me where Im bound."     -Neil Diamond,   from "Thank the Lord for the Nighttime"     "Youve got to be careful if you dont know where youre going because you might not get there."     -Yogi Berra     Overview     Here is a book designed to help you write a first-rate business plan and loan application. How to Write a Business Plan contains detailed forms and step-by-step instructions designed to help you prepare a well-thought-out, well-organized plan. It shows you how to apply proven financial and business planning techniques usedby traditional lenders and investors to your benefit. Coupled with your positive energy and will to succeed, this book shows you how to design a business plan and loan package you will be proud to show to the loan officer at your bank, the Small Business Administration or your Uncle Harry.     But this book does more than just take you through the steps of writing a business plan. More importantly, the tools and techniques in this book help you decide if your business idea will work. The same financial and analytical tools necessary to convince potential lenders and investors that your business idea is sound can help you decide whether your idea is the right business for you.     After working with hundreds of business owners, I have observed an almost universal truth about business planning: Writing a plan is an internal journey through the mind of one person. Even in partnerships and corporations, usually one person has the vision and energy to take an idea and turn it into a business by writing a business plan. For that reason, I have addressed this book to the business owner as a single individual rather than a husband and wife team, group, committee, partnership or corporation. What Kind of Plan Do You Need?     You can use How to Write a Business Plan to write whatever type of plan best suits your needs:     Complete business plan. By writing this type of plan, youll gain a thorough understanding of all aspects of your business. A complete business plan is especially helpful for people who are starting a new business. This form of plan is also excellent for convincing prospective backers to support your business. Youll be more successful in raising the money you need if you answer all of your potential backers questions. A complete plan should include the following elements:         Quick plan (one-day plan). This method allows you to produce a basic business plan in a short time-as little as one day in some cases. If you know your business, are familiar with and able to make financial projections and have done the necessary research, you may be able to create a plan in one day. But understand that a quick plan is a stripped-down version of a business plan. It