It's not wise to begin a road journey to a new destination without a road map: You might get there in the end, but you open yourself up to wrong turns, false starts, and serious delays. It's just the same for a business, except that your road map is a business plan. It sets out your destination, how you plan to get there, and what you'll need along the way. Not only will it keep you on the right path, but it becomes your key sales tool for obtaining financing.