Blog


Recent trends, advice, and resources for business plans and early stage business development.

Investor Funding (2)

Can You Use ChatGPT to Write Your Business Plan?

9 min read

ChatGPT Is Coming for Our Jobs. Here’s Why We’re Not Scared.

When an esteemed colleague told me about ChatGPT about a month ago, I was well into the Christmas spirit and not interested in assessing the risk...

Read More »
Market Research Was Once Much More Difficult Than It Is Today

12 min read

Best Market Research Tools for Business Plans in 2023

Over the past 20 years that Masterplans has been in operation, we've witnessed a significant evolution in market research methodologies. In the...

Read More »
The Art of the Pitch Deck: Timelines & Objectives

4 min read

How to Clearly Communicate Your Goals & Objectives in a Pitch Deck

Note: This is the second post in our "Art of the Pitch Deck" series, in which we examine the various slides of a typical pitch deck and discuss...

Read More »
Take the first bite of an elephant

10 min read

From Idea to Action: A Quick Guide to Starting Your Business Plan

We’ve all been there. You're lying in bed trying to sleep when inspiration strikes: you have a million-dollar business idea!

Read More »
Do better things really come to those who wait?

7 min read

4 Factors for Timing When To Launch Your Business

Whenever I’m out in the real world, I tend to shy away from talking about what I do. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love what I do. But it can be...

Read More »
Visualize Your Future Business! Create a Fake Ad!

3 min read

Unsure if Your Business Idea is Any Good? Try Making a Fake Ad

A great business idea sometimes strikes you. Then, it may consume your thoughts when you can’t sleep. Later, it can full-on haunt you.

Read More »
Investors won't commit if they can't see a clear opportunity

7 min read

A ‘Scientific’ Approach to Understanding Opportunity Analysis

I was on a Zoom with a client when he posed a tricky question: “What’s the most important part of the investor presentation?” I had to pause and...

Read More »
What to do while you're NOT writing your business plan

3 min read

How Will You Spend the Time You Save by Hiring Masterplans?

A quick internet search might leave you with the sense that you can create a business plan in “less than an hour" and in "four easy steps!” Wow, you...

Read More »
Why do your customers buy? Jobs-to-be-done & your business plan

5 min read

Jobs-To-Be-Done Will Make You Rethink Competitive Advantage

Writing or updating a business plan for an existing business can be rewarding and eye-opening, but you might consider taking a different approach...

Read More »
Art of the Pitch: The Marketplace Slide

5 min read

5 Ways To Demonstrate Market Potential in Your Pitch Deck

Anyone who has been on an online date (the latest data says one in every five of you have!) is familiar with the concept of the modern coffee date:...

Read More »
5 Topics Your Investor Materials (& Business Plan) MUST address

8 min read

What Do Investors Look for in a Business Plan?

This is the first in a series of posts that will elaborate on the specific answer to the question: What do investors look for in a business plan?

Read More »
What is a business plan?

5 min read

What Is A Business Plan (& Do I Really Need One?)

The term "business plan" is a familiar one, often bandied about in entrepreneurial circles. Yet, despite its ubiquity, it's remarkable how much...

Read More »
The Masterplans Guide to Creating the Best Damn Pitch Deck Ever

11 min read

A Guide To Creating the Perfect Pitch Deck

Masterplans has created thousands of pitch decks to help our clients obtain equity investors. Learn our secrets to the best pitch deck ever.

Read More »
How to build a funnel to raise investment capital with Foundersuite

4 min read

How To Build An Investor Funnel For Your Startup

By partnering with Foundersuite, Masterplans clients get their pitch materials in front of potential investors

Read More »
How to to understand a business plan's cash flow statement

1 min read

What is the cash flow statement (and why it matters)

If your home-grown business plan financial model is super tripped out with tons of drivers and interlocking financial statements, you can pat...

Read More »
What is Mezzanine Funding & Startups Use It

3 min read

What is Mezzanine Financing (And Is It Right for Your Business?)

Most entrepreneurs know about the traditional types of funding: debt or equity. But did you know there’s something that combines the two? It’s...

Read More »

Deliver your best with Masterplans.com

Free 30 Minute Consultation 

Learn more