Small Business & Entrepreneurial Resources: Business Planning

A business plan is a formal statement that describes how a new business will achieve its goals. It is one of the first steps in starting a business. 

Web Resources

• Small Business Administration's Business Planning Resources
  Many resources including a step-by-step guide to writing a business plan
• Amazon Small Business Academy
  Provides a wealth of free resources, ideal for both aspiring and established entrepreneurs. These resources include live events, podcasts, and on-demand classes, along with access to a network of like-minded business professionals. Additionally, they offer practical guides for starting and growing a successful business, and specific resources catered to those interested in selling their wares on Amazon’s store.
  
• SCORE Business Plan templates -- Find business planning, finance, sales, marketing, and management templates & guides then get advice from a SCORE mentor for one-on-one assistance along the way.
  

Business Planning Articles (A-State login may be required)

• "How to write a great business plan" by William A. Sahlman in Harvard Business Review
• "Here's the plan" by C.J. Prince in Entrepreneur
• "Will your plan win a prize?" by Jennifer Merritt in BusinessWeek
• "Should entrepreneurs plan or just storm the castle?" by Brinckman et al. in Journal of Business Venturing

• "What do investors look for in a business plan?: A comparison of the investment criteria of bankers, venture capitalists and business angels" by Collin Mason and Matthew Stark in International Small Business Journal

From The Bible of Business: Mastering Entrepreneurship series

More videos on entrepreneurship:

Boss: The Black Experience in Business

• From award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson comes a film that educates, informs, and examines more than 150 years of African American men and women who have embodied the qualities that are the heart of the American entrepreneurial spirit

The Veteran Entrepreneur's Guide to Starting and Growing a Business (10 video series)

• A comprehensive educational video series featuring 12 highly successful Veteran entrepreneurs sharing their experiences and best practices in starting and growing a business after service. 

Amazon Empire: The Rise and Reign of Jeff Bezos

• Examine Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' ascent to power and the global impact of the empire he built. Investigate the darker side of the company's rapid growth, and the challenge of trying to rein in the power of the richest man in the world.