The real value of creating a business plan is not in having the finished product in hand; rather, the value lies in the process of researching and thinking about your business in a systematic way. The act of planning helps you to think things through thoroughly, study and research if you are not sure of the facts, and look at your ideas critically. It takes time now, but avoids costly, perhaps disastrous, mistakes later.
It typically takes several weeks to complete a good plan. Most of that time is spent in research and re-thinking your ideas and assumptions. But then, that’s the value of the process. So make time to do the job properly. Those who do never regret the effort.
That’s just the intro! Download the 30 page business plan.
October 9th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Hey there… the business plan is no longer available via the link above. Do you have an updated link?
Thanks!
November 4th, 2008 at 4:39 am
hi!
sounds very interesting but the link is not working. Is there a way of getting that business plan?
thanks
s.
November 19th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
the link isn’t working! nooo!
December 1st, 2008 at 10:39 am
hi there….same question….where can i find the link to the business plan? It’s no longer available
January 5th, 2009 at 3:50 am
link doesnt work, new link please!
January 5th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
I am currently writing a business plan for a tee shirt business in a specialized niche. I am using the business plan template that is referred to here. It was on the Microsoft site.
I was able to download it for free. There were some warnings about me not having the correct programs but I perservered and was able to get it. Here is the link:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC010175201033.aspx
Good luck,
Tim
January 6th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
It’s the Microsoft site and this link takes you directly there. The page you land on has the cover “Business Plan for a Startup Business” which is page one of the Business Plan template. (I just now followed the link and it worked fine.) That’s what you’re looking at.
Now, problem number two that you may be talking about which I attempted to explain in my original post. Just now, the first time I clicked on the download button I received a message of ” template not found”.
I’m not easily deterred so I followed the link again and clicked very deliberately on it. This time… It’s complicated so I just went back and did it again so I could be accurate and I had problems… Be persistent!
After a number of additional tries I got to the following page:
http://office.microsoft.com/templates/directdownload.aspx?AssetID=TC010175201033&Application=WD&Result=2&Version=8
Scroll to the bottom of the page below where it says “To download this template manually without solving this problem” and click the “download now” button. This will bring up a dialog box “Opening 01017520.cab”. I’m using Firefox and the default program used to open the file is WinRAR.
The OK button is grayed out and inactive until you click on it. It becomes active after a moment. Click again and it will download. Then you have to jump through another hoop. They try to sell you an evaluation license for WinRAR.
Click on close and then double click on the Word file which is the second of three and it will open in Word. You can then save it to your hard drive which I just did.
Whew!!!! What a pain in the A but I think worth it. Good luck in your adventure.
Tim