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Business Planning & Starting Up

How to Start a Small Business

A good starting point if you are just starting your business. This source can help you get a good idea of what you need to do to start a business and in what order. A good starting point if you are just starting your business. This source can help you get a good idea of what you need to do to start a business and in what order.
Source: eHow

Hot Shot Business

A fun game where you are the business owner and good practice for your own business. You decide if you should take out a loan, respond to customer demand, set prices, accounting, do market research and market to your customers.
Source: Disney

Your First Business Plan

This detailed document uses a question and answer style to go through all of the steps of creating a business plan. Don't make this your first step, but it will be useful after you have been thinking about your business plan for a while will make sure your business plan includes every piece you need.
Source: Sourcebooks, Inc.

Developing Your Small Business Idea

If you aren't sure what you want your business to be or you are searching for the right kind of business for you, this guide will help you develop your idea and picture it as a business. It will help you evaluate your idea and decide if you want to actually create a business from it.
Source: Citigroup

Building a Business Model for Success

This step-by-step guide will help you develop your business model—the core of your business plan. It will help you identify the products and services that your business will provide, define who your target market will be, make decisions about how your business will work, and establish basic financial goals for start-up, operating, and making a profit.
Source: Citigroup

Business Plan Layout

When you write your business plan, you ought to include these 8 important sections. This 3-minute video explains each one.
Source: Wisteria

How to Make a Business Plan

This short video walks you through the process of writing a business plan and tells you what points you need to talk about in your business plan, such as thinking about competition and how to market your business.
Source: Vera Hughes

My Own Business: Free Online Business Course

This free online business class contains 16 different sessions that covers every aspect of starting and growing your small business and teaches you how to avoid common business mistakes. It includes business plan templates, do's and don'ts, and 52 video clips from business experts.
Source: My Own Business, Inc.

How to Write a Business Plan

This tutorial is anarrated slide show that walks you through the process of writing a business plan and setting up your business. Use the controls at the bottom of the screen to click through each section at your own pace.
Source: U.S. Small Business Administration

Business Planning: Things to Consider

This simple list of questions will help you think more deeply about your business so you are prepared to write a business plan. Not all of the questions may be applicable to your business, but it will be helpful to look over this list before starting on your plan.
Source: ChooseEnterprise

4 Steps to Creating a Stellar Business Plan

This article walks you through the four steps you need to take in order to write a useful business plan. It is fairly simple, but will give you some good ideas.
Source: Investopedia

A Short Cut to Writing a Business Plan

Listen in on a how to create a quick and easy business plan that has helped hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs run a successful business because of these tips. It is important to stay focused and have direction.
Source: Dave Lavinsky, Growthink, Inc

Jump Start Your Process to Starting a Business

Be sure you can answer these questions before starting your business. It will provide structure when implementing a business plan and help make the start-up process much easier. Planning is vital.
Source: US Small Business Administration

Business Start-Up Strategy

The importance of having a business start-up strategy will provide support and guidance during the start-up phase. Clearly define your vision and establish goals..
Source: Greg Balanko-Dickson, Bplans

10 Mistakes to Avoid

Avoiding these 10 mistakes can lead to less time spent revising your business plan — get it right the first time!
Source: Small Business BC

Strategy Pyramid: A tool to Improve Your Business Plan

Using a strategy pyramid gives a new perspective on your ideas. It allows you to layout important details so nothing goes overlooked. Business planning essential and so is strategy. It is important to always revamp your strategies and adjust them to different circumstances.
Source: Tim Berry, Entrepreneur.com

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