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Professional Business Plan Template to Customize

Create Your Business Plan

• Create a comprehensive business plan.
• Easily customize your slides to fit your needs.
• Showcase data with 40+ chart options.

Chosen by brands large and small

Our business plan maker is used by over 27,500,000 marketers, communicators, executives and educators from over 133 countries that include:

Powerful Presentation Features That Help You Shine

Professional business plan templates.

Create a presentation or document business plan quickly and easily with Visme's template options. Customize each page or slide to fit your vision and information to pitch to cofounders or investors. Get started today.

Data visualization made easy

Tell your story with the data to match using easy-to-customize charts and graphs. Select from 40+ chart and graph visualizations and find the one that proves your point clearly. Upload static data or connect to Google sheets for live data.

Customize every aspect of your presentation with your own images and text

Convey the exact mood you desire for your business plan with over a million images, thousands of icons, dozens of charts and data widgets to visualize information in an engaging way. Apply a color scheme to all your slides with one click. Add animation effects, transitions, interactivity, pop-ups, rollovers and third-party content to support your business case.

Speed things up with Visme AI Designer

Go from a text prompt to a ready-to-use design in mere minutes with Visme AI Designer (Beta). Do you need to create a business plan but lack the time? Let Visme AI Designer help you save time and effort. Describe your desired project to our AI Designer Chatbot, choose a style, and relax as AI Designer generates your project.

Apply our simple business plan template to give you a head start.

Meet the Team

Mission Statement

Product Overview

Value Propositions

Industry Landscape

Market Size

Customer Descriptions

Market Growth

Competitive Comparison

Competitive Advantage

Business Growth Projections

Marketing Mix

Conversion Funnels

Funding Needed

Share Your Business Plan

Finished your business plan and ready to share with the world? Visme’s business plan template makes it easy to publish, download and get feedback on your design. Simply download as a high resolution image or PDF, or publish it to the web and send a link to access it.

LEARN ABOUT BUSINESS PLANS

What is a Business Plan ?

A business plan is a written document or presentation that allows business leaders to share the business potential and goals, as well as your plans for the future. The business plan is a key step in working towards getting investors looking at your product.

If you're looking to flesh out a new business idea or venture in order to get cofounders or investors on board, you need a business plan. Get started with one of our templates to give you a starting point and framework for your own plan.

Why do I need a business plan?

Writing a business plan is a key step in securing funding and convincing high level executives that your business is worth their time. A well-executed business plan is crucial to the success of a business and it’s one of the first steps you should take.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED + MORE

Make Your Business Plan Stand Out

Take your business to new heights with a beautifully designed business plan. Our tools put the power of visual communication in the hands of entrepreneurs and business owners, no matter their level of design skills.

MAKE IT ENGAGING

Interactivity

Highlight your business’ unique selling point with interactive hotspots and rollover effects. Capture the attention of investors and stakeholders with interactive content.

VISUALIZE YOUR DATA

Charts & Graphs

Showcase in-depth data, statistics, and financial projections in a unique way. Harness the power of data visualization with Visme’s professional infographics, charts and graphs.

MEASURE THE IMPACT

Gain insight into the impact of your business plan with an analytics report. Track how many people have viewed your business plan and gauge its effectiveness.

HOW IT WORKS

How to Make a Business Plan in 5 Steps

If you are wondering how to write a business plan, you’ve come to the right place. Instead of starting your business plan from scratch, use our business plan templates to get you going in no time.

Learn more about creating your own business plan presentation or document by going through our step-by-step tutorial below or watching this quick video.

• Log into your Visme dashboard or create a new account, then click Create New Project.
• Access our business plan templates by searching for “Business Plan” in the search box.
• Select the template, then customize the content for your business.
• Update any charts and graphs to reflect your business goals.
• Once all your content is added, customize colors, logos, icons and more.

Questions About the Business Plan Template

How much does it cost to create a business plan with the business plan template, what types of charts and graphs are available in visme, can i use my brand kit to create my business plan with visme, is the business plan template completely customizable, can i use any photo in the image library in my business plan, your business plans deserve to be beautiful and so does the rest of your content.

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How it Works

Start With Your Idea

Craft Your Vision: Jumpstart your business journey with a brief description of your business. Acknowledge your business type and let us seamlessly transform it into a meticulously structured plan.

Series Of Guided Questions

Easily navigate through each section with Plannit's step-by-step guidance. Enter your own detailed solutions or leverage with AI-generated content and receive helpful prompts and ideas along the way. Plannit's AI capabilities provide insightful and precise content for market analysis, financial projections, marketing strategies, sales plan and more.

Collaborate With Your Partners

Bring your team over! PlannitAI provides a dedicated space where you can invite team members to view, shape and refine your online business plan. With or without the help of our AI model You can reword, rephrase, prolong and shorten sections to your liking. Collaborate in real-time to ensure your business strategy benefits from diverse insights and expertise, leading to a well-rounded and robust plan.

Present With Confidence

With a polished, expertly crafted plan in hand, You have already won half the battle. Confidently present business strategy to investors, stakeholders, or financial institutions.ć Start your journey with Plannit AI and transform your vision into a reality, creating a pathway for that entrepreneur life.

Try Plannit AI Today

Who can benefit from plannit.

Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Analyze your ventures through extensive business plans aligned with your vision and goals.

Business Owners

Back your business with a solid plan that aligns with your objectives. Perfect for small businesses.

Educational Institutions

Develop your business understanding and vocabulary by analyzing your business idea and creating a plan.

Startups Accelerators

Work alongside your founders as they build their plan to ensure they have a solid roadmap for scalability.

Funding Ready Business Plan

Executive summary, company overview.

Problem Statement

Business Description

Mission Statement

Business Model

Products and Services

Additional Features

Revenue Model

Market Analysis

Target Market

Market Size and Segments

Unique Value Proposition

Risks and Mitigations

Identified Risks

Mitigation Strategies

Financial Overview

Income Statement

Marketing and Sales Plan

Focus On Your Vision

Language support.

Key Features & Benefits

Ai editing companion.

Modify and regenerate sections of your business plan using premade or custom prompts. Our AI will help you refine your plan to perfection.

Multi-User Collaboration

Invite team members with easy sharing to collaborate on your business plan in real-time. Communicate and make changes together. Collaborate with your partners in real-time as you perfect your plan.

Education Center

Immerse yourself in a rich library of articles, tools, templates, webinars and resources for continuous business and professional growth. Learn all about the key aspects of starting, running and growing a business.

Powered by Chat GPT

Our algorithms are powered the latest in AI technology to ensure the most accurate and relevant output. We use OpenAI's GPT 4 and 3.5 engines for the perfect blend of accuracy and speed.

Business Resources

We recommend a variety of useful tools and resurces that help sustain your growth. We only recommend the best in the business. Filter your needs and equip yourself with the best tools.

Your plan in your language. We offer a choice of over 150 worldwide languages to ensure the best fit for your business plan.

Financial Projections

Take an additional questionnaire about your financial trajectory and get a detailed financial projection + 3 year income statement for your business.

Tools and Templates

Plannit's comprehensive suite that accompany business planning. From pitch decks to financial models, we have you covered.

Plan Export

Download your business plan in an editable .docx format. Fully edit & share your plan with investors, partners, and stakeholders.

Plannit Business Ecosystem

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Initiate with Your Business Concept: Lay the Groundwork: Start by introducing your business idea into Plannit AI's Business Plan Generator. This first step is crucial, as it sets the tone for a tailored, insightful business plan that truly resonates with your vision. Capture the Essence: Our platform is designed to grasp the nuances of your concept, ensuring that the generated plan accurately reflects the core and potential of your business.
• Navigate Through the AI-Guided Questionnaire: Tailored Interactive Experience: Plannit AI’s AI-guided questionnaire is your interactive guide through the planning process. It meticulously gathers information about your business's objectives, strategies, and market positioning, ensuring a comprehensive and reflective plan. Intelligent Feedback and Suggestions: As you progress through the questionnaire, benefit from smart prompts and suggestions, ensuring that your plan is not just detailed but also strategically sound and aligned with industry standards.
• Generate Your Plan with Advanced AI: Intuitive Plan Creation: With the questionnaire complete, Plannit AI's advanced algorithms intelligently analyze your responses. They then craft a detailed, customizable, and strategically aligned business plan, providing you with a structured, coherent, and actionable format. Benefit from AI-Powered Insights: Plannit AI offers AI-driven insights and suggestions, ensuring your plan is not just a document but a strategic tool equipped with tailored AI prompts and an in-app plan editor. Get inspired by browsing through our sample business plans, a collection of successful strategies across various industries.
• Finalize Your Plan with Confidence: Dynamic Adaptation and Refinement: Plannit AI recognizes that a business plan is a living document. Our platform allows for continuous adaptation and refinement, ensuring your strategy remains agile, relevant, and aligned with your evolving business goals. Professional Presentation and Sharing: Once your plan meets your standards, utilize Plannit AI's export features to present your plan professionally. Choose between various formats for exporting your business plan, ready to impress stakeholders, attract investors, or guide your team. Review and Adapt: Ensure your business plan is a living document, ready to evolve with your growing business. Plannit AI's dynamic platform allows you to adapt your strategy as new opportunities or challenges arise.
• Roadmap for Success: At its core, a business plan acts as a strategic guide, providing detailed steps on how your business will achieve its objectives. It helps you navigate the startup phase, manage growth effectively, and tackle unforeseen challenges with a well-thought-out strategy.
• Securing Funding: For startups and businesses looking to expand, a business plan is crucial for securing loans or attracting investors. It demonstrates to potential financial backers that your business has a clear vision, a solid strategy for profitability, and a plan for delivering returns on their investment.
• Informed Decision-Making: A well-prepared business plan offers valuable insights into your market, competition, and potential challenges. This information is vital for making informed decisions, from day-to-day operations to long-term strategic shifts.
• Market Analysis and Strategy: It allows you to conduct an in-depth analysis of your target market, understand customer needs, and position your product or service effectively. The marketing strategy outlined in your business plan helps in identifying the best channels and tactics to reach your audience and achieve market penetration.
• Financial Planning: One of the most critical components of a business plan is the financial forecast. It outlines your funding requirements, expected revenue, profit margins, and cash flow projections. This section is essential for budgeting, financial management, and ensuring the financial viability of your business.
• Goal Setting and Performance Measurement: A business plan sets clear, measurable goals and objectives. It provides a framework for monitoring performance, measuring success, and making necessary adjustments to stay on track.
• Aspiring Entrepreneurs: If you're at the idea stage, looking to transform your vision into a viable business, Plannit AI offers the tools and guidance to bring your concept to life. Our platform helps you articulate your business idea, define your target market, and develop a solid plan to turn your dream into reality.
• Students and Educators: For students delving into the intricacies of business planning and educators teaching the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, Plannit AI serves as an invaluable resource. It provides a practical, hands-on tool for learning and teaching how to create detailed business plans, analyze markets, and understand financials in a real-world context.
• Startup Founders: In the dynamic startup environment, Plannit AI is the ideal partner for founders looking to pivot quickly, secure funding, or understand their competitive landscape. With our AI-driven insights and market analysis tools, startups can make informed decisions and adapt their strategies to thrive in competitive markets.
• Small Business Owners: For small business owners seeking to optimize their operations, expand their customer base, or explore new markets, Plannit AI offers targeted solutions. Our platform simplifies the planning process, enabling owners to focus on growth while managing the day-to-day challenges of running their business.
• Consultants and Freelancers: Consultants and freelancers specializing in business development, strategic planning, or financial advising will find Plannit AI a powerful addition to their toolkit. It allows them to provide clients with comprehensive, data-driven business plans and strategies, enhancing the value of their services.
• Non-Profit Organizations: Leaders of non-profit organizations can leverage Plannit AI to plan initiatives, secure funding, and manage resources more efficiently. Our platform helps non-profits articulate their mission, set achievable goals, and measure their impact, ensuring they can make a difference in their communities.
• Innovators and Inventors: Individuals looking to commercialize innovative products or technologies can use Plannit AI to navigate the complexities of bringing new ideas to market. From patent strategies to go-to-market plans, our platform covers all bases, ensuring innovators can focus on what they do best.
• Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and Government Agencies: Government and SBA backed entities can greatly benefit from integrating Plannit AI into their services, enhancing their ability to support a larger number of clients more efficiently. By facilitating quicker, more in-depth business plan development, these organizations can spend more time assisting with plan execution and less time on creation, ultimately serving their communities more effectively.
• Anyone with a Business Idea: Ultimately, Plannit AI is for anyone with a business idea, regardless of industry, experience, or stage of business development. Our mission is to democratize business planning, making it accessible, understandable, and actionable for everyone.
• Interactive Questionnaire and ChatGPT Integration: Plannit AI transforms the business planning process into an engaging conversation. Through our advanced ChatGPT integration, we offer a questionnaire that dynamically adapts to your responses, ensuring your plan is personalized, comprehensive, and aligned with your business goals.
• Dynamic Planning Environment: Unlike static templates provided by many, Plannit AI introduces a living platform that grows with your business. It features real-time updates, strategic insights, and a feedback mechanism that keeps your business plan current and actionable.
• Extensive Educational Resources: Our Education Center is packed with articles, guides, and sample plans to bolster your planning process. It's designed to arm you with the knowledge to navigate the complexities of your industry confidently.
• Enhanced Collaboration and Customization: Recognizing the collaborative essence of business planning, Plannit AI supports team efforts with multi-user editing, annotations, and feedback features, ensuring a comprehensive approach to your strategy.
• Customer Success Stories: Our users' achievements are a testament to Plannit AI's effectiveness. These success stories illustrate how diverse businesses have utilized our platform for strategic planning and growth.
• Tailored Business Plan Creation: Our platform stands out with its tailored approach, featuring customizable templates that directly cater to your business type and industry, making plan creation straightforward and relevant.
• Content Generation:: ChatGPT helps draft various sections of a business plan, from executive summaries to marketing strategies, by providing structured and coherent text based on the prompts given.
• Strategic Insights: It can offer suggestions on business strategies by analyzing trends and providing examples from a wide range of industries.
• Financial Planning: While it can't replace professional financial advice, ChatGPT can guide the structure of financial projections and statements, helping you consider important financial aspects of your plan.

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Rest assured, we never share your data with third parties. Your privacy is our top priority, and we're committed to keeping your information safe and confidential.

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🤖 Free Business Plan Generator (AI-Powered)

Starting a business is an exciting journey, filled with aspirations and ambitions, yet crafting a solid business plan can sometimes feel like navigating through a dense fog. The AI-Powered Business Plan Generator shines a light on this path, offering a straightforward way to outline your vision, strategies, and financial forecasts. By providing customized, coherent business plans, this tool assists in laying down the foundation of your entrepreneurial dream, ensuring every aspect is addressed. It simplifies the planning process, enabling you to focus on bringing your business idea to life with confidence and clarity.

Help us make the generator better. How is the output?

Writing a business plan can often feel like navigating through a dense forest without a map. You know your destination—securing investment, defining your business strategy, or setting clear objectives—but the path isn't always clear. Enter the AI-powered business plan generator, a tool designed to illuminate the way forward. This guide will walk you through the essentials of crafting a comprehensive business plan, touching upon the traditional elements that captivate stakeholders. In the final stretch, we'll introduce how an AI-powered business plan generator can streamline this process, making it more accessible and less time-consuming.

How to create a Business Plan

Now that you're familiar with the executive summary, let's tackle how you can create the rest of your business plan.

You can start manually by outlining your plan's structure and filling in the details step by step, or opt for a business plan generator to streamline the process.

Either method requires careful consideration of each section to ensure your plan is thorough and compelling.

Manual Methods for creating a Business Plan

You'll start with the Executive Summary, distilling your business idea into a compelling snapshot that captures attention.

Next, you'll outline your Company Overview, providing a clear picture of who you are and what you stand for.

Then, lay out your Business Objectives, Products and Services, and your Market Analysis Approach to build a solid foundation for your plan.

Executive Summary Essentials

Although it's often crafted last, the Executive Summary stands as the crucial opener of your business plan. It distills key aspects such as your mission, product highlights, and financial ambitions for quick investor insight. It encapsulates your company's essence for investors and maps out the business plan development milestones.

Ensure it crisply outlines your executive summary, underscoring the company's financial goals. This will help capture investors' attention right off the bat.

Company Overview

Begin your company overview by detailing your business's foundational elements, including its name, location, and the team driving its operations.

Here's what to include:

• A clear description of your business structure and ownership.
• The mission statement that defines your business's purpose.
• An outline of the products or services you offer.
• Background information that paints a picture of your company's history and objectives.

Business Objectives

To set your business on the path to success, start by defining clear and measurable objectives that reflect both your immediate and long-term aspirations.

Align your business objectives with strategic objectives to meet financial goals.

Conduct market research to fine-tune your target market strategies .

Ensure company goals are realistic and adaptable, setting a course for growth and market competitiveness.

Regular updates keep your plan relevant.

Products and Services

After setting clear business objectives, focus on articulating the core of your offering by detailing the products and services your business provides. Your description should also include:

• Unique features and benefits of each product or service.
• Specific products' competitive advantages.
• Your strategy for sales, distribution, and supply chain.
• Trademarks and market placement for your products and services.

Market Analysis Approach

A thorough market analysis is crucial for your business plan as it reveals the dynamics within your target market and guides your competitive strategy .

You'll identify potential customers, understand established market trends, and analyze how competitors differentiate themselves.

This knowledge shapes your sales plan and informs your marketing and sales efforts, highlighting opportunities in an otherwise crowded marketplace and showcasing your grasp of the competitive landscape.

Marketing and Sales Strategies

Crafting a marketing and sales strategy requires precise identification of your target customers to ensure your message resonates and spurs action. Here's how to proceed:

• Define your target market for the new product.
• Develop a pricing and sales channel approach.
• Design a marketing plan with promotional tactics.
• Analyze market trends to refine your strategy.

Stay focused on meeting customer needs and differentiating from competitors.

Financial Analysis and Projections

Diving into the financials, you'll need to gather historical data and conduct a thorough analysis of revenue streams , costs, and profit margins to inform your projections for the next three to five years.

Your financial plan hinges on these insights.

Operations Plan

To ensure your business runs like a well-oiled machine, start by mapping out your key operational processes and procedures. Your operations plan is a vital section of your business plan. Here's what to include:

• Outline technology's role in business operations.
• Develop a comprehensive staffing plan.
• Establish a robust inventory management system.
• Implement quality control measures to provide additional assurance of product or service excellence.

Funding Requirements

Having established the operational foundations of your business, let's now focus on determining the capital necessary to fuel your growth and operational needs.

Outline your funding requirements by presenting clear financial data, including projected income, balance sheets, and cash flows.

You'll need this to secure funding from venture capital firms or potential investors, ensuring they grasp how their capital will propel your business towards its targets.

Appendices and Exhibits

When crafting your business plan, don't overlook the appendices and exhibits; these sections provide the substantiating details that reinforce your proposal's integrity. Include:

Documents that outline key personnel qualifications and experience.

Details on intellectual property, such as patents.

Additional information for financial institutions, like credit histories.

Contracts, leases, or other legal documents relevant to your business.

Using a Business Plan Generator

You might wonder why you'd use a Business Plan Generator—these tools streamline the planning process, making it easier for you to focus on the core aspects of your strategy.

To get started, you'll follow a series of steps that help structure your executive summary, goals, and market analysis within a proven framework.

The benefits are clear: using a generator can save you time and provide you with a professional, investor-ready plan.

Steps to use the Business Plan Generator

To create a business plan using a generator, start by selecting a template that aligns with your industry and business type.

Here are the steps to use a business plan generator:

• Identify Your Business Details : Start by providing the name of your business and the industry it operates in. This foundational step sets the stage for the tailored guidance the generator can offer.
• Describe Your Offerings : Clearly articulate what products or services your business sells or offers. This will help the generator understand the value proposition of your business.
• Define Your Target Audience : Specify who your ideal customers are, including demographic information. Understanding your target audience is crucial for creating a focused and effective business plan.
• Outline Your Marketing Plan : Detail your strategies for promoting your business. This includes how you plan to reach your target audience and differentiate yourself from competitors.
• Detail Your Operational Strategy : Explain how your business will operate on a day-to-day basis. Include information on your supply chain, logistics, and any other operational details.
• Provide Financial Information : Input how much money you need to start your business and project how much revenue it will generate. This financial planning is critical for assessing the feasibility of your business idea.
• Set Business Objectives : List what you aim to achieve with your business in the short term and the long term. These goals will guide the direction of your business strategy.
• Click on Generate : After entering all the necessary information, click the "generate" button to create your personalised business plan. This plan will be tailored to the specifics of your business, providing a roadmap for success.

Benefits of using a Business Plan Generator

Harnessing a business plan generator can significantly streamline the process, saving you both time and effort as you craft a detailed blueprint for your venture.

Here are the benefits:

• Provides a structured framework to write a business plan efficiently.
• Helps identify opportunities in new markets.
• Enhances financial literacy through budgeting and forecasting tools.
• Clarifies business objectives, aiding in communication with stakeholders.

Tips for Creating a Business Plan

When crafting your business plan these tips collectively form a comprehensive business plan, providing a roadmap for your business and presenting a compelling case to investors and lenders.

Here are the tips for creating a business plan:

• Articulate your mission and vision succinctly.
• Outline your offerings and financial ambitions.
• Provide a snapshot of your business's financial health and market potential.
• Clarify the business structure ( sole proprietorship , partnership, corporation).
• Highlight ownership details.
• Showcase key employees, emphasizing their expertise.
• Define short- and long-term goals for your business.
• Align goals with your strategic direction.
• Establish a direct link between financing needs and future growth.
• Describe your offerings and emphasize how they meet market needs.
• Support claims with market research.
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of your competition.

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Free Business Plan Generator

Do you still spend hours writing and creating a business plan? Not after today. Upmetrics’ free business plan generator simplifies writing a business plan and helps you create a comprehensive and compelling lean plan in seconds.

Sounds exciting? Let’s learn more about getting started with our free business plan generator and using it to draft your plan.

Using Upmetrics’ Free Business Plan Generator

Need help using the free business plan generator? Follow these step-by-step instructions to create a business plan using the free generator in no time.

Creating a business plan requires filling in 4 critical fields—company overview, marketing details, competitor information, and financial overview. Let’s start with the first.

1. Enter the Company Overview

Provide a company overview in approximately 3-4 sentences, including your business’s name, service offerings, USPs, mission, goals, and target market. Here’s an example for you:

2. Add Marketing Details

The next step—provide marketing details. Start by answering how your business plans to attract new customers and what you want to achieve with your business.

You may also include details about your marketing budget and preferred marketing channels. Here’s an example for your reference:

“i.e. We will attract customers through a strong online presence, social media marketing, and in-store promotions. Offering loyalty programs and hosting community biking events will help build a loyal customer base.”

3. Enter Competitor Information

After adding the marketing details, provide the name of your primary competitor(s) and explain how you are distinct from your competitors.

Describe whether your offerings have any competitive advantages or differentiators. Here’s how it can be done:

“i.e. Our primary competitor is ‘Wheels & Gears,’ but what sets us apart is our personalized customer service and expert bike repair services. We also differentiate ourselves by focusing on eco-friendly and sustainable products.”

4. Provide Financial Overview

Finally,—provide an overview of your business financials. Include what your startup costs are, what your financial strategy would be, and your first-year sales.

We are creating a lean business plan, so it may not require a detailed description of your business financials. Here’s an example for your understanding:

“i.e. Our expected business costs are $87,000 and that includes rent, inventory, equipment, and staff salaries. Our financial strategy is to minimize overhead costs and optimize inventory turnover. We project annual sales to reach $500,000 in the first year.”

5. Click on Generate a Business Plan

You’ve filled in all the necessary fields. It’s time to click “Generate a Business Plan” and see it yourself.

Your lean business plan is ready; you may make a few changes and go ahead with it or choose an AI business plan generator for comprehensive planning.

Make detailed business & financial plans in minutes with

Upmetrics’ AI Business Plan Generator

Plans starting from $7/month

Business Plan Example that will Inspire You

We created this sample CycleWave business plan using Upmetrics’ free generator. Remember, it’s your first draft—you can always go back and re-generate or edit it later.

CycleWave Business Plan

Introduction

Welcome to the business plan for CycleWave, a bicycle retail and repair shop dedicated to providing high-quality bikes and expert maintenance services. Our mission is to promote a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle through cycling while offering exceptional customer service.

Market Overview

The cycling industry is experiencing significant growth, driven by increasing interest in health, sustainability, and alternative transportation methods.

The target market includes cycling enthusiasts, commuters, and local community members.

Strong market potential due to growing awareness of the need for eco-friendly and sustainable products.

Competitive Analysis

Primary competitor: Wheels & Gears.

Differentiation factors

• Personalized customer service
• Expertise in bike repair services
• Focus on eco-friendly and sustainable products.

Highlight the advantages of our unique offerings to attract customers away from competitors.

Marketing Plan

Utilize a solid online presence through a professional website to showcase our products, services, and promotions. Implement social media marketing strategies to engage with customers and build brand awareness.

Host community biking events to foster a sense of belonging and attract potential customers. Offer loyalty programs to incentivize repeat business and build a loyal customer base.

Operational Plan

Secure a suitable retail location with ample space for displaying bicycles and providing repair services. Employ knowledgeable staff with expertise in bike repair and customer service.

Create efficient processes for inventory management and maintenance repairs to ensure fast turnaround times. Maintain an attractive and organized store layout to enhance the customer experience.

Financial Plan

Our expected business costs are $87,000, allocated as follows:

• Rent: $30,000
• Inventory: $40,000
• Equipment: $10,000
• Staff Salaries: $7,000

We project annual sales to reach $500,000 in the first year, allowing us to gradually cover expenses and increase profitability.

Conclusion and Call to Action

In conclusion, CycleWave aims to thrive in the bicycle retail and repair industry by offering high-quality bikes, expert maintenance services, personalized customer care, and eco-friendly products. Join us in promoting a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle through cycling.

If you want to support our mission and become part of our cycling community, please contact us or visit our store today!

Upgrade to Make Comprehensive Plans in Minutes

Upmetrics’ free business plan generator is undoubtedly a better way to business plan. However, you may need an upgrade to create a comprehensive, investment-ready plan.

AI business plan generator like Upmetrics make business plan creation a breeze with their modern AI-powered features.

AI writing assistant helps you write, rewrite, edit, or translate sections of your plan, while the forecasting assistant provides revenue and expense stream suggestions for accurate projections.

You also get to access the massive library of 400+ sample business plans . So, all you need to do is export a template into the editor and start preparing your plan with AI .

What are you waiting for? Business planning starts @ $7 per month.

Build your Business Plan Faster

with step-by-step Guidance & AI Assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a free business plan generator.

The free business plan generator is a free-to-use version of Upmetrics’ business plan software. It uses AI-powered features to help users create a business plan. Since it can only create a lean business plan, you need Upmetrics’ advanced features for detailed planning.

Is it really free to use?

Yes, Upmetrics’ free business plan generator is 100% free to use, but the features that come with it are also limited. So, you may consider getting a premium subscription for advanced business planning features.

What information will I need to provide to use the tool?

You must fill in the necessary details to create a business plan using the free generator. The information required may include a company overview, marketing details, competitor information, and a financial overview.

What type of businesses should use your free business plan tool?

Startups and small businesses starting up or operating on tight budgets should consider getting a free business planning tool to create a lean business plan.

Is there a limit to how many plans I can create with your software?

No. As of now, there’s no limit to the number of business plans you can create using Upmetrics’ free business plan generator.

Is a sample plan as useful as creating my own custom version?

Using a sample business plan or template is one of the easiest ways to create your business plan. All you need to do is export a template into the editor and start preparing your plan with AI.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

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Business plan template

If you’re looking for a way to start your business off on the right foot, a business plan template can help you establish the foundation for your strategy. Get started in a few clicks with Asana’s free business plan template.

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You’re pumped—you just thought of the greatest business idea ever. You want to get started, but you don’t have a plan laid out. You need a loan to get your idea off the ground, and the bank wants to see an in-depth business plan. We’re here to help.

What is a business plan template?

A business plan template is a framework that helps you solidify your ideas in an organized format. Our free business plan template walks you through how to create a new business from scratch, or re-imagine your existing business in a new market.

What components are included in a business plan template?

Our business plan template covers what an organization wants to achieve within three to five years. By using our template, you’ll have a place to capture all of the major information you need in order to complete your business plan. That includes:

Company description : Information like your executive summary , your company’s mission statement and vision, and your founder’s bio. 

Product and services: A high-level overview of what your company provides, including core products or services. This may also include how your product is developed, any potential screenshots or prototypes of your product, and pricing plans.

Marketing plan: How you plan to bring your product into market at a high level. You can add information like a SWOT analysis , target market research, and brand positioning in this section.

Financial plan: Important financial information such as balance sheets, a break-even analysis, and your cash flow projections. 

Management and organization information: Information on your company’s founders, executive team, and the board of directors.

How to use our free business plan template

Using Asana’s free business plan template is simple. Start by creating a new project with our free template. From there, add relevant information for your specific business plan in the sections provided in our template. If there’s more information you want to include in your business plan, you’re free to add sections, custom fields, or additional tasks to make this template fit your needs.

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How do I create a business plan template? .css-i4fobf{-webkit-transition:-webkit-transform 200ms ease-in-out;transition:transform 200ms ease-in-out;-webkit-transform:rotateZ(0);-moz-transform:rotateZ(0);-ms-transform:rotateZ(0);transform:rotateZ(0);}

Instead of taking the time to create a business plan from scratch, start the process off with Asana’s free template.To further customize your template, add evergreen information about your specific business, such as your business model, company name, address, mission statement, value proposition, or target audience. Adding these details to your template lets you avoid documenting this information from scratch every time you create a new business plan.

What components should I include in a business plan template?

Business plan templates typically contain five main sections: a company description, products and services, a marketing plan, basic management and organization information, and your current financial plan.

How long should my business plan be?

Short answer—as long as you need it to be. The long answer is that your business plan should have the answers to specific questions on how your business is run, from the perspective of an investor. The goal of a business plan is to highlight your business strategy for the next three to five years. This means any important operational, financial, and strategic information should be included. 

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BUSINESS STRATEGIES

Free business plan template for small businesses

• Amanda Bellucco Chatham
• Dec 7, 2023

Creating a successful business is about more than launching a business website or hanging a shingle on your front door. It requires a well-crafted plan that keeps you on track, anticipates obstacles and acts as a concrete roadmap for launching or improving your small business.

Business planning allows you to clarify your vision while providing information to both intrigue and reassure potential investors. The process may seem daunting, but creating a business plan isn’t difficult—and templates like the one below can help simplify the process even further.

Ready to launch your business? Create a website today.

What is a business plan?

A business plan is used by small business owners and entrepreneurs when starting a new business venture. It’s a strategic document that outlines the goals, objectives and strategies of your new or expanding business, including the company's vision, target market, financial projections and operational plans.

A business plan can attract potential partners, convince investors and banks to help you raise capital, and serve as a resource for future growth. Most importantly, you’ll be able to use your business plan as a roadmap for how to structure, operate and manage your new venture, whether it’s a sole proprietorship, a partnership or something larger.

Who needs a business plan?

Every business owner needs a business plan. They’re an essential tool for any person or entity interested in starting a business . There are many benefits, including:

Defining your business idea

Clarifying the market and competitive landscape

Outlining your marketing strategy

Stating your value proposition

Identifying/anticipating potential risks

Seeking investments from banks and other sources

Setting benchmarks, goals and key performance indicators (KPIs)

A business plan also gives you a way to assess the viability of a business before investing too much time or money into it. While all business involves risk, taking the time to create a plan can help mitigate fallout and avoid potentially costly mistakes.

When creating a business plan, it's important to establish your business goals up front and be prepared to spend time researching the market, performing a competitor analysis and understanding your target market .

Download Wix’s free business plan template

Creating a successful business plan is no easy feat. That’s why we’ve put together a simple, customizable, and free-to-download business plan template that takes the guesswork out of getting started. Use it to create a new business plan or to refresh an existing one.

Lean startup versus traditional business plan formats

In terms of types of business plans , there are two main formats to choose from: traditional and lean.

Traditional business plan format

A traditional business plan includes every detail and component that defines a business and contributes to its success. It's typically a sizable document of about 30 to 50 pages that includes:

Executive summary: The executive summary contains a high-level overview of everything included in the plan. It generally provides a short explanation of your business and its goals (e.g., your elevator pitch ). Many authors like to write this section last after fleshing out the sections below.

Company description: A company description should include essential details like your business name, the names of your founders, your locations and your company’s mission statement . Briefly describe your core services (or products if you’re writing an eCommerce business plan ), but don't go into too much detail since you’ll elaborate on this in the service/product section. Wix offers some helpful mission statement examples if you get stuck. It’s also a good idea to create a vision statement . While your mission statement clarifies your company’s purpose, a vision statement outlines what you want your company to achieve over time.

Market analysis: One of the most extensive sections of the business plan, this section requires that you conduct market research and write your conclusions. Include findings for the following: industry background, a SWOT analysis , barriers/obstacles, target market and your business differentiators.

Organization and management: This is where you outline how your business is structured and who's in charge, including founders, executive team members, board members, employees and key stakeholders. To this end, it can be helpful to create a visual layout (e.g., org chart) to illustrate your company structure.

Service or product line: Create a detailed list of your current and future products and services. If you’re still working on your idea, create a concept statement to describe your idea or product. You should also include a proof of concept (POC), which demonstrates the feasibility of your idea. Wherever applicable, include diagrams, product images and other visual components to illustrate the product life cycle.

Marketing and sales: Detail how your business idea translates into selling and delivering your offerings to potential customers. You can start by outlining your brand identity, which includes the colors and fonts you plan to use, your marketing and advertising strategy, and details about planned consumer touchpoints (like your website, mobile app or physical storefront).

Financial projections and funding requests: Include financial statements, such as a balance sheet, profit-and-loss statement (P&L), cash flow statement and break-even analysis. It's not uncommon for a business plan to include multiple pages of financial projections and information. You’ll also want to mention how much funding you seek and what you plan to do with it. If you’ve already secured funding, provide details about your investments.

Lean startup business plan format

A lean startup business plan—also referred to as a “lean canvas”—is presented as a problem/solution framework that provides a high-level description of your business idea. A lean plan is a single-page document that provides a basic overview of the most essential aspects of your business. It’s a good way to dip a toe into business planning since it doesn't require the same level of detail as a traditional plan. This includes:

Problem: What problem does your product or service solve, or what need does it fulfill?

Solution: How do you intend to solve it?

Unique value proposition (UVP): Why should people use your product or service versus someone else’s?

Unfair advantage: What do you have that other companies don’t?

Customers: Who are your ideal customers?

Channels: How will those customers find you?

Key metrics: How do you define success? How will you track and measure it?

Revenue streams: How will your business make money?

Cost structure: What will you spend money on (fixed and variable costs)?

Benefits of a business plan template

Business plan templates offer numerous benefits for entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners. Here are some key advantages:

1. Save time and effort: Templates provide a pre-defined structure, eliminating the need to start from scratch. This frees up valuable time and effort that can be invested in other crucial aspects of business development.

2. Improve structure: Templates ensure a consistent and organized approach to presenting your business plan. This makes it easier for potential investors, lenders and advisors to understand your vision and evaluate the feasibility of your business. 3. Enhance professionalism: Using a well-designed template demonstrates professionalism and seriousness to external stakeholders. This can significantly impact their perception of your business and increase their confidence in your venture. 4. Guide your thought process: Templates act as a helpful framework, prompting you to consider all the key elements of your business plan and ensuring you haven't overlooked any critical areas. 5. Ensure completeness: Templates often include checklists and prompts to ensure you cover all essential information, minimizing the risk of missing crucial details. 6. Standardize formatting: Templates ensure a consistent and uniform appearance throughout your business plan, contributing to a more polished and professional presentation. 7. Access to expert knowledge: Many templates are developed by experienced business professionals or organizations, incorporating best practices and insights gained from successful ventures. 8. Adaptability and customization: While templates offer a basic structure, they can be easily customized to reflect the unique characteristics and needs of your specific business. 9. Cost-effectiveness: Templates are generally available for free or at a low cost, making them an accessible and budget-friendly option for entrepreneurs. 10. Increased success rate: Studies have shown that businesses with well-developed plans are more likely to succeed. Templates can help you create a comprehensive and persuasive plan, increasing your chances of securing funding and achieving your business goals.

Tips for filling out your business plan template

The hardest part of a journey is always the first step, or so the saying goes. Filling out your business plan template can be daunting, but the template itself is meant to get you over that crucial first hurdle—getting started. We’ve provided some tips aimed at helping you get the most from our template.

These are best practices—they’re not rules. Do what works for you. The main thing to remember is that these tips can help you move more easily through the planning process, so that you can advance onto the next (exciting) step, which is launching your business.

Consider your goals: What is the purpose of your business? Are you looking to expand, launch a new product line or fund a specific project? Identifying your goals helps you prioritize important information in your business plan.

Fill out what you can: You may already have a vague—or specific—idea of what you want your business to achieve. Go through each section of the template and fill out what you can. We suggest leaving the executive summary blank for now, since it'll be the last thing you write.

Be realistic: Even though this document is meant to serve as a marketing tool for potential investors, don't exaggerate any numbers or make any false promises.

Dig into the research: Nothing's more motivating than getting some intel about your competitors and your market. If you're truly stuck, a little research can help motivate you and provide valuable insight about what direction to take your business. For example, if you plan to start a landscaping business, learn about the specific pricing offered in your area so that you can differentiate your services and potentially offer better options.

Get help from others: Bouncing your ideas off a friend, mentor or advisor is a great way to get feedback and discover approaches or products to incorporate into your plan. Your network can also give you valuable insight about the industry or even about potential customers. Plus, it's nice to be able to talk through the challenges with someone who understands you and your vision.

Revise and review: Once complete, step back from your plan and let it "cook." In a day or two, review your plan and make sure that everything is current. Have other people review it too, since having another set of eyes can help identify areas that may be lacking detail or need further explanation.

Once you’ve completed your business plan template, it can become a meaningful resource for developing your mission statement, writing business proposals and planning how to move forward with the marketing, distribution and growth of your products and services.

After launch, you can also analyze your value chain to identify key factors that create value for your customers and maximum profitability for you. This can help you develop a more effective business plan that considers the entire value chain, from research and development to sales and customer support.

Business plan template FAQ

What is the easiest way to write a business plan.

The easiest way to write a business plan is to utilize a template. Templates provide a structured format and guide you through each section, simplifying the process of creating a comprehensive plan.

Is there a template for how to write a business plan?

What are the 7 essential parts of a business plan, related posts.

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What is a business plan?

A business plan is a document that helps small business owners determine the viability of their business idea. Combining market research and financial analysis, a professional business plan helps startup CEOs and potential investors determine if the company can compete in the target market.

Typically, a good business plan consists of the following:

• Executive summary
• Company description
• Mission statement
• Product and services
• Marketing plan
• Operations plan
• Management organization
• Financial plan
• Conclusion & appendix

Every section involved in a business plan is designed to help startup businesses reach their target market.

A business plan asks founders and entrepreneurs to detail their business strategy in a step-by-step process that makes sense from an operational perspective. This is essential if a startup is seeking a business loan or an investment from a venture capital firm.

However, even small businesses that are already economically viable can benefit from creating a business plan, since it encourages business owners and their management teams to examine their business model and reevaluate the best ways to reach their target customers.

Should I use a business plan template?

Yes.  If you’ve never written one, a business plan can be challenging to write.

Creating a successful plan that you can use to grow your small business can require weeks of market analysis and financial preparation. You may spend time using Microsoft Excel or Powerpoint in order to create documentation which better supports our operational decisions.

However, almost every professional business plan is structured in the same way and most ask for the same information. Because of this, using a business plan template is advisable to save time, money, and effort.

Business plan templates for free

Rather than spending time trying to figure out how to write a business plan , use a free template as a guide to completion.

Business plan templates from PandaDoc can help you reach an effective go-to-market strategy even faster by asking you to provide all the relevant information you need when creating an effective business plan.

Grab a free template to get started!

Frequently asked questions

How many pages should my business plan be.

This depends on the kind of business plan you need to write and how you intend to use the plan that you create.

For example, a plan for a small business seeking potential investors or a business loan will need to provide income statements, cash flow statements, and a balance sheet (usually for a three-year or five-year forecast period).

These financial statements can be omitted if a small business owner isn’t seeking funding and is instead planning to use their business plan as a guiding document for themselves and their management team members.

Some business plans may only run a few pages. Fully-developed business plans can be as long as 50 pages. Much of this depends on the type of business, the operational strategy, and the level of detail that goes into developing the business plan.

Who needs a business plan?

Every business should have a business plan. This is an essential guidance document for any founder or CEO.

Good business plans help a company determine the viability of its place in the market and can help the business develop better strategies for differentiating itself from its competitors.

Business planning also forces business owners to evaluate their marketing strategy, the cost of customer acquisition and retention, and how they plan to grow their business over time.

What is the best business plan template?

Business plans come in all shapes and sizes. The best business plan template for your business is one that you understand and that matches the size and legal structure of your operation.

If you’re a sole proprietor, a business plan template designed for a big corporation probably doesn’t make sense. However, a business plan that helps you build an effective roadmap to grow your business while protecting your intellectual property is a good starting point.

PandaDoc offers specialized business plan templates for common industries along with tips to help you get started with business planning.

Should I hire someone to write my business plan for me?

No. You’ll find freelance writers and business strategy companies out there who are happy to write your business plan for a fee.  These resources can guide you through the process, but you should write (or be heavily involved in) the creation of your business plan.

The reason for this is simple: You know the most about your business, and your business needs you to succeed.

A writer can work with you to make your business plan sound better to investors, and a consultant can help you fill in knowledge gaps — like how to conduct a SWOT analysis — and point out weaknesses in your plan. But, at the end of the day, you need to use the business plan to pitch investors and run your business.

Those ideas and guiding principles aren’t something you can outsource.

Should I use business planning software?

Software isn’t required when creating an effective business plan. Most business planning software is designed to help you navigate the outlining and writing process more effectively.

You don’t need software to write a professional business plan, but a solid template can help you get started. Download a free template from PandaDoc today and take your business to the next level.

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8 Business Plan Templates You Can Get for Free

8 min. read

Updated July 3, 2024

A business plan template can be an excellent tool to simplify the creation of your business plan. 

The pre-set structure helps you organize ideas, covers all critical business information, and saves you time and effort on formatting.

The only issue? There are SO many free business plan templates out there. 

So, which ones are actually worth using? 

To help remove the guesswork, I’ve rounded up some of the best business plan templates you can access right now. 

These are listed in no particular order, and each has its benefits and drawbacks.

What to look for in a business plan template

Not all business plan templates are created equal. As you weigh your options and decide which template(s) you’ll use, be sure to review them with the following criteria in mind:

• Easy to edit: A template should save you time. That won’t be the case if you have to fuss around figuring out how to edit the document, or even worse, it doesn’t allow you to edit at all.
• Contains the right sections: A good template should cover all essential sections of a business plan , including the executive summary, product/service description, market/competitive analysis, marketing and sales plan, operations, milestones, and financial projections. 
• Provides guidance: You should be able to trust that the information in a template is accurate. That means the organization or person who created the template is highly credible, known for producing useful resources, and ideally has some entrepreneurial experience.
• Software compatibility: Lastly, you want any template to be compatible with the software platforms you use. More than likely, this means it’s available in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or PDF format at a minimum. 

1. Bplans — A plan with expert guidance

Since you’re already on Bplans, I have to first mention the templates that we have available. 

Our traditional and one-page templates were created by entrepreneurs and business owners with over 80 years of collective planning experience. We revisit and update them annually to ensure they are approachable, thorough, and aligned with our team’s evolving best practices.  

The templates, available in Word, PDF, or Google Doc formats, include in-depth guidance on what to include in each section, expert tips, and links to additional resources. 

Plus, we have over 550 real-world sample business plans you can use for guidance when filling out your template.

Download: Traditional lender-ready business plan template or a simple one-page plan template .

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2. SBA — Introduction to business plans

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers two different business plan templates along with a short planning guide. 

While not incredibly in-depth, it’s enough to help you understand how traditional and lean plans are structured and what information needs to be covered. The templates themselves are more like examples, providing you with a finished product to reference as you write your plan.

The key benefit of using these templates is that they were created by the SBA. While they may provide less guidance, you can be assured that the information and structure meet their expectations.

Explore: The SBA’s planning guide and free templates

3. SCORE — Planning workbook

SCORE’s template is more like a workbook. It includes exercises after each section to help you get your ideas down and turn them into a structured plan.

The market research worksheets are especially useful. They provide a clear framework for identifying your target market and analyzing competitors from multiple angles. Plus, they give you an easy way to document all the information you’re collecting.

You will likely have to remove the exercises in this template to make it investor-ready. But it can be worth it if you’re struggling to get past a blank page and want a more interactive planning method.

Download: SCORE’s business plan template

4. PandaDoc — A template with fillable forms

PandaDoc’s library offers a variety of industry-specific business plan templates that feature a modern design flair and concise instructions. 

These templates are designed for sharing. They include fillable fields and sections for non-disclosure agreements, which may be necessary when sending a plan to investors.  

But the real benefit is their compatibility with PandaDoc’s platform. Yes, they are free, but if you’re a PandaDoc subscriber, you’ll have far more customization options. 

Out of all their templates, the standard business plan template is the most in-depth. The rest, while still useful, go a bit lighter on guidance in favor of tailoring the plan to a specific industry.

Explore: PandaDoc’s business plan template library  

5. Canva — Pitch with your plan

Canva is a great option for building a visually stunning business plan that can be used as a pitch tool. It offers a diverse array of templates built by their in-house team and the larger creative community, meaning the number of options constantly grows.

You will need to verify that the information in the template you choose matches the standard structure of a traditional business plan. 

You should do this with any template, but it’s especially important with any tool that accepts community submissions. While they are likely reviewed and approved, there may still be errors.

Remember, you can only edit these templates within Canva. Luckily, you only need a free subscription, and you may just miss out on some of the visual assets being used. 

To get the most value, it may be best to create a more traditional planning document and transfer that information into Canva. 

Explore: Canva’s business plan gallery

6. ClickUp — The collaborative template

Out of all the project management tools that offer free business plan templates, ClickUp’s is the most approachable.

Rather than throwing you into all the features and expecting you to figure it out—ClickUp provides a thorough startup guide with resource links, images, and videos explaining how to write a plan using the tool. 

There’s also a completed sample plan (structured like an expanded one-page plan) for you to reference and see how the more traditional document can connect to the product management features. You can set goals, target dates, leave comments, and even assign tasks to someone else on your team. 

These features are limited to the ClickUp platform and will not be useful for everyone. They will likely get in the way of writing a plan you can easily share with lenders or investors. 

But this is a great option if you’re looking for a template that makes internal collaboration more fluid and keeps all your information in one place.

Sign Up: Get a free trial of ClickUp and explore their template library

7. Smartsheet — A wide variety of templates

I’m including Smartsheet’s library of templates on this list because of the sheer number of options they provide. 

They have a simple business plan template, a one-page plan, a fill-in-the-blank template, a plan outline, a plan grading rubric, and even an Excel-built project plan. All are perfectly usable and vary in visual style, depth of instructions, and the available format.

Honestly, the only drawback (which is also the core benefit) is that the amount of templates can be overwhelming. If you’re already uncertain which plan option is right for you, the lengthy list they provide may not provide much clarity.

At the same time, it can be a great resource if you want a one-stop shop to view multiple plan types.

8. ReferralRock affiliate marketing business plan

I’m adding ReferralRock’s template to this list due to its specificity. 

It’s not your standard business plan template. The plan is tailored with specific sections and guidance around launching an affiliate marketing business. 

Most of the template is dedicated to defining how to choose affiliates, set commissions, create legal agreements, and track performance.

So, if you plan on starting an affiliate marketing business or program, this template will provide more specific guidance. Just know that you will likely need to reference additional resources when writing the non-industry sections of your plan.

Download: ReferralRock affiliate marketing business plan template

Does it matter what business plan template you use?

The short answer is no. As long as the structure is correct, it saves you time, and it helps you write your business plan , then any template will work. 

What it ultimately comes down to, is what sort of value you hope to get from the template. 

• Do you need more guidance? 
• A simple way to structure your plan? 
• An option that works with a specific tool?
• A way to make your plan more visually interesting?

Hopefully, this list has helped you hone in on an option that meets one (or several) of these needs. Still, it may be worth downloading a few of these templates to determine the right fit. 

And really, what matters most is that you spend time writing a business plan . It will help you avoid early mistakes, determine if you have a viable business, and fully consider what it will take to get up and running. 

If you need additional guidance, check out our library of planning resources . We cover everything from plan formats , to how to write a business plan, and even how to use it as a management tool . 

If you don’t want to waste time researching other templates, you can download our one-page or traditional business plan template and jump right into the planning process.

Kody Wirth is a content writer and SEO specialist for Palo Alto Software—the creator's of Bplans and LivePlan. He has 3+ years experience covering small business topics and runs a part-time content writing service in his spare time.

Table of Contents

• Qualities of a good template
• ReferralRock
• Does the template matter?

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Every successful business starts with the right foundation. And with the LivePlan Pitch Builder , you get an easy way to outline the essentials. This includes helping you:

• Figure out who your customers really are
• Clarify what problem your business is solving
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The entire process typically takes just 60 minutes – you can even write it on your smartphone with our app for business planning. And once finished, you'll get a better idea of how to position your business for success.

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There’s no escaping it: banks and investors want to see a complete, detailed business plan that includes strong financial forecasts.

LivePlan’s business plan writing app guides you through the entire business-planning process with:

• Simple step-by-step instructions
• Automatically generated content with AI
• Detailed examples for every section of the plan
• 550+ sample plans you can copy and paste from

Create financials without tricky calculations

No spreadsheets. No calculators. No math whatsoever.

Just answer a few questions about your sales and revenue and LivePlan will handle the calculations automatically using built-in formulas. That means you get ultra-accurate cash flow projections with a minimal amount of effort.

Plus the AI LivePlan Assistant gives you suggestions for revenue streams, expense types, and other forecast categories that are specific to your business.

Get a polished, fundable, easy-to-share business plan

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Once complete, download your plan as a PDF or Word doc. Or you can print it to get a professional document

Then track your actuals against your plan to grow 30% faster

The LivePlan Dashboard is a dashboard that makes it easy to compare the financial projections in your plan to your actuals. That way, you can make adjustments on–the–fly to optimize your business.

The Dashboard connects to Xero or QuickBooks, so there's no manual data entry.

LivePlan’s business plan app features that help you succeed

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Totally risk free. 35-day money-back guarantee., frequently asked questions, how does liveplan ensure the security of my data.

Yes, all your personal and business data are safe with us. All account and plan data are written to multiple disks instantly, saved every few seconds, and stored in multiple locations. Your business plan will remain completely confidential and entirely private unless you choose to share it via exporting or inviting guests to your account.

The plan data is stored securely on our servers and nobody from our company can view your plan unless you choose to allow us access for tech-support purposes. For more information, please read our security and privacy policy page.

Can I use LivePlan on my tablet or phone?

While LivePlan’s business plan app is primarily used on desktops, your business plan can still be accessed via mobile devices.

For the best performance, we recommend connecting your mobile device to WiFi or LTE. As with any web application, LivePlan requires a reliable broadband Internet connection. Spotty or low-speed connections may cause trouble.

Can LivePlan integrate with other business tools and software?

Yes, the LivePlan business plan app is compatible with QuickBooks Online and Xero, allowing you to bring your accounting data directly into your financial forecasts and keep them up-to-date.

You can also import and export your financials and forecasts to Excel as a .CSV file and export your one-page business pitch to PowerPoint to further customize your presentation.

Does LivePlan offer industry-specific business plan templates?

You can access over 550 business plan examples across dozens of industries within LivePlan’s business plan writing app. Use them to inspire your own plan writing and understand what information to include for your specific industry.

How can I customize my business plan using LivePlan?

With LivePlan, you have complete control over the structure of your business plan. Start with our lender-ready business plan outline and add, remove, or edit sections to fit your needs. You can even add charts, tables, and videos directly to your business plan to really make it stand out.

5 Best Online Business Planner for 2023 (Free and Paid)

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Priority Planner for Effective People

Priority Planner for Highly Effective People

February 01, 2023

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Laying the foundations of a successful and sustainable business is like shooting an arrow.

To hit the bullseye, have an accurate aim.

Similarly, a well-defined, thoroughly thought-over, and realistic business and financial plan is the way to establish a leading business in its sector.

The most intelligent, error-free way of doing so is to have an online business planner and make the most of it.

Business planning software is a lifesaver in today’s fast-paced world. Their multiple features help business owners sync with their professional activities and goals.

Reminders, updates, and progress reports in these business software solutions are like a coach who keeps athletes on track and motivated for a winning game.

The internet is packed with business planning software, each guaranteeing promising results. This article narrows the options to some of the best business plan software.

1: Week Plan

Everyone is familiar with the iconic “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” that changed countless lives and provided a direction to millions for becoming organized and successful.

However, a more iconic initiative would be to put all mantras of the book into action.

Week Plan leaves everyone in awe by taking this initiative and designing an all-encompassing business planning software that checks all boxes of planning, prioritization, result-driven objectives, and time management.

Week Plan is a renowned productivity planner and task management software that provides complete solutions to those who like to stay organized without complications.

The simple yet effective planning and time-tracking features of this software make it nothing less than a blessing in disguise for all business owners and people who want to manage their workflow.

• Task prioritization
• Time tracker for goals and projects
• Productivity planner
• Time management
• Team management
• Shareable plans and reviews
• Daily summaries
• Desired value or percentage entering
• Weekly, monthly, and yearly planners
• Repeating task automation

Top 3 Features

1: automate recurring tasks.

Creating a business plan includes countless major and minor objectives. However, some tasks to achieve the desired goal are constant and recurring.

The best business planner software would help users automate these recurring tasks so owners can shift their focus to more pressing issues and plan.

Week Plan offers the convenience of automating recurring tasks and activities. Users can set up when these tasks repeat and for how long. In addition, they can turn off repeats whenever they want to.

This feature is handy for business planning as it allows all team members to attend regular planning-and-review meetings, update reports, and exchange information without someone having to remind them personally.

2: Role Assignment

Designating roles for team members and assigning them relevant tasks are part of a basic business plan. Delegated duties and timely completion of tasks ensure maximum business productivity and consequent success.

Week Plan’s role assignment is advanced and sophisticated, with the option of adding roles with set objectives. Employees and team leaders need to understand the goal behind a task and how it brings value to the business.

Team leaders can track the progress of each member, while employees can complete their work and feel the pride of being a part of an organization’s growth.

3: Objectives Key Result

The Objective Key Result, or OKR , is a benchmark feature of the Week Plan’s business planning software.

The Objective Key Result is a unique feature that allows users to create task objectives. Each task can have multiple goals achievable in a week, month, or as per requirement.

In each aim, users have the facility to add key results. These key results are the core of a business plan creation. Each objective can have multiple key results.

The OKRs are the best way business owners and team members can maximize efficiency. Set objectives with precise results help all employees to focus on the task with thorough achievable in mind.

• Weekly and monthly view options
• Easy-to-use layout
• Assign high-impact tasks
• Addition of team members and roles
• Less functionality for complex use
• No free versions

Supported platforms

• Monthly plan at $10.83 per month
• Yearly plan at $104 per year
• 7-day free trial with every planner

Customer support

• Knowledge base
• Documentation
• In-app chat

Week Plan is rated 4.5 on Capterra and 4.3 on G2.

Week Plan is one of the best planning and business continuity planning software. It has valuable features that suit the needs of both individuals and companies.

For example, the weekly plan helps users set their objectives to yield measurable results. This motivates team members to complete tasks and is immensely useful for business planning.

2: LivePlan

LivePlan is a business plan creation software that caters to the needs of small businesses, startups, and freelancers. It provides solutions that help new businesses create their pitch, write rational plans with its guides, and take inspiration from business plan templates.

In addition, this business planning software promises insights into relevant competitors, trends, and forecasts.

LivePlan is preferred by newbies who wish to establish a business but need more knowledge and guidance. It helps provide a step-by-step plan for setting up, promoting, financing, and building a business.

• Single-page plans
• Step-by-step guidance
• Sample plans
• Financial planning
• Business planning templates
• Shareable and printable pitch
• Market insight
• Comparable performance
• Sync with accounting software

1: Business Plan Templates

Liveplan allows users to browse hundreds of templates and use them as samples to create their business plans.

It has sample templates for almost every new enterprise, from office setups to online services. Such features benefit new setups established by those unaware of the basics of business plan creation.

Since this business planning software is created only for amateurs, a valuable part of their business plan templates is that they help in all aspects of starting a business plan.

They include examples of summaries, how to plan marketing activities, and financial planning.

2: Single-Page Business Pitch Creation

New businesses take time to secure their place in the ever-competitive marketplace. Investors, customers, and collaborators are hard to find; even if they are available, they are too busy to pay attention to the business.

An effective business pitch successfully convinces investors, attracts customers, and invites collaborators. LivePlan rescues business owners by helping them out in creating their winning pitches.

LivePlan helps users create a single-page business pitch. This maintains focus for both the presenter and the potential collaborator. It also prevents unnecessary details, drags, and errors.

LivePlan claims to create a plan that can be explained in a minute, which is presentable as a PowerPoint presentation. In a nutshell, this business planning software hits all the right notes for an impressive business pitch.

3: Guided Business Plan Creation

The only thing between an almost-readymade business plan and the business owner is signing up for LivePlan. Once that is done, this online business plan guides you through creating the plan, creating financial forecasts, and making professional-looking shareable plans.

With LivePlan, users can avail of the guides present at each section of creating a business plan.

These guides include instructions for filling the particular area with examples of how other businesses have done it, making it easier to execute.

It also has the option of editing, adding, or removing sections. Next, it creates accurate charts and plans based on forecasts.

These features help business owners remain updated with their forecasts and business updates.8

• Templates to help make business plans
• Suitable for small businesses
• Testing business ideas
• Shareable plans
• Quick and brief business ideas
• No task management feature
• No free trials are available
• Weekly or monthly plans not available
• It does not offer regular tracking and organizing feature
• It helps with business plan creation but not with sustainability planning
• iOs devices
• Monthly and yearly plans
• 35-day money-back guarantee after subscription
• Standard monthly package for $20
• Premium monthly package for $40
• Annual Standard subscription of $15 per month, paid annually
• Premium Standard package for $30 per month, paid annually
• Help Center

LivePlan is rated 4.5 on Capterra and GetApp, and 4.1 on G2

LivePlan checks the boxes of the best business plan software for startups and small businesses. Its guided plan creation and selection from layouts and templates make it an attractive choice for new setups.

However, the absence of business continuity, planning, and management features discourages certain potential users. Existing users may also switch to alternatives offering more productivity, accounting, and integration features. Nevertheless, LivePlan serves its purpose well for its target customers.

With countless online business planners, the software offers something out of the box to make their mark.

nTask takes a step forward to ensure it leaves no stone unturned in providing the most wholesome and interactive financial planning and business continuity planning software to everyone, from students to NGOs, companies to freelancers.

It has provided an interactive and realistic outlook for online software.

Using inspirations from paper-based productivity and task managing techniques, nTask offers a wide range of services and packages according to the client’s needs and the number of employees.

• Task management
• Team communication
• Roles assigning
• Kanban boards
• Gantt charts
• Time tracking
• Online meetings
• Meeting follow-ups and actions
• Risk management

1: Online Meetings

Meetings and discussions are a support system for business planning. Team members review performances and identify and resolve issues through these meetings.

The good idea is to have a business software solution that also offers meetings and data sharing. Thanks to nTask, this concern, too, has been addressed.

The meeting management software by the nTask allows team members to hold meetings.

Since nTask is a holistic business planning software, it includes features of linking a meeting with ongoing tasks within nTask.

The software’s integration with audio and video call platforms makes it even more convenient to organize meetings and calls.

Members attending meetings can send emails or in-app notifications to alert peers or share information. With features of notes, agendas, and follow-up notes, no one misses any details, major or minor.

2: Task Management with Gantt Charts

Gantt charts are historically proven practical project management tools that present all activities with their progress.

They are an instant and accurate representation of tasks under work; the time assigned to tasks versus time consumed, progress, and overlapping jobs.

Overall, Gantt charts are the best tool for business planning and productivity. nTask incorporates Gantt charts in its software to make the most of the revolutionary tool for maximized productivity.

Although most business software solutions provide task management tools such as assignees and checklists, nTask’s Gantt chart provides an easy-to-navigate visual representation of work progress.

It is helpful with time tracking, where team members review the time assigned for each task and the time consumed to complete it.

3: Kanban Boards

What makes nTask stand out is how it creatively “digitalizes” old-school proven tools and tips for effective project management and business planning.

In addition, it puts the old kanban boards to good use by creating their online version incorporated into the software.

Kanban boards are an instant breakdown of pending, in progress, and completed tasks.

Traditional paper-based boards comprise columns with sticky notes mentioning jobs in each column.

Notes change columns according to the status of the study. nTask does the same but in a detailed and more interactive manner.

nTask’s kanban boards are customizable with background colors, image addition, and color options to assign tasks to make task management fun and less “intimidating.”

In addition, users can pick their favorite template, link Gantt charts for detailed progress, and even track time consumed for each task.

• Several business planning features to choose from
• Interactive options
• Mobile access
• Collaboration
• Planning and scheduling
• Absence of a kanban board in the free version
• Difficulty in use
• Confusing features
• Not recommended for businesses with over 50 employees
• Free trial for 7 days without credit card
• Monthly and yearly packages according to the number of employees
• Discounts for NGOs, startups, and educational institutions
• Free plan for 5 team members
• Basic, Premium, Business, and Enterprise packages
• 24/7 support

nTask is rated 4.2 on Capterra and GetApp, and 4.4 on G2.

nTask strives to incorporate all features, tools, and utilities to ensure convenience for users. The means of clear progress insight using Gantt charts and kanban boards is an attraction.

nTask guarantees maximum business productivity and success with its interactive features and integration with all major utility and productivity apps.

However, having too many features causes issues for some users who need help understanding or using specific tools. Customer support answers queries and helps to use the software better.

4: GoSmallBiz

Another online business planner software promising skyrocket success is GoSmallBiz. Established in 1996 by former NFL champion, GoSmallBiz is the brain-child of a sportsperson turned entrepreneur who has keen observation and sound knowledge of small businesses’ needs, expectations, and requirements.

GoSmallBiz provides business establishment and sustenance solutions to small and medium enterprises with its business plan templates, step-by-step guidance on how to create a successful business plan, and support as expert advice and guidance.

• Step-by-step guide
• Business plan templates
• Business creation
• Website development
• Business planning
• Legal assistance
• Legal compliance
• Marketing strategy
• Tracked performance

1: Separate Plans According to Need

GoSmallBiz caters to the needs of small businesses in whatever aspect they prefer. The desirable feature is that the software allows users to choose plans according to their business needs instead of company size or team members.

Users can opt for services of choice and avail of complete guidance in the field they wish.

With separate plans for establishing, understanding, and growing a business, users get complete guidance on a booming business’s dos and don’ts.

They can make the most of the advice from renowned certified legal and account experts without additional consultation fees. Users can avail of federal tax and IRS services by paying a one-time price.

2: Guidance on Business Complexities

Business planning software provides help and tools for setting up and running a business.

However, they miss on the complexities related to a company that leaves owners jammed. Lack of knowledge on tax filings, finances, and business tips and tricks may prove to be a downhill ride for new enterprises.

With the “Guide” services of GoSmallBiz, users can avail of expert consultations and guide sessions to solve problems related to business planning and running.

With tutorials and one-on-one sessions with sales, legal, tax, and account experts, user ‌issues are addressed and mitigated.

3: Business Plan Creation

Many aspiring business people cannot establish their enterprise because of a lack of awareness and cluelessness about a starting point. GoSmallBiz ensures no one has to give up on their dreams of having their own business and extends complete solutions for setting up a business.

With the GoSmallBiz business plan package, users can pick from countless business plan templates and choose the one that is right for them. It provides all steps for a business plan, complete with a summary and narratives. The templates are customizable, and users can seek the help of video tutorials wherever they feel stuck.

Some solutions help create financial projections that include income statements, cash flows, balance sheets, and more.

• Complete business creation guide
• Website and business plan
• Stepwise guidance
• Lack of guidance on the website
• No business planner tools
• No business continuity planning software
• Go at $199 per year
• Guide at $49 per month
• Grow at $39 per month
• Tax ID service for $69 (one-time)
• HR document builder at $15 per month
• Business plan creation at $15 per month
• Minutes manager at $99 per year

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GoSmallBiz has emerged as one of the most discussed business planning software on multiple forums, and for a good reason. It extends knowledge and support to its users besides business plan creation and website development.

What sets this software apart is its exclusive consultation services that help new businesses. Direct discussions with marketing and legal experts helps to clear confusion and guide all aspects of business that others may leave out.

However, it offers limited features and support which may not cater to ongoing business needs.

Another software that follows the stepwise business plan creation module is BizPlan. BizPlan offers complete guidance on creating a promising business plan to attract investors and customers.

The software provides tutorials, templates, help, and all steps to create a sustainable strategy.

BizPlan focuses on providing services and educating users on how businesses operate and how to get the most out of business as funds and sales.

The software has the back of several thriving enterprises and aims to attract more.

• Fully guided business plan
• Income statements
• Balance sheet
• Tracked progress of business plan building
• Financial forecasting
• Break Even analysis
• Revenue projection
• Education Center
• Guides and masterclasses

1: Stepwise Business Plan Creation

Like other business software solutions, BizPlan too is focused on providing stepwise guidance to small businesses and startups to create a perfect business plan that impresses potential investors and customers.

BizPlan offers guided business planning software where users create their plans with assistance from the software itself. It lets users choose from several templates and customize them per their preferences and business requirements.

The drag-and-drop style for templates makes it convenient to add or remove sections. Creators can track their progress and check which aspects of their plan are complete.

Attractive visual layouts and the freedom to complete sections as per the user’s individual preference make BizPlan a favored software.

2: Financial Planning Tools

The core of a business plan is to provide adequate financial planning information. Without detailed insight into available finances and expected outcomes, businesses can go into loss before they even take flight.

BizPlan understands the significance of proper financial planning tools and thus offers all features that may be useful to business owners.

With BizPlan, business owners can have a forecast of their employee’s salaries and expected raises. In addition, it helps manage revenues and related expenses so businesses know how much to spend in particular aspects.

With the easily accessible features in BizPlan, users have all financial forecasts right in front of them, such as capital, expenses, and revenues.

3: Education Center

Another aspect that makes BizPlan a preferred business planning software for small businesses is its education center.

For several new entrepreneurs, terms like breakeven analysis, revenue model, and competitive analysis can be intimidating terms that may put them off the idea of starting a business altogether.

With BizPlan’s education, users can head to the education section whenever they have any queries or confusion regarding any step of business plan making.

It also can connect with experts who guide in detail about the overall health of a business, whether it aligns with its type and gets better reach.

BizPlan offers video tutorials and one-on-one consultations too.

• Template-based business plan
• Stepwise business plan creation
• Financial tools
• Lacks features of task management
• No productivity tools
• Not suitable for large enterprises
• No mobile app
• Cannot add team members or roles
• Monthly plan for $29
• Annual plan for $20.75
• Lifetime access for $349
• Masterclass

BizPlan is rated 4.4 on Capterra and GetApp.

BizPlan offers all the necessary guidance to create a good business plan. Its education feature stands out from the rest and provides knowledge on every aspect of business planning.

However, it lacks several features that ensure smooth business operation. For example, BizPlan does not support team members and task management, which may cause users to switch to other alternatives once their business has been set up.

Wrapping Up

With countless business planning software, picking the best business plan software can be tricky. Luckily, these software solutions have various features that cater to individual needs.

This allows freedom to pick the one that best suits the requirements of a business according to its size, industry, and team size.

Ideally, the best online business planner would include everything from creating a business plan to tools and features that help manage tasks, set their priority, and track the performance of all employees.

Though Week Plan is not a Business Planning Software live LivePlan and BizPlan, it ensures you that you stay organized and on top of all business planning and execution.

Whether it setting up high level business objectives or managing day to day tasks, Week Plan has everything you need to keep your business organized.

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5 Best Business Plan Software in 2022

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When you’re starting a business, developing a strong business plan will be one of the first steps you take. Your business plan will cover everything from a detailed explanation of your products or services and pricing model to at least three years of financial projections—plus much more. Therefore, whether you’re not sure how to get started or you’re just looking to make the process easier, you may want to turn to business plan software for help.

In this guide, we'll break down five of the best business plan software options—discussing their pros, cons, features, pricing, and more—so you have all the information you need to decide which solution is right for your small business.

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Tell us where you're at in your business journey, and we'll direct you to the experience that fits.

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The 5 best business plan software options

The right business plan software will make the process of writing your business plan much simpler. Like many business software solutions, however, there are a number of different business plan software options out there—each of which has a unique set of features, user experience, and price.

This being said, if you're looking for a place to start your search for the best business plan software, you can explore the five top options below:

How much do you need?

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We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique needs of your business.

Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

1. LivePlan

Best overall business plan software.

If you want template-rich, modern-feeling business plan software, then LivePlan may be the right pick for you. LivePlan excels with their user interface, which feels updated and slick, and also offers intuitive, easy-to-use features and options.

Their step-by-step instruction will help you kick things off from the beginning, and you can take advantage of their online learning center to continue to gain business skills.

Affordable plans, including pay-as-you-go option

No long-term contracts or cancellation fee; 60-day money-back guarantee

Modern, intuitive interface; cloud-based, can be used on Mac, PC, as well as tablets

Ability to create unlimited plans in one account; over 500 customizable templates

Variety of business resources including video tutorials, step-by-step instruction, and general customer support

Limited integration options

Challenging to enter your own financial modeling projections

Can be difficult to learn

Ability to create an unlimited number of business plans on one account

More than 500 business plan templates spanning various industries

Integration with Xero and QuickBooks Online

Real-time tracking of financial data with accounting integrations

Ability to export your business plan to Word or PDF

Expert advice and step-by-step instruction included

Performance dashboards for tracking against budgets and sales goals

Ability to create and export a one-page pitch executive summary

Annual plan: $15 per month, billed every 12 months

Six-month plan: $18 per month, billed every six months

Pay-as-you-go plan: $20 per month, billed once every month

2. GoSmallBiz

Best for multiple business management tools in one platform.

Next on our list of the best business plan software options is GoSmallBiz, which is much more than just a business plan software. With GoSmallBiz, you have access to business continuity planning software with features that cover creating a roadmap, working through business and legal forms, building a website, and more.

In this way, GoSmallBiz is great for startups or newer businesses looking to access multiple business management tools through one platform.

Unlimited business consultation and extensive library of online resources

Multiple business tools in one software

Website consultation analysis and business assessment

Industry-specific business plan templates with emphasis on financial projections and statements

Expensive monthly cost compared to alternatives

Limited business plan features

Entire business plan can only be exported to Microsoft Word

Outdated interface

Industry-specific business plan templates with step-by-step building wizard

Ability to create financial statements and projections

Free website hosting and website builder

Customer relationship manager with integration with MailChimp

Digital marketing dashboard with social media and Google Analytics integrations

HR document builder

Corporate minutes writer

Business documents library

Business courses library

Unlimited business consultation

$39 per month, no contracts, free cancellation

Best for simple, fast business plan creation.

If you're looking for free business plan software, Enloop will be one of your closest options—they offer an all-inclusive seven-day free trial, no credit card required. Additionally, unlike some of the other options on our list, Enloop is strictly dedicated to business plan creation, including automated text writing, financial forecast comparisons, and a real-time performance score that tracks your progress.

This being said, if you'd prefer the most straightforward, fast, and simple way to write your business plan, Enloop will be a platform worth considering.

Simple and straightforward software, solely dedicated to business plan creation

Seven-day free trial

Automatic text generation available to streamline the writing process

Affordable plans with annual discount option

Limited additional educational resources

Only one template option

No integration options

Ability to create three business plans with customizable text, images, tables, charts, and over 100 currency symbols and formats

Includes automatic text generation for each plan section that you can then customize

Automatically generated financial statements

Includes financial performance comparison analysis (using three ratios with Detailed plan and 16 with Performance plan)

Real-time performance score to track your progress

Ability to invite users to edit (two with Detailed plan, five with Performance plan)

Pass/fail report and certificate to help you identify issues with your plan

Free plan: Seven-day free trial with no credit card required

Detailed plan: $19.95 per month or $11 per month, paid annually

Performance plan: $39.95 per month, or $24 per month, paid annually

Best for startups looking to acquire funding or find investors.

Part of the Startups.com suite, Bizplan gets top marks for their user interface—it’s intuitive, easy to use, and modern. You’ll work with a step-by-step business plan builder to get exactly what you’d like from your business plan. It may remind you of a modern website builder, since it has drag-and-drop tools to build templates.

Moreover, for one subscription fee, you have access to all of the tools in the Startups.com network, including self-guided courses, how-to guides, masterclass videos, and more. All in all, with a direct connection to Fundable, Bizplan is a top business plan software option for startups looking to acquire funding and find investors.

Subscription gives you access to all Startups.com tools

Lifetime access subscription option

User-friendly drag-and-drop business plan builder

Excellent educational resources

Connection to Fundable great for businesses looking for capital

No free trial

No templates based on industry

No mobile access

Drag-and-drop templates for business plan building

Financial command center to track all business financials in one place

Unlimited account collaborators

Ability to share business plan online with investors

Online resources including self-guided courses, masterclass videos, how-to guides, mentorship access

Unlimited software use for Fundable, Launchrock, and Startups.com

Monthly plan: $29 per month

Annual plan: $20.75 per month, billed at $249 per year

Lifetime access: $349 one-time fee

5. PlanGuru

Best for financial planning and budgeting.

Finally, for some of the strongest financial features among business plan software options, including budgeting and forecasting, you might check out PlanGuru. Whereas the other solutions we've reviewed were first and foremost focused on writing a business plan, PlanGuru is dedicated to business financial planning —providing the tools you need to create budgets, financial forecasts, reports, and more.

Therefore, if you need a software solution that can streamline the financial piece of your business planning processes, PlanGuru will certainly have the most to offer.

Extensive financial tools and detailed forecasting, budgeting, and reporting capabilities

Substantial library of resources

Cloud-based and desktop options

14-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee

Expensive, especially for additional users

Only focuses on the financial aspect of business planning; no templates or tools for basic business plan writing

Difficult to use without prior financial knowledge

Cloud-based version of software, as well as locally installed Windows version (desktop version has a few more features)

Works with QuickBooks Online, Xero, and Excel

Budgeting and forecasting for up to 10 years

Over 20 standard forecasting methods

Formula builder to create custom methods

Ratios and KPIs

Dashboard and reporting tools

Help guides, video tutorials, knowledgebase, and live U.S.-based customer support

14-day free trial

$99 per month (additional users $29 per month)

$899 per year (additional users $299 per year)

What to look for in business plan software

Ultimately, it's up to you to decide, which, if any, of the best business plan software solutions on our list is right for your business.

So, if you're trying to figure out how to choose between the various options out there, it might be helpful to compare your top choices based on the following criteria:

Features: As we've seen different business plan software solutions offer different features. You'll want to look carefully at the feature list of any software and determine what features are most important for your business needs. Do you need an extensive library of templates with detailed customization? Would you prefer software that includes an online learning center for business skills? Are you looking for a solution that combines business plan writing with other tasks? It may be useful to list out your ideal feature set, so you can compare individual software plans to that list.

Price: Although you might be able to find some free business plan software options (or at the very least, free trials), in most cases, you'll need to pay a subscription fee to access the platform you choose. Therefore, you'll want to think about what your budget is for this business tool and what type of software is most cost-effective for your needs.

User experience: User experience can vary widely among different business plan software options. You’ll find some programs that are newer or have been recently updated. Others might have the kind of interfaces that felt new years ago but are now pretty out of date—and, subsequently, make them a little harder to use. The right user experience for your needs is genuinely a matter of opinion and comfort—nevertheless, it's worth testing thoroughly testing out a platform to ensure that it can truly work for you before investing in a monthly or annual subscription.

The bottom line

There's no doubt that properly crafting your business plan is important for the future growth and success of your small business. Luckily, the right business plan software should make the process much simpler.

This being said, whether you opt for one of the best business plan software options listed here, or another platform entirely, you'll want to take the time to compare multiple solutions and ensure you choose the one that's right for your business.

As we mentioned, it can be helpful to think about the features you're looking for, your budget, and your user-experience preferences ahead of time—that way, you'll have a set of criteria in mind as you explore different solutions.

Ultimately, perhaps the best thing you can do to find the right software is to actually test out the platforms themselves—either by using a free trial or a money-back guarantee.

This article originally appeared on JustBusiness, a subsidiary of NerdWallet.

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Liberia: Gov’t Launches Five-Year National Action Plan On Business And Human Rights

MONROVIA- The Government of Liberia, in collaboration with various partners, has launched a five-year National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights intended to improve Liberia’s business climate and promote respect for human rights in the country.

By Francis G. Boayue

The country’s first National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights is being drafted by the Ministries of Justice and Labor, the Independent National Commission on Human Rights, and all stakeholders.

With support from the United Nations Human Rights and Giz, the plan aims to address the challenges faced by businesses in Liberia, while also ensuring that human rights are protected and respected in all business activities.

Liberia has long struggled with a challenging business environment, characterized by high levels of corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of access to finance among others.

These factors have further hindered the growth of businesses in the country and have also deterred foreign investment, leaving thousands of Liberians in search of jobs opportunities.

In addition, human rights violations, such as forced labor and child labor, have been reported in various sectors, further tarnishing Liberia’s reputation as a business-friendly destination.

However, the newly-launched National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights seeks to address these issues by providing a comprehensive framework for promoting responsible business conduct and protecting human rights.

The plan also outlines a series of actions that the government, businesses, and civil society organizations can take to improve the business climate in Liberia and ensure that human rights are respected in all business activities.

Vice President Jeremiah Koung, officially launching the National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights, said the plan signifies a major victory in Liberia’s many years of advocacy for the protection of human rights in the business sector.

He alarmed that over the years, there have been several instances of bad labor practices and abuse of human rights against employees and laborers in the public and private sectors across the country.

This, VP Koung noted that for too long, Liberians have called for the formulation and implementation of policies and laws to regulate widespread human rights abuses by businesses across the country and the launching of the plan signifies a new dawn.

He said, “So, our gathering here is an answer to this call and an expression of our government, headed by President Joseph Boakai’s commitment to promote responsible business practices in all sectors of our society.”

“While it is true that we continue to make the case for more investments in our economy to expand the private sector and create jobs for our citizens, I urge existing and potential investors to put the welfare of our people at the center of their business operations,” Koung added.

According to Vice President Koung, the protection of human rights goes beyond laborers and employees, as it must capture members of the community who bear the greatest burdens and consequences of bad business operations.

Koung maintained, “As we make history today as the 4th country in Africa to adopt such a visionary plan, we do so with an understanding that the wellbeing of our citizens is the only pathway for achieving sustainable development.”

“Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, the adoption of this plan will enhance our Nation’s standing on human rights and guarantee the protection of communities and laborers from the excesses of bad business practices.

“We must urgently implement this plan to ensure the quest for economic development does not continue to undermine human rights. A society which seeks economic growth at the detriment of its citizens will eventually decline,” he added.

Earlier, Justice Minister, Cllr. Oswald Tweh, disclosed that the National Action Plan includes measures to strengthen the rule of law and improve access to justice for victims of human rights abuses.

This includes a dedicated court system to handle cases of human rights violations in the business sector, as well as the provision of legal aid services for victims who may not be able to afford legal representation.

He further that the National Action Plan also includes initiatives to promote transparency and accountability in the business sector as well as help to prevent the use of shell companies for illicit purposes and ensure that businesses are held accountable for their actions.

For his part, Labor Minister, Cllr. Cooper Kruah, through his proxy, narrated that the National Action Plan includes measures to promote responsible investment in Liberia, including the development of guidelines for responsible business conduct and the promotion of sustainable business practices.

This, he added will help to attract foreign investment to Liberia and create a more conducive environment for businesses to thrive and ensure the protection of all employees and business personnel in Liberia.

He praised his colleagues and partners for taking proactive steps to address the challenges faced by businesses in Liberia as well as promote respect for human rights in the country.

Meanwhile, the INCHR Chairperson, Cllr. Dempster Brown, emphasized the importance of creating a business-friendly environment in Liberia, stating that “a strong and vibrant business sector is essential for the economic development of our country.”

He also stressed the need to ensure that businesses operate in a responsible manner and respect the rights of all individuals and added that with a strong commitment to responsible business conduct and human rights, Liberia is poised to become a more attractive destination for businesses and investors looking to make a positive impact.

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• Business Loans

How To Get A Business Loan In 5 Steps

Updated: Jul 18, 2024, 6:30am

A business loan can provide the funds you need to expand operations, cover day-to-day expenses and purchase equipment or inventory. If you’ve never applied for a business loan, you might be unsure about where to begin or which documents are required.

Here’s a simple guide that walks you through the process of evaluating your options and preparing your business loan application in five easy steps.

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$5,000 to $250,000

Varies by loan

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1. Decide Why You Need Financing

There’s more than one kind of small business loan. Deciding why you need financing will help you choose the right kind of loan. Here are a few common scenarios:

• Buy new equipment Some lenders offer equipment loans . This type of loan is designed to help you purchase business equipment, like machinery or office furniture. The loan is secured by the equipment, so the lender can seize it if you fail to repay the loan.
• Borrow a small amount of money. If you need to borrow a small amount of money, consider applying for a microloan. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has a Microloan program that allows qualified applicants to borrow up to $50,000. In addition, there are not-for-profit organizations that offer microloans, such as Kiva and the Women’s Microfinance Initiative.
• Establish a business. Since most lenders have minimum time in business requirements, it can be tough to find one that will issue you a startup loan for a new business . If you’re just starting out, you may have to apply for a microloan or a business credit card . You may find it easier to qualify for a business credit card than other types of business loans since approval is based on your personal credit score.
• Pay for day-to-day operations. A working capital loan —a short-term loan used to cover daily expenses, like rent and payroll—can help you cover temporary cash flow problems.
• Borrow money on an as-needed basis. If you don’t know the exact amount you need to borrow, a business line of credit could be a good option. Once a lender issues you a line of credit, you can withdraw funds up to a certain amount to cover business expenses and only pay interest on the amount you borrow.

Funding Turnaround Time

As you consider different types of financing for your business, consider how quickly you need to receive your funding. Each loan option will have different turnaround times once you submit an application, and if you need your funding quickly, some options may be better than others.

Many loans, including loans from banks and credit unions, can take 30 or more days to be funded. Yet, this can vary based on the lender and your application, including if any asset backing the loan needs to be assessed.

If you need a quick turnaround time for funding, some SBA loans can be funded within 10 days, and there are online lenders that offer fast business loans . These loans, which include both traditional loans and equipment loans, can be funded within a day in some cases.

2. Check Your Eligibility

Although business loan requirements vary, here are four things lenders are likely to consider when reviewing your small business loan application:

• Credit score. When you apply for a business loan, a lender will review your personal and business credit scores . They help the lender assess the likelihood you’ll repay your loan. In general, the higher your credit score, the greater your chances of loan approval and receiving a low interest rate.
• Collateral and/or personal guarantee. Some lenders require you to pledge collateral —something of value, such as equipment or inventory—it can seize if you default on the loan. Some lenders may also require a personal guarantee, meaning you have to secure the loan with personal assets, such as your savings, home or other valuable possessions.
• Time in business. A traditional bank typically requires a business to have been in operation for at least two years, while an online lender usually requires only one year. If you’ve been operating your business for less than one year, don’t get discouraged. Some online lenders will approve qualified applicants who have only been in business for six months.
• Annual revenue. Your total annual sales are also a relevant factor. Before applying, ask a lender what the requirements are and review your business finances to see if you meet them.

3. Compare Business Lending Options

There are several places you can find small business loans. Here are four of the most common types of lenders.

Online Lenders

Online lenders offer a variety of loan products to small business owners, including term loans, merchant cash advances, lines of credit and microloans. Loan approval rates were lower for online lenders than traditional banks as of 2022—71% versus 82%, respectively—according to the 2023 Small Business Credit Survey (SBCS) by the Federal Reserve.

Nonetheless, online lenders often have less stringent requirements than traditional banks. As a result, you may find it easier to get approved for a business loan with an online lender if you have less-than-stellar credit. In addition, online lenders often have much faster turnover—some may issue funds as soon as the same business day.

A major downside of taking out a business loan with an online lender, however, is that it often charges higher interest rates than a traditional bank.

Related:  Average Business Loan Rates: What Will You Be Charged?

Traditional Banks

Traditional banks provide many of the same types of business loans as online lenders. The main advantage of applying for a small business loan with a bank versus an online lender or microlender is that it typically offers lower rates for well-qualified applicants.

One disadvantage of applying for a business loan with a bank is that it often has more stringent eligibility requirements. If you have a bad personal credit score (a FICO score less than 580), you will likely have a hard time qualifying without a co-signer—someone who agrees to repay the loan if you fail to meet your payment obligations.

If you opt for funding from a bank, a small bank may be a better option versus a larger one. A majority of borrowers were satisfied with their experience and few were frustrated by long wait times, according to the 2023 SBCS survey. Fewer borrowers who worked with large banks were satisfied with their experience and more were frustrated by long waits for funding.

Microlenders

Microlenders are typically not-for-profit organizations that issue microloans up to $50,000 to qualified applicants, often designed to provide financing for business owners who don’t qualify for traditional business loans. Microlenders usually have less stringent eligibility requirements.

For example, the microlender Kiva does not have a minimum credit score requirement. Instead, it approves applicants based on “social capital.” To qualify, you have to get a certain number of people to lend money to you through Kiva’s platform before your loan request becomes public on their website.

SBA Lenders

Many lenders offer SBA loans , which the Small Business Administration guarantees. SBA loans have maximum loan amounts of up to $5 million and terms up to 25 years, depending on the loan type and use.

Qualification requirements can vary, but generally, your business must be for-profit, do business in the U.S. and be creditworthy. For businesses that qualify, SBA loans can have competitive interest rates, low fees and high loan amounts.

The most common types of SBA loans include:

• SBA 7(a) loans: 7(a) loans are intended for small businesses to cover business-related expenses, including working capital, buying equipment, acquiring real estate, among other uses. There are multiple types of SBA 7(a) loans , with maximum loan amounts of $5 million with terms up to 25 years. These loans are most often available through banks and other financial institutions.
• SBA 504 loans: The SBA’s 504 loans offer funding for major assets that grow your business and headcount, including building or buying buildings and purchasing long-term equipment. These loans are available through certified development companies (CDCs), with terms as long as 25 years.
• Microloans: Microloans offer businesses up to $50,000 to cover the cost of launching and expanding. These loans are available through nonprofit organizations, and the maximum repayment terms are six years.

Your business can find a lender for an SBA loan using the SBA’s Lender Match  tool.

Comparing Offers

As you shop for loans from various lenders, use a business loan calculator to calculate the costs of each loan. This can help you find the lowest cost financing option.

4. Gather the Required Documents

Once you understand your lending options, gather the required documents. A lender will likely ask for these items:

• Personal and business tax returns
• Business licenses
• Articles of incorporation
• Personal and business bank statements
• Profit and loss statements
• Financial statements
• Business plan
• Building lease

If you’re unsure what documents are needed, contact the lender before applying.

5. Submit Your Application

The final step is to submit your small business loan application. Depending on what lender you’ve decided to work with, you can do this online or in person.

Here’s some information a lender might ask for:

• Business name
• Social Security number (SSN)
• Desired loan amount
• Loan purpose
• Business Tax ID
• Annual revenue

Once you submit your application, you’ll have to wait for an approval decision. If your loan is approved, a lender will send you a loan agreement to sign before issuing your funds or a line of credit you can draw from.

Types of Business Loans

Depending on your business’s needs, one loan type may work better than another. Before accepting any financing, consider various business loans so that your business is best served by the loan.

• SBA loans. SBA loans are small business loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration. These loans include SBA 7(a) loans, 504 loans, CAPlines, Microloans and others, each of which serve different purposes. SBA loans often come with lower interest rates and down payments than other options, but you’ll often need to be an established business to qualify.
• Term loans. Term loans are traditional installment loans that are repaid over predetermined terms. Banks, credit unions and online lenders all offer these loans and while some have limited uses, many can be used for most business-related expenses. They’re typically available up to $500,000 with APRs starting around 9%.
• Lines of credit. A business line of credit is a form of financing that your business can draw from on an as-needed basis, making it a good option for ongoing cash flow issues. The borrower has access to the line of credit for a set period of time up to a predetermined limit. Once that draw period is over, the borrower has to repay the loan, with interest. APRs are typically anywhere between 10% and 99%.
• Invoice factoring and financing. With invoice factoring , your business sells outstanding invoices to a factoring company at a discount. This can be an effective way to get paid for outstanding invoices quickly, rather than waiting for customers to pay. APRs for invoice factoring are typically between 10% and 79%.
• Merchant cash advance. A merchant cash advance works by giving a lender a portion of your future sales, making this a good option for businesses that have a high volume of sales and need cash quickly. A lender will lend your business money and then that money will be repaid with a percentage of your sales on a daily or weekly basis.
• Equipment financing. Equipment financing funds the purchase of equipment or machinery, with the purchased equipment backing the loan. These loans can be used for anything from office furniture to manufacturing equipment, and terms can be as long as 25 years with limits of up to $1 million.

How To Get Approved for a Business Loan

Business loan eligibility requirements vary by lender, but in general, you and your business must meet these qualifications to get a business loan :

• Credit score. Most lenders will require a personal credit score of at least 670. If your business has been in operation for at least two years, many lenders will also have business credit score requirements.
• Time in business. Lenders will often require your business to have been in operation for at least six months to two years.
• Business revenue. To qualify for a business loan, your business will need $100,000 to $250,000 in annual business revenue.

How To Choose the Best Business Loan

Choosing the best business loan comes down to comparing loans you qualify for and determining which loan is the right fit. Here are loan factors to weigh across many loans.

• Annual percentage rate (APR). A loan’s APR represents what a loan costs on an annualized basis, including interest and fees. Comparing APRs can give you an apples-to-apples idea of which business loans will be the most and least affordable.
• Fees. Lenders may charge upfront fees to process your loan application. Projecting these fees and factoring them into the equation can also help you compare costs.
• Repayment terms. Terms for business loans can range from one year to 25 years. Choosing a long loan term can decrease your monthly payments but increases how much interest you’ll pay over time. The right loan term for you depends on your goals and what installment payments you can afford.
• Funding speed. While business loans from major banks might provide competitive rates for borrowers with strong credit, the application process can be cumbersome. If funding speed is a high priority, online lenders may offer faster funding.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How hard is it to get a business loan.

It can be difficult to get a business loan, but qualification requirements vary by lender. To find a lender where your business is eligible for a loan, consider shopping around for lenders and prequalifying where possible.

What credit score is needed for a business loan?

Since lenders have different eligibility requirements, the personal credit score you need to qualify for a business loan varies. That said, minimum credit score requirements may range from 500 to 680.

The business credit score needed to qualify also varies from lender to lender. Plus, it depends on the type of loan you’re applying for and what business credit score a lender uses. For example, when it comes to SBA loans, you’ll typically need a minimum business credit score of 155 to pass the SBA’s pre-screen process. However, most lenders set their minimum score requirements between 160 and 165.

How can I get a business loan with no money?

Although most lenders have annual revenue requirements, it’s possible to get a business loan if your business doesn’t have any money. Some lenders offer no doc business loans—loans that don’t require verification of business income. To qualify, you’ll likely need to have excellent credit and provide a personal guarantee.

Can I get a business loan with bad credit?

Although you’ll likely find it tougher to get approved for a small business loan with bad credit, it’s possible. Some lenders specialize in offering business loans to borrowers who have bad personal credit scores . However, If approved, a lender will most likely charge you a higher interest rate.

To receive a lower interest rate and boost your approval odds, consider applying with a co-signer who has a good credit score (at least 670, according to FICO) and decent income, if possible. A co-signer is someone who agrees to repay your loan if you default. Before you ask someone to co-sign for you, make sure they understand that a missed payment can cause damage to their credit.

How can I get approved for a business loan without collateral?

Certain lenders may be willing to approve you for a business loan without collateral if you sign a personal guarantee. Providing a personal guarantee means that you legally agree to be personally responsible for paying back the loan with your own assets or savings if the business cannot.

Since eligibility conditions vary by lender, shopping around can help you find a loan with application criteria that fits your situation. You may have the best shot at qualifying for a no-collateral loan through an online lender that has flexible application requirements.

How can I get a business loan from a bank?

The process for taking out a business loan from a bank can vary by financial institution. Some major banks have online applications where you input information about yourself and your business to apply. In other cases, you’ll have to visit a branch to apply.

Information you must provide to start an application could include your business name, the date you started the business, gross annual revenue and annual household income for all owners. Brick-and-mortar banks tend to have more stringent eligibility requirements compared to online lenders; having strong credit and financials may be necessary to qualify.

Looking for a business loan?

Get Forbes Advisor’s ratings of the best lending platforms and helpful information on how to find the best loan based on your credit score.

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Jerry Brown is a personal finance writer based in Baton Rouge, La. He's been writing about personal finance for three years. Financial products he enjoys covering include credit cards, personal loans, and mortgages.

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