Business Plans Aren’t Meant to Be Novels (Even Really Pretty Ones)
A client came to me recently, proud of the work she’d done. She’d purchased an online business planner and used it to generate a full business plan.
It was 76 pages long. Beautifully formatted. Professional-looking. She felt like she had something solid in hand. I busted her bubble.
The problem? It was generic, repetitive, and impractical — the kind of document no one actually reads.
When quantity feels like quality - but isn’t
It’s understandable. In a world where business ownership can feel overwhelming and uncertain, having a thick, polished plan feels like progress. Like credibility.
But here’s the hard truth: more pages don’t equal a better plan.
What funders, partners, and you — the entrepreneur — actually need is:
Clarity
Relevance
Focus
If your plan buries the key ideas in fluff, it doesn't help anyone move forward.
What to do instead (especially if you’re on a budget)
If hiring a consultant at the start feels out of reach, no problem. But don’t default to buying a fill-in-the-blank “planner” that tries to be everything for everyone.
Instead:
Start with a broad, simple draft — keep it messy.
Just map out the essentials: What you’re offering. Who it’s for. How you’ll deliver it.Stay short and specific — write like you’re explaining it to a real person.
Bring in a consultant once you’ve hit a wall — even a short working session can help focus your plan, challenge your assumptions, and shape it into something usable.
The goal isn’t a thick plan. It’s a useful one.
A strong business plan is a decision-making tool — not a trophy. It should help you:
Prioritize your efforts
Communicate clearly with others
Build confidence with funders and partners
Adjust quickly when things shift
None of that requires 76 pages.
Final word
If you’ve written a 76-page plan, I get it — it feels like something big. But before you print and bind it, ask: Is it useful?
If you’re not sure — let’s talk.
I’d be happy to help turn what you’ve built into something sharper, shorter, and far more effective.
→ Ready to refine your plan? Let’s connect.
