Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Melissa Houston covers financial issues that affect women in business. Creating a successful business starts with a strong plan.

For the entrepreneur, knowing how to start writing a business plan can be as exhilarating as it is overwhelming. The business plan is a foundational document and the blueprint of your business and is ...

Boost efficiency and accuracy in logistics, data analysis, forecasting, and more Elysse Bell is a finance and business writer for Investopedia. She writes about small business, personal finance, ...

So you’ve come up with an idea for a business and made the courageous decision to strike out on your own. You’ll get to work on your terms, become your own boss, and hopefully turn a profit by doing ...

A business plan is not just a set of static documents. It’s a living, breathing guide that should be integral to a business owner’s decision-making and management style. A business plan can help you ...

Learn the essential elements of writing a business plan, including advice and resources for how to write and conduct each section of your business plan. Starting a business without a plan is akin to ...