Business Plan Assistance

If you have not yet completed a business plan, there are a number of available resources and entrepreneurial training programs in Iowa that teach the skills necessary to write your own business plan, including:

  • First Step FastTrac® is one of America’s leading entrepreneurial learning programs developed by the Kauffman Foundation for anyone who wants to start a business. Classes are taught throughout Iowa. This 12-week course focuses on developing a feasibility plan but presumes that participants are less familiar with basic business and financial terms and concepts. With this course, you will define your vision and goals, examine your idea from every angle, and determine if your concept is a feasible business opportunity. Topics include defining your business concept, analyzing different potential market strategies, market research analysis, pricing and profitability, financial forecasting, cash flow management, and financing. Upcoming class locations and times are available at http://www.fasttrac.org/. Workshop referral assistance can also be obtained from the Community Vitality at http://www.cvcia.org.

  • FastTrac® New Venture is a 12-week course developed by the Kauffman Foundation to teach entrepreneurs about running a business and to assist them in developing a business plan. FastTrac® New Venture helps those thinking about starting a business to identify market needs, objectively evaluate their concept and plan for moving forward, develop a working knowledge of business fundamentals such as marketing, product/service development, management, and financials, explore the risk and success factors in the marketplace and build an actionable business plan. Upcoming class locations and times are available at http://fasttrac.org/.

  • MyEntrenet is an interactive, statewide, online community serving all small business owners with live, interactive education, webinars, peer learning and other business services catering to the unique needs of Iowa’s 100,000+ small business owners. Start at their web site at http://www.myentre.net.

  • Iowans for Social and Economic Development (ISED Ventures) has developed a course for low and moderate income Iowans to help them determine if they have what it takes to start a business. Their Business Planning Workshops presumes participants are less familiar with basic business and financial terms and concepts and are designed to help entrepreneurs determine if they are ready to dedicate the time, energy, and effort necessary to learn the skills needed to become a successful entrepreneur. The course teaches participants how to develop a business plan, access business financing, prepare financial statements, learn about organizational structures, and how to access various loan programs. Course dates and times are available at the ISED Ventures website at http://www.isediowa.org.

  • NxLevel™ Microenterprise is a 12-week course developed by the NxLevel™ Education Foundation (http://www.nxlevel.org) and designed for potential entrepreneurs who are interested in starting a small business. Many rural case studies are included in the materials. The NxLevel Value Added Agriculture Enterprise (http://www.nxlevel.org/Alt_Agg.htm) curriculum materials may be accessed through ISU Extension's Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (http://www.agmrc.org). Workshop referral assistance can also be obtained from the Community Vitality at http://www.cvcia.org.

In addition, there are 15 Small Business Development Centers (SBDC’s) located throughout the state of Iowa to help start or expand a small business. Use this link to identify the SBDC serving your region and contact them if you would like assistance in completing your business plan or your IowaMicroLoan application. http://www.iowasbdc.org.