Writing a business plan is an ongoing progress and as they say…. if you fail to plan can mean plan to fail.   If you are an existing business it demonstrates that you clearly have vision and a strategy so you can sustain business’s development and growth.  However, for a startup, it is an indicator whether you should even be exploring entrepreneurship.

I realize that it can become overwhelming and I would agree it takes a certain skill set for an “average person” to sit down and write an effective business plan.  None the less,  it is a must and they to do have some very inexpensive and interactive business planning software that helps you write a business like you a PRO!  It is not necessary that you have a full blown robust business plan mapping out the next 10 years but it is critical for a startup to have a basic plan for the following reasons.

1. It forces the entrepreneur to do the much needed research about their business, competition as well as develop a strategy.
2. It will help you focus on specific goals and create a foundation so you can develop and pursue 3-4 business strategies in the first couple years.   
3. It provides third parties such as banks and investors with your vision in a logical format.
4. Offers a benchmark so you can measure your actual performance so you can make changes.

Just like anything in your life, everything requires a strategy.  Whether it is marriage, parenting, buying a home, investing, traveling or even going to school, it all requires you to take the time to figure out what you want, how do you find it, how will you get there, who will be with you, and how long it will take.   

A business plan should be a realistic view of the expectations so you can determine your short term goals as well as your long-term objectives.  So many entrepreneurs make the mistake of having a vision and then becoming reactive.  Being an entrepreneur means you are wearing all the hats in the company so reacting to several issues at once can become paralyzing. 

The bottom line is you can’t do it all by yourself so by creating a road map you will know what you need help with and where to apply your strengths.  The focus and clarity of your “road map” on how you will operate will ultimately tell you whether you will succeed or fail. Identifying your strengths and weaknesses will sustain growth but the lack of a sound plan will, almost always, ensure failure.