business plan

noun

plural business plans

: a plan that lays out a business's objectives and its strategies for achieving those objectives usually over a certain period of time

a 5-year business plan

Having a well-written and thorough business plan shows lenders you have a solid strategy and vision for growth.

—Maya Johnson

The three of us drew up a business plan, estimated our start-up capital at $200,000 and quickly agreed on rules to govern our partnership.

—Fred Martin

The goal is to buy into emerging companies that are poised for runaway growth because of promising business plans or technology.

—Sara Robinson

business planning noun

The series will guide participants through a journey of self-discovery, business planning, operational strategies, goal setting, networking and resource utilization.

—Sun Journal (New Bern, North Carolina)

Examples of business plan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Hüller bursts in right around the 20-minute mark or so, screaming about how a disaster of her sibling’s making will totally ruin her business plans — and on the eve of Eva’s company going public, no less. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2026

The New Mexico trial provided a good road map to what Meta’s business plan is all about. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026

People who already have an idea, can upload a business plan and ask the AI engine to help refine it, or generate 100 neighboring ideas to help improve it. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026

Securities or corporate counsel can help prepare offering documents, while business plan writers and economic impact analysts can help demonstrate how the project will meet job creation requirements. — Jill Jones, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above