A business plan is the key to long-term success for new and established businesses. Market research shows that creating and using a business plan helps organizations of all sizes start and sustain successful businesses and achieve significant growth despite economic volatility.   Your business plan presents the vision, values and ideas behind your business in a way that others can understand. It details who you are, what you want to achieve and how you plan to get there. Having a business plan is critical when negotiating with banks or investors to obtain capital and when trying to attract clients and key personnel.   Your business plan also serves as a benchmark against which performance can be measured and reviewed so you can see results and better manage your company’s resources. Preparing your business plan takes time and specialized expertise, but the benefits are significant.