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.

If you are building a startup long enough, someone will ask for your business plan. Sometimes it is an investor. Sometimes it is a bank. Sometimes it is just you, staring at a blank Google Doc at 11 p ...

What Are the First Steps for Writing a Business Plan? Here’s how to get started. A business plan is a comprehensive document that outlines a company’s core objectives, strategies for achieving them, ...

Most people write proposals in a panic. They rush through templates, recycling old content and hoping something sticks. No wonder conversion rates stay low. When you're up against a busy schedule and ...

Bear this in mind as you write: if you don't do it right, your chances of getting an approval will be extremely low. Knowing how to write a good business proposal is one art that you must learn if you ...

Boost efficiency and accuracy in logistics, data analysis, forecasting, and more Elysse Bell is a finance and business writer for Investopedia. She writes about small business, personal finance, ...

Just like you shouldn’t head down a trail without a map, you shouldn’t launch a new startup without a solid business plan. This document can help guide strategy and keep your company moving in the ...