After applying for a short-term payment plan, you can directly from your checking or savings account ( ) or by check, money order or debit/credit card.
: setup fee waived) Pay amount owed through Direct Debit (automatic payments from your checking account), also known as a Direct Debit Installment Agreement (DDIA). This is required if your balance is more than $25,000.
After applying for a long-term payment plan, pay amount owed through non-direct debit (not automated) monthly payments, including payments directly from your checking or savings account ( ) or by check, money order or debit/credit card.
Get more information on other payment agreement options and fees.
Reviewing a payment plan
You can view details of your current payment plan (type of agreement, due dates, and amount you need to pay) by logging into the online payment agreement tool using the Apply/Revise button below.
What you can change using the online payment agreement tool
You can use the online payment agreement tool to make the following changes:
You can log into the online payment agreement tool using the Apply/Revise button below.
How to revise an online payment plan
Log in to the online payment agreement tool using the Apply/Revise button below. On the first page, you can revise your current plan type, payment date, and amount. Then submit your changes.
If your new monthly payment amount does not meet the requirements, you will be prompted to revise the payment amount. If you are unable to make the minimum required payment amount, you will receive directions for completing a Form 9465 Installment Agreement Request PDF and Form 433-F Collection Information Statement PDF .
To convert your current agreement to a Direct Debit agreement, or to make changes to the bank account associated with your existing Direct Debit agreement, enter your bank routing and account number.
If your plan has lapsed through default and is being reinstated, you may incur a reinstatement fee.
To apply as Power of Attorney (POA) for an individual, you need to log in with your IRS username or ID.me credentials (see What do you need to apply for a payment plan?)
For the individual you are representing, you will need:
Note : The POA must be authorized for all balance due periods in order to represent the taxpayer for a payment plan. Not all POA authority designation levels can represent the taxpayer for this purpose (including level “h”) or use the online system (including level “k”). See the Instructions for Form 2848 for more information.
Apply/Revise as Individual Apply/Revise as Individual POA
Your specific tax situation will determine which payment plan options are available to you. Payment options include full payment or a long-term payment plan (installment agreement) (paying monthly).
You may qualify to apply online, if:
Note: Setup fees may be higher if you apply for a payment plan by phone, mail, or in-person. Get more information on other payment plan options and fees .
To apply as a business, you need to log in with your IRS username or ID.me credentials (See What do you need to apply for a payment plan? )
You also need:
Plan options and costs |
---|
, electronically online or by phone using Electronic Federal Tax Payment System ( ) or by check, money order or debit/credit card. |
Pay amount owed through Direct Debit (with automatic payments from your checking account), also known as Direct Debit Installment Agreement (DDIA). This is required if your balance is more than $10,000.
|
|
Get more information on other payment agreement options and fees.
If your new monthly payment amount does not meet the requirements, you will be prompted to revise the payment amount. If you are unable to make the minimum required payment amount, you will receive directions for completing a Form 433-B Collection Information Statement for Businesses PDF and how to submit it.
To apply as Power of Attorney (POA) for a business, you need to log in with your IRS username or ID.me credentials (see What do you need to apply for a payment plan? )
Apply/Revise as Business Apply/Revise as Business POA
Answers to common questions
Video: Avoid Interest and Penalty Charges
Monday to Friday: 6 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. ET
Saturday: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET
Sunday: 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. ET
The system will only be available during times above; please return to the system during system availability to use the Online Payment Agreement application.
Published: October 14, 2020
Starting a busine ss can be a daunting task, especially if you’re starting from square one.
It’s easy to feel stuck in the whirlwind of things you’ll need to do, like registering your company, building a team, advertising, the list goes on. Not to mention, a business idea with no foundation can make the process seem incredibly intimidating.
Thankfully, business plans are an antidote for the new business woes that many entrepreneurs feel. Some may shy away from the idea, as they are lengthy documents that require a significant amount of attention and care.
However, there’s a reason why those who take the time to write out a business plan are 16% more likely to be successful than those who don’t. In other words, business plans work.
In brief, a business plan is a roadmap to success. It's a blueprint for entrepreneurs to follow that helps them outline, understand, and cohesively achieve their goals.
Writing a business plan involves defining critical aspects of your business, like brand messaging, conducting market research, and creating pricing strategies — all before starting the company.
A business plan can also increase your confidence. You’ll get a holistic view of your idea and understand whether it's worth pursuing.
So, why not take the time to create a blueprint that will make your job easier? Let’s take a look at six reasons why you should write a business plan before doing anything else.
Pursuing business ideas that stem from passions you’ve had for years can be exciting, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a sound venture.
One of the first things a business plan requires you to do is research your target market. You’ll gain a nuanced understanding of industry trends and what your competitors have done, or not, to succeed. You may find that the idea you have when you start is not likely to be successful.
That may feel disheartening, but you can always modify your original idea to better fit market needs. The more you understand about the industry, your future competitors, and your prospective customers, the greater the likelihood of success. If you identify issues early on, you can develop strategies to deal with them rather than troubleshooting as they happen.
It’s better to know sooner rather than later if your business will be successful before investing time and money.
Let's say you’re looking to start a clean beauty company. There are thousands of directions you can go in, so just saying, “I’m starting a clean beauty company!” isn’t enough.
You need to know what specific products you want to make, and why you’re deciding to create them. The Pricing and Product Line style="color: #33475b;"> section of a business plan requires you to identify these elements, making it easier to plan for other components of your business strategy.
You’ll also use your initial market research to outline financial projections, goals, objectives, and operational needs. Identifying these factors ahead of time creates a strong foundation, as you’ll be making critical business decisions early on.
You can refer back to the goals you’ve set within your business plan to track your progress over time and prioritize areas that need extra attention.
All in all, every section of your business plan requires you to go in-depth into your future business strategy before even acting on any of those plans. Having a plan at the ready gives your business a solid foundation for growth.
When you start your company, and your product reaches the market, you’ll spend less time troubleshooting and more time focusing on your target audiences and generating revenue.
Every new business needs capital to get off the ground. Although it would be nice, banks won’t finance loans just because you request one. They want to know what the money is for, where it’s going, and if you’ll eventually be able to pay it back.
If you want investors to be part of your financing plan, they’ll have questions about your business’ pricing strategies and revenue models. Investors can also back out if they feel like their money isn’t put to fair use. They’ll want something to refer back to track your progress over time and understand if you’re meeting the goals you told them you’d meet. They want to know if their investment was worthwhile.
The Financial Considerations section of a business plan will prompt you to estimate costs ahead of time and establish revenue objectives before applying for loans or speaking to investors.
You’ll secure and finalize your strategy in advance to avoid showing up unprepared for meetings with potential investors.
After you’ve completed your business plan and you have a clear view of your strategies, goals, and financial needs, there may be milestones you need to meet that require skills you don’t yet have. You may need to hire new people to fill in the gaps.
Having a strategic plan to share with prospective partners and employees can prove that they aren’t signing on to a sinking ship.
If your plans are summarized and feasible, they’ll understand why you want them on your team, and why they should agree to work with you.
If you don’t understand how your business will run, it’ll be hard to communicate your business’s legitimacy to all involved parties.
Your plan will give you a well-rounded view of how your business will work, and make it easier for you to communicate this to others.
You may have already secured financing from banks and made deals with investors, but a business’ needs are always changing. While your business grows, you’ll likely need more financial support, more partners, or just expand your services and product offers. Using your business plan as a measure of how you’ve met your goals can make it easier to bring people onto your team at all stages of the process.
A buyer won’t want to purchase a business that will run into the ground after signing the papers. They want a successful, established company.
A business plan that details milestones you can prove you’ve already met can be used to show prospective buyers how you’ve generated success within your market. You can use your accomplishments to negotiate higher price points aligned with your business’ value.
Ultimately, having a business plan can increase your confidence in your new venture. You’ll understand what your business needs to succeed, and outline the tactics you’ll use to achieve those goals.
Some people have a lifetime goal of turning their passions into successful business ventures, and a well-crafted business plan can make those dreams come true.
Related articles.
2 Essential Templates For Starting Your Business
Marketing software that helps you drive revenue, save time and resources, and measure and optimize your investments — all on one easy-to-use platform
Expert tips to banish slow internet speeds
Tired of endless buffering circles, slow downloads, and laggy browsing? Slow internet today means slow everything, but who has an extra afternoon to sacrifice to the tech troubleshooting gods? Fortunately, it’s very possible there’s a quick and easy fix for your sluggish home network.
Your slow internet speeds are probably caused by one of these eight very common network issues. You can fix most of these issues yourself; some only take a few minutes—we’ll start with those. It is possible that you have a more complicated issue on your hands; we’ll go over these instances, too, and provide you with some additional in-depth troubleshooting resources.
Fed up with slow internet? Check out your other options.
Enter your zip code below to see if a faster plan is available in your area.
Jump to: Why is your internet so slow? | How to fix your slow internet connection | Other reasons your internet is slow | More ways to speed up slow internet | FAQ
We provide more detail on each of these potential internet slowdown causes further down the page. Click on an issue to auto-scroll to the solution.
Here are the most common reasons for a slow internet connection:
1. You need to restart your modem and router Equipment restarts are hands down the most effective internet troubleshooting solution. This should always be your first step.
2. Your home network is congested Congestion happens when you overload your internet connection with more traffic than it can handle. To fix it, you can either lower your internet usage or upgrade to a faster plan.
3. You need a stronger Wi-Fi signal You experience a weak Wi-Fi signal when you’re too far from your router, when the signal is forced to pass through obstructive materials, or when other Wi-Fi networks and electronic devices introduce interference. You can fix it by extending your Wi-Fi range, choosing a better spot for your router, or adjusting your router’s settings.
4. Your network cables are damaged or loose Damaged or even loose Ethernet and coaxial cables can cause major slow downs and interruptions. Your cables may not be connected probably or damaged from excess stress, kinks, or even chewing from pets.
5. You need to update your devices It’s not always your internet connection that’s causing the slowdowns, it could be one or more of your devices. If your slowdowns are limited to certain devices, you should start your troubleshooting efforts with those devices rather than your internet connection; sometimes, they just need a simple restart or an update.
6. You have high latency High latency causes your internet to feel sluggish and is particularly frustrating with highly time-sensitive activities like gaming and video calls.
7. Your provider’s network is congested Provider networks can get overloaded the same way your home network can: too much traffic and not enough bandwidth.
8. Your provider is throttling your connection Your ISP may be intentionally slowing down your connection for a number of reasons.
Est. Time: 60 seconds
Answer 6 questions and get a personalized internet speed recommendation!
How many people in your household use the internet/WiFi on a daily basis?
How many devices in your home connect to the internet, including tablets, gaming consoles, and smart devices?
How many people in your household work from home?
What video quality do you use for streaming TV and movies?
How intensely does your household participate in online gaming?
Does your household download large files from the cloud or via the internet?
Our minimum speed recommendation for you:
1. you need to restart your modem and router.
As the golden rule of internet troubleshooting, an equipment restart should always be your first step. It’s quick, easy, and effective.
The restart process is the same for a modem, router, or gateway (modem/router combo unit):
Step 1: Unplug the power cable from the back of the modem, router, or gateway.
Step 2: Wait 60 seconds.
Step 3: Plug the power cable back into the back of the equipment.
Step 4: Wait for the equipment to reboot (this can take up to 20 minutes).
Your slow speeds might be the result of trying to do too much at once on your internet connection. Think of your internet connection as a road directly to your house. One car’s worth of people (or internet data) can reach your house at a time. If there are three cars trying to get there, they have to line up to get to your house. And if more cars arrive as the others are waiting to reach your house, you get a traffic jam.
Here’s how you can tell if you need to upgrade your internet plan:
Use our internet speed test to see if you’re getting the speed advertised by your ISP. If your results are close to your plan speed, consider upgrading.
Download speed 000 Mbps
Upload speed 000 Mbps
Latency (ping) 00 ms
Jitter 00 ms
You can also fix home network congestion by dialing back your internet usage. Thankfully, there are severa l easy ways to do this that don’t include yelling at everyone to get off the internet so you can attend a Zoom meeting.
Here are a few tips on how to manage your home network traffic:
Many routers have a quality of service (or QoS) component that allows you to prioritize certain types of traffic on your home network. For example, you can make sure your streaming data always gets first access to available bandwidth for smooth playback.
Not all routers have adjustable QoS, but if your router does, you’ll find the controls in your router’s web interface. If you need help accessing your router’s settings see our guide on how log into your router .
There may be some devices connected to your network that you rarely use—if at all. Even if you’re not actively using these devices, it still uses bandwidth for updates and other background services. Your router may even have a limited number of devices it can connect to simultaneously, and start kicking some of them off the network when you go over the limit.
One simple way to take stock of all the devices using your network is to load your router’s web interface and view the network map. You will see all connected devices, whether they’re active or not, so you can block the ones you never use. Some routers have an app you can use instead of a web interface.
Another method is to change the Wi-Fi password, but that only applies to wireless devices . Once you do , you must manually reconnect every device .
If your connection can’t handle everyone online at once, stagger your internet activities so everyone gets a chance at an uninterrupted connection.
Also, make sure to schedule big downloads (like computer and game updates) during times when other people won’t be online.
You can create a second guest network using your router’s web interface or mobile app. A guest network allows you to limit how much bandwidth guests can use, and what services and websites they can access . It also provides improved security by preventing guests’ devices from mingling with your devices, so there’s no worry about guests spreading malware to everything you use. Our guide on how to set up guest Wi-Fi covers a few different ways to establish a second network.
Walls, distance, and interference from other Wi-Fi networks can weaken your Wi-Fi signal. Weaker Wi-Fi signals mean slower speeds and frequent disconnects .
You can tell if signal interference and weak Wi-Fi signals are your issue by looking at your devices Wi-Fi meter . For fast connection, we recommend ensuring you have at least three bars of signal strength.
To fix weak Wi-Fi, first, check your router’s placement. Y ou want to make sure your router is in a central and elevated location and away from things that can affect your Wi-Fi signals (like walls, Bluetooth speakers, etc.). Sometimes, even moving your router a few feet can make a big difference. See our guide on choosing the best spot for your router . We also have a walkthrough on how to move your router to another room , which may be required to get adequate Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home.
If that doesn’t work, you might need to replace your router with one designed for longer ranges or better coverage—or you can add an extender to your network to stretch Wi-Fi signals into a previously unreachable area .
Check out our guides on how to extend your Wi-Fi range and long-range routers if you need better Wi-Fi coverage.
Loose or damaged networking cables can degrade your internet signal, introduce signal interference, or even cutoff your bandwidth altogether. The first step to make sure everything is connected properly.
Start with your Ethernet cables, which look like and oversized phone line and are used to connect devices directly to your router and connect your router to your modem (unless you have an internet gateway, which is both a modem and a router). Check that the cable is fully inserted in the sockets on the modem, router, and any devices connected directly to your router; it should make an audible click when it plugged in; if it doesn’t, the plastic spring clip is worn and the cable should be replaced. Also, check for any kinks, tears, chew marks, or any other obvious sign of wear and tear. If you see damage, replace the cable, there’s no fixing it. If you have an internet gateway instead of a modem and router and you use Wi-Fi for all your devices, it’s possible you’re not even using any Ethernet cables in your home network.
Next, check the cable that delivers internet signal to your modem or gateway. If you have cable internet, it will be a coaxial cable. If you have fiber, it could be a fiber-optic cable or Ethernet cable. Check that the coaxial cable is screwed on hand-tight to the back of the modem or gateway. And again, look for any signs of damage; if you spot damage, you need to replace the cable.
Latency is the time data takes to make a round trip from your device to the destination and back. A high latency creates noticeable lag: an extended duration between your physical actions and the results displayed on your screen. This can be particularly frustrating with online gaming or video calls.
High latency is difficult to work around. It depends partially on your physical distance from internet servers, network congestion between you and the servers , and your internet provider’s infrastructure—things that are mostly beyond your control. Internet type can also play into latency as well.
For example, satellite internet has high latency because all your data must travel to space and back, both coming and going to your device. Newer types of internet, including fiber and 5G mmWave , have lower latency because they can handle faster signals.
If you’re looking to lower your latency for a better connection, check out our report on the fastest ISPs . It dives into which internet services have the best tested speeds and lowest average latency.
The problem might not be with your internet connection—it might be with the device you use . Your computer, tablet, phone, or gaming console could need an update or be too old to process today’s Wi-Fi speeds.
For example, the old (but much loved) PlayStation Vita handheld console supports up to 150 Mbps per second because it uses a Wi-Fi 4 radio. That speed can decrease based on the router it connects to and the security protocol it uses. The Vita will never see speeds beyond that 150 Mbps limit.
If you have speed issues on a desktop or laptop, make sure you have the latest OS and networking updates. Then, try power cycling the device. This clears the memory of any junk, refreshes your connection, and cleans out unnecessary processes and temporary files. Speed issues tend to happen due to an overworked processor, and a quick power cycle—shutting it down completely for 30 seconds—will “clear its head.”
Other things that can slow down your devices include the following:
Avoid overwhelming your computer’s CPU by closing unused applications and browser windows. Keep your device’s operating system up to date by allowing auto-updates, and keep your antivirus definitions current.
Your ISP is also susceptible to network congestion. It’s similar to congestion on your home network but on a larger scale.
If the congestion gets particularly bad, your internet provider may throttle internet speeds in your area to reduce traffic for the network.
Unfortunately, large-scale network congestion is out of your control, but you can try to work around it by s cheduling big downloads during non-peak hours, like in the middle of the night.
When dealing with heavy ISP slowdowns that don’t resolve, the only real fix is switch ISPs. Luckily, there are lots of new services available, like 5G home internet, Satellite, and new fiber developments. If you’re craving a shiny new ISP, run your zip code in the search bar below; chances are you have some new ISP options.
Internet providers can throttle your speeds, causing a slow connection . We’ll go over throttling briefly here, but you can get a more in-depth look at the subject in our guide to network throttling .
We’ve already discussed a few circumstances where a provider might throttle your speeds—like if you go over your data cap or if there’s too much congestion in the network. But your provider might also slow you down if it flags your internet activity as potentially illegal or if it generally doesn’t want you to do a specific type of activity (like torrenting).
To see if your provider is throttling your internet, run a speed test normally and then run it again using a VPN. If your speeds improve with the VPN, congratulations! You’re throttled.
Your internet plan’s maximum speed.
Internet speeds are measured in megabits per second (Mbps) . This refers to your connection’s total bandwidth, not the actual time data uses to make a round trip to a website and back—that’s called latency.
Providers usually advertise their internet speeds as “up to” a certain number of megabits per second, and there’s usually some fine print that says those speeds are not guaranteed. Internet providers are mostly in the clear legally if your internet doesn’t actually perform up to the highest advertised bandwidth.
Realistically, you may pay for 400 Mbps per month, but you may not see that maximum due to hardware issues between your internet provider’s operator—a device that communicates with multiple modems—and your physical internet connection. Utility pole connections, your buried cable, and so on all play a major factor in how your connection performs.
If you need a refresher on internet speeds and what they mean, check out our guide to internet speeds .
You upload and download data every day, whether you’re on a smartphone or a laptop. For instance, when you access a website, you upload a request to that website and then download temporary files from the site to view it in your browser.
If you don’t have issues with streaming on Netflix or downloading files but are still experiencing some symptoms of slow internet speeds, your issue might actually be with your upload speed.
Cable, DSL, and satellite providers give customers way less upload bandwidth than download bandwidth because most people request much more information from the internet than they send. Upload speed is typically an issue for heavy uploaders—like Twitch streamers , people who work with video or audio , or those who often have to share large files.
The best way to improve upload speeds is to switch to a fiber plan. Fiber-optic internet connections often give customers upload speeds equal to their download speeds. If you don’t know what kind of speeds you really need , check out our recommendations for upload and download speeds .
There are a few different technologies internet providers use to deliver your connection, like cable, fiber, satellite, or DSL. Your internet connection type p lays a huge factor in your overall speeds.
Satellite internet transfers internet signals from a base station to a satellite to a receiver at your home. Because all your information must travel such a long distance both ways, satellite internet can have very high latency compared to other types of internet, which slows things down.
DSL internet uses phone lines to carry data. It can’t handle the same amount of bandwidth as cable or fiber. DSL internet tops out at just over 100 Mbps, and its electrical signals tend to degrade in quality over long distances.
Cable internet is faster than DSL because it uses coaxial cables that have a higher bandwidth than phone cables . Speeds can reach up to 1,200 Mbps.
Fiber-optic internet is one of the newest types of internet, and it’s the best wired connection you can get. Fiber uses light pulses to send your internet data, so it has lower latency than other internet types as a whole. It can also carry much more bandwidth than cable or DSL, offering speeds up to 5 ,000 Mbps. It’s less prone to network congestion and offers equally high download and upload speeds.
Overall, DSL and cable are the most common internet types while fiber is newer but scarce. Satellite is best for rural areas where the other three types can’t reach.
We provide some quick tips below to help speed up your internet connection. But if you’re ready to get to the bottom of your internet speed issues with some thorough troubleshooting, see our internet troubleshooting guide .
You need to know how much speed you pay for each month and compare that number against the speed you’re actually getting now . Look on your paper bill or log in to your online account to see your plan’s advertised maximum speed.
Running a series of speed tests while connected to different points in your network can help you figure out where your speeds are slowing down. We’ll break the testing process down into two sections.
Part 1: Test the modem
Your first speed test is to see if you’re getting the correct speeds to your home compared with what you’re supposed to get from your internet provider . To get the most accurate results for your initial speed test, unplug your router from the modem and connect a computer to the same port on the modem using an Ethernet cable. If you have a wireless gateway, just plug it into one of the Ethernet ports.
Warning: We don’t recommend browsing the internet for extended periods of time without using a router. Your router has some excellent built-in security features that protect your network from viruses and malware.
This first test should give you results that are close to the speeds promoted with your plan. If not, try to track this issue over multiple days and times of day to establish a pattern. Contact your internet provider to talk about why you’re not getting the correct speeds if you continue to see lower than expected results .
Part 2: Test the router
If your modem isn’t the issue, the next step is to test the router. Plug the router back into the modem and run multiple speed tests using your wireless devices, and wired devices plugged into the router’s Ethernet ports.
If you see a vast difference between the modem and router tests, then your router is causing your connection slowdowns—or the Ethernet cable tethering your router to the modem.
Keep in mind that not all wireless devices experience identical speeds. Their connections depend on the hardware inside no matter what router you use, so a budget Samsung phone will have slower Wi-Fi speeds than an expensive wireless card plugged into your desktop.
To troubleshoot router problems, follow these steps:
Step 1: Unplug the router’s power , wait 30 seconds, and then plug it back in.
Step 2: Make sure all cables are connected securely and that all ports work.
Step 3: Update your router’s firmware. You can do this by logging in to your router’s web interface or mobile app . (Your ISP likely does this automatically, but it’s worth checking.)
Step 4: Reposition your router .
Step 5: Move wireless connections to the best Wi-Fi band .
Step 6: Change Wi-Fi channels in your router’s interface to find one that’s less crowded.
Step 7: Try a factory reset by pressing the reset button located on the back of your router.
If none of these steps work, you may need to upgrade to a newer or more powerful router. Internet tech advances rather quickly, and if your router is more than a few years old, it might be time to get yourself something more modern . If you’re looking for router-buying guidance, we have recommendations for the best long-range routers , the best modem and router combos , and the best routers for Xfinity .
Wi-Fi problems can stem from multiple factors . It could be your router’s range, a crowded frequency channel or band, or signal interference caused by physical obstructions and other electronics.
You already know that you should place your router at a central and elevated location for the best coverage, so we’ll assume that you’ve already done that and pointed your antennas in the right direction.
Go to different areas of your house with a computer or smartphone and watch the Wi-Fi signal strength indicator. If you notice a lot of dead zones, you may need to move your router again (if they happen in areas where you normally need Wi-Fi) or invest in something to boost your Wi-Fi signal to that particular area. You can also make a Wi-Fi heatmap if you want to get more precise with it.
If you have more than a couple of issues with Wi-Fi dead zones, we recommend upgrading to a mesh networking kit . They usually ship with at least two nodes—one that connects to your modem and another that communicates directly with the first unit—to create a ”blanket” of coverage. There’s no centralized point, and you can easily add more nodes to extend coverage. Moreover, devices seamlessly switch between nodes as you move about the home or office.
If you prefer to stick with the traditional router, you could add a Wi-Fi extender or powerline adapter , However, we still prefer mesh router kits versus the router/extender setup .
If you’ve already pruned your Wi-Fi connections of unnecessary devices , it’s time to make sure all active connections are on the correct Wi-Fi band.
Most modern routers offer two Wi-Fi bands, which each create their own visible Wi-Fi network. By default, these are usually labeled with their frequency bands, but it might be different if you’ve changed your Wi-Fi network’s name.
These bands operate on two different frequencies: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The 2.4 GHz frequency band has a better range, but it’s slower and more susceptible to signal interference from other electronics. The 5 GHz band is faster but can’t travel as far.
Basically, you want to use the 5 GHz band for most bandwidth-heavy applications like streaming or gaming. Devices that don’t need that much speed—like smart home devices— should use the 2.4 GHz band instead .
Typically, you can change the Wi-Fi band each device uses by logging in to the correct Wi-Fi network on each device. However, some routers broadcast only one network name and automatically selects the best frequency band for your device. This can be problematic if you really need the faster 5 GHz connection, but the router forces your device to use the 2.4 GHz band.
Changing your router’s channel is a standard troubleshooting suggestion, but it may not work, and here’s why.
All three frequency bands are divided into small 20 MHz channels, and routers combine these channels to make larger ones. Most modern Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 devices use 80 MHz channels when they connect to the 5 GHz band for the most speed, so routers use these by default.
The thing is, routers only list the smaller channels, so you may run a Wi-Fi diagnostics app and see that channel 36 is clear for you to use, but in reality, it’s probably being used by a neighboring network that, like yours, combines channels 36, 40, 44, and 48 to create one 80 MHz channel.
If that’s the case, your best bet is to select one of the higher 5 GHz channels (if they’re available to you) and hope for the best. Most standalone routers allow you to change the channel in the web interface or mobile app, but you usually can’t change the channel on a mesh system.
As we mentioned before, sometimes the issue isn’t with your internet connection— it’s with the smartphone, computer, or tablet you’re using to access the internet . It may need a reboot, it may be outdated, or you have too many apps and programs open, bogging down the device’s processor.
If you’ve made it this far and you’re still experiencing problems with slow internet speeds, run through the tips in the home network traffic section of this post if you haven’t already.
Your speed issues most likely stem from your internet provider’s reliability or the traffic on your own home network. Even if you’ve organized and trimmed down your number of connected devices, you could still not have enough bandwidth at certain times of day to cover everything your network has to handle. The only solution to this is to either use the internet less or get a faster internet plan.
Check out every provider and plan in your area to see if you can get better speeds for a better deal.
Before we dive in, download our internet speed test. Measuring your internet speed and knowing how it compares to the speeds you pay for is an important part of diagnosing a slow connection.
Your modem and router work hard , and sometimes they need to refresh with a quick power cycle. Simply pull the plug on both units, wait 30 seconds, and then plug the modem back into the wall outlet. Once it properly boots, do the same with the router.
In the case of a wireless gateway, pull the plug, wait, and plug it back in.
Draining both units of power allows them to clear the system memory, clear up any local communication issues, and reestablish fresh connections. Moreover, a power cycle allows the modem to resync with your internet provider’s operator—a device that communicates with multiple modems. It also refreshes your router’s public IP address.
Overall, a power cycle can really give your internet speeds a boost on your side of the modem.
Many people hide their routers or wireless gateways in closets, behind furniture , or down in basement s . Don’t be one of those people unless you want excessively bad Wi-Fi.
Instead , put as few physical barriers between your router and your devices as possible. Walls, floors, ceilings , doors, large furniture, and similar obstructions can barricade your Wi-Fi signals and reduce connection speeds , especially over longer distances.
Certain signals from other devices can also interfere with your wireless speeds. These include microwaves, Bluetooth speakers, baby monitors, and cordless phones.
For the best Wi-Fi coverage, place your router in a central, elevated location, or at a location where you use Wi-Fi the most, like in a home office .
Be sure to use your router’s external antennas ( if present ) to get better Wi-Fi coverage. Most router antennas broadcast Wi-Fi signals in an outward circle perpendicular to the antenna’s position . For instance, if the antennas are positioned vertically, the Wi-Fi signals broadcast horizontally in all directions.
That said, if you live in a one-story house, keep the antennas vertical. If you live in a multistory house, position at least one antenna horizontally so the Wi-Fi signals reach the additional floors.
If you know there’s a big download in your future— the latest version of macOS or a 100 GB update for an Xbox Series X game—you might want to schedule a time when you don’t need to do anything else online. The early morning hours are ideal when everyone is asleep and no other downloads currently hog your bandwidth.
Operating systems tend to wait until the early morning hours when you’re fast asleep. Game updates, meanwhile, typically require you to manually start the download. Other updates aren’t quite so accommodating with your schedule.
If your internet gets too slow to stream during certain peak hours, download the content earlier in the day (or again, in the middle of the night) so you’ll be ready to binge watch all of Avatar: The Last Airbender without buffering -related interruptions.
You may need a faster plan if more people live with you now, if you transitioned to working from home, or if you generally use the internet more than you did before. Enter your zip code below to find a speedier plan that’s available in your area .
What is type of internet plan is the fastest.
Fiber internet is the fastest type of internet connection you can get. Many residential fiber-optic internet plans offer speeds up to 5,000 Mbps. There are even some fiber plans that offer 10,000 Mbps of bandwidth. Additionally, fiber internet offers symmetrical speeds, meaning your upload speeds are just as fast as your download speeds—a handy feature for activities like zoom calls, twitch streaming, and uploading large files.
Read page in Spanish
Author - Austin Aguirre
Austin worked as a broadband technician installing and troubleshooting countless home internet networks for some of the largest ISPs in the U.S. He became a freelance writer in 2020 specializing in software guides. After graduating with a BS in technical communication from Arizona State University, he joined the team at HighSpeedInternet.com where he focuses on home network improvement and troubleshooting.
Editor - Cara Haynes
Cara Haynes has been editing and writing in the digital space for seven years, and she's edited all things internet for HighSpeedInternet.com for five years. She graduated with a BA in English and a minor in editing from Brigham Young University. When she's not editing, she makes tech accessible through her freelance writing for brands like Pluralsight. She believes no one should feel lost in internet land and that a good internet connection significantly extends your life span.
Advertisement
Supported by
Lawmakers in numerous countries have expressed concerns that TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, may expose sensitive user data.
By Sapna Maheshwari and Amanda Holpuch
Concerns that the Chinese government could access sensitive user data through the short-form video app TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, have prompted the U.S. government to pass legislation banning the social media platform unless it is sold to a government-approved buyer.
After President Biden signed into law legislation that gives ByteDance up to a year to divest from TikTok, the company sued the federal government in a case that is likely to end up in front of the Supreme Court.
Here’s why the pressure has been ratcheted up on TikTok.
Lawmakers and regulators in the West have increasingly expressed concern that TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, may put sensitive user data, like location information, into the hands of the Chinese government. They have pointed to laws that allow the Chinese government to secretly demand data from Chinese companies and citizens for intelligence-gathering operations.
They are also worried that China could use TikTok’s content recommendations to fuel misinformation, a concern that has escalated in the United States during the Israel-Hamas war and the presidential election. Critics say that TikTok has fueled the spread of antisemitism.
TikTok has long denied such allegations and has tried to distance itself from ByteDance, which is considered to be one of the world’s most highly valued start-ups .
Yes, India did in 2020 , costing ByteDance one of its biggest markets. The government there cracked down on hundreds of Chinese-owned apps , claiming in part that they were secretly transmitting users’ data to foreign servers.
We are having trouble retrieving the article content.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in .
Want all of The Times? Subscribe .
Plans for people 65 or older or those who may qualify because of a disability or special condition.
Plans that offer coverage from birth to adulthood.
Plans that are low cost or no-cost.
Plans that offer savings for employers, while supporting employee health.
Temporary health plans that fit almost any lifestyle or budget.
Coverage to add on to health insurance plans.
It’s a question you naturally might ask, especially if you’re generally healthy. But there are many reasons for having health insurance. Learn why getting health insurance may be one of the most important choices you make.
You may have heard the term open enrollment, but what is it and what should you know when you're choosing a plan?
Find out what a Prescription Drug List (PDL) or formulary is — and how it may affect coverage for medications.
Get the scoop on how these different types of health insurance costs work and how they may affect your budget.
Everything you need to know about using Instagram for business — from setting up your account to creating a winning strategy.
Is your business still “like”-ing the idea of using Instagram, rather than confidently sliding into the DMs of the platform’s full potential? It’s high time to stop scrolling and start strategizing.
If you’re wondering how to use Instagram for business in 2024 , we’ve got you covered. In this guide, we’ll share the top strategies to help your brand thrive on the ever-evolving platform.
Bonus: Claim your free pack of 15 creative Instagram post templates made by Hootsuite’s professional graphic designers. Easily customize them in Canva, and start getting more engagement today.
Using Instagram for business is a bit different than using a personal account. But don’t worry, it’s not rocket science! Follow these 4 simple steps to get your brand up and running on Instagram.
Before you start using Instagram for business, you need to create an Instagram account for business. It’s free and anyone can do it.
Here’s how to switch your existing Instagram account to a business account:
If you’re interested in making an Instagram account for business simply sign up for a new Instagram account , and convert it to an Instagram business account.
You can have up to five Instagram accounts , so go ahead and keep your personal Instagram account personal if that’s what you prefer. Learn more about the difference between Instagram business and creator accounts .
In 150 characters or less, your Instagram bio should describe your brand and showcase your brand voice . We’ve got a full guide to creating an effective Instagram bio for business (complete with templates), but here’s a quick video to walk you through the basics:
Also be sure to make the most of the other components of your Instagram business profile:
Create. Schedule. Publish. Engage. Measure. Win.
To tag products in Instagram content, or to run certain kinds of Instagram ads, you need to create a product catalog. You can do this in Meta’s Commerce Manager.
We’ve got a whole post on using Commerce Manager if you’d like more details on how this tool works.
Once your catalog is full of products, it’s time to turn on Instagram’s shopping features.
We’ve got a full blog post explaining everything you need to know about Instagram Shopping if you want to focus on this particular aspect of using Instagram for business.
Standing out as a business on Instagram can be, well, tough. Use these Instagram for business tips to make it easier.
A good social media strategy starts with a sound understanding of your audience.
Instagram’s audience demographics give you an overall picture of who uses the platform. For example, 18-34-year-olds represent the largest ad audience on the site.
However, that doesn’t mean your specific audience on Instagram will be made up of 18-to-34-year-olds. For example, looking at the audience insights for my own Instagram account, I can see that my audience skews older than the Instagram average:
You can find demographic information on your existing audience using Instagram Insights , Meta Business Suite , or Hootsuite Analytics . But, if you’re just getting started using Instagram for business, you might not have a large enough following to gain meaningful insights here yet.
In that case, take a look at the demographics of your audience on other social channels and of your existing customer base. While this won’t translate exactly to Instagram, it should give you a sense of who’s interested in your business and what you have to say.
Understanding your audience puts you in a better position to create targeted content and business captions for Instagram that resonate. Since audience research is an important foundation for your content strategy, we’ve got a whole post dedicated to helping you find your target market .
Now that you know who your audience is, you need to determine what to share with them. Rather than posting random content whenever the mood strikes, you need to develop a content strategy that speaks to your audience and keeps them engaged, all while contributing to real business goals .
While you should certainly post some promotional content to get people excited about your products and drive sales, you also need to provide content that builds community and sparks engagement.
That might mean including user-generated content or other curated resources , sharing insider expertise about your industry, or joining in on a trending meme. (But tread carefully here—only join in on trends that are appropriate for your brand voice.)
i am wearing a disguise pic.twitter.com/HlWFQb8P22 — no name (@nonamebrands) October 31, 2022
Look for opportunities to develop themes or regular installments that you can build into a series. “Content buckets” allow you to check certain boxes without having to overthink creation. The more planning you do upfront, the better you’ll be able to produce regular content and respond to last-minute or unplanned events.
From Reels to Stories to posts, there are many options when it comes to Instagram content.
The best way to create a unified strategy is to schedule your content across all Instagram surfaces (and other social platforms) using a content calendar . Or, take it up a level and schedule all your content to publish automatically at the right time using a tool like the Hootsuite Publisher . Yes, you can even schedule Stories and Reels in advance.
The added advantage here is that you can create your content in dedicated blocks of time and schedule it to post at the best time for your audience . Even if that time is outside business hours, on the weekend, or in the middle of the night.
When you share content about your products on Instagram, tagging makes it much easier for people to learn more or buy. You can tag up to 20 products in a photo feed post.
Source: Tory Burch
To tag products, create your Instagram post or Reel as usual. Then, on the final screen before posting, tap Tag products . You can tag products from your own shop or someone else’s, which creates great opportunities for collaboration and cross-promotion.
In Stories, you can tag products using the Product link sticker.
Source: Pat McGrath
With an Instagram for business account, you have access to the platform’s built-in analytics tools to help you understand how well different types of content perform.
There are several other analytics tools available, including Hootsuite’s , that can track longer time frames, automate reporting and make it easier to compare Instagram metrics across other social media platforms.
No matter which social media marketing tools you use, the important thing is to check in regularly to learn what kind of content resonates best with your target audience. You’ll start to see patterns about what generates the most engagement, as well as what kinds of social media content increase views beyond your existing follower base. ( Hint: Try Instagram Reels .)
Use these lessons to hone your content strategy over time.
Success on Instagram requires you to engage with your followers rather than just blast content out and hope someone likes it. One important component of this two-way communication is monitoring your DMs for questions, comments, and customer service requests.
Instagram business accounts have access to a couple of DM features that make managing customer service easier on the platform. First, your inbox is divided into Primary and General tabs to make it easier to keep track of your messages. And second, you can create saved replies to commonly asked questions that you can access via keyboard shortcuts.
Hootsuite Inbox makes it even easier to manage your DMs by allowing you to assign messages to the appropriate team members . Or, create templated replies to common questions to save your team time and effort.
Manage all your messages stress-free with easy routing, saved replies, and friendly chatbots. Try Hootsuite’s Inbox today.
The average Instagram business account posts 1.55 times per day on the main feed.
That’s a lot of content!
Luckily, manual content creation is now a thing of the past. These days, it’s easy to speed up content creation processes like copywriting and graphic design with the help of generative AI tools .
OwlyWriter AI is Hootsuite’s latest generative AI tool, free to all Hootsuite users. Use OwlyWriter to generate quick social media captions , and get inspiration for your posts across platforms.
You can also leverage outside tools like ChatGPT, Dall-E, Midjourney, and more. But, because OwlyWriter is oh-so convenient in your Hootsuite dashboard, we recommend starting there. Check out our blog on the best AI content creation tools here .
Always remember, content generated by AI should always be seen as a starting point, not a finished product . Be sure to check over any AI generated content for accuracy, brand voice, style, and tone before posting.
OwlyWriter AI instantly generates captions and content ideas for every social media network. It’s seriously easy.
Looking to make your Instagram grid stand out from the crowd? With Hootsuite’s Instagram Grid integration , you can make a totally aesthetic Instagram grid in just a few clicks.
Here’s how it works:
Is instagram for business free.
It’s free to set up an Instagram business account, promote your business, and even set up an Instagram shop.
The only fees for Instagram business accounts are ad costs if you choose to run Instagram ads , and selling fees if you use Commerce Manager to allow your customers to check out and complete their purchase within the Meta platform.
There is also no fee to use Instagram Shopping to tag products and direct users to your website to buy them.
The difference between personal and business Instagram accounts is pretty straightforward. Personal accounts are great for sharing your daily life and connecting with friends and family. But, if you’re running a business or want to promote or sell a product, a business account on Instagram offers tools like analytics, shopping, and advertising to help you reach your goals.
The best time to post on Instagram for your business depends on who you’re trying to reach and what you’re sharing. Mornings generally bring the most engagement for brand accounts, though certain industries, like real estate, retail, or entertainment accounts, may see more success posting in the evening.
Check out our comprehensive guide on the best times to post on every social network to learn more.
By switching your personal profile to a business account, you unlock a treasure trove of tools to boost your business. Get free access to features like Instagram Insights, which lets you peek into who’s engaging with your business on Instagram, or Commerce Manager, which lets you tag and sell products directly on Instagram. It’s like having your own personal business assistant right at your fingertips!
While business Instagram accounts are a great way to sell products and be seen, there are a few drawbacks to consider.
First, increased competition among businesses on the platform can make it tough to secure organic reach. Second, managing a business account requires consistent effort, and eventually you may want to consider hiring a social media manager . Third, unlike personal accounts, where updates are more flexible, business profiles carry the weight of reputation and customer perception. Be sure to read up on managing social media crises before you get started.
Save time managing Instagram for business using Hootsuite. From a single dashboard, you can schedule and publish posts, carousels, Stories, Reels, and ads directly to Instagram — and engage your audience, measure performance, and handle all your other social media profiles. Try it free today.
Easily create, analyze, and schedule Instagram posts, Stories, Reels, and Threads with Hootsuite. Save time and get results.
Get expert social media advice delivered straight to your inbox.
Hannah Macready is a freelance writer with 12 years of experience in social media and digital marketing. Her work has appeared in publications such as Fast Company and The Globe & Mail, and has been used in global social media campaigns for brands like Grosvenor Americas and Intuit Mailchimp. In her spare time, Hannah likes exploring the outdoors with her two dogs, Soup and Salad.
Are you marketing on the world’s third most-used social platform? These Instagram statistics can help you shape your strategy.
Who are the people using Instagram every day? Understanding Instagram demographics will help you build a strategy that works — and reach your social marketing goals.
This complete guide will help you get started with social media marketing and follow the right best practices from day one.
Automate your work, save time, and build better relationships with your audience by using the right social media marketing tools.
JavaScript is disabled in your browser. To view the website properly, please enable JavaScript in your browser settings and refresh the page.
Apply for and manage a grant or program for your business.
Manage your interactions with the R&D Tax Incentive program.
On this page
In Australia, natural disasters such as floods, fire and even earthquakes can strike without warning. During an emergency, your main aim is to ensure your business continues operating. By carefully researching and planning before an emergency happens, you’ll be ready to act quickly and effectively.
Our emergency management plan template includes 3 plans to help you before, during and after an emergency:
Our template guides you through the process of creating a solid, well-structured emergency management plan that's tailored to your business.
Emergency management and recovery plan template
Our template steps you through the process of creating your plan with links to extra information if you need it.
You may want to check out our tips below before you start.
Prepare your continuity plan.
To prepare your business for an emergency, identify critical areas of your business and ways to protect them. Consider the following important areas of your business.
List your most important or most profitable products or services. Describe current arrangements to provide each one and what you’d do if these arrangements failed – your back up options for an emergency.
List important customers and how you’d contact them in an emergency to tell them what has happened.
Record the insurance policies you currently hold to cover your business risks.
Visit Insurance for more information.
Record how you make your property infrastructure less vulnerable to damage. Is your property secured with alarms, security personnel or video surveillance from unlawful entry? Do you have fire retardant or flood resistant building materials? Are leaf litter, grass and gutters maintained regularly to minimise fire risk?
Identify temporary office accommodation you could quickly access in an emergency situation. Record other strategies you’ll consider to help maintain business as usual. For example, a virtual office service, an e-commerce website or e-marketplace. Visit Buying and selling online for more information.
List your staff, their relevant skills and strengths, and any cross-training requirements that would help you to continue business in an emergency.
Record how you protect your business information such as customer records, financial records and contact lists. Explain your back up procedures.
You should include the following in the emergency action plan.
List your local emergency services numbers and any additional contacts you'll need to phone in an emergency. These should include the local state emergency, police, fire and ambulance services.
Briefly outline your emergency evacuation procedures. It may be useful to attach a copy of your detailed emergency procedures and floor plan with the location of emergency exits, emergency kit and safety equipment clearly marked.
Provide a schedule for emergency evacuation drills.
Record where your emergency kit is located or stored. Make sure:
List the contents of your emergency kit and the date each item was last checked.
Communication is essential when making emergency planning procedures. Consider allocating a person/people to be responsible for any emergency situation. Set clear roles and responsibilities and provide appropriate training.
Complete this section after an emergency happens. You should include the following in the recovery section of an emergency management plan.
Assess the damage to your business. List the main damage, its impact on your business, and what you’re going to do about it. Assign responsibility for any tasks you've identified.
List all of the organisations or people that will be essential to the recovery of your business.
List any insurance policies you have claimed for and record discussions you have with insurers about your claims.
Based on your assessment of the damage to your business and/or surrounding area, list any areas of your market that have changed.
Detail your marketing strategy after the emergency. If your business is reopening, how will you get the message out? What channels will you use to target customers? Make sure you consider any changes in the market.
For example, you might consider a targeted marketing effort (such as a social media campaign) to let people know your business is reopening.
After you‘ve completed your continuity, action and recovery plans, list and attach copies of supporting documentation, such as:
Regularly review your emergency management and recovery plan. It's also important to update your plan each time your staff change, or if you move to a new business location.
Practice your emergency action plan with your staff. You may find there are things missing or steps you need to change. This is your opportunity to make sure your emergency procedures are as efficient as possible.
Learn more about preparing your business for an emergency., was this page helpful, thanks for sharing your feedback with us..
Our live chat service is open from 8am - 8pm, Monday to Friday, across Australia (excluding national public holidays ).
Learn about the other ways you can contact us .
All our experts are busy now. Please try again later or contact us another way
We're open from 8am - 8pm, Monday to Friday, across Australia (excluding national public holidays ).
We use cookies to give you a better experience on our website. Learn more about how we use cookies and how you can select your preferences.
You might be using an unsupported or outdated browser. To get the best possible experience please use the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge to view this website. |
Updated: Apr 17, 2024, 11:59am
Brainstorm an executive summary, create a company description, brainstorm your business goals, describe your services or products, conduct market research, create financial plans, bottom line, frequently asked questions.
Every business starts with a vision, which is distilled and communicated through a business plan. In addition to your high-level hopes and dreams, a strong business plan outlines short-term and long-term goals, budget and whatever else you might need to get started. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to write a business plan that you can stick to and help guide your operations as you get started.
Featured Partners
ZenBusiness
$0 + State Fees
Varies By State & Package
On ZenBusiness' Website
On LegalZoom's Website
Northwest Registered Agent
$39 + State Fees
On Northwest Registered Agent's Website
An executive summary is an extremely important first step in your business. You have to be able to put the basic facts of your business in an elevator pitch-style sentence to grab investors’ attention and keep their interest. This should communicate your business’s name, what the products or services you’re selling are and what marketplace you’re entering.
When drafting the executive summary, you should have a few different options. Enlist a few thought partners to review your executive summary possibilities to determine which one is best.
After you have the executive summary in place, you can work on the company description, which contains more specific information. In the description, you’ll need to include your business’s registered name , your business address and any key employees involved in the business.
The business description should also include the structure of your business, such as sole proprietorship , limited liability company (LLC) , partnership or corporation. This is the time to specify how much of an ownership stake everyone has in the company. Finally, include a section that outlines the history of the company and how it has evolved over time.
Wherever you are on the business journey, you return to your goals and assess where you are in meeting your in-progress targets and setting new goals to work toward.
Goals can cover a variety of sections of your business. Financial and profit goals are a given for when you’re establishing your business, but there are other goals to take into account as well with regard to brand awareness and growth. For example, you might want to hit a certain number of followers across social channels or raise your engagement rates.
Another goal could be to attract new investors or find grants if you’re a nonprofit business. If you’re looking to grow, you’ll want to set revenue targets to make that happen as well.
Goals unrelated to traceable numbers are important as well. These can include seeing your business’s advertisement reach the general public or receiving a terrific client review. These goals are important for the direction you take your business and the direction you want it to go in the future.
The business plan should have a section that explains the services or products that you’re offering. This is the part where you can also describe how they fit in the current market or are providing something necessary or entirely new. If you have any patents or trademarks, this is where you can include those too.
If you have any visual aids, they should be included here as well. This would also be a good place to include pricing strategy and explain your materials.
This is the part of the business plan where you can explain your expertise and different approach in greater depth. Show how what you’re offering is vital to the market and fills an important gap.
You can also situate your business in your industry and compare it to other ones and how you have a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Other than financial goals, you want to have a budget and set your planned weekly, monthly and annual spending. There are several different costs to consider, such as operational costs.
Rent for your business is the first big cost to factor into your budget. If your business is remote, the cost that replaces rent will be the software that maintains your virtual operations.
Marketing and sales costs should be next on your list. Devoting money to making sure people know about your business is as important as making sure it functions.
Although you can’t anticipate disasters, there are likely to be unanticipated costs that come up at some point in your business’s existence. It’s important to factor these possible costs into your financial plans so you’re not caught totally unaware.
Business plans are important for businesses of all sizes so that you can define where your business is and where you want it to go. Growing your business requires a vision, and giving yourself a roadmap in the form of a business plan will set you up for success.
When you’re working on a business plan, make sure you have as much information as possible so that you can simplify it to the most relevant information. A simple business plan still needs all of the parts included in this article, but you can be very clear and direct.
The most common mistakes in a business plan are common writing issues like grammar errors or misspellings. It’s important to be clear in your sentence structure and proofread your business plan before sending it to any investors or partners.
When writing out a business plan, you want to make sure that you cover everything related to your concept for the business, an analysis of the industry―including potential customers and an overview of the market for your goods or services―how you plan to execute your vision for the business, how you plan to grow the business if it becomes successful and all financial data around the business, including current cash on hand, potential investors and budget plans for the next few years.
Julia is a writer in New York and started covering tech and business during the pandemic. She also covers books and the publishing industry.
Kelly Main is a Marketing Editor and Writer specializing in digital marketing, online advertising and web design and development. Before joining the team, she was a Content Producer at Fit Small Business where she served as an editor and strategist covering small business marketing content. She is a former Google Tech Entrepreneur and she holds an MSc in International Marketing from Edinburgh Napier University. Additionally, she is a Columnist at Inc. Magazine.
Learn how to build a disaster recovery plan for your business.
You never want to imagine the worst happening to your business – but what if it does? A natural disaster may seem unthinkable, but as a business owner, thinking about the impacts of one needs to be part of your job. Help secure your company’s future by creating business continuity and disaster recovery plans.
While there are differences between a business continuity plan (BCP) and a disaster recovery plan (DRP), some companies merge them into one plan.
“A business continuity plan is a defined, documented strategy designed to help business owners and their employees prepare for any event that may disrupt business operations, including natural disasters , single-building fires or floods, supplier outages, and more,” said Mick Whittemore, vice president of IT at Paychex.
A DRP, sometimes referred to as a disaster recovery policy, describes how to resume business operations quickly and is typically applied to details-level planning of an organization’s IT infrastructure and applications. The DRP should allow your IT team to recover enough data and system functionality to operate the business again.
These plans apply to both physical disasters, such as weather events, and virtual ones, like cyberattacks. In either instance, your business needs to be equipped to minimize the consequences.
To ensure your business can continue operating after a disaster, you need both a BCP and DRP. Your BCP and DRP work together to make sure all potential vulnerabilities are addressed so you can maintain continuity by keeping unaffected operations going while working on recovering to restore affected ones.
“With the proper planning, the loss can be a bit less devastating, and in some cases, you could even prevent certain damaging situations from happening,” said Jay Shelton, senior vice president of executive risk at Assurance. “A disaster restoration and business continuity plan can significantly reduce the effects of a loss.”
You can’t always avoid disasters, but you can prepare for them. Disaster recovery plans help recover what is lost, whether that is data from a cloud data center, physical property (e.g., office space in a hurricane) or something else.
Consider this scenario: A hurricane hits your region, flooding your data center. How will you get operations back up and running in a timely manner? What if you can’t? The longer your business is out of commission, the harder it will be for your company to survive. A thorough disaster recovery plan properly executed can mitigate the damage. Such a plan may not only save you money but also help ensure your company’s reputation emerges from the disaster unscathed.
To create a disaster recovery plan, you first need to decide what approach or strategy will form the framework of your policy.
Please note that due to the complexity of disaster planning, our advice is for small and midsize businesses only. If you work for a big company that has a lot of moving parts, we recommend contacting a disaster recovery specialist.
Once you’ve decided on your disaster recovery plan’s approach, begin tackling the specific components to build the plan. A good DRP should include the following elements.
A planning team: Establish a planning team of employees or volunteers who are responsible for the development of the plan.
A leadership execution team: Throughout your plan, specify who is responsible for executing the plan and assign a lead. In some cases, the entire company will be accountable, but to keep execution organized, always have a disaster recovery plan lead.
Goals and objectives: Identify goals and objectives for what your plan will accomplish. Establish answers to questions like, “Where do we relocate?” and “Whom should I partner with?” Your primary goal should be to have a solution for the issue.
Capabilities and hazards: Gather information about current capabilities and possible hazards and emergencies. Consider what the worst-case scenario would be. Also, consider something most businesses don’t think about – the recovery point objective, or RPO. RPO is the age of the files that need to be recovered from backup storage so your operations can continue as usual. The age of your files will affect your data backup strategy. Due to the complexity of this subject, consult an IT expert for assistance.
Action plans: Each type of possible disaster (such as fire, flood, earthquake or hacking) should have its own action plan. Each action plan should list the procedures to follow. In addition to an action plan, it’s essential to have a long-term recovery plan in place.
Written documentation: Include backup protocols and systems to ensure everyone on your team knows what needs to be done and can follow the outlined plan. Address the below questions so your plan is simple and easy to follow:
Employee training: All staff members, from management to maintenance, should understand your company’s disaster recovery plan. Integrate plans into company operations and employee trainings.
Testing and re-evaluation: Your disaster recovery plan is not complete after you create the initial plan. Testing and re-evaluation are critical parts of ensuring your policy will be effective. See where there is room for improvement, then weigh different plans of action to ensure disasters are handled in the best way possible.
Employee knowledge is integral to creating a successful business continuity plan and disaster recovery plan.
“Employees need to be informed about their roles and responsibilities in support of any recovery effort,” said Whittemore. “They should be trained when the BCP is first developed and then refreshed every year as the document is updated.”
Many companies use simulation exercises or drills to implement parts of the plan to ensure critical infrastructure is working. E-learning tools can be helpful as well, but the best practice is to simulate the plan at least once a year.
While existing employees benefit from training at the time the plan is created and during regular simulations, incoming employees need to be informed about the process too. New hires should be trained on the plan once they’re onboarded. You can even make it part of your onboarding checklist .
If your disaster recovery efforts don’t go according to plan, your company could immediately lose money. It could keep losing money until the disaster is resolved – or your business is forced into bankruptcy.
For example, let’s say you haven’t taken advantage of quick cybersecurity tips and fall victim to a cyberattack. This would be a digital and financial disaster: According to IBM , the average cost of a data breach in 2022 is $4.35 million. With a disaster recovery plan in place, you would quickly reactivate your IT systems and avoid or minimize losses.
But without a disaster recovery plan – or with a team that doesn’t follow it or carry it out correctly – you could be hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars in the hole. The longer you remain unable to provide your services, the more your customers will seek them elsewhere. That long-term revenue and customer loyalty loss can be hard to recoup.
A disaster can happen at any time, especially when you’re not expecting it. When you create a disaster recovery plan and business recovery plan and train your team on them, you lessen the chances of disasters sidelining your business. It’s frustrating not to know when these disasters might be coming and how bad they’ll be. Preparing before there’s even a hint of a threat can help you keep the worst outcomes at bay.
Max Freedman contributed to the writing and reporting in this article. Source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.
Insights on business strategy and culture, right to your inbox. Part of the business.com network.
This page is for Microsoft 365 Basic , Microsoft 365 Personal, and Microsoft 365 Family subscriptions only. For help with other subscriptions purchased through Microsoft see Cancel a Microsoft subscription .
If you purchased a Microsoft subscription from Google Play or the Apple app store, contact their customer support for cancellation or refund.
If you purchased a Microsoft 365 subscription from a third-party retailer instead of the Microsoft Store, contact the third-party retailer directly to manage your subscription and billing.
If you sign in with a work or school account and need help cancelling a business subscription, see Cancel Microsoft 365 for business .
If you're thinking of cancelling a Microsoft 365 subscription or need help switching to another plan that better meets your needs, support agents are available to help.
Request a call back
Go to the Manage subscription page and if prompted, sign in with the same Microsoft account you used to purchase your Microsoft 365 subscription.
Select Cancel subscription (it might say Upgrade or cancel ).
If you don't see an option to Cancel, but instead see a link that says Turn on recurring billing , this means your subscription is already set to expire on the date shown and you won't be automatically charged after this date.
There's nothing further to do at this time, and you can continue to use the product until your Microsoft 365 subscription expires.
See the Please review section at the top of the cancel page. This information indicates what benefits you're currently using with your subscription and what you'll lose when you cancel.
Important: If, for example, you cancel a Microsoft 365 Basic, Personal, or Family subscription, your storage allowance will revert to 5GB of cloud storage, which includes your OneDrive and Outlook.com attachments, and 15GB of Outlook.com storage. If you cancel Microsoft 365 Family, all the people you shared your subscription with will also have their storage allowances reduced. If you, or people you shared a subscription with have used more than the free allowance:
you won’t be able to upload, edit, or sync new files (such as Camera Roll) to your OneDrive,
you won't be able to send or receive email in Outlook.com.
after 6 months, we may delete your OneDrive and all files within it.
Read the "What happens if you exceed your quota?" section in How Microsoft storage works for more information.
Review the additional information on the page, and at the bottom select I want to keep my benefits if you decide to keep your subscription, or I don't want my subscription , if you choose to go ahead and cancel.
Note: In the following countries, you can cancel your subscription, and depending on the subscription length you may be entitled to a prorated refund. See Countries with prorated refunds for Microsoft subscriptions for more information. Any subscription length - Canada, Israel, Korea, and Turkey Subscriptions longer than 1 month and renewed - Denmark, Finland, Germany (purchases on or after March 1, 2022), Netherlands, Poland, and Portugal
If you don't see an option to cancel or turn off recurring billing, try the following:
Make sure you're signed in to the Microsoft account dashboard with the same Microsoft account you used to purchase Microsoft 365.
If you see Turn on recurring billing , this means your subscription will expire at the date shown and you can continue to use the product until that date. You don't need to do anything else.
Check if a payment method needs to be updated. If it does, we'll let you know when you arrive at Services & subscriptions. To fix any issues, on the Manage page , select Change how you pay . For more info, see Change the payment method for a Microsoft subscription .
If you still need help, live support advocates are available to help. Request a call back
Cancel a Microsoft subscription
Cancel an Xbox subscription
Cancel Microsoft 365 for business
How to get a refund on a Microsoft subscription
To review our complete cancellation policy, see Microsoft Store Terms of Sale .
Contact Support
For technical support, go to Contact Microsoft Support , enter your problem and select Get Help . If you still need help, select Contact Support to be routed to the best support option.
Tip: If you're a small business owner looking for more information on how to get Microsoft 365 set up, visit Small business help & learning .
Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.
Microsoft 365 subscription benefits
Microsoft 365 training
Microsoft security
Accessibility center
Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.
Ask the Microsoft Community
Microsoft Tech Community
Windows Insiders
Microsoft 365 Insiders
Thank you for your feedback.
9 min. read
Updated May 10, 2024
If you’ve ever jotted down a business idea on a napkin with a few tasks you need to accomplish, you’ve written a business plan — or at least the very basic components of one.
The origin of formal business plans is murky. But they certainly go back centuries. And when you consider that 20% of new businesses fail in year 1 , and half fail within 5 years, the importance of thorough planning and research should be clear.
But just what is a business plan? And what’s required to move from a series of ideas to a formal plan? Here we’ll answer that question and explain why you need one to be a successful business owner.
A business plan lays out a strategic roadmap for any new or growing business.
Any entrepreneur with a great idea for a business needs to conduct market research , analyze their competitors , validate their idea by talking to potential customers, and define their unique value proposition .
The business plan captures that opportunity you see for your company: it describes your product or service and business model , and the target market you’ll serve.
It also includes details on how you’ll execute your plan: how you’ll price and market your solution and your financial projections .
If you’re asking yourself, ‘Do I really need to write a business plan?’ consider this fact:
Companies that commit to planning grow 30% faster than those that don’t.
Creating a business plan is crucial for businesses of any size or stage. It helps you develop a working business and avoid consequences that could stop you before you ever start.
If you plan to raise funds for your business through a traditional bank loan or SBA loan , none of them will want to move forward without seeing your business plan. Venture capital firms may or may not ask for one, but you’ll still need to do thorough planning to create a pitch that makes them want to invest.
But it’s more than just a means of getting your business funded . The plan is also your roadmap to identify and address potential risks.
It’s not a one-time document. Your business plan is a living guide to ensure your business stays on course.
Related: 14 of the top reasons why you need a business plan
Brought to you by
Using ai and step-by-step instructions.
Secure funding
Validate ideas
Build a strategy
Numerous studies have established that planning improves business performance:
The planning process significantly impacts business growth for existing companies and startups alike.
Read More: Research-backed reasons why writing a business plan matters
No two business plans are alike.
Yet there are similar questions for anyone considering writing a plan to answer. One basic but important question is when to start writing it.
A Harvard Business Review study found that the ideal time to write a business plan is between 6 and 12 months after deciding to start a business.
But the reality can be more nuanced – it depends on the stage a business is in, or the type of business plan being written.
Ideal times to write a business plan include:
Read More: The best times to write or update your business plan
As is often the case, how often a business plan should be updated depends on your circumstances.
A business plan isn’t a homework assignment to complete and forget about. At the same time, no one wants to get so bogged down in the details that they lose sight of day-to-day goals.
But it should cover new opportunities and threats that a business owner surfaces, and incorporate feedback they get from customers. So it can’t be a static document.
Related Reading: 5 fundamental principles of business planning
For an entrepreneur at the ideation stage, writing and checking back on their business plan will help them determine if they can turn that idea into a profitable business .
And for owners of up-and-running businesses, updating the plan (or rewriting it) will help them respond to market shifts they wouldn’t be prepared for otherwise.
It also lets them compare their forecasts and budgets to actual financial results. This invaluable process surfaces where a business might be out-performing expectations and where weak performance may require a prompt strategy change.
The planning process is what uncovers those insights.
Related Reading: 10 prompts to help you write a business plan with AI
Thinking about a business plan strictly in terms of page length can risk overlooking more important factors, like the level of detail or clarity in the plan.
Not all of the plan consists of writing – there are also financial tables, graphs, and product illustrations to include.
But there are a few general rules to consider about a plan’s length:
A good practice is to write your business plan to match the expectations of your audience.
If you’re walking into a bank looking for a loan, your plan should match the formal, professional style that a loan officer would expect . But if you’re writing it for stakeholders on your own team—shorter and less formal (even just a few pages) could be the better way to go.
The length of your plan may also depend on the stage your business is in.
For instance, a startup plan won’t have nearly as much financial information to include as a plan written for an established company will.
Read More: How long should your business plan be?
The contents of a plan business plan will vary depending on the industry the business is in.
After all, someone opening a new restaurant will have different customers, inventory needs, and marketing tactics to consider than someone bringing a new medical device to the market.
But there are some common elements that most business plans include:
Read More: Use this business plan outline to organize your plan
A business plan isn’t a one-size-fits-all document. There are numerous ways to create an effective business plan that fits entrepreneurs’ or established business owners’ needs.
Here are a few of the most common types of business plans for small businesses:
Since your objective will ultimately inform your plan, you need to know what you’re trying to accomplish before you start writing.
While a business plan provides the foundation for a business, other types of plans support this guiding document.
An operational plan sets short-term goals for the business by laying out where it plans to focus energy and investments and when it plans to hit key milestones.
Then there is the strategic plan , which examines longer-range opportunities for the business, and how to meet those larger goals over time.
Read More: How to use a business plan for strategic development and operations
If a business plan describes the tactics an entrepreneur will use to succeed in the market, then the business model represents how they will make money.
The difference may seem subtle, but it’s important.
Think of a business plan as the roadmap for how to exploit market opportunities and reach a state of sustainable growth. By contrast, the business model lays out how a business will operate and what it will look like once it has reached that growth phase.
Learn More: The differences between a business model and business plan
Now that you understand what a business plan is, the next step is to start writing your business plan .
The best way to start is by reviewing examples and downloading a business plan template. These resources will provide you with guidance and inspiration to help you write a plan.
We recommend starting with a simple one-page plan ; it streamlines the planning process and helps you organize your ideas. However, if one page doesn’t fit your needs, there are plenty of other great templates available that will put you well on your way to writing a useful business plan.
Tim Berry is the founder and chairman of Palo Alto Software , a co-founder of Borland International, and a recognized expert in business planning. He has an MBA from Stanford and degrees with honors from the University of Oregon and the University of Notre Dame. Today, Tim dedicates most of his time to blogging, teaching and evangelizing for business planning.
Table of Contents
Related Articles
6 Min. Read
How to Write an Ice Cream Shop Business Plan + Free Sample Plan PDF
5 Min. Read
Business Plan Vs Strategic Plan Vs Operational Plan—Differences Explained
4 Min. Read
10 Business Plan Myths That Hurt Your Business
7 Min. Read
How to Write a Bakery Business Plan + Sample
The Bplans Newsletter
Subscribe now for weekly advice and free downloadable resources to help start and grow your business.
We care about your privacy. See our privacy policy .
Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.
No thanks, I prefer writing 40-page documents.
Discover the world’s #1 plan building software
180 episodes
The Ramsey Show believes you can build wealth and take control of your life—no matter what stupid mistakes you've made with money. Join as Dave Ramsey and his team of experts answer your questions on the top problems holding you back. Listen now or ask your question live by calling 888.825.5225 weekdays from 2–5 p.m. ET. Learn more at www.ramseysolutions.com
💵 Sign-up for EveryDollar today - The simplest way to budget for your life! Dr. John Delony & George Kamel answer your questions and discuss: What to do when you second guess your life choices, Mutual funds vs. index funds, "Should I save for a house or for a business?" Slowing down the debt payoff when life happens, "Should I break my lease if I can't afford my rent?" Support Our Sponsors: BetterHelp Yrefy NetSuite Zander Insurance Next Steps 📞 Have a question for the show? Call 888-825-5225 Weekdays from 2-5pm ET or click here! 📄 Will an online will work for you? 🏠 Find a Ramsey Trusted Real Estate Agent 🚢 The Live Like No One Else Cruise is booking fast! Listen to more from Ramsey Network 🎙️ The Ramsey Show 🧠 The Dr. John Delony Show 🍸 Smart Money Happy Hour 💡 The Rachel Cruze Show 💸 The Ramsey Show Highlights 💰 George Kamel 💼 The Ken Coleman Show 📈 EntreLeadership Learn more about your ad choices. https://www.megaphone.fm/adchoices Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy
💵 Sign-up for EveryDollar today - The simplest way to budget for your life! George Kamel & Jade Warshaw answer your questions and discuss: Why you should wait until after marriage to pay on each other's debt, Paying for higher education, "Do I really need health insurance?" Trading better pay for no growth opportunity "My mom wants me to go back to college, should I" Support Our Sponsors: Churchill Mortgage Zander Insurance Health Trust Financial BetterHelp Next Steps 📞 Have a question for the show? Call 888-825-5225 Weekdays from 2-5pm ET or click here! 🏠 Find a Ramsey Trusted Real Estate Agent 🚢 The Live Like No One Else Cruise is booking fast! ☂️ Get the right insurance without breaking the bank. Listen to more from Ramsey Network 🎙️ The Ramsey Show 🧠 The Dr. John Delony Show 🍸 Smart Money Happy Hour 💡 The Rachel Cruze Show 💸 The Ramsey Show Highlights 💰 George Kamel 💼 The Ken Coleman Show 📈 EntreLeadership Learn more about your ad choices. https://www.megaphone.fm/adchoices Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy
💵 Sign-up for EveryDollar today - The simplest way to budget for your life! Dr. John Delony & Ken Coleman answer your questions and discuss: "How do I cut the financial umbilical cord with adult kids?" "Should my fiancée and I combine banks now?" "I'm over $900k in debt, what can I do?" "How do I deal with my husband's impulse spending," "Why you should sometimes let your kids fail," "Should I leave before more layoffs happen?" Support Our Sponsors: Zander Insurance Yrefy Health Trust Financial BetterHelp Next Steps 📞 Have a question for the show? Call 888-825-5225 Weekdays from 2-5pm ET or click here! 📖 Beat debt and build wealth with the new The Total Money Makeover Updated and Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition! 🏠 Find a Ramsey Trusted Real Estate Agent Listen to more from Ramsey Network 🎙️ The Ramsey Show 🧠 The Dr. John Delony Show 🍸 Smart Money Happy Hour 💡 The Rachel Cruze Show 💸 The Ramsey Show Highlights 💰 George Kamel 💼 The Ken Coleman Show 📈 EntreLeadership Learn more about your ad choices. https://www.megaphone.fm/adchoices Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy
💵 Sign-up for EveryDollar today - The simplest way to budget for your life! Dr. John Delony & Jade Warshaw answer your questions and discuss: "My kids don't make enough to pay their bills," "What's the right time to upgrade my house?" "I feel like I'm a financial burden to my husband," "I don't feel motivated to pay off my house," "I can't afford to put gas in my car" "Talk me off the ledge of buying this car..." Support Our Sponsors: Churchill Mortgage Zander Insurance BetterHelp Next Steps 📞 Have a question for the show? Call 888-825-5225 Weekdays from 2-5pm ET or click here! 🏠 Find a Ramsey Trusted Real Estate Agent 📖 Beat debt and build wealth with the new The Total Money Makeover Updated and Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition! Listen to more from Ramsey Network 🎙️ The Ramsey Show 🧠 The Dr. John Delony Show 🍸 Smart Money Happy Hour 💡 The Rachel Cruze Show 💸 The Ramsey Show Highlights 💰 George Kamel 💼 The Ken Coleman Show 📈 EntreLeadership Learn more about your ad choices. https://www.megaphone.fm/adchoices Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy
💵 Sign-up for EveryDollar today - The simplest way to budget for your life! Jade Warshaw & Ken Coleman answer your questions and discuss: "How do I explain why I was fired from a job?" "What's the best way to buy a car?" "We have buyer's remorse about our home," "Am I wrong for questioning our marriage?" "Should my husband buy his dream car for $150k?" "I have no debt but I'm still worried about money," Support Our Sponsors: NetSuite BetterHelp Zander Insurance Health Trust Financial Next Steps 📞 Have a question for the show? Call 888-825-5225 Weekdays from 2-5pm ET or click here! 📖 Beat debt and build wealth with the new The Total Money Makeover Updated and Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition! 🏠 Find a Ramsey Trusted Real Estate Agent Listen to more from Ramsey Network 🎙️ The Ramsey Show 🧠 The Dr. John Delony Show 🍸 Smart Money Happy Hour 💡 The Rachel Cruze Show 💸 The Ramsey Show Highlights 💰 George Kamel 💼 The Ken Coleman Show 📈 EntreLeadership Learn more about your ad choices. https://www.megaphone.fm/adchoices Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy
💵 Sign-up for EveryDollar today - The simplest way to budget for your life! Jade Warshaw & George Kamel answer your questions and discuss: "Should I stop my eBay customers from using BNPL to pay?" "How do I get into budgeting without getting overwhelmed?" Why you shouldn't take investing advice from social media, Why you should avoid a terrible new zero-down mortgage option, "Will I live paycheck-to-paycheck forever?" Support Our Sponsors: Zander Insurance Health Trust Financial Churchill Mortgage Next Steps 📞 Have a question for the show? Call 888-825-5225 Weekdays from 2-5pm ET or click here! 📖 Beat debt and build wealth with the new The Total Money Makeover Updated and Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition! 🏠 Find a Ramsey Trusted Real Estate Agent Listen to more from Ramsey Network 🎙️ The Ramsey Show 🧠 The Dr. John Delony Show 🍸 Smart Money Happy Hour 💡 The Rachel Cruze Show 💸 The Ramsey Show Highlights 💰 George Kamel 💼 The Ken Coleman Show 📈 EntreLeadership Learn more about your ad choices. https://www.megaphone.fm/adchoices Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy
35.6K Ratings
I am 28 years old and I have always been nervous about taking on debt. When I got married at 23 my wife and I always talked about how unfair it is that in order to get anything in our society, you have to have a history of large amounts of debt. Debt to get a decent car. Debt to get a home. Debt to pay for an education. We were hopeless. I came across this podcast by pure chance and have now been listening for over a year. I have found that it is totally possible to live a debt free life and reach my financial goals. What a relief!! I thought I was an odd ball this whole time but I always knew in my heart that debt was not good for me and my family. Now my wife and I are finishing up baby step 3 and should be moving on to baby step 4 in the next month or so. We have found so much peace listening to the Ramsey Show. I highly recommend this podcast. Thank you Ramsey Solutions for all the great financial advice!
I’ve been on the Ramsey train for years and have always just gritted my teeth through his rough edges and politics. But his playbook is legit so I keep coming back, and finally there’s a mix of personalities that balance out his brashness. Out of the handful of rotating personalities, Jade is a true gem! She is the tough lovin’ sassy big sister we all need in our corner. Kind, honest, playful, her delivery of hard truths are so well balanced with empathy. Please keep making space for her on this show—or better yet give her her own!
I got turned onto this podcast by a coward and it has helped me drastically. I’ve even tried to help others by passing on some of Dave’s words of wisdom. I have a boyfriend now and I’m trying to get him on board. I always have the knowledge and tools I need to not be in that place of broke and struggling again. For that, I’m very grateful
You might also like, more by ramsey network.
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
15. Effectively navigate a crisis. Having a business plan not only helps you create a roadmap for your business but also helps you navigate unforeseen events. Large-scale economic downturns, supply shortages, payment delays, cash flow problems, and any number of other issues are bound to pop up.
Build a strategy. 4. Crafts a roadmap to achieve important milestones. A business plan is like a roadmap for your business. It helps you set, track and reach business milestones. For your plan to function in this way, your business plan should first outline your company's short- and long-term goals.
To outline the importance of business plans and make the process sound less daunting, here are 10 reasons why you need one for your small business. 1. To help you with critical decisions. The primary importance of a business plan is that they help you make better decisions. Entrepreneurship is often an endless exercise in decision making and ...
In business, you do not want to wing it. You want a plan -- a document that lays out the path of your company for the next three to five years so you can see the route to your goals and know ...
10. Have all the information in your plan when you're ready to sell. Sell your business when it's time to put it on the market so you can help buyers understand what you have, what it's worth, and ...
Establishing a vision for your business gives you a clear goal for where you want to go and the impact you want to have. Having a strategic plan helps you get there, so you can make that impact! Without a vision and strategic plan, your business can quickly lose focus, lose track, and get lost on its path toward success.
6. To help you grow 30% faster. Creating a plan goes beyond trying to foresee the future of your company. The significance lies in the process itself. The business plan is a living document; you can revisit your plan and alter it according to the market situation to reach your goals and ensure success.
A business plan is the best, and generally, the only acceptable way to provide this information. 2. A Business Plan Helps You Make Decisions. There are some sections in a traditional business plan that you simply cannot complete if you are on the fence, undecided, or not fully committed to a certain point. Business plans help you eliminate the ...
The more clearly you see your business, the better equipped you are to improve it. Finally, a written business plan is an excellent communication device. With this one document, you can ...
Business plans provide accountability. They allow business owners to sense-check what they're doing and why. They provide an opportunity to get ideas out of your head and start working on them. "Not having to report to anyone is attractive when you start up. As you grow it can be tricky not to have a sounding board.
While these are all very important steps to take, a business plan will be central to how you start, grow and develop your business. Here are 5 reasons why you need a business plan: 1. It will help you steer your business as you start and grow. Think of a business plan as a GPS to get your business going. A good business plan guides you through ...
6. It Helps to Keep Your Employees Focused. As touched upon in the previous point, a business plan communicates your business vision: where you plan to take it, and how you plan to do it. To achieve the goals that you have created, you need your employees to be fully aware of - and committed to - these objectives.
Why do you need a business plan? There are many reasons why you need a business plan so, you need first to be clear on your objective. A business plan for a start-up will look different from an established business that is looking to expand. Maybe you wish to borrow from a bank or attract investors. You might be launching a new product.
Why you need a business plan; Use our Business plan tool; Download a detailed business plan template; Tips to help you write your business plan; Why you need a business plan. Whether you've just started out or have been running your business for years, business planning can be the key to your success. Having a business plan:
Starting a business is easier with help. Use our 12 step startup business guide below to learn how or simply Start Now! Find the right business idea. Research the market. Create a Business Plan. Fund Your Business. Name Your Business. Pick a Business Location. Choose a Business Structure.
Our template steps you through the process of developing a succession plan with links to extra information if you need it. You may want to check our tips below before you start. 1. Analyse your market. 2. Set your goals and objectives. 3. Outline your marketing strategies. 4.
Why do you need a marketing plan? There are a ton of reasons why every brand and marketing team needs a good marketing plan. Here are the top 3 reasons: Create better goals. When you have specific goals to achieve you can plan your way to achieve them. Having too general goals like "growing my business" VS.
Free. A Free badge means an active Microsoft 365 Family or Personal subscription isn't associated with the account you signed in with. Only the free web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are available to you. To access these apps in your browser, all you need to do is to sign in to Microsoft365.com with your Microsoft account and select the app you need from the app launcher .
Apply online for a payment plan. If you are a qualified taxpayer or authorized representative (Power of Attorney) you can apply for a payment plan (including installment agreement) online to pay off your balance over time. Note: Once you complete your online application you will receive immediate notification of whether your payment plan has ...
Six Reasons You Really Need To Write a Business Plan. Legitimize your business idea. Give your business a foundation for success. Obtain funding and investments. Hire the right people. Communicate your needs. It makes it easier to sell your business. 1. Legitimize your business idea.
7. Your provider's network is congested. Provider networks can get overloaded the same way your home network can: too much traffic and not enough bandwidth. 8. Your provider is throttling your connection. Your ISP may be intentionally slowing down your connection for a number of reasons.
But students often just switch to cellular data to use the app. In May 2023, Gov. Greg Gianforte of Montana signed a bill to ban TikTok from operating inside the state, the first prohibition of ...
Plans for people 65 or older or those who may qualify because of a disability or special condition. Plans that offer coverage from birth to adulthood. Medicaid. Plans that are low cost or no-cost. Small business. Plans that offer savings for employers, while supporting employee health. Short term insurance.
Using Instagram for business is a bit different than using a personal account. But don't worry, it's not rocket science! Follow these 4 simple steps to get your brand up and running on Instagram. 1. Switch to an Instagram business account. Before you start using Instagram for business, you need to create an Instagram account for business.
Develop your emergency management plan. Our template steps you through the process of creating your plan with links to extra information if you need it. You may want to check out our tips below before you start. 1. Understand the plan sections. Prepare your continuity plan. Prepare your emergency action plan.
Describe Your Services or Products. The business plan should have a section that explains the services or products that you're offering. This is the part where you can also describe how they fit ...
Once you've decided on your disaster recovery plan's approach, begin tackling the specific components to build the plan. A good DRP should include the following elements. A planning team ...
Notes: If you don't see an option to Cancel, but instead see a link that says Turn on recurring billing, this means your subscription is already set to expire on the date shown and you won't be automatically charged after this date. There's nothing further to do at this time, and you can continue to use the product until your Microsoft 365 subscription expires.
A business plan lays out a strategic roadmap for any new or growing business. Any entrepreneur with a great idea for a business needs to conduct market research, analyze their competitors, validate their idea by talking to potential customers, and define their unique value proposition.
The Ramsey Show believes you can build wealth and take control of your life—no matter what stupid mistakes you've made with money. Join as Dave Ramsey and his team of experts answer your questions on the top problems holding you back. Listen now or ask your question live by calling 888.825.5225 week…