If you're working on your business plan in the midst of this financial brouhaha (let's use euphemisms—it's been a tough day), you're probably trying to determine how—if at all—it should figure into your plan.

The answer is not much. Unless your start-up is involved in mortgage lending or any other industry directly linked to financial services, there's a good chance it won't be directly impacted by what's going on. That means you might want to think about axing that page-long rehash of what happened at Lehman and how it may impact your candy shop in your exec sum.

That doesn't mean you should completely ignore the situation though. While the debacle on Wall Street might not have a major impact on your start-up, the generally gloomy economy might. Double check figures like the cost of goods because those expenses have risen, in some cases dramatically, over the past few months. Find out how start-ups and businesses like yours have been impacted by slowing of the economy and adjust your sales figures. Plan for a worst case financial situation in your business plan to show investors you're prepared to handle whatever comes next. Above all else, continue to closely monitor what's happening in your industry and adjust your business plan accordingly.

Besides, making numerous mentions of impending "financial Armageddon" in your business plan isn't really a good way to sell investors.