Creating a business plan will help you achieve your entrepreneurial goals. A clear and compelling business plan provides you with a guide for building a successful enterprise focused on achieving certain goals within defined periods; it is also a document that can persuade others, including banks, to invest in what you're creating and running. While there are many types of businesses out there, the basics of a business plan are fairly standard and widely applicable. This article sets forth these basics, which you can tailor to your business as needed.