Stage 1
Business Plan
A one-page plan you'll actually use, not a 40-page document that sits in a drawer.
Lean plan vs. bank-style plan
Most businesses don't need a 40-page plan. You need one page that forces you to answer: what you sell, who buys it, how you price it, what it costs to run, and when you break even.
The exception: if you're applying for SBA financing or a bank loan, most lenders want a fuller plan with financial projections, personal financial statements, and sometimes 2-3 years of projected statements. That's a heavier document — flag it now if financing is part of your plan, so you don't have to redo this work later.
Revenue model and pricing
Write down exactly how money comes in: one-time sales, subscriptions, hourly billing, retainers, commission. Then your pricing, and — importantly — why that price (cost-plus, competitor-based, value-based).
Startup costs and break-even
Use the worksheet below to list every one-time cost to get open (equipment, licenses, initial inventory, website, deposits) and every recurring monthly cost (rent, software, insurance, your own draw if you need one). The break-even calculator then tells you how much revenue you need before this is a real business instead of an expensive hobby.
Startup costs & break-even
One-time startup costs
Total: $0
Recurring monthly costs
Total: $0/month
Your variable cost per unit is at or above your price — this can never break even until that changes.