Introduction
Matthew Pauley
Business Plan Workbook and Excel Worksheet
Along with this textbook is an accompanying Business Plan Workbook, helping students to work through a business idea chapter-by-chapter that hopefully culminates in a well thought-through startup plan. In my experience teaching introductory entrepreneurship courses, developing a business plan supports deep-level learning that is displayed through critical analysis, creativity, and networking. The design of the business plan has been simplified and tested over the past three years with over 750 students from diverse cultures and academic disciplines. It is my recommendation that students work on the business plan throughout the duration of the course as they complete chapters to reaffirm important lessons. Students may find tasks such as finance and accounting difficult, which is why an Excel Worksheet accompanies the business plan to help prepare financial reports for their proposed businesses.