For some people, a business plan is a map to success that they"re required to put together to raise money for a startup company. At best, it"s a formality; at worst, it"s a sizable pain in the neck. But a business plan doesn"t exist just to garner financial support; it"s also a powerful tool – one that"s bound to make your company a better place to work and your business a more successful operation.Business Plans For Dummies can guide your business in the right direction no matter who you are or how your job description reads, whether you"re part of a large corporation or a one-person show. If you"ve struggled through the planning process before – or if you"re brand new to plotting out goals and objectives – this expert reference will show you how toCreate a right-on mission statementPinpoint the needs of your customersScope out the competitionSimplify all the financial stuffStay on top of trendsFoster a winning atmosphere for your staffPacking the greatest value into a business plan calls for a look back at where your company"s been and how it"s changed over the years, a look forward to where and how you"ll compete in the marketplace, and a look around at what you want to show and tell the world about your enterprise. This down-to-earth guide steps you through every milestone in business planning, includingDetermining where you want to go with your businessChecking out the business environment: customers and competitionAssessing your capabilities and resourcesGetting into strategic thinking modeFacing the facts about product life cyclesMotivating and appreciating the people who make it all happen in-houseRiding marketplace tides isn"t the sport of amateurs these days; only 25% of new businesses survive beyond their first three years of operation. This invaluable resource gives you a no-nonsense approach to staying afloat, rising above the risks, and enjoying the rewards as you take care of business.