Do You Need a Business Plan to Start a Business?

When you’re starting a new business, do you really need a business plan? Let’s face it: When you’re excited about your great new business idea and can’t wait to get going, the last thing you want to do is a sit down and spend weeks or months crafting a business plan.

As the world of business has gotten less formal and the pace at which startups come to market has sped up, many entrepreneurs have begun to question whether a business plan is necessary anymore or is as outmoded as the typewriter.

As an impatient person myself, I fully understand the desire to skip over the business plan stage, especially if you’re launching a business in an industry that you have some experience and familiarity with. For example, if you’ve worked as a CPA for 10 years and you want to strike out with your own CPA firm, you may feel like you know everything you need to know.

You may also think that as long as you’re not looking for a bank loan, line of credit, or any type of outside financing, you don’t need a business plan. It’s true that lenders and investors will want to see a business plan—but if you’re not looking for money from outside sources, you won’t need to show a business plan to anyone.

However, the reasons to write a business plan really have nothing to do with other people. Instead, it’s all about you. You may think you’re making it easier on yourself and saving time by skipping the business plan. In reality, doing a little homework now and crafting a business plan will make your life much easier and save you tons of time later on.

5 good reasons to write a business plan

1. You’ll have to think through all aspects of your startup

As entrepreneurs, we tend to be “idea people,” focused on the excitement of doing something new. We’re less thrilled about the nuts and bolts aspects of startup, such as setting up an accounting system or dealing with employee law. To write a good business plan, you have to think about how you’ll handle every aspect of your business—marketing, managing, financing, and more. You’re forced to focus on the very areas you’re tempted to skim over (which are usually the places where you need to really drill down). When your business plan is done, you’ll have a blueprint for success.

2. You’ll spot problems ahead of time

Would you rather uncover problems with your business concept during the planning stage—or wait until you’ve already spent money on a location, inventory, or employees? By identifying possible obstacles, your business plan will help you plan how to avoid them.

3. You’ll be ready for anything

Shaking hands after pitching startup idea to investor

You may not be actively seeking financing, but what if an opportunity arises for someone to invest in your business or lend you money? If your business plan is ready to go, you can hand it over and impress the would-be financing source. If it’s not, you’ll have to stall them while you scramble to write one (which doesn’t make a very good impression). Wouldn’t you rather be prepared for any eventuality?

4. You’ll be able to explain your idea better

When you’re looking for business partners, vendors, or even your first employee, it can be hard to convince people of the merits of a business that doesn’t yet exist. A business plan can show people what you’re planning to do so they’ll have a better idea of whether they want to be involved.

5. You’ve got a lot of help

In the past, writing a business plan was tedious and time-consuming. While there is definitely still some grunt work involved, such as researching your market and crunching numbers, overall, the process has gotten so much easier that there’s really no excuse for skipping it. A quick search online will uncover business plan templates, samples, and all types of guidance. Need more help? The experts at SCORE and your local Small Business Development Center (SBDC) can walk you through the process of writing a business plan step-by-step. (Disclosure: SCORE is a client of my business.)

Would you plan your wedding by winging it, or a vacation without researching your destination? These days, most of us put some level of research into everything we do—from deciding where to go to dinner, to buying a new blender. Why should something as important as starting your own business deserve any less thought?

RELATED: Write a Winning Business Plan

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