PLANNING AS PART OF THE BUSINESS OPERATION Planning is a process that never ends. In the early stages, the entrepreneur should prepare a preliminary plan. The plan will be finalized as the enterprise develops. Many different types of plans may be part of any business operation-financial, marketing, production, and sales plans. Plans may be short term or long term, or they may be strategic or operational. All of these plans have one purpose: to provide guidance and structure to management in a rapidly changing market environment.WHAT IS THE BUSINESS PLANA business plan is a written document prepared by the entrepreneur that describes all the relevant external and internal elements involved in starting a new venture. It addresses both short- and long-term decision making. The business plan is like a road map for the business’ development. The Internet also provides outlines for business planning. Entrepreneurs can also hire or offer equity to another person to provide expertise in preparing the business plan. In developing the business plan the entrepreneur can determine how much money will be needed from new and existing sources.WHO SHOULD WRITE THE PLAN The business plan should be prepared by the entrepreneur; however, he or she may consult many sources. Lawyers, accountants, marketing consultants, and engineers are useful supplemental sources. Other resources are the Small Business Administration, Service Core of Retired Executives, Small Business Development Centers, universities, friends, and relatives. To help determine whether to hire a consultant, the entrepreneur needs to make an objective assessment of his or her own skills.SCOPE AND VALUE OF THE BUSINESS PLANCWHO READS THE PLAN The business plan must be comprehensive enough to address the concerns of employees, investors, bankers, venture capitalists, suppliers, and customers. Three perspectives need to be considered: The entrepreneur understands the new venture better than anyone. The marketing perspective considers the venture through the eyes of the customer. The investor looks for sound financial projections. The depth of the business plan depends on the size and scope of the proposed venture. The business plan is valuable to the entrepreneur and investors because:1. It helps determine the viability of the venture in a designated mark.