Business planning tools and resources

Use these free online tools and resources to help plan, run and grow your business.

Business readiness health check

Take our free business readiness health check to find out if you are ready to start your own business.

Business start-up guide

Read the business start-up guide and follow these 7 steps to assess your idea before starting a business.

Business planning resources

Whether you are just starting up or looking to grow an existing business, make sure you have a comprehensive business plan that identifies all the important aspects of your business.

Your business plan maps your current situation, identifies your goals, and describes what actions you will take to move your business forward.

Use these resources to plan, write and maintain your business plan:

• business plan template – key questions and helpful links to supporting information
• financial spreadsheets – to help prepare your business's financial plan, including
• • profit and loss
  • cash flow
  • balance sheet.

Read about how to prepare a business plan.

Market research kit

Use our market research kit to find key economic, demographic information about potential customers and statistical information about your industry.

Learn more about market research and researching customers.

Webinars and webisodes

Watch recorded webinars and webisodes for key advice when planning, expanding and improving your business.

Getting business advice

When starting a new business or growing an established one, a good adviser can help you reach business goals, negotiate contracts, minimise business risk, and much more.

Learn more about working with business advisers.

Also consider...

• Use our business health check to identify changes you can make to help your business survive and thrive.
• Download a business plan template and read why you need one.
• Learn more about how to develop your business plan.
• Read the Ask a mentor – business planning – information and tips from our Mentoring for Growth (M4G) mentors.
• Use the free Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS) to check if you need any licences, permits, registrations or approvals to operate your business.
• Read more about starting a business.
• Learn how to create a business vision.
• Find out how to evaluate your business idea.