Module Summary

Why do business planning? Writing a business plan helps you figure out what your project will cost, whether there is a need, who your partners are and how you will work with them, and whether the project will be sustainable. The business plan is used as a planning document to determine how the program or service will be implemented. The business plan will be detailed enough so that you can hand it off to someone else and they would have all the information needed to implement the plan.

By demonstrating that you know how the program will work and that you can generate enough revenue to be self sustaining, you will have an edge with funding sources. Even if your plan doesn't get funded or you decide it's unfeasible, business planning is a great way to get an in-depth understanding of your project.

Remember, business planning is not a one-size-fits-all tool. If your program doesn't need to generate revenue or the lifespan of the project is short, then business planning isn't appropriate. For the right type of program, business planning is key to a successful beginning.

This module has provided a brief overview of business plans. The resources section has links to more in-depth information about business planning.