Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Melissa Houston covers financial issues that affect women in business. Creating a business plan is a critical first step for any entrepreneur.

A business plan can help you raise money by demonstrating that you have a viable idea for a restaurant. In addition, investors want to see that others are interested in investing in your vision ...

All you need is a solid investment plan, the discipline to avoid critical mistakes, and the patience to stay on the course. If you stick to these basic principles, you’ll likely do better than ...