Successful transactions (capital raising, M&A, restructurings, etc.) require a clear understanding of a company’s current place in its industry and it’s prospects. A well thought out business plan forces clear thinking and is a useful marketing vehicle.
Formal business plans were temporarily out of style during the .com boom, but have returned, along with investor’s sanity. There are numerous sources for business plan outlines, below are links to several that I find useful:

• The Angel’s Forum, LLC. - Business Plan Questionnaire.
  A useful outline of some of the things that companies may be asked and some of the administrative items to be considered. (Credit: www.angelsforum.com)
• Sequoia Capital - What We Expect
  Describes key elements in their investment decision process.
• El Dorado Ventures - How to Pitch Venture Capitalists
  Common sense advice on the pitch.
  
  
  

General Information

• Warren Buffet’s Annual Letter to Shareholders
  Proves you can be a terrific business person, speak your mind, and admit your mistakes.
• Harvard Business Review
  Focused on strategy and the hardest part of running a business—operational excellence.