Business Planning Resources

Templates, Tools and Publications

AgPlan
AgPlan is a free online business plan development tool that gives tips on components of the business plan and allows the user to share their plan with others.

Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses – This SARE publication brings the business planning process alive to help today’s alternative and sustainable agriculture entrepreneurs transform farm-grown inspiration into profitable enterprises.

Developing a Business Plan: Penn State (pdf)
This publication will help you create your own business plan. It includes a discussion of the makeup of the plan and the information needed to develop a business plan. Pennsylvania State University, 2004

Market Vegetable Gardens: Planning for Success (pdf)
This publication presents an overview of what is involved with producing vegetables for profit, including field considerations such as soil fertility and greenhouse requirements, and financial aspects such as crop revenue, labor, and marketing. Examples illustrate how implementation might work for your situation. Washington State University, 2012

Veggie Compass
Veggie Compass is an ongoing project at the University of Wisconsin Madison that involves the development of whole farm profit management tools and workshops directed to diversified organic fresh market vegetable growers.

Organizations and Agencies – Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas

North Olympic Development Council – Offers agricultural business advising. The North Olympic Peninsula Resource Conservation & Development Council (NODC) empowers the North Olympic Peninsula to invest in and pursue its own economic and environmental destiny. As the federally-designated Economic Development District for Jefferson and Clallam counties, NODC is a collaborative, innovative effort among member governments, community organizations, tribes and businesses to advance economic, environmental and quality of life initiatives in the region.

Small Business Development Center – Located in Port Angeles that serves the North Olympic Peninsula. Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a network of more than 30 expert business advisors working in communities across the state to help entrepreneurs or small business owners start, grow or buy/sell a business.

Chamber of Commerce – The Chamber of Commerce is an active force in all segments of the business community, and promotes economic viability. Find your nearest Chamber: Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Sequim Chamber of Commerce, Forks Chamber of Commerce, Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, Bremerton Chamber of Commerce, Silverdale Chamber of Commerce, Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce, Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce, Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce.

Economic Development Councils – Provides one-on-one, confidential consulting and technical assistance to existing businesses. Find your nearest EDC: Team Jefferson, North Olympic Development Council, Clallam Economic Development Corporation, Kitsap Economic Development Alliance.

Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship – CIE offers accessible and inclusive first step business training and support in underserved communities throughout Washington State to help people launch and build businesses and become leaders in building resilient, sustainable, and equitably shared community wealth.

Organizations and Agencies – Greater NW Region and Washington State

Business Impact NW – Business Impact NW works together with you, providing the coaching, classes and capital you need to successfully launch and grow your business.

Northwest Ag Business Center – NABC helps farmers establish new enterprises, and helps make existing businesses more profitable, by providing business feasibility, planning and implementation guidance, connections to markets and capital, and access to resources.