Business Plans & Research

A business plan is a comprehensive document that defines your business’s goals, strategies, and financial outlook. It acts as a roadmap for launching, managing, and growing your venture—helping you test ideas, attract funding, manage risk, and measure progress.

Business Plans Are Used To

Attract funding (loans, investors, grants)

Clarify your strategy and guide decisions as your business grows

Assess viability, identify obstacles, and plan mitigation

Core Components of a Business Plan 

Executive Summary

A snapshot of your business purpose, mission, offerings, leadership, and financial highlights

Company Description

What your business does, the need it fills, your location, target market, and competitive angle

Market Analysis

Research on market trends, customer personas, size, and your competitors

Organization & Management

Your organizational structure, ownership, and team’s expertise

Products or Services

Details of your offerings and how they solve customer problems

Marketing & Sales Strategy

How you’ll reach customers, set prices, and sell your products or services

Operations Plan

Daily operations, location, suppliers, production flow, technology, and logistics

Financial Plan

Forecasts including income, cash flow, balance sheets, funding needs, and break-even analysis

Appendices

Supporting items like resumes, permits, legal documents, product images

Types of Business Plans

  • Traditional Plan – Detailed and lengthy, ideal for securing loans and attracting investors
  • Leave Plan – One- or two-page summary focused on core elements, ideal for internal planning and quick pivots

Local Resources to Help
Get This Done

Choosing your Business Location 

Your business address is a highly strategic decision: it determines the taxes, zoning laws, regulations your business must operate under as well as impacting your cost of doing business.

Do your homework considering these factors:

  • Your target market and customer 
  • Cost of living and cost of commercial leases 
  • Transportation accessibility for workers and suppliers
  • Permitting & licensing and other regulatory requirements 
  • State and local taxes 
  • Workforce availability 
  • Zoning
  • Your personal preferences 

Whether you will be a home-based business or will occupy commercial space, consult your local planning department to be sure your business activities are permitted. If your business will be located in an unincorporated area, consult the county.

Consult with your local Small Business Center and local economic development teams including economic development corporations, chambers of commerce and workforce development boards.

Business Resources

Economic Development

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