Skip to the main content.
Contact Us

Blog


Recent trends, advice, and resources for business plans and early stage business development.

Putting the Fun in Funding!

9 min read

Choosing the Right Option to Fund Your Startup Business

Starting and growing a business is a challenging process that demands much more than just a brilliant idea. In the world of business, it is a well-known adage that you have to spend money to make money.

Read More »
Frame Your First Dollar by Focusing on These Early-Stage Marketing Tactics

12 min read

Marketing for Startups: How to Make Your First Sale and Build Your Business

I may be showing my age in this era of tap-to-pay, but I remember when many businesses displayed a framed one-dollar bill on the wall. Perhaps you’ve...

Read More »
Faces in the Crowd: Use Customer Personas To Write a Better Business Plan

6 min read

Using Customer Personas To Write A Better Business Plan

If you've ever seen a customer persona, you know they are very detailed and easy to understand at a glance.

Read More »
Location. Location. Location.

10 min read

Find the Right Space at the Right Time: Selecting A Business Location

We’ve all heard the phrase: Location, location, location. Where you place your business is one of the most critical decisions you will make. If you...

Read More »
Business Plan 101: All Your Questions Answered

5 min read

Writing a Solid Business Plan: Fundamentals and Principles

I’ve worked as a business plan writer since 2006, and it’s been a remarkably fun and fulfilling career for me. I get to see entrepreneurs of all...

Read More »
Silver Lining: The Good News About a Bad Economy

5 min read

From Layoffs to Innovation: How Economic Downturns Spark New Business

It’s hard to go a day without hearing a report of another major corporation laying off workers. Layoffs are painful for everyone involved, especially...

Read More »
How to Make Your Side Hustle Your Main Hustle

4 min read

Making the Leap from Side Hustle to Full-Time Entrepreneur

2022 was the year of the side hustle. Recent data from Zippia show that 45% of working Americans have a side job, and that percentage rises to 70%...

Read More »
Can You Use ChatGPT to Write Your Business Plan?

9 min read

ChatGPT Is Coming for Our Jobs. Here’s Why We’re Not Scared.

When an esteemed colleague told me about ChatGPT about a month ago, I was well into the Christmas spirit and not interested in assessing the risk...

Read More »
Can you afford your SBA loan? Check out our startup business loan calculator

7 min read

How Much Will My Startup Cost?

One of my favorite aspects of financial modeling is that it is a logic puzzle. You take one piece of data and figure out how it is related to other...

Read More »
Market Research Was Once Much More Difficult Than It Is Today

12 min read

Best Market Research Tools for Business Plans in 2023

Over the past 20 years that Masterplans has been in operation, we've witnessed a significant evolution in market research methodologies. In the...

Read More »
What businesses work for an E-2 Visa? Almost anything!

5 min read

The E-2 Visa: A (Relatively) Simple, Versatile Path to Immigration

There’s a lot to love about the E-2 visa. It’s available to citizens of more than 80 treaty countries. There’s no annual cap limiting how many...

Read More »
What is Your Entrepreneur Personality Type?

2 min read

What Your Personality Type Can Tell You About Being an Entrepreneur

Personality tests can be controversial. Some people swear by them, while others think they’re no more valid than horoscopes (and your opinion on...

Read More »
What is an SBA Loan (& is it Right for You?)

5 min read

Is an SBA Loan the Best Way to Fund Your Business?

A business loan, particularly one backed by the Small Business Administration (SBA), is an excellent way for entrepreneurs to launch a new venture....

Read More »
Looking for a Business Idea? The answer might be staring right at you!

4 min read

How the Power of Observation Can Help You Unlock the Next Big Business Idea

You have the drive, the skills, and the entrepreneurial spirit. You want to be your own boss and build something. Maybe you’re already a business...

Read More »
The Art of the Pitch Deck: Timelines & Objectives

4 min read

How to Clearly Communicate Your Goals & Objectives in a Pitch Deck

Note: This is the second post in our "Art of the Pitch Deck" series, in which we examine the various slides of a typical pitch deck and discuss...

Read More »
Take the first bite of an elephant

10 min read

From Idea to Action: A Quick Guide to Starting Your Business Plan

We’ve all been there. You're lying in bed trying to sleep when inspiration strikes: you have a million-dollar business idea!

Read More »

Deliver your best with Masterplans.com

Free 30 Minute Consultation 

Learn more