Writing a business plan can feel like a daunting task and you may be tempted to take a shortcut.  But is buying a business plan template or software program always the right choice? No.

Don't get me wrong, if you are just looking to put your business strategy on paper to use as a "play book" for your management team, consider the shortcut. However, if are using your business plan to raise startup capital from an investor, I'd strongly discourage the template or software.  Why?

Because I get to see a lot of business plans every month. Some are from friends who actively invest in startups and small business. Others come directly from entrepreneurs looking for help. Guess where the "shortcu...