The Small Business Center of Haywood Community College will offer a free seminar entitled Business Plan Basics on Tuesday, Jan. 25, from 6-9 p.m. on campus in the Student Center, first floor.

Participants of Business Plan Basics will be able to study the steps to actually writing a plan and learn how to cover what is really needed in a short but useable plan. An effective business plan serves at least four goals:

• It helps you focus your ideas.

• It creates a track for you to follow in the early stages of business growth.

• It creates benchmarks against which you can measure your progress.

• It provides a document for attracting equity or debt financing.

The workshop will provide an interactive, hands-on, step-by-step primer to guide participants through the process of creating an effective business plan. Learn what a good plan must include and discover how it can bring together goals, plans, strategies and resources for a business. Examine how a good business plan can minimize risk and save you from significant financial and professional losses resulting from an unprofitable business.

Meghan Bunnell, a business counselor with the Small Business Technology Development Center (SBTDC) in Asheville, will lead this workshop. To preregister for this free seminar call the Small Business Center at 828.627.4512.