Many startup crises can be averted by seeking expert guidance in the planning stages, long before leases are signed or business cards are printed. Like a savvy career counselor or financial planner, the right advisor can help you build a solid foundation as well as steer you through choppy waters once you open your doors. Consultants, business coaches and even seminars can nip problems in the bud.

The author describes -- and refutes -- four common business plan myths to assist start-ups and growing small businesses.

A business plan isn't as useful for raising financing as the prevailing entrepreneurial wisdom holds, argues the founder of an Internet marketing concern. Instead, focus on building the business and the money will follow, the author advises.

A planning meeting should set the foundation for real strategy, not set forth the strategy itself. Find out how one company made the most of its two-day session.

Financiers decode business plans, looking for the secrets of probable success. If yours shows a customer-driven opportunity that your company's talent, passion and skin in the game can actually pull off, they're more likely to be impressed.

Planning isn't complete unless you've planned for review. People in management should know that initiating any plan is only one part of managing that plan. Much like steering a car, you also need to make necessary course corrections every now and then without losing track of the long-term goals. Without plan reviewing, your business is like a car with a locked steering wheel.

This guide, from the James J. Hill Reference Library, will point out the best free Web sites with which to research a business plan.

With a good business plan, you can land investors and help your company grow. Learn why the financial section of the plan is so important, and get tips on what information to include.

A well-prepared business plan is more than a necessary tool to seek funding. It should also be a functional road map for your growth strategy.

Read these business plan tips and suggestions from Tim Berry, principal creator of Business Plan Pro software.