investor. Sometimes it is a bank. Sometimes it is just you, staring at a blank Google Doc at 11 p ...

Whether you’re a seasoned business owner or a new entrepreneur, a business plan is crucial to the success and growth of your business, but it can feel like an overwhelming task. A business plan should ...

Whether you’re using your business plan to attract investors, support a business loan application or guide your internal strategy, providing a high-level snapshot of its contents up front is essential ...

You’re set on becoming a franchisee. You may think it’s time to call a franchisor, tell them you’re interested, and get funding from your local bank, right? Wrong. If you’re considering buying a ...

The purpose of an executive summary Common mistakes to avoid The first part of your plan that anybody will see, after the title page and table of contents, is the executive summary. This could be ...

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.

Kiah Treece is a former attorney, small business owner and personal finance coach with extensive experience in real estate and financing. Her focus is on demystifying debt to help consumers and ...

Whether you’re looking to start a business for the first time or scaling one you’ve been building for a while, it’s beneficial to have a clear idea of your next moves. What projects will you ...

At the foundation of every strong business is a solid business plan. A business plan outlines important information regarding a company's operations and goals and serves as a blueprint for achieving ...