The Freeman’s Journal is a tool designed to help you capture, organize, and develop your business ideas in one place. It guides you through creating a basic business plan using simple, understandable terminology. The journal’s format encourages you to thoroughly document and refine your ideas, asking a series of “why,” “how,” and “why you” questions. Answering these questions will help you form a basic business plan, giving you a head start toward making your business dreams a reality. The journal aims to inspire and develop business talent across all demographic groups, particularly in economically disadvantaged communities. Most proceeds from journal sales will be invested in small businesses within these communities, where many creative and innovative leaders often go unrecognized. The journal is accessible to those without formal business education, storing multiple business plans in one place and providing a glossary of business terms to educate and inspire further research. I want this journal to reach individuals with great ideas who are often overlooked due to life’s circumstances. It’s meant for those with the talent to innovate but lacking the guidance to realize their potential. The name “Freeman’s Journal” is inspired by the Freedmen’s Bureau, established by President Abraham Lincoln after the Emancipation Proclamation. The Bureau aimed to help newly freed slaves maximize their newfound freedom and ensure fair opportunities to prosper as U.S. citizens. While the Freedmen’s Bureau had some success, its efforts were hindered by opposition at all levels, from federal entities to groups like the Ku Klux Klan. After President Lincoln’s assassination, Congress abandoned the Bureau, leaving Black citizens facing ongoing disenfranchisement. The Freeman’s Journal seeks to continue the Bureau’s mission, helping to end generational disenfranchisement and offering U.S. citizens a chance to succeed.