Do you have to create a business plan before starting the actual business?

What are some excellent services designed to help individuals evaluate a business idea, create a business plan, prepare for, and launch a startup?

• Question revised from "What service offers a fine deal for helping individuals evaluate a business idea, create a business plan, prepare for, and launch a startup?"

• Answer:

  Business incubators can offer you a package deal. You can also talk to consultants who work with StartUps in their portfolio. But in general, you have to consider the amount of work that goes into what you suggest. In order to do this professionally you need at least 2-3 months of work to prepare everything at a level that is good enough so it will hold due diligence work if an investor decides to look at your company. There is always room for negotiating since consultants who have startUps in their portfolio, do it for a number of reasons, for example in willing to invest sweat equity in your company and getting something back for it.  I sometimes see request on freelance networks like Elance for writing business plans that have to cost max. 100 / 200 USD which is rubbish. If you hire those kind of services, you will not do yourself any favors at all. Its much better that you do everything yourself, and buy software to help you write a business plan. The reason for hiring somebody like a consultant, is that you want to attract investments and secure the quality of your company. Its an investment, that will save you much more money in the end. So shop around and listen to what people have to say. You will hear who will have the best answers to what you need.