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Entrepreneur's Journal: Do you really need a business plan?

I read many business plans. And, unfortunately, there are many that are lackluster. After all, an entrepreneur doesn't want to get bogged down in process.

Then again, there are many examples of successful businesses that didn't have formal business plans. For example, Compaq Computer was based on the scribblings on a napkin.

And yes, I agree you don't need a business plan.

However, the fact remains that a successful business still needs effective planning (former President Dwight Eisenhower once said: "the plan is useless, but planning is essential").

Well, the good news is that Tim Berry -- who is the founder of Palo Alto Software (the biggest provider of business plan software) -- has recently published a book on the topic. The title is spot-on: The Plan-As-You-Go Business Plan.

Of course, this can be a broad topic. Hey, don't many business books talk about planning?

This is true. But Tim focuses on the needs of small businesses; that is, those key things that move the needle.

Continue reading Entrepreneur's Journal: Do you really need a business plan?

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