A good business plan can make a crucial difference between failure and success for any business.

Here are some general rules to follow, pitfalls to avoid and guidelines on structuring the business plan:

• Do not exceed 30-40 pages of single-spaced text.
• Make sure they are free of typos or grammatical errors.
• The plan should identify the business's most profitable markets and promote the management team's knowledge and expertise.
• The business should be looked at from a “bird’s eye” view.

Among the mistakes to avoid are:

• Unrealistic assumptions and underestimations of potential problems, risks and competitors.
• Creating the plan yourself and not including people from all areas of the business.
• Preparing the plan yourself and not using an outside source to help you complete your plan.
• Trade jargon and detailed technical information are best avoided. Once a draft is completed, feedback from friends and advisors can be extremely useful before the content is finalized.