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General Business Resources Guide

Business Plans

Table of Contents

Business Plan Print Reference Resources

Reference materials are shelved alphabetically by call number in the Reference Room.

  • Bankable Business Plans REF HD30.28 .R644 2007
    This book was written with one central purpose: to guide you through the process of creating a bankable business plan, so you can obtain the resources you need to start, build, or buy a business. A bankable business plan is one that attracts the approval and financing for your venture by addressing the needs of bankers and other investors while still accomplishing your own goals.
    >>Cover Image; Table of Contents; Publisher Description; Author Notes
  • Business Plans Handbook: A Compilation of Actual Business Plans Developed by Small Businesses Throughout North America REF HD62.7 .B865 (12 volumes)
    An instructional Foreword, written by an expert in business planning, offering advice on the most effective way to approach your business plan, providing sources that business owners need to consult in order to be well-informed, and explaining the process in easy-to-understand steps; 33 real business plans, providing examples of what entrepreneurs have done; A directory of all 750 Small Business Development Centers in the U.S. with full contact information; A Glossary of Small Business Terms; A Bibliography, citing sources mentioned in the Foreword for easy follow-up and further reading.
  • How to Write a Business Plan REF HD30.28 .M3839 2007
    Shows you how to make realistic financial projections, develop effective marketing strategies and refine your overall business goals. Learn how to: Figure out if your business idea will make money; Estimate operating expenses; Prepare cash flow and profit and loss forecasts; Determine assets, liabilities and net worth; Find potential sources of financing; Present your plan to lenders and investors; Make money on your first day of operation. Provides a CD-ROM with spreadsheets that help you determine and forecast cash flow, financial statements, sales revenue, and profit and loss. It also provides three sample business plans you can modify for your own use.
    >>Cover Image; Table of Contents; Publisher Description; Reviews; Author Notes
  • How to Write a Great Business Plan REF HD30.28 .S234 2008
    Available ONLINE in Business Source Complete; Click HERE for off campus access.
    William A. Sahlman shows how to avoid common mistakes by ensuring your plan assesses the factors critical to every new venture. This popular Harvard Business Review article will give your new venture the best possible chance for success.
    >>Cover Image

Business Plan General Collection Resources

To determine on which floor of the library your item is shelved, use the Building Guide online or signs posted in the Reference Room and by the elevators. The following is a list of some of the relevant books available in the Maag Stacks (general collection):

Business Plan OhioLINK Resources

Available items in the OhioLINK Library Catalog can be requested and delivered to Maag Library for checkout (allow 3-5 days delivery time). To order materials, you need the library barcode number from the back of your student ID. Following is a list of some of the more recent items available through the OhioLINK Library Catalog that relate to business plans:

Business Plan Electronic Books

YSU students, faculty & staff have access to thousands of electronic books available through Electronic Book Center, NetLibrary & Safari Books Online:

  • ELECTRONIC BOOK CENTER
    Electronic Book Center (OhioLINK) contains the full texts of thousands of scholarly and reference e-books from several publishers, covering many subject areas.
  • NETLIBRARY / OFF CAMPUS ACCESS
    For off campus access, you have to set up a free account. You must be in the library or on campus to establish this free account. Once the account is established, you may use NetLibrary from anywhere, on or off campus. While in the library or on campus, click HERE, select “Youngstown State University” from dropdown menu and Submit. Enter your name (last then first), library barcode number and Submit. After successful authentication, click on Create a Free Account in the upper right hand corner. Fill out the form and click on Create Account.
  • SAFARI BOOKS ONLINE / OFF CAMPUS ACCESS
    Safari Books Online provides electronic books in computer science, information technology, business, and related fields from O’Reilly, Pearson, and other IT and business publishers.

Following is a list of some of the ebooks available through Maag Library that relate to business plans. Follow the link in each record for on campus access. See each individual database above for off campus access:

Business Plan Resources on the Web

  • BizPlanIt’s Virtual Business Plan
    Mirrors the major sections of a business plan and provides insight into the fundamentals of writing an effective business plan for your company. Provides advice for avoiding common errors in your own business plan.
  • Bplans.com
    How to Write a Business Plan: What is a business plan? Who needs a business plan? What makes a good plan? The different types of business plans. How long should a business plan be? The keys to better business plans. Common business plan mistakes. Plus 100+ free sample business plans available in their entirety.
  • BRS Center for Business Planning
    Sample Business Plans: This library of business plans includes entries in the Moot Corp® Competition at the University of Texas. Each business plan was a winner or finalist in the competition. The judges (venture capitalists) selected these plans as representing the best in marketing strategy and presentation.
    Guidelines for Business Planning: Articles written by experts on the analysis and documentation of your business and marketing strategies including mission statement, pricing, marketing strategy, segmentation, cash flow, financials and a glossary of business terms.
    Over 600 Helpful Resources: This library of resources contains links to hundreds of sites offering research materials on every area of planning a business including: venture capital, new products, market analysis, competitive analysis, production management, tax problems, legal issues, financials, writing a business plan and much more.
  • Business Owner’s Toolkit: Small Business Plan Components
    The attached files contain the component elements of sample business plans for three fictitious companies. Taken together, they illustrate the type of information that is essential to the creation of a high quality business plan. These documents are not complete plans; they are not templates into which you can cut and paste information about your business. Instead, these documents demonstrate how the nature of a business and the target audience for the plan affect the content.
  • Entrepreneur.com: Business Plans
    The basics of creating a business plan, planning your business plan, the elements of a business plan, and getting help with your plan.
  • MiniPlan.com
    Create a mini business plan free online. Test your assumptions and start documenting your ideas for your new business. The MiniPlan guides you through creating the basics of a business plan including: Break-Even Analysis; Market Analysis; Executive Summary; Company Objectives; Mission Statement. Free Registration Required.
  • SBA: Small Business Planner: Write a Business Plan
    A list of links from the Small Business Administration to sites that outline how to write a business plan, give samples of business plans, and offer advice on how to get the most out of your business plan.
  • SBDCNet: Business Plans
    Online Training; General Business Plans; Sample plans for different types of businesses, such as bookstores, construction firms, e-commerce, restaurants, etc.

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