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.

Every business starts with a vision, which is distilled and communicated through a business plan. In addition to your high-level hopes and dreams, a strong business plan outlines short-term and ...

Matt Webber is an experienced personal finance writer, researcher, and editor. He has published widely on personal finance, marketing, and the impact of technology on contemporary arts and culture.

In 2026, a business plan is no longer a 40-page document built to impress bankers. It is a thinking tool. One that helps founders clarify strategy, test assumptions, and communicate clearly with ...

The purpose of an executive summary Common mistakes to avoid The first part of your plan that anybody will see, after the title page and table of contents, is the executive summary. This could be ...

An income statement is your business’s bottom line: your total revenue from sales minus all of your costs. Financial data is always at the back of the business plan, but that doesn’t mean it’s any ...

A business plan includes details about your company’s goals and methods for achieving them Written By Written by Staff Senior Editor, Buy Side Miranda Marquit is a staff senior personal finance editor ...