Blog


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

Resources (2)

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...

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Looking for a Business Idea? The answer might be staring right at you!

4 min read

How the Power of Observation Can Help You Unlock the Next Big Business Idea

You have the drive, the skills, and the entrepreneurial spirit. You want to be your own boss and build something. Maybe you’re already a business...

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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...

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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!

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Resources for Veteran Entrepreneurs (and Veteran-Owned Businesses)

4 min read

20+ Resources for Veteran Entrepreneurs

Did you know that FedEx, GoDaddy, Nike, and Enterprise-Rent-A-Car were all founded by veterans? According to the Small Business Administration,...

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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.

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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...

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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...

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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:...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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How to Avoid A Business Plan Emergency

4 min read

5 Ways to Avoid a Business Plan Emergency

Sirens blare and traffic parts. Someone is rushed down the hall to the ER on a gurney. It’s an emergency—a business plan emergency!

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A history of franchises and how to put together a business plan

2 min read

A Brief, Non-Boring History of Franchises

Ever dreamt of escaping your cubicle and becoming your own boss?

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7 expenses every startup should consider when writing a business plan

2 min read

Every new business should think about these 7 costs

So, you wanna start a business, eh? Has the thrill turned into fear yet? Already? Don’t worry; that’s completely normal. It can be intimidating to...

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