From free apps and templates to low-cost software and workshops, there are plenty of places to go for advice on writing a business plan. Just launch a brower. But for some help with directions, I turned to the Miami Herald Business Plan Challenge judges. The judges are nearly all entrepreneurs themselves, sometimes several times over, and have spent time mentoring South Florida's entrepreneurs. Read their bios here, here and here.
My story today offered some tips for that as well as some advice on what should go into a plan. The good news: You don't have to write a book. Shorter, leaner plans are in vogue this year -- and more likely to be read. See it here.
Here are a few more tips:
John Fleming, technology practice lead at Biztegra Partners and a judge in the FIU Track for the last several years, likes the simplicity of this blogger's post. Mario Sanchez Carrion says you can boil down a business plan to five questions -- why, how, what, who and when. Read the post here.
The 
important thing is to get started.
"Don’t fret the paralysis by analysis. Just download any (standard—not premium) program like Business Plan Pro and fill in the blanks. It’s not optimal but it will guide you step-by-step with hundreds of examples," suggests Mike Tomas, CEO of Astri Group and Bioheart and a judge in the Community Track.
Maria Hernandez, director of Mid-market Strategy and Transformation at IBM in Boca and a Challenge judge in the community track, says a great resource on business plans and other tools is IBM's SME Toolkit. 
"The SME Toolkit is a free program that enables entrepreneurs and small businesses to learn how to implement the susainable business management practices needed for growth in areas such as finance, accounting, international business, marketing, human resources or legal," Mariae says. I checked it out too and the site is chock-full of helpful information.
The sites sba.gov (U.S. Small Business Administration) and the business nonprofit SCORE (score.org) have templates for business plans on their sites. South Florida SCORE Miami-Dade counselor Phillip Harris encourages his SCORE clients to start with a one-page business plan that asks them to answer simple questions about vision, mission, strategies, objectives and action plan. It's less intimidating and an effective tool, he says.
Enloop is a free web app that was built to help small business owners plan, forecast and score their business or business idea, the company says, though I have not tried it. It will "autowrite" your plan and has recently added "invite and share" features.
And here is one more tip I always hear from judges: Get someone to read over your plan -- preferably not a close friend or family member who knows your business. Do they completely understand what you are trying to say? Do they know from reading it what your product or service is and how you will make money selling it? If it is not understandable to them, go back and revise. Also, if you are entering your plan in the Challenge or are sending it to a banker, investor, or other external party, have someone proofread your plan first. Nothing turns off a judge like a plan full of typos.
We are offering a free Business Plan Bootcamp March 6 at 6:30 p.m. at Miami Dade College Auditorium, Building 1, Room 1261, Wolfson campus. Please register at eventinfo@miamiherald.com
Do you have business plan advice for South Florida entrepreneurs? What has worked for you?