Business Plans Guide
This guide provides an introduction to resources related to the writing and development of business plans. Users are encouraged to consult other business research guides. Below you will find a list of print, online, and internet resources with descriptions as to the type of information each contains. Please contact the Reference Desk on the 2nd floor of Mitchell Memorial Library, (662) 325-7667, or Email a Librarian for further assistance with any of these resources or with any questions.
| Overview | Guides | Selected Articles |
|---|---|---|
| Sample Business Plans |
A business guide is a formal, written document which includes both a financial and market analysis of the business. These plans are frequently developed as part of the loan application or as a means of formally analyzing the business enterprise. Typical elements in a business plan include:
- Description of Product or Service
- Business History
- Market Analysis
- Competition Analysis
- Management
- Financial Information
- Strengths and Weaknesses
- Growth Potential
The following guide provides an overview of resources that may assist in the development of a business plan. Both print and electronic resources are included.
Unless indicated in the call number (REF), the print resources are available in the circulating collection at the Mississippi State University Libraries.
- Bangs, David H. The Market Planning Guide: Creating a Plan to Successful Market Your Business, Product, or Service. Chicago: Dearborn Trade Pub., 2002.
HF5415.122 .B36 2002 - While not explicitly concerned with business plans, Bangs addresses a related concern, the marketing plan. This work provides a step-by-step guide to the development of a marketing plan, which often a key component of the business plan.
- Business Plans Handbook. Detroit, MI: Gale Research, 2002.
Ref HD62.7 .B865 v.9 2002 - A core business reference title, this work provides examples of actual plans in different industries as well as two in-depth templates. Included is a comprehensive discussion of each part of a business plan and numerous indexes designed to assist new businesses in locating additional assistance or information.
- Covello, Joseph A. The Complete Book of Business Plans. Naperville, ILL: Sourcebooks Trade, 1995.
HD62.5 .C68 1995 - A comprehensive resource on business plans, this work provides in-depth coverage on the writing and use of business plans. Covello includes numerous actual business plans as well as sample plans and templates to assist the business plan writer.
- Horan, Jim. The One Page Business Plan: Start With a Vision, Build a Company! El Sobrante, CA: One Page Business Plan Co., 1998.
HD30.28 .H676 1998 - A concise workbook on developing a business plan. Horan provides exercises to assist the small business in developing each aspect of a business plan.
- McKeever, Mike. How to Write a Business Plan. Berkeley, CA: Nolo, 2003. (6th edition)
HD30.28 .M3839 2003 - An extremely concise and easy to understand introduction to business plans. Written for small business owners, McKeever provides clear instructions on the steps involved in developing a business plan, outlines the use of business plans in developing a financial strategy and provides financial forms and sample plans.
- Pinson, Linda. Anatomy of a Business Plan: A Step-by-step Guide to Building a Business and Securing Your Company's Future. Chicago: Dearborn Trade Publishing, 2001
Ref HD30.28 .P5 2001 - An introductory treatment of business plans, this resource provides an easily understood discussion of the role of business plans and advice on their development. Includes worksheets, templates, and definitions.
- Rich, Stanley R. Business Plans that Win $$$: Lessons from the MIT Enterprise Forum. New York: Harper & Row, 1985.
HG4027.6 .R53 1985 - A classic text in the business plan literature, Rich reports on the approach of the MIT Enterprise Forum, a nationwide clinic which provides assistance to new companies. While this work does not provide sample plans, it includes numerous examples of how real companies used their business plan to prosper.
- Truitt, Wesley B. Business Planning: A Comprehensive Framework and Approach. Westport, CT: Quorum Boosk, 2002.
HD 30.28 .T776 2002 - Truitt provides a more scholarly treatment of business plans. Includes a discussion of the role of business planning, the business plan as a component of the planning process, and a discussion of mission and vision statements. Covers conducting a business environment assessment. Includes a comprehensive bibliography.
These articles provide some additional advice on writing business plans. All are available either online or in the print journal collection.
"10 Steps to Creating a Killer Business Plan." Broker Magazine 2 (October/November 2000): 6-7.
Hormozi, Amir M, et. al. "Business Plans for New or Small Business: Paving the Path to Success." Management Decision 40(2002): 755-763.
Peplow, Reg."How to Write a First Class Business Plan." Management Services 41(March 1997): 30-31.
Timmons, Jeffry A. and Gumpert, David E."A Business Plan is More Than a Financing Device." Harvard Business Review 58(March/April 1980): 28-31.
Additional articles may be located in the business databases, including the following:
- Business Source Complete
Available electronically.
** For remote access, you must be affiliated with Mississippi State University. ** - Provides indexing to over 3,000 business journals, with fulltext access to over 2,700 journals. The database also includes country reports from the Economist Intelligence Unit, WEFA, CountryWatch and Icon Group.
- Bplans.com
http://www.bplans.com/ - Provides a website dedicated to the small business start-up. Includes business plan examples and other advice for the new entrepreneur. This site also sells Business Plan Pro, a commercial product to assist in the development of business plans. However, much of the site's content is available free of charge.
- Business Plans Basics (Small Business Administration)
http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/starting_business/planning/basic.html - Developed by the Small Business Administration (SBA), this online resource provides a comprehensive discussion of the core elements found in a business plan. While it does not include sample plans, it does provide a self-paced tutorial/worksheet to assist the business plan writer and numerous other useful SBA links. The website is also available in Spanish.
- CCH Business Owner's Toolkit
http://www.toolkit.cch.com/tools/buspln_m.asp - Provides access to downloadable samples plans. Includes a discussion on each required section.
- More Business: Business and Marketing Plans
http://www.morebusiness.com/templates_worksheets/bplans/ - Includes templates and examples for business and marketing plans.
- Small Business Plan Guides
http://www.smbtn.com/businessplanguides/ - Provides access to a large number of guides designed to assist the new business owner. The guides are available as downloadable pdf files.
This page created and maintained by Deborah Lee, Professor/Coordinator of Library Instructional Services and the Corporate and Statistical Research Center.
