The following point are included in a “standard” (there is no real standard for business plans) business plan:

1.            Description of the project

2.            Description of the market

3.            A swot-analysis (strengths/weaknesses analysis)

4.            A well thought strategy

5.            Operational plan

6.            Summery

When a business plan is well prepared, its a effective instrument of control which can help you in many ways:

• no improvising is needed when important decisions need to be made. The business plan will keep you in control.
• it's an excellent tool when talking to financers, like a bank, investor or when a request for subsidy is filed.
• it's the in-excludable addition to the financial plan. This will be discussed in the next paragraph.
   

Friends and family can help you making this document by playing “the devils attorney” and asking you hard questions. This however will give you an excellent preparation for the real meetings.