Here's an unspoken truth: no one really likes reading business plans. Considering that they're typically pages (and pages) of solid text interrupted only by a few dry charts and graphs, it's easy to see why they're not riveting reading. Compound that with the fact that most investors see hundreds of business plans a month, and it becomes readily apparent why 45-page plus plans give them the hives.

While we've previously advised that you use simple and engaging writing to prevent your reader (y'know, the guy who's going to write your check) from falling asleep, one of our readers writes in asking whether she should include art in her business plan.

Like most of our responses to reader questions, we're going with "it depends." If you have actually interesting, relevant photographs, renderings, blueprints, or any other graphic elements that add something to the business plan, by all means include them. This is particularly true if your start-up revolves around a product you've developed. In a pitch meeting you should naturally have a sample on hand, but it doesn't hurt to have photos and illustrations of the design in your business plan. This not only breaks up the text, making it easier to read, but also provides a useful visual.

By the same token, if you're just including pictures to have something other than just text in your plan, skip it. While everyone loves a Picasso (unless you get a Matisse guy), if you slap it into the middle of a business plan, it's just distracting.

See?