Resumen
This paper investigates factors that influence entrepreneurs? decisions to prepare business plans. Data is obtained from a survey administered to clients of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center and designed to address various aspects of financing options, including availability/use of outside debt or equity funds and owner attitudes toward various funding options. Factors identified as influencing the decision to prepare a formal business plan in support of financing efforts include greater amount of required start-up costs, proportion of start-up costs raised from outside sources, and self-assessment of financial knowledge.