“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”
 “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.
 “I don’t much care where,” said Alice.
 “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.
                                               -Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

      The essence of a business plan is this: finding out where you’re going and how you’ll get there.  This sounds very simple but putting together the plan is rarely easy.  This Internet resource guide is designed to aid you in your search for a plan.  It is for the use of entrepreneurs looking to start a business, established businesses that are seeking to define their direction and even for the non-profit organization that is seeking outside funding.  Also included in this guide is a section for people doing business in Maine.

       Keep in mind through the hard work of planning, that people who write down their goal’s accomplish them better than 90% of the time; those who don’t, less than half the time.  So unlike Alice, you will know where, and the direction in which to go.
 
 

General business resources:

• http://www.small-business-dictionary.org/   Here is a dictionary of terms encountered by Small Business owners.  Search by term.  This site does not allow for Boolean searches but does allow for wild cards.  You may also search through alphabetical order. 

• http://www.infoplease.com/bus.html    Here is a business almanac that gives general information on certain business topics.  This directory is arranged in a hierarchical format.  Subjects are arranged from broad to narrow.  You may search by selecting a broad subject and then proceeding to the narrower ones or by keyword.

Bibliographies and databases:

• http://web.mit.edu/entforum/www/Business_Plans/bplans.html    This site, created by MIT ENTERPISE FORUM®, INC, is an annotated bibliography of resources focused on writing a business plan.  Resources are indexed by title and author. 

• http://libraries.maine.edu/mainedatabases/   These infonet research databases are free to Maine resident courtesy of the Maine State Library.  Select Business Source Elite to find periodical articles on business topics.  You may search by title, author or keyword.  Some of the results are full text.  This database allows for advanced searching techniques.  You may limit your search to just full text articles, only peer reviewed articles or by publication.  There are also various options to expand your search. 

• http://www.sba.gov/starting/indexbusplans.html  This site titled BUSINESS PLAN - ROAD MAP TO SUCCESS is a site created by the Small Business Administration.  Here you can download a tutorial and self paced activity that will help you create your plan.  This tutorial is available in a wide print or Spanish version.  Also here is an outline of a business plan, links to other resources and links to Small Business Administration counselors.

• http://home3.americanexpress.com/smallbusiness/tool/biz_plan/index.asp  Here American Express has created an interactive site that assist you in creating your plan.  Also here is a section that allows you to practice your business plan skills on someone else’s business and then be rated on how prepared you are to complete your own.  American Express also has area where you may ask for advice.

• http://www.sbaer.uca.edu/Publications/index.html#business  This site is a compilation of various electronic resources on various business topics.   Click on Planning the most important ingredient to get to a United States Business Administration document on business planning.

• http://www.planware.org/freeware.htm  Here you can download free software, Free plan or Biz Plan,  to help you create a business plan. 

• http://www.planware.org/eguide.htm  This is another page located at the site above.  Here you can download Business plan eguides.   These are a series of web-style pages that can be viewed on screen or printed into a 70-80 page book.  The pages cover a variety of topics including writing a business plan.

• http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/bizplan/bizplan.html  This is another site that details how to build a business plan.  The emphasis here is on a business plan that will get funding for a project.

• http://www.udem.edu.mx/academico/administracion/emprendedor/guia.htm  This site from the University of Monterey presents a business plan guide in Spanish.

• http://www.cbsc.org/ibp/  Here from the Canadian Business Service Centres is an interactive business planners.  You may use this planner in English or in French.

Sample Business Plans:

• http://www.toolkit.cch.com/tools/buspln_m.asp  This site is titled the Business Owners Toolkit.  Here are downloadable samples of the various components of a business plan.  These files are in RTF, Microsoft Word 6.0 and Microsoft Excel format.

• http://www.bplans.com/sp/   If you’re looking for business plan sample look no further.  This site has plans for many types of businesses.  This is a commercial site where you can buy Business Plan Pro and edit any of the 60 plans here.  However, the site allows you to view plans for free.  Also available at this site are white papers on writing a business plan.

Maine Business Sites:

• http://www.state.me.us/business/business.html  This site contains a variety of information needed to start a business in Maine.  Economic and demographic information from this site could be included in your business plan.

• http://www.umext.maine.edu/topics/home.htm  This University of Maine Cooperative Extension site contains information about Small Business Education workshops and counseling opportunities. 

• http://www.mainesbdc.org/  The Maine Small Business Center can help micro and small businesses through management assistance, counseling, training and information services.  Here are phone numbers to the center nearest you.

• http://www.mainebusinessworks.org/bus_location.cfm  This site assists new Maine business owners with information.  Here is a page on writing a business plan.  Also here are pages on Business Location Resources and Economic Development agencies.