Anyone else getting stuck in this area? I have many ideas for what all I want to include in my business.. but after reading different articles and viewing templates for business plans, I am so confused! All of the templates I have looked at have about 20 pages! That's a little overwhelming. Does anyone have a business plan that is shorter? Or some advice? I know they should be thorough. I am just starting out and I have no idea how to estimate my expected or my goal financial numbers.

I'm right where you are. It is all so overwhelming but I'm just trying to keep in mind that I don't need one quite as extensive as some of the sample outlines out there since I'm not looking for loans or investors. Once I get a hold of an outline I like, I plan on immediately cutting out what I don't need and then completing one small step per every couple of days until I get it done. I find that, for any type of writing, it's easier for me to get it all down and then I can fine tune it to the end result. I'll try to keep you updated on how mine is going (once I officially start it...lol) and if I came up with any tricks to get me unstuck with a really tough question. Good luck!

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Stephanie
New VA in the research phase

Hi Amy
Your business plan doesn't have to be so formal - unless you're going to be using it as part of a funding request with a lender or something. My own business plan is an ever changing notebook full of brainstorms, goals, business philosophies, ideals and ideas. As I learn a new way of interacting with a client on a sticky issue or develop a new perspective on a necesary business policy, my business plan gets updated.

It includes everything from business policies to profiles on my ideal clientele.

If you're really wanting to do something more elaborate and formal, then try following along with a template and adjust the phrasing and terms to suit your own business goals - but I agree, 20 pages of business jargon is a lot to manage!

Write something that suits your own operating style and then tweak it as you learn and grow as a business owner.

(Some may disagree with me here if they feel a solid, formal business plan is really necessary - and that's a really valid answer too...it's about what works for *you*).

Thank you both for your responses. I feel a lot better about my "not-so-thorough" draft! =)

Is there anywhere, where you are able to view model business plans, because this is where I am stuck and I have no clue on where to start when it comes to writing my business plan. I have the layout but what I need to include is just going over my head.

I agree with Tess. Unless you are looking for financial assitance I suggest a road map instead of a buisness plan. Come up with your short term and long term goals and you can keep updating, deleting and adding to the list. It is much better than a formal business plan.

I would suggest Googleing 'business plan templates' to get an idea of what formal ones look like. There was a thread on this a while back - I used a Canadian Small Business website to create mine. Yes, it WAS complicated and took me a long time to complete. BUT - I came away with a really strong sense of what I needed and where I was going with Goddess...

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Lily E. Chambers, CPS
The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
www.virtualofficegoddess.com

My business plan is in a 3-ring binder so I can add, updated, delete when I see necessary. My plan is a definitely a work in progress and I'm sure it will never be 100% complete.

I just state my mission, goals, ethics and how my business will be run. When you find new things you like or want to implement, add them as you go along.

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Shay Jordan
Virtual Office Guru, LLC
www.thevirtualofficeguru.com