Business plan essentials

Business plan tools

Free online workshops

Business plan classes

SBDC and SCORE: Business plan free help

Using innovation and new ideas

Family owned business? Capital Region Family Business Center

Information sources for your business plan

Sample business plans from Palo Alto Software

Need to attract foot traffic? Effective Signage

Cutting edge innovator? LARTA Institute

Manufacturing consulting

Help with environmental compliance

Manufacturer negatively impacted by imports? Trade Adjustment Assistance Center

SCORE national website: info & email-based counseling

Business Plan Tools

• Business Plan Writer is free online software, hosted by the US Minority Business Development Agency, that you can use to create a business plan. You must set up a free online account to access this tool. Each page has instructions with a sample answer.
  
  • Sign up for online account, then click on Business Plan Writer

• This free cash flow calculator from PaloAlto Software is an excellent tool for planning your business. It helps you see how each part of your business affects your cash flow.
  • Cash flow calculator

• These free financial calculators are available through James J.Hill Library:
  • Breakeven analysis
  • Investment return
  • Equipment buy versus lease
  • Debt consolidation calculator
  • Business valuation
  • Cash flow calculator
  • Commercial loan calculator
  • Inventory analysis
  • Profit margin calculator
  • Financial ratios

• The Hill Library has thousands of industry-specific business plans which you can access and download. The monthly fee for their services is $7.95, which gives you discounts to business services, personal help for business questions, and a wealth of information not available on the public web. To sign up, visit http://www.biztoolkit.org/fast_inc.cfm
  

• Mastercard offers a free Business Plan Workbook. Click here for the document..

• SCORE also offers free templates for business plans:
  SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) templates

• Sample business plans from referenceforbusiness.com:
  http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/business-plans/

• Books
  • Anatomy of a Business Plan
  • Bankable Business Plans
  • Business Plan in a Day
  • Business Plan Kit For Dummies
  • Business Planning Guide
  • Business Planning Guide Worksheets
  • Business Plans For Dummies
  • How to Write a Business Plan
  • Market Planning Guide
  • Restaurant Planning Guide 2nd Edition
  • Successful Business Plan. Secrets and Strategies
• Software
  • Automate your Business Plan
  • BizPlan Builder
  • Business PlanMaker Professional 3.0 Deluxe
  • GoodtoGo Business Plan
  • Professional Business PlanMaker