Did you know December is National Write a Business Plan Month? The Business Resource and Innovation Center (BRIC) is a great place to start your business planning journey.

What is the BRIC?

The BRIC is a department of the Free Library of Philadelphia. We serve small business owners, entrepreneurs, non-profit professionals, patent-and-trademark-seekers, and job-seekers. We’re a department located on the ground floor of Parkway Central Library with a newly renovated coworking space (no need to whisper here!). We can help entrepreneurs from the beginning of their start-up journey by guiding them through our business-planning resources, recommending business-planning books, and referring them to our partner organizations that can help with consulting, mentoring, and more! 

Business-Planning Digital Resources

• Free Library Business Resource YouTube → The BRIC has an extensive YouTube video library with recordings of past classes taught by librarians. For business planning-specific help, check out the five-part Business Plan Toolkit. This video series will take you through the process of creating a business plan and the types of research that should go into it — with which we can help!
• Business Model Canvas → It’s a good idea to complete a Business Model Canvas before you start writing your business plan. This worksheet will help you think through the most important aspects of your business, like your value proposition, and encourage you to boil your ideas down to their core components. 
• Gale Small Business Builder → The Free Library offers patrons access to the Gale Small Business Builder. This resource is a step-by-step online planning tool for starting, managing, and optimizing a business or non-profit. You can use the Small Business Builder to make a Business Model Canvas, SWOT analysis, pitch deck, and more! There are also extensive educational resources explaining entrepreneurial concepts in easy-to-understand ways. Access this resource through the BRIC’s database directory.
• Business Plans Handbook Online → Are you writing a business plan but unsure what it should look like? The Business Plans Handbook Online has hundreds of examples of real business plans made by real business owners. You can even search by keyword to find a business plan applicable to your business! Access this resource through the BRIC’s database directory.

Business-Planning Books

How to Write a Business Plan (2019) by Mike P. Mckeever

A step-by-step guide by NOLO, one of the leading names in financial and legal do-it-yourself publishing

How to Write a Business Plan: Win Backing and Support For Your Ideas and Ventures (2022) by Brian Finch

A newly updated guide featuring exercises, templates, tips, and more to help you write your business plan

Writing a Convincing Business Plan (2015) by Art DeThomas

A concise volume on organizing a logical and convincing business plan

The Business Plan Workbook: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating and Developing a Successful Business (2018) by Colin Barrow

A newly updated volume with info on online marketing, search engine optimization, and case studies

Entrepreneurship for Dummies (2023)

A step-by-step guide for new entrepreneurs as part of the For Dummies series

Starting a Business All-In-One for Dummies

Everything you need to know about starting a business in one place as part of the For Dummies series

Partner Organizations

The BRIC partners with local organizations that provide low or no-cost programs and services for entrepreneurs. SCORE, a national organization with local chapters, hosts several business planning workshops each month. Some of December’s offerings include Business Model Canvas, Startup Basics, Small Business Essentials, and Creating a Quick Business Plan. Can’t make the live webinar? No worries! SCORE has an extensive backlog of recorded classes you can watch independently. 

You can also follow their Start-Up Roadmap which outlines each step in starting a business with accompanying webinars. Want a guide to help you along the way? SCORE has an amazing mentorship program that matches you with an experienced mentor free of charge! 

Check out the BRIC's page to learn more about the resources mentioned above and the rest of our useful programs and services.