Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
You wouldn't set out on a journey without a map, right? Sowhy would you start a business without a plan? "A businessplan provides a road map for a company and its executives tofollow," says Bill Crookston, an associate professor for theEntrepreneur Program at the University of Southern California inLos Angeles.
A business plan isn't just for your own peace of mind,however; investors will demand it when you search for funding. Yourstart-up plan should focus on marketing and financial informationand must portray a route your company intends to follow--financierscould withdraw credit if you don't meet your goals, Crookstonsays. And forget about hiring an expert to do it for you; eachentrepreneur should create his or her own plan, he stresses.
Continue reading this article — and all of our other premium content with Entrepreneur+
Join the internet’s leading entrepreneur community! With your subscription you’ll get:
- Unlimited access, including premium content
- No ads
- Subscription to狗万官方magazine
- Four free e-books a year
- Subscriber-only events with our experts
