Q. I am writing a business plan before opening a gift basket business and would like to know if sale goals are set and how to go about that when starting out.

A. Smart lady! Setting goals and projecting sales is a vital step in moving toward success. Set out your goals; develop plans for how you plan to meet them, and have a timeline for when you want to achieve each goal.

In the beginning your projection may not be very accurate. You may need to align your goals to the results of each marketing project. This will keep you focused on your plan...and will make it easier to grow your busines. There are organizations that can help you, either free or for a very low cost. One is SCORE, and another is the Small Bus Development Center. SCORE is an organization of retired executives who assist small business people in planning and operating your business.