- Starting a business requires adequate planning to succeed, as one out of five businesses fail within five years without a proper plan. A business plan acts as a "blueprint for success" to focus on important aspects. - Even a simple business like a lemonade stand requires considering competition and outsourcing some work, which impacts profitability especially for new businesses. - Developing a detailed business plan for a traditional brick and mortar business can take over 100 hours of research, but for most online businesses a less detailed plan is sufficient unless combining online and traditional operations.