You write a business plan for the precise reason that you can determine what you should and shouldn't commit to. If something is in the business plan and you kn

You write a business plan for the precise reason that you can determine what you should and shouldn't commit to. If something is in the business plan and you knew it would kill the business, then you take it out of the business plan! Business plans are good. They don't have to take a lot of time. I did a business plan and put charts and numbers in it. As the business progressed, without intending to stick to the business plan, the charts have turned out to look almost exactly like the charts I put in the business plan. The numbers are different, but the shape is almost exactly the same. If anything business plans are a way to test your ability to predict the future and nothing is more important in business than being able to predict the future. If you can predict the future, it doesn't matter what kind of business you create, you'll make the right decisions based on your understanding of what the future holds. Of course, you don't need to have an ability to predict the future to run a successful business. Some people make great decisions on the fly. However, it's a really great feeling to look back and see that you have created the life you want intentionally with vision and you know for sure it wasn't just dumb luck. It's a real confidence boost and having known in advance how the future will be play out enables you to make better decisions with the trust of others. Just show them the plan you created 3 years ago and how your business has matched. When you do that, it's easier to convince others that the business moving forward will match your future plans as well. This is true of future partners, customers, and employees, not just investors. I've noticed a lot of people argue certain types of work are irrelevant when they simply don't want to do the work. They'll say, "It doesn't matter to use prepared statements, concatenating strings is fine!" But they're just lazy. It's not fine. Business plans are relevant. Strategy is relevant. Understanding the market is* relevant. Putting it on paper helps others understand what is in your head. Some coders argue that documenting their code is bad too, but that's absurd. Some argue that gathering requirements is irrelevant. "Just iterate!" they say. Hog wash. Of course business plans are good and they do help. You can survive without them, but it doesn't make business plans bad.