The concept of the lean startup, developed by entrepreneur Eric Ries, looks at how product development cycles can be shortened and businesses can run more efficiently by continuously measuring progress and feedback. This philosophy is particularly relevant when it comes to thinking about your business plan.

In business, it is the continuous planning process that matters. Your business plan, like your business, is a living, evolving, flexible thing. It requires rapid changes and fact-based decision making. I like the body metaphor implied by the term. Lean doesn’t just mean thin; it also means healthy, muscular and efficient. Here five ways to help make your business plan leaner:

1. Make strategy the heart of your plan. 

Strategy is focus -- focus on specific target markets using specific products or services. Your strategy is based on some strength or characteristic that links you to your preferred buyers and the solutions you offer them. It defines how you want to set your business apart from the crowd. Strategy isn't text -- it's concepts. You can summarize strategy in bullet points, using charts or even with a series of images.

To test your strategy statement, read it and ask yourself whether it describes your unique business or could be applied to many others. Is it specific enough to be implemented? Does it define a market, product and branding focus? While everything in a business plan is subject to change, the strategy changes more slowly than the rest of the plan in response to changing conditions.

Related: 10 Questions to Ask Before Determining Your Target Market

2. Summarize more, elaborate less.

Your business plan is held up by eight key core concepts: market, product or services, production, marketing, sales, distribution, management and finance. A fat business plan describes each of these key areas in elaborate detail. Lean business planning means using more bullets and less text. It refers to trends and ongoing assumptions as economically as possible, explaining them in detail only where the detail isn’t already understood.

3. Track progress and manage course corrections constantly. 

Track your progress with lists and tables full of numbers that you can use to course correct. This is lean to the extent that it's specific, concrete and measurable. The most important part of this is a list of milestones. These are scheduled achievements and activities, each of which ought to have dates, budgets, performance measurements, expectations for spending and sales and specific assignments for task responsibilities.

Aside from these milestones, good planning also needs regularly updated projections of sales, costs, expenses and cash. The projections should be just detailed enough to offer good plan-verses-actual analysis for better management. For example, monthly projections are probably essential for at least the next six months, and usually 12 months is better; but monthly projections beyond a year are most often a waste of time. The goal isn't guessing right (which never happens) but rather laying out the probable results and connecting the dots (like expenses to sales) so you can track progress and make useful changes.

Related: What Angel Investors Want Now

4. Dress up your plan with descriptions.

Descriptions you use to dress up your plan depending on the audience might include market details, technical or scientific background, company history, bios of the management team, generic market research, proof of concept and competitive analysis. Like clothes, you make these descriptions appropriate to the occasion. For example, you might need to prove a market to assure investor or to prove financial stability to assure bankers.

5. Be consistent about updates.

Planning for a startup is a lot like diet and exercise. Business planning is a process, not an event. Like diet and exercise, the key to staying lean is regular repetition over a long time to generate real positive benefits. You don’t do it once, or even once in a while. You review and revise your plan regularly.

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Ideas come in all shapes and sizes. But my experiences and the experiences of my many students have taught me that winning ideas -- ideas that are profitable, quick to license, and inexpensive to venture -- share specific traits. Namely, they pave a smooth path to success by clearing the most difficult barriers to bringing a product to market before an entrepreneur has invested significant amounts of time, energy and money into an idea.

If your idea doesn't have the following five ingredients, you may want to assess how much you're willing to put on the line to see it succeed.

1. A substantial market.

If your product doesn't appeal to a large enough market, you may never recoup the cost of bringing your idea to life. Simply put, you're wasting your time. Don't wonder if there's enough demand to support the cost of manufacturing, distributing and marketing your idea – do the math and use the Internet to find out the market size. Who do you think is going to buy your product? Where?

Years ago, I read an article about the need for more space on product labels from medicine bottles to beverages. The opportunity struck me immediately. Everyone buys medicine and at least the occasional bottled water or soda. I used the Internet to research how large the packaging industry actually was and the market was undeniably huge. This lead me to develop a rotating label product that offered more space on product labels.

A good indicator of a substantial market is the existence of other products that aim to solve the same problem yours does. If your idea is so revolutionary that not a single other product like it exists, that presents a new set of challenges. That's not to say your idea isn't good or shouldn't be pursued. But it's going to be much more difficult to execute.

Related: How to Outwit Your Competition

2. Existing manufacturing technology.

I cannot overestimate the importance of this. Many entrepreneurs ignore the realities of manufacturing until far too late. Products that require the creation of new manufacturing equipment are incredibly cost-prohibitive. Contact contract manufacturers to determine how your product idea can be made. Contract manufacturers can be easily identified online or through trade associations. Show them a sketch of your idea, ideally with CAD drawings, and ask what it would cost to produce 100,000 or 200,000 units.

Always make sure to have anyone you work with sign a non-disclosure agreement. Before showing your idea to anyone, make sure to have filed a provisional patent application. These are very inexpensive and protect your idea for up to one year without having to file for a patent.

3. An acceptable retail price point. 

How much will it cost to manufacture your idea? Get a quote from a contract manufacturer. If your product is significantly more expensive than other similar, existing products, that's cause for reflection. Retailers won't be willing to stock a product that doesn't fit into an effective price point. The general rule of thumb is that products retail for five times the cost of manufacturing.

Related: How to Build a Lean and Efficient Business Plan

4. A benefit that's summarized in a single sentence.

Many entrepreneurs fail to understand they're actually selling benefits, not ideas. Benefits are what motivate consumers to buy products. Likewise, you'll be selling the benefit of your idea to everyone you work with along the way, including investors, distributors and retailers. Is your benefit unique? Is it significant? For example, the one-line benefit statement I used for my rotating label technology was: "This new label adds 75 percent more space to your package." If you can't come up with a succinct easy-to-describe description, that's a good indicator the benefit of your idea isn't very strong -- or maybe that it doesn't have one.

5. A user-friendly interface.

In addition to having a one-sentence pitch, you want it to be easy for customers to figure out how to use your product on their own. For example, when developing my label technology, I put a picture of a hand turning the label on my prototype to show people what they needed to do to use it.

If your idea is so new or complex that consumers need to be taught how it works, let alone be convinced they actually need it, this will cost you. Most companies aren't willing to invest in such a radical idea. Creating a sound marketing strategy is difficult enough; having to describe your idea in addition to selling it is often too great a task. Make your product as intuitive as you can and it will be much more marketable.

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The newest generation of entrepreneurs grew up in the era of recycling, electric cars and Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, so it's no surprise that many are starting companies to combat global warming.

On Earth Day, it's a good time to take a look at a crop of promising green startups. Some are focused on specific niches, such as clean fuels and efficient electronics manufacturing, while others are taking a consumer-focused approach, providing easy-to-use tools to help everyone make environmentally friendly choices. Even in a challenging capital-raising environment for green companies (more on that later), these young companies are gaining the support of venture capitalists.

Related: Eco-Friendly Actions Will Save Your Business Money

Plano, Texas-based Choose Energy, for example, announced on March 26 that it raised $4 million to expand its online platform, which allows consumers and small businesses to shop for energy plans based on a variety of factors, including how green the providers are. "About 40 percent of our customers choose wind power," says founder and CEO Jerry Dyess. "A lot of people think it's more expensive, but in most cases, you can save money by switching to a 100 percent green product."

Choose Energy, which was founded in 2008, operates in four states where energy is deregulated--meaning consumers can choose among different providers--and has plans to expand its services nationwide, Dyess says. The company is also developing technology for energy providers to use in customer acquisition and support. The recent fundraising, led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Stephens Capital Partners, will help support Choose Energy's new satellite office in San Francisco.

Related: 7 Trends in 'Green' Business

Arctic Sand, which was spun out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2011, is attacking a different side of the global-warming problem: heat loss from gizmos such as cell phones and set-top boxes. Nadia Shalaby, CEO and co-founder of Arctic Sand, says the conversion of power from one form to another--say from AC to DC--inside these devices is typically a seven-part process, and that heat escapes during each step. The company has developed a new type of semiconductor to shorten that process, thus cutting down on heat loss.

"About 80 percent of all energy generated worldwide is lost in the form of heat," Shalaby says. "It's a sad statistic, but one we could change by investing to make power conversion more efficient." Shalaby estimates that if Arctic Sand's products were widely adopted, they could save seven million tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year.

Even though Arctic Sand is more than a year away from introducing its first product, the Cambridge, Mass.-based company has already caught the attention of the venture capital community: It raised $9.6 million late last year from a syndicate of investors that included Arsenal Venture Partners and Dialog Semiconductor.

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In the startup world, ping pong tables and free swag have become the status quo. But these kinds of lush office accoutrements are not always feasible on a startup budget.

Still, it's important for your workspace or office to reflect your company culture. The question is, how do you make it work at a reasonable price?

Here, we've pulled together some ideas for companies who want to look the part on a startup budget:

1. Set the tone with your decor.

When selecting decor for your office, keep your brand's mission in mind. Unless buying and selling high-priced art is a part of that message, for instance, there's no need to splurge on professional artwork. Lower-priced options include: DIY projects that will spruce up your space. If you aren't the crafty type, just check out Etsy for one-of-a-kind photos or prints and then frame them yourself.

2. Clear the clutter from small spaces.

A large, affordable space in a good location is difficult to come by, especially in New York City. Let's be honest, most of us end up working where we sleep in the early days, anyway. If you're working amid cramped quarters, just remember that cleanliness is key. A cluttered work space can feel overwhelming, while a tidy space will keep the team calm and organized.

3. Make inspiring and inexpensive purchases.

If you need to make purchases, be frugal and fashionable. We love our Native Union sleek white Pop Bluetooth phones that beat a clunky landline any day. Also look to introduce some live plants into the space, like succulents which are inexpensive and require little to no maintenance.

And let's not forget the value of tunes. Keep some music playing quietly in the background to boost your team's morale. Make a collaborative playlist including everyone's favorite songs or alternate who gets to select the Spotify station each day.

4. Get active.

It's easy to burn out if you never take a break. You may not have the budget to hire a personal trainer or turn that back office into a Pilates studio, but there are other ways to keep your team energized.

Check out Power 20 for an easy 20-minute workout that the whole team will love (and it doesn't require much space). A quick, interval workout midday will give the team an endorphin boost they may need. Or, encourage the team to take advantage of the nearest Soul Cycle. They'll come back refreshed and ready to work.

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What's in a name? When deciding what to call your company, the answer is plenty. A business name can be too broad--or too confining. It can be too quirky--or not memorable enough. The challenge is to pick a name that's catchy, but also fits well with your particular type of business.

Here are 10 questions to ask as you ponder various names, keeping in mind that the choice could make all the difference in establishing your company in the marketplace.

What do I want a name to accomplish for my company?

A name can help separate you from competitors and reinforce your company's image, says Steve Manning, founder of Sausalito, Calif.-based Igor, a naming agency. He suggests clearly defining your brand positioning before choosing a name, as Apple did to differentiate itself from corporate sounding names like IBM and NEC. "They were looking for a name that supported a brand positioning strategy that was to be perceived as simple, warm, human, approachable and different," Manning says.

Will the name be too limiting? 

Don't box yourself in, says Phoenix-based Martin Zwilling, CEO and founder of Startup Professionals Inc., an advisor to early-stage startups. Avoid picking names that could limit your business from enlarging its product line or expanding to new locations, he says, citing the example of Angelsoft.com, a company formed in 2004 to help connect startup companies with angel investors. A couple of years ago, the company realized it needed to appeal equally to venture capital and other types of investors. So, it did a costly rebranding to Gust.com, which is less specific and evokes a nice "wind in the sails" image.

Does the name make sense for my business? 

For most companies, it's best to adopt a name that provides some information about their products and services. That doesn't mean it can't also have a catchy ring. Lawn and Order, for example, is a good name for a landscaping business because it gets people's attention and also clearly relates to the company's services, Zwilling says. While unusual words like Yahoo and Fogdog sometimes work, quirky names are always a crapshoot.

Is the name easy to remember? 

The shorter the name, the better, Zwilling says, suggesting that business owners limit it to two syllables and avoid using hyphens or other special characters. He also recommends skipping acronyms, which mean nothing to most people, and picking a name whose first letter is closer to A than Z because certain algorithms and directory listings work alphabetically. "When choosing an identity for a company or a product, simple and straightforward are back in style and cost less to brand," he says.

Is the name easy for people to spell? 

That may seem to be a given, but some companies purposely select names that consumers can't easily spell. It's a risky strategy to try to make a company stand out, and some naming consultants recommend against it. "If your name looks like a typo, scratch it off the list," says Alexandra Watkins, founder and chief innovation officer of Eat My Words, a naming service based in San Francisco. She also believes that it's important that your name be spelled exactly as it sounds. Otherwise, you will forever have to spell it out for people when saying the name or your company's email or website address aloud. "Think of how often you have to spell your own first or last name for people," she says. "Why would you want a brand name with the same problem?"

How will potential customers first encounter your name? 

Some naming experts believe there are exceptions to the easy-to-spell rule, especially if most people will see your name for the first time in a print or online ad. For example, consider Zulily, the online company offering daily deals for moms, babies and kids. "If you just heard that name, you might not guess how to spell it, but the company's aggressive online ad campaign has meant that most people first see it spelled out," says Chris Johnson, a naming consultant in Seattle and author of The Name Inspector blog, who came up with the name Zulily. "The payoff is that the unusual sound and spelling of the name have helped them create a very distinctive brand."

Does the name sound good and is it easy to pronounce? 

Manning says the sound of the name is important in conveying a feeling of energy and excitement. You also must be sure potential customers can easily pronounce your company's name. "It is a hard fact that people are able to spell, pronounce and remember names that they are familiar with," he says, pointing to Apple, Stingray, Oracle and Virgin as strong names. But he doesn't like such company names as Chordiant, Livent and Naviant. "These names are impossible to spell or remember without a huge advertising budget, and the look, rhythm and sound of them cast a cold, impersonal persona," he says.

Is your name meaningful only to yourself? 

A name with hidden or personal meanings evokes nothing about your brand, and you won't be there to explain it when most people encounter it. "Refrain from Swahili, words spelled backwards, and naming things after your dog," Watkins says. She gives the example of Lynette Hoy, who was using her first and last name for her PR firm in Bainbridge Island, Wash. The name didn't work because it failed to evoke Hoy's fiery personality and passion, Watkins says. So, the company was rebranded Firetalker PR, and Hoy took the title of Fire Chief. She called her office The Firehouse, and began offering PR packages such as Inferno, Controlled Burn and The Matchbox. "Her entire brand is built around that name and lends itself to endless ways to extend the name," Watkins says. "Her prior name didn't lend itself to any theme or wordplay."

Is the name visually appealing? 

You also want to consider how the name looks in a logo, ad or a billboard, Manning says. He points to Gogo, the inflight Internet service provider, as a good name for design purposes. "It's the balance of the letters, all rounded and friendly, versus a word with hard, angular letters like Ks and Ts and Rs," Manning says. Other visually appealing names include Volvo because it has no low-hanging letters and Xerox for the symmetry of beginning and ending with the same letter.

Have I conducted a proper trademark search?

A great name is worthless if someone else already has laid claim to it. Start with some free resources like Trademarkia.com or USPTO.gov to do a cursory search to see if the name is already in use. Then, hire a trademark attorney to do a more thorough screening, and if the name isn't taken, to register it with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. "Get it right the first time," Watkins says. "A third of our business comes from companies who are being threatened with trademark infringement."

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Silicon Valley, Boston, Los Angeles, and New York's Silicon Alley can all boast about their status as top startup hubs for venture capital investment. But when it comes to ease of launch, some of these top cities were found wanting.

We examined the "2013 Thumbtack.com Small Business Friendliness Survey," which focused on ease of starting a business and compared it to National Venture Capital Association's annual ranking of the U.S.'s top cities for investment deals completed. The Thumbtack survey, which was conducted in partnership with the Kauffman Foundation, polled 7,766 small-business owners across 57 cities and evaluated the areas based on a number of criterion including overall friendliness, ease of starting a small business, tax code fairness and licensing regulations.

Here's a look at the top 10 startup hubs and how they fared on a scale of entrepreneurial friendliness.

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