Entrepreneur Business Plan Template

Using a Template to Draft Your Business Plan

While the information that goes into your business plan needs to be innovative, there's no reason to start from a blank slate when it comes to the format of the document. You can choose from among a wide variety of entrepreneur business plan templates. Many people purchase business planning software, and others utilize one of the numerous free templates available online or through organizations such as the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and regional Small Business Administration (SBA) offices.

Free Entrepreneur Business Plan Templates

• The Business Planning Workbook: Published by the St. Louis SCORE chapter, this document is designed to help new business owners get their business ideas organized enough to form a thorough and effective written plan. Once you complete the workbook, which is compiled in a question and answer format, you'll have all the information you need to draft a comprehensive formal plan for your business idea.

• SCORE's Template Gallery: No matter how unique and unusual your business idea may be, with so many templates readily available on this site, you're sure to find a template that can be adapted to meet your needs. In addition to sample entrepreneur business plan templates, you'll also find a number of forms designed to help you engage in thorough financial planning needed to start on the path to success.

• BPlans.com features a number of sample business plans you can view and utilize to form the foundation for your own company documentation. Plans are included for many different types of businesses, including beauty salons, coffee shops, computer consulting, recycling and waste management, and several additional options.

Business Planning Software

• Plan Pro from Palo Alto Software: The standard package contains hundreds of sample business plans that entrepreneurs can use as models for their own documents. The premium version allows multiple users to import data from excel, and also has built-in financial tracking capabilities. This package is recommended by many bankers, who need well-written, comprehensive plans in order to process business startup loans.

• Plan Write Business Plan Software: This powerful planning tool for entrepreneurs comes complete with a library of business plan templates. Small business owners find the built in business plan wizard to be a simple and a user-friendly way to put together necessary startup documentation. This business software includes comprehensive financial reports and charts, along with completeness analysis, spelling and grammar check, and more.

• Plan Magic Business Planning Software: This program is available in three different versions, including one for construction companies, another for retail businesses, and a third for other types of startup companies. Plan Magic has been used by entrepreneurs since 1995, and has a reputation for providing some of the most comprehensive financial reports available in any business plan application.

• Adarus Business Plan: This software application is a favorite of many business owners. The program has been a finalist in the Ziff-Davis Shareware Awards and has been rated very positively by users. You can download a free trial version, to see if Adarus Business Plan effectively meets your business planning needs.

Creating Your Business Plan

When it comes to getting ready to launch a new business, drafting a comprehensive business plan is an important first step. Finding the right template or software application can provide you with a head start, so you can focus on the content of the document. The business plan that you develop when you're thinking about launching your enterprise is likely to change over time, but it will serve as an important roadmap for helping you realize your entrepreneurial dreams.