Entrepreneurs Media Gallery

All new businesses who want to obtain funds from banks or lenders may be required to submit a cash flow proform or cash flow forecast. Use this Excel worksheet to get you started. It includes instructions. In addition, be sure to check out the accompanying article Why You Need Cash Flow Proformas .

Use this contingency plan template to help you write your own or as a guide. This Microsoft Word document tells you what should be in a contingency plan. For more information on this template, check out the accompanying article What is Business Contingency Planning?

Use this document to create your own Corporate Bylaws when incorporating a corporation. This document should not be used for the creation of an LLC. LLCs use Operating Agreement which you can also find in our Entrepreneural Media Gallery. For more information on how to use this template, see How to Incorporate on Your Own by Jean Scheid.

Use this Due Diligence Checklist when buying a business. A due diligence checklist can help you discover all you need to know before you buy a business.

Use this easy employee handbook template to create your own when starting a new business. For more information on this template and how to use it, see Jean Scheid's Your Employee Handbook: What Should Be In It .

Use this template for employee warnings. This template provides space for three warnings. For more information on how to use this form, see Jean Scheid's accompanying article Difficult Employees - Why You Need to Document Warnings .

This Employer's Guide to Unemployment Insurance is from the state of Texas but offers useful information on understanding unemployment rights and the appeal process. For more information on how to appeal unemployment claims and why you, as an employer, should be very concerned about unwarranted claims, please see Jean Scheid's enlightening article Appealing Unemployment Claims . In addition to explaining the appeal process for unemployment...

Download and print these FMLA employee rights and responsibilities and, post in a conspicuous place where all employees can see them, and include a copy with your employee handbook .

Print and place this Family Medical Leave Act poster in a place where each employee will be able to read it and have access to it. The FMLA requires posting of this poster if you have 50 or more employees. For more information, see Jean Scheid's guide What a Small Business Owner Needs to Know About FMLA .

Use this venture captial PowerPoint guide created by Robert S. Smith of Bridgepoint Consulting, LLC. Robert S. Smith agrees to share this Powerpoint guide through the file sharing site DocStoc . Use the tips here to obtain funding from venture capitalists. Also, be sure to read Jean Scheid's accompanying article Using Venture Capitalists to Fund Your Business .

Use the Incorporation checklist to guide you through incorporating your business on your own. To learn more about this topic, see Jean Scheid's guide How to Incorporate on Your Own .

This Excel spreadsheet is an example of the opening balance sheet for a car dealership purchased by Jean Scheid. Feel free to submit comments or ask questions. For tips on how to develop this document for your own business, see Jean's article How to Estimate Your Opening Balance Sheet .

This sample plan accompanies Ronda Levine's article, One Page Business Plans . Check out the article for more tips on how to prepare a one page business plan.

Use the Articles of Incorporation template to write your own articles of incorporation including forms on appointing board of directors and assignment of the registered agent to file with your corporation commission. Be sure to check out Jean Scheid's article How to Incorporate on Your Own for more valuable information on how to use this template.

Use this sample confidentiality agreement to aid you in selling your franchise or business. For more information on this template and how to use it, see Jean Scheid's Due Diligence and Buying a Business .

Use this sample corporate dissolution when your corporation ceases to exist. Check with your state's corporation commission on their guidelines for dissolving a corporation.

Use this sample corporate resolutions to help you write your corporations resolutions. Check with your state's corporation commission to ensure you are following the correct guidelines.

This is a sample cover letter letter designed for submission to angel investors and venture capitalists that would be included in the business plan submission. For more information on how to compose and use such a document, see William Busse's guide Preparing a Cover Letter for Angel Investors and VCs .

The attached file gives an example of a basic sales forecast developed in Excel 2007. You're welcome to download and modify this file for your own business planning needs. For more information on this exhibit, including instructions on how to create your own, please see Michele McDonough's guide Developing a Sales Forecast in Excel .

Use this sample Operating Agreement if you are forming an LLC. LLCs use an Operating Agreement and not corporate bylaws. If you are not forming an LLC you can also find sample Corporate Bylaws in our Entrepreneural Media Gallery. Be sure to read Jean Scheid's How to Incorporate on Your Own to find out what other documents you will need to form an LLC.