Business Plans · Purpose · Importance · Methodology · Price List One thing  venture capitalists and bank loan officers have in common is the question "Do you have a Business Plan?" So why is the Plan so important? It is the keystone around which opportunities are assessed, articulated and resources dedicated. The Plan -- and management's ability to communicate it -- gets management and investors on the same page and ready for action. A Business Plan is more than a document The Plan is the most important communication tool an entrepreneurial team has to secure resources. Whether it's funding, key personnel or partners, the Business Plan is often the best way to communicate the totality of the opportunity and the reward of participation. It aligns priorities and resources such as new employees, vendors, board members and investors. This is critical in the rapidly evolving environment of a start-up. A Plan moves everyone in the same direction The Business Plan is more than a document. First and foremost, it is a process; a process that enables an individual, and more importantly a team, to come together and commit to a business adventure of significant personal and professional risk. The Business Plan is a process that evaluates the opportunity, quantifies the resources required and lays out a road map for implementation. The Business Plan integrates all the functional elements -- marketing, sales, operations and finance into a single cohesive force.