Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes is encouraging entrepreneurs and persons interested in starting a business in Kentucky to participate in National Write a Business Plan Month this December.
"This is a great time to develop a plan for a new Kentucky business or update older plans," said Grimes. "Businesses with clear plans and goals are more likely to succeed, so I encourage people to use the business planning tools my office provides online.”
Almost 15,000 new entities have used the Kentucky Business One Stop Portal to launch businesses this year. The Portal offers assistance to persons interested in starting a business in the Commonwealth. The business plan wizard and business plan template provide step-by-step guidance for creating a business plan.
Additional resources for new businesses, including research support and mentoring information, are included in the "Plan My Business" section of the Portal.
Entrepreneurs across the Commonwealth have found the Business Plan Wizard helpful in creating and expanding their ventures. For instance, Melissa Jutras, a national-level Olympic weightlifter, certified STOTT Pilates instructor and NSCA Strength and Conditioning Specialist, started her own health and fitness business in 2010 and recently used the Business Plan Wizard to help expand her growing small business.
"I started Achieving Bodies, LLC, to provide fitness and Pilates training in both one-on-one and group settings,” Jutras said. “Now I'm preparing to open my own gym, so it's a good time to reevaluate and adjust my business plan. The Secretary of State's Business Plan Wizard has been really helpful in making sure my new plan puts Achieving Bodies in a position to succeed!"
“Achieving Bodies is a great example of the many small, local businesses that are helping Kentucky thrive,” said Grimes. “I’m thrilled that Melissa is taking advantage of the tools available to entrepreneurs through our Portal, and I hope others will do the same. As Kentucky's chief business officer, I want to help both new and existing businesses in the Commonwealth, and I am committed to ensuring that every business’s interactions with government are efficient and effective."
The Kentucky Business One Stop Portal at: http://www.onestop.ky.gov also includes many other resources for businesses, including information on taxes, insurance, and annual reporting requirements.
Story provided by Kentucky Secretary of State
