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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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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.

On a similar note...

Best business plan software of 2024

For planning your business finance

Best overall

Best budget, best established, best for speed.

• How we test

The best business plan software makes it simple and easy to plan your business finances in order to present them to a bank or investors.

1. Best overall 2. Best budget 3. Best basic 4. Best established 5. Best for speed 6. FAQs 7. How we test

The whole point of a business plan is that it allows you to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, not least via your Unique Selling Point (USP) ,and make product or service comparisons with competitors.

Of course, even the best business plan relies on estimates and guesstimates, as it's impossible to predict market changes, developments, and future performance under such conditions. 

Ultimately, though, a business plan will demonstratively prove why your business is a solid enough investment to risk putting money into, and shows that you have properly and thoroughly researched your market, and details the real potential of a new business opportunities.

Here then are the best business plan software providers currently available.

You may also be interested in our featured business guides on best business laptops , best business computers and best business smartphones .

The best business plan software of 2024 in fill:

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid.

Bizplan is the online business planning tool that claims usage of 30,000 startup founders from the Startups.co platform. They use a guided creator that can break the big project down into the component pieces that get tracked with a Progress Tracker, and expert guidance each step of the way including templates that can be dropped in, and completed, along with simple integration of visuals along the way.

Additional resources are also provided via the Bizplan Academy, with lessons on relevant topics, for example, “Building a Brand: How to Tell a Powerful Brand Story,” and “Critical Path Your Way to Higher Revenues,” among the many offerings. Those that need even more assistance also can take advantage of an expert consultation from a financial expert.

• ^ Back to the top

2. PlanGuru

PlanGuru is a comprehensive, and powerful software package in the business planning space. Education is provided via a series of case studies at their PlanGuru University and a whole slew of video tutorials.

The feature set includes flexible budgeting that can handle a simple small business, or a larger multi-department operating budget, and financial forecasting that uses multiple methods, including intelligent and turn-key methods - twenty methods in total. Historical results can also be imported with the general ledger import utility which can then applied to produce a rolling forecast. They also offer PlanGuru Launch, a service to bring in expertise and is charged per hour of assistance.

A significant downside is Planguru charges a higher cost than other software options. The cheapest option is around $75 per month for one business entity when billed annually. While there is no free trial, PlanGuru does offer a 30 day money back guarantee. 

Our expert review:

Enloop is a great choice for business planning software for the cash strapped business as it is the rare offering that has a free tier. Step up up to the next tier, and this is no barebones product, as it has over 100 currency symbols, can automatically generate bank-ready financial reports, and even has automated text writing that can sync with financial data to turn it into text. There is also a real time performance score assigned, that dynamically changes as the business plan is strengthened.  

The plans start with the Free tier, which is limited to a single business plan with simple text, no images, and does not offer any advanced features. The next plan up is the Detailed plan, that supports three business plans, and offers a significant 55% discount when paid annually, making it even better value. This plan costs around $20 per month. For a more comprehensive package you can buy the Performance plan costing around $40 per month.

Read our full Enloop business plan software review .

4. LivePlan

LivePlan is business planning software that offers a simple pricing scheme as there is only a single plan to choose from. As they have a 15+ year track record, they offer a clean and simple interface, that can create business plans that look like they were done by an expert consultant, and the software includes a live dashboard that can track day-to-day performance. Those with writer’s block will benefit from the over 500 included sample plans that can be turned to for inspiration.  

Rather than complicate things with too many tiers to choose from, LivePlan only has a single plan which can be paid for monthly or annually.

5. Business Sorter

Business Sorter promises to simplify and speed up business planning and claims to be able to flesh out a plan in an hour or two, via a novel 273 card sort system that covers many common situations.

The ability to reword cards is included, or also to add cards to the already expansive deck, so no worries if there is not a pre-made card for your situation. Unlike some sites that have videos, the educational resources here are provided as PDFs and Word files, which can be quicker to access, but harder to follow for some learners. 

The lowest tier plan, Basic is fully featured, and includes up to three team leaders. 

Read our full Business Sorter review .

Other business plan software to consider

We've only covered some of the most popular business plan software platforms out there, but there are a number of other notables worth mentioning, plus a wide variety of providers of business plan templates. Below we'll briefly cover a range of some of the additional options out there that are worth considering to get your business plan right.

Go Business Plans is more of a consultancy than a software solution, but is worth mentioning for the simple fact that it's one of America's biggest business plan companies. While software might be able to do the job for you, if you're looking for significant funding, it's probably useful to get some professional advice, not least in terms of strategic planning, feasibility studies, and financial projections to ensure you have a solid base for your business plan.

Wise Business Plans provides a very wide range of templates to work from in constructing a business plan. These are particularly designed with funding in mind, no matter what kind of business you run. What is especially helpful is that Wise doesn’t simply deal with business plan templates for a diverse range of business types, the company also provides plan templates for franchises and non-profits.

Plan Writers  is another bespoke service that essentially listens to what you want and then puts the plan together for you. Again, this technically falls outside of business plan "software", but the chances are you'll use a software package as a platform to build from, and Plan Writers can then help you build up from that base.

Bplans is another provider of business plan templates, but goes beyond that with additional pitch and SWOT analysis templates. There are also business plan guides, industry reports, and a free course on writing a business plan. Bplans also publishes a lot of free-to-use articles on business planning, financials, and tax reporting, to help ensure you can keep your figures and projections accurate and compliant.

We've also listed the best free software for small business .

A business plan is essentially your roadmap to profitability from an initial investment. Whether it's your own money, or a loan from a bank, it's still a good idea to set up a business plan for yourself.

Main things to look to are a SWOT analysis to provide an idea of your business idea's strengths and weaknesses, as well as identify a unique selling point (USP) that will give your business an edge.

While business plans inevitably demand the use of figures, and while these can be impossible to be accurate with, at least by making intelligent guesses you can set yourself targets to work towards.

That's another common feature of a plan, so that specific periods you can review your business progress and make adjustments to your plan as required. This allows you to use real figures for your projections, allowing you to better plan ahead.

Which business plan software is best for you?

When deciding which business plan software to use, first consider what your actual needs are, as sometimes free platforms may only provide basic options, so if you need to use advanced tools you may find a paid platform is much more worthwhile. Additionally, free and budget software options can sometimes prove limited when it comes to the variety of tools available, while higher-end software can really cater for every need, so do ensure you have a good idea of which features you think you may require.

How we tested the best business plan software

To test for the best business plan software we first set up an account with the relevant software platform, whether as a download or as an online service. We then tested the service to see how the software could be used for different purposes and in different situations. The aim was to push each business plan software platform to see how useful its basic tools were and also how easy it was to get to grips with any more advanced tools.

Read how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar .

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Blog Business 8 Best Business Plan Software for 2024

8 Best Business Plan Software for 2024

Written by: Krystle Wong Jan 01, 2024

Gone are the days of staring at blank pages and struggling to structure a business plan effectively. With user-friendly interfaces and a wide range of business plan templates catering to various industries, creating business plans that are polished, professional and data-driven can now be done in a fraction of the time.

For startups, business plan software guides them through the crucial early stages with comprehensive business plan templates and financial modeling tools. Established businesses on the other hand benefit from the software’s collaborative features, enabling seamless teamwork as they pivot, innovate and pursue new growth opportunities.

In this article, let’s delve into exploring the seven best business plan software for 2024. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur with a groundbreaking idea or a seasoned business owner ready to elevate your enterprise to new heights, these software solutions have all you need to create a solid business plan.

Click to jump ahead:

What is a business plan software?

• 7 Best business plan software for 2024

Factors to consider when choosing a business plan software

7 steps to create your own business plan, business plan software faq, key takeaway.

A Business plan software is a specialized digital tool designed to assist entrepreneurs, startups and established businesses in creating, organizing and presenting comprehensive business plans. 

Business plan software significantly reduces the time and effort required to create a comprehensive business plan . The availability of business plan templates, financial modeling tools and automated features streamlines the process of business planning and eliminates the need for starting from scratch.

Some advanced business planning software even integrates market research capabilities. This feature provides users with access to market trends, industry benchmarks and relevant data. Access to such data helps users make informed decisions and demonstrate a thorough understanding of their target market.

8 Best business plan software for 2024 

1. venngage.

Venngage specializes in transforming traditional business plans into captivating visual stories. Visuals can communicate complex information effectively, ensuring your ideas stand out and resonate with your audience.

When it comes to business planning, conveying your ideas with impact is just as important as the content itself. In this digital age, visual storytelling has emerged as a powerful way to captivate audiences and leave a lasting impression. That’s where Venngage steps in.

With a rich library of templates, Venngage offers a variety of themes and styles to suit different industries and business types. Customize your business plans with our user-friendly drag-and-drop tools by adding your brand elements, customizing colors, fonts and visuals to make your business plan truly unique. Check out our library of sample business plans to get started today.

However, while Venngage excels in visual storytelling, it might not be the go-to tool for in-depth financial forecasts and analysis. Users seeking extensive financial modeling might want to complement Venngage with a comprehensive business planning tool.

Pricing options:

Create your first 5 designs with Venngage for free and upgrade to a premium or business plan for $10/month per user and $24/month per user respectively to enjoy premium features. For larger teams who need extra support, controls and security, the enterprise plan starts from $499/month for 10+ seats.

Can I collaborate with team members using this business plan software?

Yes, absolutely! Venngage offers collaborative features that allow you to work seamlessly with multiple team members when creating business plans. You can invite team members to join your Venngage account and they can contribute to the design process in real time. 

Can I export my business plan to different file formats?

Upgrade to a premium or business plan on Venngage to export your professional business plan to different file formats. After designing your business plan, you can choose to export it as a high-quality PDF document, which is ideal for sharing and printing. Additionally, Venngage allows you to export your business plan as an image file (PNG or JPG), making it easy to use in presentations or on your website. 

Is this business plan software suitable for startups or established businesses? 

Venngage is great for entrepreneurs and businesses looking to enhance their business plans with visually engaging infographics and visual assets.

Instead of sharing a lengthy, 50-page document that may bore your audience and fail to effectively convey your message — present your business plan with infographics. Here’s how you can create a business plan infographic that will wow your readers and showcase your business at its best. 

2. LivePlan

Source: Screenshot from LivePlan

In the realm of business planning software, LivePlan stands out as a reliable and user-friendly tool. With a focus on seamless financial forecasting and budgeting capabilities, LivePlan streamlines the planning process, helping businesses transform their visions into reality.

The software’s financial forecasting tools provide users with the ability to project revenue, expenses and cash flow accurately. This financial insight is invaluable for making informed decisions and setting realistic goals.

For hassle-free data integration, the business plan software offers seamless integration with accounting software . This feature allows users to import financial data effortlessly, saving time and reducing manual data entry.

While LivePlan excels in financial planning and user-friendliness, some users may find the customization options for design and layout to be limited. For businesses seeking highly tailored visual aesthetics, LivePlan’s template-based approach might be less ideal.

The standard plan is available at $20/month for monthly billing and $15/month for annual billing. For businesses seeking extensive financial tools to support their operations and growth, the Premium plan costs $20 for the first month and $40/month (monthly billing) or $30/month (annual billing) for subsequent months.

LivePlan facilitates seamless collaboration among users within your account, allowing multiple individuals to work on the same plan concurrently. To prevent conflicting edits, LivePlan restricts access to specific sections, allowing only one user to edit at a time while others observe the locked section.

You can export your business plan by using the print to PDF feature. This generates your plan content in a standard file format compatible with Adobe Reader and other free reader programs. Alternatively, you can export your plan to Microsoft Word (2007 or later).

A great tool for small businesses, startups and entrepreneurs looking for easy-to-use software with solid financial planning tools.

3. Upmetrics

Upmetrics is an AI-powered business planning software that helps businesses of all sizes and industries write their business plan.

With Upmetrics AI Assistant, you can write your plan faster, get answers to any business-related queries, and prepare financial forecasts in no time. 

Besides, the subscription includes access to 400+ sample business plans, various informative guides, and video tutorials to keep your business plan writing process on track. 

Additionally, it has collaborative features, so that everyone on the team can share their insights. Not just that, the software provides you with an AI pitch deck generator, so you can make a stellar pitch.

As an AI business plan builder , Upmetrics is suitable for entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses to write their plans at any stage. Although it has various cover page designs and immense customization options, it might still lack visual appeal. 

Pricing plan options 

• Starter plan – $7 monthly 
• Premium plan – $14 monthly 

Yes, you can collaborate with your team members while using Upmetrics. It offers collaboration tools that allow you to work effortlessly with your team on the business plan. You can invite team members to collaborate, assign tasks, and track the progress together. 

You can download your business plan as a PDF or directly as a document in Word. Besides, you can share the business plan directly to any email, and they will get the viewer access to the plan. 

Upmetrics is a versatile business planning software suitable for startups and established businesses. But its financial planning features, step-by-step guidance, and AI Assistant make it more useful for startups writing business plans for the first time.

4. BizPlan by Startups.com

Source: Screenshot from BizPlan

If you’re a startup aiming to raise investments, BizPlan is the one for you. As a universal professional business plan builder, BizPlan offers the added advantage of seamless integration with all the tools within the Startups.com network.

Designed with startups in mind, BizPlan’s step-by-step approach allows you to break down the entire scope of work into manageable steps and the built-in Progress Tracker tool keeps you on track towards success.

Once you subscribe, BizPlan opens the door to utilizing all the tools offered by Startups.com, making it a one-stop shop for your entrepreneurial needs. Whether it’s lifetime access to the service, connectivity to Findable to attract financial investments, a wealth of online educational programs or the ability to connect multiple owners to a single account, BizPlan delivers comprehensive support.

While the business plan software offers an array of benefits, it’s essential to consider the possible downsides. The absence of a free version and a mobile app, along with a lack of industry-specific templates for business plans may be worth considering before making your decision

Pricing plan options:

• Monthly plan ($29 per month)
• Annual plan ($20.75 per month or $249/year)
• Lifetime access (one-time fee of $349)

Bizplan encourages collaboration with partners, team members, advisors and subject matter experts by allowing threaded comments throughout the entire plan. It provides control over who can access sensitive financial data and enables convenient cloud-based access from anywhere.

Bizplan provides multiple options for sharing your business plan with others. You can generate an online version of your plan, which can be set as private by default or made publicly accessible through a unique shareable URL. Additionally, Bizplan offers the option to create a custom-branded PDF of your business plan. 

BizPlan is great for entrepreneurs and small businesses who value a vast collection of resources and need support in financial analysis.

Source: Screenshot from Enloop

Enloop emerges as one of the best business plan tools for startups, catering to entrepreneurs who crave a streamlined planning process. With the ability to automatically generate basic text for each section of your plan, Enloop saves time and effort in crafting your business vision.

A highlight of the business plan tool is its automatic generation of financial projections, offering accurate insights based on your entered data. This powerful feature empowers entrepreneurs to make informed decisions and project future outcomes with confidence.

For those with a penchant for strategic thinking, Enloop’s “what-if” scenario analysis becomes an invaluable tool. It allows users to explore various business strategies and assess their potential impact on plan outcomes, enabling sound decision-making.

Enloop doesn’t stop at generating numbers; it goes a step further by providing a business plan grading system. This insightful feature assesses plan quality, giving users valuable feedback to refine and enhance their business plans.

However, it’s essential to consider the software’s limitations as customization and design options are relatively limited. Additionally, the basic version of Enloop might not meet the needs of all users, as it lacks certain advanced features. 

• Seven day free trial (no credit card required)
• Detailed plan ($19.95/month or $11/month when billed annually)
• Performance plan ($39.95/month or $24/month when billed annually)

Enloop’s online business plan writing app lets you invite and collaborate with anyone on your business plans using the ‘Invite & Share’ feature.

Enloop allows you to download your business plan in PDF format whenever you’re ready. The plans remain accessible in your paid account, encouraging regular updates to keep track of your business’s health and have an up-to-date plan ready for financing needs.

Suitable for entrepreneurs seeking a tool that simplifies financial forecasting and scenario analysis.

6. PlanGuru

Source: Screenshot from PlanGuru

PlanGuru’s standout feature lies in its ability to forecast all three financial statements – income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement so that users can make data-driven decisions.

Creating detailed analyses becomes a breeze with PlanGuru’s general ledger import utilities, allowing seamless historical data import. The software facilitates budget vs actual reporting and enables building rolling forecasts with just a few clicks each month.

Unlimited budgeting flexibility is another advantage offered by the business plan builder. Users can craft simple high-level small business budgets or delve into intricate multi-department operating budgets with ease.

With scenario analysis capabilities, PlanGuru empowers users to interpret the financial impact of specific events accurately. This feature enables making critical investments and strategic decisions with confidence, knowing thorough due diligence has been performed.

Given its sophisticated features, PlanGuru may be more suitable for financial professionals and analysts looking for in-depth financial analysis and budgeting tools. Users not familiar with financial modeling may face a steeper learning curve when utilizing Enloop’s robust capabilities.

• Single entity ($99/month or $75/month when billed annually)
• Multi-department consolidations ($299/month or $225/month when billed annually)

You can add up to 3 users with the multi-department consolidation plan. Additionally, all plans allow you to add on $29/month (billed monthly) or $25/month (billed annually) for each extra user.

What other apps does PlanGuru integrate with?

The cloud-based platform is also accessible as a Windows-based desktop version, giving you the freedom to choose the format that suits you best. Additionally, PlanGuru seamlessly integrates with MS Excel, QuickBooks Online and Xero, providing further flexibility and convenience in using the software.

The cloud-based version is suitable for SMBs or nonprofits budgeting for a single entity while the multi-department consolidations plan is for companies with multiple departments needing consolidated budgets.

7. Business Sorter

Source: Screenshot from Business Sorter

With Business Sorter’s card sort system, crafting the foundation of your plan becomes a breeze. Featuring 273 cards covering various business situations, the business plan generator offers flexibility, allowing users to customize their plan by adding their cards or modifying existing ones, tailoring the plan to their specific needs.

The platform also provides the convenience of viewing your plan on any device, including smartphones, which not many business plan apps have. Additionally, guidance is at hand with Business Sorter as the software provides valuable tips and advice for every key step, empowering users to implement their business strategy with confidence.

While Business Sorter excels in its interactive features, it may not offer as extensive financial analysis tools as other business plan software. For businesses requiring advanced financial modeling capabilities, Business Sorter might not fully meet their requirements.

• For small teams with up to 3 users ($10/month or $80/year)
• For medium teams with up to 10 users ($30/month or $240/year)
• For large teams with up to 30 users ($80/month or $640/year)
• For enterprises with unlimited users (custom pricing)

Your business plan can be edited by only one user at a time. When a user opens a plan, it automatically locks to prevent any data loss and remains locked until the user finishes their work and exits the plan.

You can print each business plan directly from the plan summaries on your dashboard. 

Suitable for both entrepreneurs and businesses looking for an interactive and visually appealing planning approach.

9. AchieveIt

Source: Screenshot from AchieveIt

AchieveIt stands as a versatile software for business plans, designed to simplify the planning process for businesses of all sizes and planning methods. With AchieveIt, you can easily build plans, ensuring alignment and engagement among your employees and optimizing plans for seamless execution.

Regardless of your preferred planning method, AchieveIt empowers you to construct plans effortlessly, providing a flexible solution for any planning use case. The software ensures your plans are well-aligned with your organization’s objectives, engaging all team members for successful plan execution.

The business plan tool provides robust tracking and reporting features, allowing businesses to monitor the progress of their plans and measure performance against set goals. Users can create customized dashboards to visualize key performance metrics, making it easier to identify trends and insights.

That said, In comparison to most business plan software, AchieveIt’s pricing might be relatively higher with its extensive features. On top of that, for users new to strategic planning software, AchieveIt may present a learning curve during the initial adoption phase.

The business plan software packages for AchieveIt varies based on factors like organization size, required functionality and the number of users. AchieveIt being an enterprise-level software offers custom pricing to cater to the specific needs of each business. For accurate pricing details, it’s best to contact their sales or customer support team.

AchieveIt allows team members, stakeholders and advisors to have shared access to the platform, providing them with visibility into the latest updates and progress on the plans. Users can assign tasks to team members and track their progress within the platform. 

Can AchieveIt integrate with existing systems?

AchieveIt’s Data Integration API lets you import key metric data from existing systems, saving time and reducing errors by eliminating the need for data entry in multiple places.

AchieveIt is best suited for medium to large-sized businesses and organizations that require a comprehensive and collaborative strategic planning platform. It caters to teams and enterprises seeking to improve their planning processes, track performance and drive organizational alignment to achieve business objectives effectively.

No idea what your business plan should look like? Check out these business plan examples for inspiration. 

When searching for the best business planning software, you may be wondering — what features should I look for in business plan software? You want to make sure it meets your specific requirements and streamlines the planning process effectively. Here are the top six factors to consider:

Ease of use

The software should have a user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of creating a business plan. Look for intuitive navigation, clear instruction and a layout that makes it easy to input and organize your information.

Features and business plan templates

Check the range of features and business plan templates the software offers. Look for a diverse selection of business plan templates catering to various industries and business types. The software should provide essential sections like executive summaries, market analysis, financial projections and more.

Financial modeling tools

Your business plan software should allow you to input financial data and generate accurate and comprehensive financial projections. These business plan creation tools are vital for assessing the financial viability of your business.

Collaboration and sharing

If you’ll be working with a team or seeking feedback from others, consider software that enables real-time collaboration and easy sharing. The ability to work together seamlessly can enhance productivity and improve the quality of your business plan.

Built for fast-moving teams that need to be on the same page, Venngage’s real-time collaboration enables you to polish your design with your team in real time, leave comments on each other’s work,and save your designs in one shared folder. With your  Venngage Business  account, you can easily invite and manage your team members to collaborate on a design, all in real time.

Security and data protection

Since a business plan contains sensitive information, prioritize software that prioritizes security. Ensure that the software uses encryption and data protection measures to keep your data safe from unauthorized access.

Exporting and sharing options

Check the software’s export options. You’ll likely want to share your business plan with others, so ensure it can be exported in popular formats like PDF or PowerPoint.

Are you an entrepreneur starting a new business or expanding your existing business? This guide on how to create a small business plan might come in handy for you. 

Creating business plans can be a crucial step in setting your entrepreneurial vision on the right track. To help you through the process, here are 7 steps to guide you in crafting a comprehensive business plan:

Step 1: Executive summary

Start with an attention-grabbing executive summary. This section provides an overview of your business. In your executive summary, make sure to highlight your mission, goals, products or services, target market and the unique value you offer. Keep it concise, yet compelling.

Step 2: Company description

Give a detailed description of your company. Explain your business’s history, its legal structure (e.g. sole proprietorship, LLC, corporation) and the reasons why your business will succeed in the market.

Step 3: Market analysis

Conduct thorough market research to understand your industry, target market and competition. Identify your ideal customers, their needs and preferences. Analyze your competitors and highlight your competitive advantages.

Step 4: Products and Services

Describe your products or services in depth. Explain their features, benefits and how they meet the needs of your target customers. Emphasize what sets your offerings apart from the competition.

Step 5: Marketing and sales strategy

Outline your marketing and sales strategies to reach your target audience. Explain your promotional activities, pricing strategies, distribution channels and sales tactics. Detail how you plan to acquire and retain customers.

Step 6: Financial projections

Project your financial performance over the next three to five years. Include estimated revenue, expenses and cash flow. Detail your startup costs and funding requirements if applicable. Be realistic and supported by market research.

Step 7: Implementation plan

Create a detailed roadmap for executing your business plan. Set specific goals and milestones. Break down tasks and assign responsibilities. Include timelines and a plan for measuring progress.

A great tip here is to start with a well-structured outline. This guide on how to create a business plan outline will help you in creating your blueprint to easily identify your business’ resource needs, including finances, personnel and equipment. 

Is my business data safe with business plan software?

Most reputable business plan software providers prioritize data security and employ encryption and other measures to keep your business data safe from unauthorized access.

What are the benefits of using business planning tools?

Business planning tools offer time efficiency, professional presentation, error reduction, collaborative features and accessibility, making it easier to create a comprehensive business plan that impresses investors and stakeholders.

Do I need any specific skills or expertise to use business plan software?

No, many business plan software solutions are designed to be user-friendly, requiring no specific skills or expertise. They often come with templates and step-by-step guidance to assist you through the planning process.

In the dynamic landscape of 2024, businesses are on the lookout for innovative tools to stay ahead of the curve and drive their growth. These 7 business plan software picks for 2024 offer a wide range of features, from user-friendly interfaces and real-time collaboration to sophisticated financial analysis tools and customizable dashboards.

Whether you’re looking for user-friendly platform business planning tools that aligns with your business planning processes or a business plan writing software that allows you to tailor the business plan according to your industry, goals and unique requirements — I’m quite certain I’ve got them all covered. 

The value of these business plan software options lies not only in their efficiency but also in their ability to save time and reduce errors. By integrating with existing systems through Data Integration APIs, users can seamlessly import key metric data, eliminating redundant data entry and streamlining the process.

If you’re still unsure about which is the right business plan software for your business, you can always take advantage of free trials or video tutorials and demos offered by software providers. Testing the platform firsthand will give you a practical understanding of its usability and suitability for your business.

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• 5 Best Business Plan Software and Tools in 2023 for Your Small Business

Data as of 3 /13/23 . Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

We are committed to sharing unbiased reviews. Some of the links on our site are from our partners who compensate us. Read our editorial guidelines and advertising disclosure .

A business plan can do a lot for your business. It can help you secure investors or other funding. It can give your company direction. It can keep your finances healthy. But, if we’re being honest, it can also be a pain to write.

Luckily, you don’t have to start from scratch or go it alone. Business plan software and services can help you craft a professional business plan, like our top choice LivePlan , which provides templates, guidance, and more.

You’ve got quite a few choices for business plan help, so we’re here to help you narrow things down. Let’s talk about the best business plan tools out there.

• LivePlan : Best overall
• BizPlanBuilder : Most user-friendly
• Wise Business Plans : Best professional service
• Business Sorter : Best for internal plans
• GoSmallBiz.com : Most extra features
• Honorable mentions

Business plan software 101

The takeaway, business plan software faq, compare the best business plan software.

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LivePlan: Best overall business plan software

Data as of 3 /13/23 . Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *With annual billing

LivePlan has been our favorite business plan software for a while now, despite the stiff competition.

There’s a lot to like about LivePlan. It has pretty much all the features you could want from your business plan software. LivePlan gives you step-by-step instructions for writing your plan, helps you create financial reports, lets you compare your business’s actual financials to your plan’s goals, and much more. And if you ever need inspiration, it includes hundreds of sample business plans that can guide your writing.

LivePlan software pricing

But the best part? You get all that (and more) at a very competitive price. (You can choose from annual, six-month, or monthly billing.) While LivePlan isn’t quite the cheapest business plan builder out there, it’s not too far off either. And if comes with a 60-day money back guarantee. So there’s no risk in trying LivePlan out for yourself.

With a great balance of features and cost, LivePlan offers the best business plan solution for most businesses.

BizPlanBuilder: Most user-friendly

Need something easy to use? BizPlanBuilder fits the bill.

BizPlanBuilder doesn’t have a flashy, modern user interface―but it does have a very clear, intuitive one. You’ll be able to see your plan’s overall structure at a glance, so you can quickly navigate from your title page to your market trend section to that paragraph on your core values. And as you write, you’ll use a text editor that looks a whole lot like the word processing programs you’re already familiar with.

BizPlanBuilder software pricing

Data effective 3/13/23. At publishing time, amounts, rates, and requirements are current but are subject to change. Offers may not be available in all areas.

BizPlanBuilder also offers lots of helpful guidance for actually writing your plan. It gives you pre-written text, in which you just have to fill in relevant details. It offers explanations for what information you need to include in each section of your plan and way. It even gives you helpful tips from experts, so you’ll have all the information you need to plan like a pro.

So if you want planning software with almost no learning curve, you’ll like BizPlanBuilder.

Wise Business Plans: Best professional service

• Custom quote

Unlike all the other companies on this list, Wise Business Plans doesn’t offer software. Instead, it offers professional business plan writing services―meaning someone does all the hard work for you.

Now, you might think that sounds expensive―and you’re probably right (you have to request a custom quote for your plan). But there’s a lot to be said for expertise, and Wise Business Plans has plenty of that. Your business plan will get written by an experienced writer (with an MBA, no less). They’ll get information from you, do their own research, and then write your plan. You get one free revision, and you can always pay for more.  

Wise Business Plans service pricing

Your end result will be a polished, entirely original business plan. (You can even get printed copies.) And best of all, you won’t have to spend your precious time working on the plan yourself. Wise Business Plans takes care of all the hard parts, and makes your business look good while doing it. Sounds like a service worth paying for, right?

Put simply, if you want the most professional business plan possible, we recommend using Wise Business Plans’s writing service.

Business Sorter: Best for internal plans

Many businesses need plans to show to people outside the company (to get financing, for example). But what if you just need a plan for internal use? In that case, we suggest Business Sorter.

Business Sorter uses a unique card-based method to help you craft the perfect business plan. (You can watch a demo video to see how it works.) You’ll plan some of the usual things, like finances and marketing. But Business Sorter also lets you make plans for specific teams and team members. It also emphasizes more internal matters, like operations, that might get overlooked in a business plan for outsiders.

Business Sorter software pricing

After you’ve made your business plan, Business Sorter also helps you stay accountable to it. You can create tasks, give them deadlines, and assign them to team members―giving you basic project management tools to make sure your business plans become business actions. (Oh, and did we mention that Business Sorter has the lowest starting prices of any software on this list?)

It all adds up to a business plan software that works great for internal planning.

GoSmallBiz: Most extra features

Want to get way more than just business planning software? Then you probably want GoSmallBiz.

See, GoSmallBiz offers business plan software as part of its service―but it’s just one part of a much bigger whole. You also get everything from discounts on legal services to a website builder to a CRM (customer relationship manager) to business document templates. And more. In other words, you get just about everything you need to get your startup off the ground.

GoSmallBiz software pricing

Don’t worry though―you still get all the business planning help you need. GoSmallBiz gives you business plan templates, step-by-step instructions, and the ability to create financial projections. And if you get stuck, GoSmallBiz will put you in touch with experts who can offer advice.

If you want business planning and much, much more, give GoSmallBiz a try.

• PlanGuru : Best financial forecasting
• EnLoop : Cheapest tool for startups

We recommend the software above for most business planning needs. Some businesses, though, might be interested in these more specialized planning software.

Honorable mention software pricing

PlanGuru: Best financial forecasting features

PlanGuru is pretty pricey compared to our other picks, but you might find its forecasting features worth paying for. It has more forecasting methods than other software (over 20) plus it lets you forecast up to 10 years.

EnLoop: Cheapest tool for startups

EnLoop doesn’t have our favorite features or interface, but it does have really, really low pricing plus a seven-day free trial. It's the most affordable software for startup business planning and still provides all the essential features like financial analysis, team collaboration, charting, and more.

Data as of 3 /13/23 . Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. * With annual billing

Several of our previous favorite planning software, including BusinessPlanPro and StratPad, seem to have gone out of business.

A business plan is a written, living document that tells the story of your business and what you plan to do with it. It serves as the source of truth for you—the business owner—as well as potential partners, employees, and investors, but it also serves as a roadmap of what you want your business to be.

Why you need a business plan

While some small-business owners don’t see the point of creating a formal business plan, it can have some concrete benefits for your business. For example, one 2016 study found that business owners with written plans are more successful than those that don’t. 1

Still too vague? Then let’s get specific.

If you ever seek business funding (from, say, banks, angel investors , or venture capitalists ), you’ll have to prove that your business deserves the money you want. A formal business plan―complete with financial data and projections―gives you a professional document you can use to make your case. (In fact, most potential investors will expect you to have a business plan ready.)

Even if you’re not seeking funding right now, a business plan can help your business. A formal plan can guide your business’s direction and decision making. It can keep your business accountable (by, for example, seeing if your business meets the financial projections you included). And a formal plan offers a great way to make sure your team stays on the same page.

What to include in your business plan

Not all business plans are created equal. To make a really useful business plan, you’ll want to include a number of elements:

• Basic information about your business
• Your products/services
• Market and industry analysis
• What makes your business competitive
• Strategies and upcoming plans
• Your team (and your team’s background)
• Current financial status
• Financial and market projections
• Executive summary

Of course, you can include more or fewer elements―whatever makes sense for your business. Just make sure your business plan is comprehensive (but not overwhelming).

How business plan software can help

With so many elements to include, business plan creation can take a while. Business plan software tries to speed things up.

Most business plan software will include prompts for each section. In some cases, you can just fill in your business’s specific information, and the software will write the text for you. In other cases, the software will give you specific guidance and examples, helping you write the text yourself.

Plus, business plan software can help you stay organized. You’ll usually get intuitive menus that let you quickly flip through sections. So rather than endlessly scrolling through a long document in a word processor, you can quickly find your way around your plan. Some software even lets you drag and drop sections to reorganize your plan.

Sounds way easier than just staring at a blank page and trying to start from scratch, right?

Choosing business plan software

To find the right business plan builder for your business, you’ll want to compare features. For example, would you rather write your own text, getting prompts and advice from your software? Or would you rather go with a fill-in-the-blank method?

Likewise, think about the elements you need. If your plan will have a heavy focus on finances, you’ll want to choose business plan software with robust financial projection features. If you care more about market and competitor analysis, look for software that can help with that research.

You may also want to find business plan software that integrates with your business accounting software . Some plan builders will import data from Xero, QuickBooks, etc. to quickly generate your financial data and projections.

And of course, you’ll want to compare prices. After all, you always want to end up with software that fits your business budget.

The right business plan software can make your life easier. With LivePlan ’s wide breadth of features and online learning tools, you can’t go wrong. Plus, BizPlanBuilder 's one-time pricing makes it easy to invest while Business Sorter has a low starting cost. And if you're business is looking to grow, GoSmallBiz and Wise Business Plans will scale with you.

But of course, different companies have different needs. So shop around until you find the software that’s best for you and your business.

Now that you've got a business plan, take a look at our checklist for starting a small business.  It can help you make sure you have everything else you need to get your startup off to a good start!

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Creating a business plan can take anywhere from a couple hours to several weeks. Your timeline will depend on things like the elements you choose to include, whether you use software or hire a writing service, and how much research goes into your plan.

That said, much of the business plan software out there brags that it can help you create a fairly detailed plan in a few hours. So if you’re going the software route, that can help you set your expectations.

If you want to get the most out of your business plan, you should update it on a regular basis―at least annually. That way, you can continually refer to it to inform your company’s strategies and direction.  

At the very least, you should update your business plan before you start looking for a new round of funding (whether that’s with investors or lenders).

Thanks to business plan software, you can easily write your own business plan rather than pay someone to do it for you. And in most cases, software will cost you less than a professional business plan service.

There are some times you might want to go with a service though. If time is tight, you might find that it’s worth the cost of a service. Or if you’ve got big investor meetings on the horizon, you might want the expertise and polish that a professional service can offer.

Ultimately, you’ll have to decide for yourself whether business plan software or a business plan service will work better for your company.

Methodology

We ranked business plan software and tools based on features, pricing and plans, and connections to project management and other services. The value of each plan and service, along with what it offers, was a big consideration in our rankings, and we looked to see if what was offered was useful to small businesses or just extra. The final thing we looked at was the ease of use of the software to see if it's too complex for small businesses.

At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.

Sources 1. Harvard Business Review, “ Research: Writing a Business Plan Makes Your Startup More Likely to Succeed .” Accessed March 13, 2023.

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7 Best Business Plan Software for Startups in 2024

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Launching a new startup is an exciting yet challenging endeavor. Crafting a comprehensive business plan is a critical first step for any founder to outline their vision, objectives, and strategy. It acts as a roadmap to help guide important decisions and next steps as a company grows.

With so many options available, finding the right business planning tool can be daunting. The best software should be affordable, user-friendly, and offer a robust set of features to aid in financial modeling, strategic planning, and more.

In this review, we’ll explore some of the top business plan software solutions designed specifically for entrepreneurs. We’ll compare capabilities, ease of use, templates and resources, integrations, pricing, and more. Whether you’re looking to create an investor-ready plan or simply organize your strategy, choosing the right tool can help you get started on the right foot.

Our #1 Pick: LivePlan

Save time and create a professional business plan with intuitive tools and step-by-step guidance.

Unsure if LivePlan is right for you? Continue reading our comprehensive review below to learn more and explore your options.

Best Business Planning Tools

In this review, we’ll look at seven of the best business plan software platforms — discussing their pros, cons, features, pricing, and more — so you can decide which one is right for your startup.

Best Business Plan Software for Startups 2024:

• LivePlan – Best Overall
• Bizplan – Easiest to Use
• Enloop – Best Automation Features
• PlanGuru – Best Financial Forecasting
• IdeaBuddy – Best for Idea Validation
• iPlanner – Best for Nonprofits
• Wise Business Plans – Best Professional Services

The following tools all have their own great features. Based on its affordable pricing and usability, LivePlan is our top business plan software choice for startups.

Try LivePlan today or continue reading to explore your options!

Best Business Plan Software: LivePlan

LivePlan is the overall best business plan tool, offering a large number of features at an affordable price.

1. LivePlan – $15/month to $30/month

We love LivePlan overall because it offers great value at an affordable cost. The software lets you quickly create a business plan from anywhere in the world using what is arguably the best business plan software available on the market. It does everything better than its competition and costs way less.

What’s more, the online “cloud-based” platform is easy to use and you are under no contract or obligation to keep paying for the service. Even better, if you decide to stop service for whatever reason, Palo Alto Software, the makers of LivePlan, will keep your account active and data preserved for at least a year should you decide to reactivate your account later.

• Create an unlimited number of business plans
• A forecast feature for those less mathematically inclined. Plug in data, and it will generate charts, graphs, figures, and even the profit and loss, balance sheet, and cash flow statements
• 500+ business plan templates spanning all major industries
• Real-time financial data tracking
• Performance dashboards track sales and budgeting
• Create one-page pitch plans for potential investors
• Milestone scheduling feature — Some people will use it when working with others on their plan; it will let you assign milestones to people.
• Low-cost annual plans
• Affordable pay-as-you-go plans
• No cancellation fees
• Data saved for 12-months, even after cancellation
• Clean, modern platform
• Cloud-based; works on any business machine (Linus, Windows, Mac)
• Integrates with Quickbooks and Xero to import your data easily
• Knowledgeable customer support to get help with your plan
• No valuation capabilities
• Templates built on Palo Alto Software’s earlier software Business Plan Pro require some modifications to be used on LivePlan

Insider Information

Talking to the nice people at LivePlan we learned some inside information that we wanted to share with our readers.

Here’s what we learned:

• LivePlan has been used by contestants on ABC’s hit show “Shark Tank” to win over angel investors to help them get their ideas and businesses funded.
• Accountants use LivePlan as an added-value service to sell to their clients.
• Businesses continue using LivePlan because of a feature called “Dashboard” which lets you manually enter your actuals or pull actuals from Quickbooks online to do comparative forecasting and analysis.
• LivePlan helps with business continuity planning (BCP).
• LivePlan executives use LivePlan to make important business decisions.
• “Dashboard” does profit and loss, cash flow, and balance sheet reports and lets you compare and contrast your actuals from your forecasts to be able to show to investors.
• LivePlan lets you create business plans in 1/5th the time it takes using templates.

Customer Reviews

LivePlan receives great feedback from customers. LivePlan reviews average 4.5 stars out of 5 on GetApp. LivePlan is an easy company for us to recommend for the best business plan software.

2. Bizplan – $29/month, $249/year, $349 lifetime

Bizplan rates high on our list because they offer a lifetime plan that gets you “forever access” to their business plan software. As an added bonus, you also receive free access to Startup Courses and LaunchRock, a landing page builder.

• Easy, “fill-in-the-blanks” plan builder
• Publish your business plan online
• Unlimited business plans
• Bizplan takes care of the financials
• Cloud-based (use any browser on any computer)
• Options to add more graphics and photos
• Low-cost yearly plans
• Create unlimited business plans
• Xero to import your data easily
• Excellent and responsive customer support (email/chat/phone)
• Free access to Startup.com and LaunchRock.com
• Discount at Fundable.com (connect with lenders and investors)
• Can’t export in Word
• Doesn’t currently integrate with QuickBooks
• No free trial
• No third-party app integrations

Talking with BizPlan insiders, we learned that the premise behind BizPlan is to help startups easily create professional business plans to give them a leg-up with lenders and investors.

Here’s what else we learned:

• BizPlan’s does all your financial calculations for you.
• BizPlan strives to be an all-in-one solution for Startups needing funding.
• BizPlan is constantly making improvements to its software.

BizPlan receives great feedback from customers. BizPlan reviews average 4.4 stars out of 5 on GetApp. Still a relatively new option, BizPlan already has over 30,000 satisfied customers. As their platform grows, we wouldn’t be surprised to see them integrate even more valuable features. Keep a close eye on this one.

3. Enloop – Free to $39.95/month

If you’re looking to try before you buy, Enloop is a strong choice as one of the only business planning software tools with a free trial.

• User-friendly platform
• Compare your financials against your industry’s performance
• Bank ready financial statements (Profit and Loss, Balance Sheet, Cash flow)
• Lets multiple team members work on a business plan
• 36-Month detailed financial reports
• Sync date and text into your business plan
• Real-time performance rating
• Generated business plan Pass/Fail report
• Multiple currency formatting
• Seven-day free trial (no credit card required)
• Advanced financial ratios
• Financial projections
• Video tutorials to help you with the writing process
• No phone or chat support, just a “contact us” form.
• Three business plan limit per account
• Doesn’t integrate with QuickBooks or Xero
• No financial forecasts beyond 36-months
• No 30-day money-back guarantee

We learned that the premise behind Enloop is to make business planning easier for entrepreneurs. Enloop achieves this by making software simple to navigate through and takes risks off the table with their no credit card needed seven-day free trial. Their business plan creation software offers financial forecasting features for up to 36 months.

• Enloop utilizes 16 financial ratios to get your business ready for investors.
• Enloop offers some sample business plans that are easy to modify.
• Enloop’s performance score increases as you create your detailed plan.
• A new business or small businesses benefit the most from Enloop’s solutions.

Enloop receives fair feedback from customers. Enloop’s reviews average 3 stars out of 5 on PCMag. Enloop’s main complaint is its lack of instructional text for writing mission statements and other key sections. What they rank high on is their efficiency and the speed at which the software lets you write a business plan.

Even beyond the free version, Enloop Basic is just $9.95/month ($6/month when paid annually), so they’re one of the least expensive tools for writing a business plan.

4. PlanGuru – $99/month to $299/month

PlanGuru is a good option if you’re looking for considerably more robust software that offers quite a bit more. The most notable feature we like is the valuation tool, only present on the desktop version of the software. PlanGuru lets you calculate the valuation of your business using three different methods. No other business plan software offers this that we know of.

PlanGuru also offers budgeting, forecasting, and performance tools to help you put together a business plan. In the main, PlanGuru allows you to get a custom-tailored three financial statement budget model up and running out of QuickBooks or Xero in a matter of minutes. PlanGuru’s business plan writing software takes you through a setup process where it asks you questions such as:

• What’s the first month of your fiscal year?
• How many historical years do you want to import?

And, once you answer these questions, PlanGuru then generates a model for you that you can then populate with your historical data if you have it. Then you can go through PlanGuru’s 20+ projection methods.

Some financial data projection methods include:

• Expenses, like payroll, etc.
• Balance sheet items, like accounts receivable, accounts payable, crude expenses, prepaid expenses, loans, etc.

These are only a few of the features the business plan software offers. Here are some more.

• Budgeting/Forecasting Software
• Analytics Service for Financial Performance & KPIs
• Valuation calculations (desktop software only)
• Desktop and cloud-based options
• Free 14-day trial and 30-day money-back guarantee
• Great customer support and knowledgeable sales staff
• Lower-cost yearly plans offered
• Advanced financial calculations
• Business valuation calculations
• No contracts
• Integrates with QuickBooks and Xero
• Costlier than LivePlan and most other business plan software options
• Additional cost per user can add up quickly

The great thing about PlanGuru is that the only thing you have to worry about is the income statement and balance sheet projections because the cash flow statement is automatically generated.

Then once you have the cash flow statement, income statement, and balance sheet in place, you can then lock down the budget.

• PlanGuru’s desktop version has three different types of valuation methods that calculate the worth of your business.
• PlanGuru has some really nice reporting tools that pull together your financial statements into table formats, say, for the bank, line-by-line.
• PlanGuru also has some nice charts, graphs, scorecards, and some easily digestible reports that can help you visualize how your company is performing.
• Exports to Excel, PDF, and Word documents –and, there’s even a tool that lets you create customized reports.
• You can print your plan off too to show partners, lenders, and investors.
• PlanGuru now offers a cloud-based version of its software, though it will take some time to catch up to the rich features offered by the current desktop software version.
• With PlanGuru you also get free updates, bug fixes, and new releases as they become available.

Important Note: These tools are important because investors may want to see not only historical performance but also projections.

5. IdeaBuddy – Free to $35/month

IdeaBuddy makes our list because of what’s behind their approach. IdeaBuddy focuses on helping entrepreneurs develop their idea first, then share it, and then refine it into a plan. If you have a business idea and don’t know what to do next, IdeaBuddy could be what you’re looking for in a business plan software.

• Single-page business plan pitch (Idea plan)
• Clean modern design platform combined with great financial tools
• Marketing plan for selling and promoting your products
• Market overview plan where you create targeted customer profiles, identify your competition and calculate the market potential
• Business plan creation that includes forecasting performance and cash flow projections
• A proprietary algorithm calculates a final score for your idea providing recommendations for improvement after you complete “Story Mode”
• Idea Journal, that is an internal business plan for you to show potential investors
• A lifetime plan costs only $178
• Great for developing ideas
• Great for doing market research
• Pay-as-you-go plans offered
• Email-only customer service
• Software lag time issues
• Fewer software options than most other small business options

IdeaBuddy has some great features that are fantastic from idea conceptualization down to cost projections and the laying out of steps to take to start a business. We would have liked, however, to been given more KPIs that would notify us of tasks, help with idea validation, and help us measure other objectives to better monitor the health of our business. Another thing lacking was the design of the finished plan–it contained some noticeable structural issues.

IdeaBuddy has received some outstanding customer reviews on GetApp. IdeaBuddy has earned a 4.6-star rating out of 5 possible stars.

6. iPlanner – Starts at $55/year

iPlanner is a comprehensive business plan software that has been aiding entrepreneurs since 2007, providing a robust framework for developing business plans, models, and financial forecasts online.

• Unlimited Team Members & Collaboration
• A La Carte Pricing Model vs Packages
• Discounts for Serial Entrepreneurs & Business Coaches
• Solid amount of industry knowledge and experience.
• They’ve got two trademarked business planning services, Startup Framework™ and Strategy Designer™
• All of their business planning packages allow you to have unlimited collaborators and assign people three different roles: Project Owners, Advisors, and Viewers.
•  Their Startup Framework software has a business modeling section where you can design a business model canvas and strategize as much as you need before diving into your plan.
• Doesn’t have a month-to-month option for either of their services. Their Strategy Designer is payable only annually, while their Startup Framework is available for 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month payments.
• They don’t offer refunds
•  Their website is pretty old school and tough to navigate.
•  Unlike other business planning software, iPlanner doesn’t offer a free version or trial. However, you can take a tour of their Startup Framework software or view a demo of the Strategy Designer to get a feel for them.

iPlanner’s Business Planning Software

If a simple framework is all you’re looking for, iPlanner can help you out. They don’t have many bells and whistles, but at these price points, they offer a good value for nonprofits and corporations.

7. Wise Business Plans – Pricing by Request

Wise business plans website is a little confusing to navigate, and pricing is by request only, which can get frustrating. They do have a lot of options for different kinds of business plans for various types of business types, which makes them versatile. They also have business building and funding options as well. And, if you wish to establish business credit, they offer net-30 accounts that get reported to Equifax business.

• Claim to be the only business plan company to write for Fortune 100 and 500 companies
• Business formation services
• Business license searches
• EIN services
• Digital marketing services
• Business website design and branding
• Has a lot of helpful information
• Helpful options for forming your business
• Options to help after you start your business
• Helps small businesses establish business credit
• Not an actual business plan software
• Expensive by comparison
• Website is difficult to navigate
• Pricing is by request only
• Limited products and features
• Turnaround is one month
• Requires some work on your end

Business Plan Software Pros and Cons

• By using business plan software providers, you’ll be able to create a solid outline for your business. Although some of the options above are better than others, each will walk you through from start to finish.
• No matter how you look at it, business plan software is cost-effective. As long as you actually use the tool, you’ll generate significantly more value than you’re spending on monthly subscription fees.
• If you spend the time to create a solid plan, you’re much more likely to hold yourself accountable. Think of planning software like an accountability buddy for entrepreneurship.
• Your business plan tool will help set realistic financial goals, and most can also keep your bottom line in check by integrating your accounting software.
• Business planning software enables you to collaborate with partners, mentors and investors.
• Some of the business plan tools don’t offer support and can have slightly buggy features. That said, if you’re serious about writing a solid plan, go with a tool that’s constantly updated and well made.
• Although some business plan tools have a collaboration feature, none of them can review it when you’re done. All business planning tools lack a human touch.

How to Choose the Right Business Plan Software

With the array of business planning tools available, it can be daunting to select the right one for your needs. Here are some tips for choosing a business plan software solution:

• Consider your skill level – Opt for software like a wizard-guided template if you are less experienced in writing plans. Choose more advanced software with greater flexibility once you know what you are doing. Look for drag-and-drop tools to easily organize sections.
• Determine your budget – Prices range from free to several hundred dollars. Know how much you can spend before shopping.
• Compare features – Look for software with the specific tools you need, like financial projections, sample text, customizable templates, and more.
• Evaluate the financial tool capabilities – The software should provide extensive financial tools like forecasting, modeling, projections, and dashboards to streamline financial planning.
• Check reviews and ratings – Get feedback from other users about their experience with the software. High reviews indicate easier, more user-friendly software.

Which Is the Best Business Plan Software?

You know the unique requirements of your startup better than we do. These are all quality services that offer business planning software tools for entrepreneurs like you. Feel free to read over our full reviews if you’d like to know more about any of them or even visit the websites directly.

In general, we do prefer LivePlan because they have a huge library of business plan templates, and we love their convenient dashboard. They’re the planning software that is most likely to help you via customer support, continue updating their tool, and figure out ways to make your business experience better. Enjoy!

What is the purpose of a business plan?

The purpose of a business plan is to provide a structured outline and roadmap for a business’s goals, strategies, and operations. It serves as a guide for decision-making, resource allocation, and management. 

Furthermore, it can be a crucial tool for attracting investors, securing loans, and ensuring that all stakeholders have a clear understanding of the business’s direction and objectives.

What does business plan software do?

Business plan software assists entrepreneurs and businesses in creating, organizing, and refining their business plans. It provides tools, templates, and guidance to streamline the planning process. 

Features often include financial forecasting, market analysis, visual aids like charts and graphs, collaboration capabilities, and even integration with other business tools. This software aims to simplify the task of creating a thorough and professional business plan.

How do you write a business plan?

To write a business plan, start by writing an executive summary that provides an overview of your business idea, products/services, market opportunity, and projected growth. Outline your company description, industry analysis, target customers, competitive advantage, marketing and sales plans, operations, management team, and financial projections.

How long should a business plan be?

The length can vary based on the complexity of the business, its stage, and its intended audience. In general, it might range from 15-50 pages. However, the key is to ensure that the plan is comprehensive yet concise. 

For many situations, especially when seeking investment, a more detailed one is preferable. Yet, for internal purposes or for businesses at very early stages, a shorter, more concise plan might suffice.

Are there business plan templates on Word?

Yes, Microsoft Word has business plan templates you can download and customize. The templates provide section headings, instructions, sample text, and tables to input your specific business information.

What is Palo Alto Software?

Palo Alto Software is a company that’s been around since the late 1980s. They created business management software for startups and existing businesses. The software has since been updated and rebranded as LivePlan and today happens to be one of the most sought-after business plan software available in the marketplace.

Individual Business Plan Reviews

Further Reading

• What Is a Business Plan? July 2, 2024
• Lean Startup Business Plan Guide July 2, 2024
• The 7 BIGGEST Business Plan Mistakes to Avoid July 10, 2024

Topics to Explore

• Startup Ideas
• Startup Basics
• Startup Leadership
• Startup Marketing
• Startup Funding

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6 Best Business Plan Software Platforms (2024)

Read on for a list of our favorite software platforms for writing a business plan, plus advice on how to choose the right business plan software for your needs.

Every successful ecommerce business is supported by a foundation of solid business planning. A professional business plan sets the stage for your new business , acting as an internal and external roadmap for brand identity, financial planning, project management, and more.

Writing a business plan is an important and often difficult task for any entrepreneur or business owner. If you can't get your head around a business plan template , business planning software can help. If drafting a business plan from scratch sounds too daunting to tackle on your own, business plan software offers everything you need for business plan creation, including financial reports, sample business plans, how-to articles, and more.

Read on for a list of the best business plan software platforms, plus advice on how to choose the right business plan software for your needs.

6 best business plan software platforms for 2023

Affordable software with business plan templates and samples

• Pricing : standard plan is $15/month; premium is $30/month; annual discounts available
• Money-back guarantee : 60 days
• Capterra rating : 4.5/5
• G2 rating : 4.1/5
• Integrations : QuickBooks, Xero, open API

One of the most affordable pieces of business plan software on this list, LivePlan allows users to create unlimited business plans and offers more than 500 sample business plans and pages to start with. Get step-by-step guidance on how to write your plan and use templates for different types of business plans, making it easy to tailor your plan to your needs.

LivePlan also offers a robust set of financial forecasting tools, helping you to convert financial data like cash flow statements into easy-to-read charts and graphs.

Business plan software for entrepreneurs who struggle with writing

• Pricing : 7-day free trial; detailed plan is $19.95/month; performance plan is $39.95/month; annual discounts available
• Money-back guarantee : none, but no contracts are required
• Capterra : 4/5
• Integrations <: none

Enloop has many of the same features as other pieces of business plan software. It automatically syncs financial data and creates financial ratios. And when you write your plan, it assesses it and gives you a performance score, so you can improve it if needed. You can also add users for easy collaboration and sharing. Enloop is especially good if writing isn’t your strong suit, as you can plug in your metrics and let the software do the “writing” for you .

Business plan software for startups seeking investment

• Pricing : $29/month; $349 lifetime access; annual discounts available
• Money-back guarantee : 3 days
• Capterra : 4.4/5
• Integrations : Xero, QuickBooks

Bizplan is a business plan software that caters to small businesses and startups seeking external investment. The platform makes connecting with potential investors easy, and allows users to easily publish a business plan on Fundable, a popular crowdfunding platform.

Other standout features include drag-and-drop tools for creating business plan templates, access to self-guided business courses from Startups.com, and financial tools to help set salaries, forecast revenue, and track expenses.

Best business plan software for planning, forecasting, and scenario analysis

• Pricing : 3-day free trial available; app and desktop require separate subscriptions at $99/month each, plus $29/month per additional user; discounts available for annual billing
• Money-back guarantee : 30 days
• Capterra : 4.2/5
• Integrations : Xero, QuickBooks, Microsoft Excel

If the focus of your business plan is your business’s financial picture and potential, PlanGuru is an excellent option. In addition to offering most of the basic business plan software features you’d expect, PlanGuru offers tools for budgeting, financial forecasts and reports , strategic planning, and scenario analysis.

While PlanGuru supports additional users, each user also comes with an additional monthly fee of $29/month .

Best contract-free business plan software for new businesses

• Pricing : plans start at $15/month; Go service plan for $199/year; Guide service plan for $49/month; Grow service plan for $39/month; additional one-time services and recurring subscriptions available
• Capterra : n/a
• Integrations : MailChimp

While it may not have the longest list of business planning features, GoSmallBiz’s solution is part of a larger business continuity planning software platform that includes tools for everything from human resource management to tax payments. GoBizPlan also offers industry-specific business plan templates to kickstart your business plan creation. This is especially helpful if your business idea is destined for a specific vertical market .

GoSmallBiz users can create financial statements and projections for multiple years, including income statements , cash flow statements , and balance sheets . Finally, GoSmallBiz offers step-by-step guidance, prompts, and tutorials to help users get the most out of the platform .

Business plan software with the option to get help from professionals

• Pricing : free trial available; annual subscriptions available; PlanBuildr uses a custom pricing model; rates aren’t readily available on its website, but one landing page prices the business plan software at $3,500
• Money-back guarantee : none, but subscription may be canceled anytime within the first 30 days
• Integrations : various across accounting, CRM, and marketing tools

PlanBuildr is another user-friendly business plan software for people who aren’t as confident with the writing process. This software uses a fill-in-the-blank business plan creator to help you quickly build a simple but solid business plan. PlanBuildr also offers extensive financial reports and features, including charts and graphs and the ability to create various financial projections.

PlanBuildr has 10 business plan designs to choose from, and you can also hire PlanBuildr for additional business plan writing services .

Why use business plan software?

Entrepreneurs use business plan software to guide them through the process of turning a business idea into a complete business model. Only a select group of small business owners go into business for writing—the rest have stronger skills elsewhere. Business plan software can offer the exact support you need to get the wording, structure, and presentation just right.

Likewise, not every entrepreneur is good with numbers. Business plan software can help with financial forecasting by making sense of your cash flow and other financial data. Some software will even automatically generate financial statements for you, making it easier for you and your audience to understand the numbers.

Many business plan tools also offer a range of business plan templates . It’s almost always easier to follow a template or business plan example than to start with a blank page. Writing a business plan is a lot less intimidating this way. Plus, business plan templates can function as a checklist, ensuring that you don’t omit any important sections or information .

How to choose your business plan software

While most business planning software can accomplish the same end goal, each has its own pros and cons, depending on your needs. The best business plan software for you may be different than the best option for your fellow business owners. When shopping for business plan software, consider the following:

• Budget . Perhaps most obvious, the business plan software you choose needs to fit within your budget. Basic business plan tools may not have all the functionality you’re looking for, but more advanced features typically mean a higher price tag.
• Collaboration . If you’re collaborating on your business plan with a fellow founder, an accountant, or legal counsel, you’ll want a business plan tool that supports multiple team members. Some software also allow you to add users as viewers, which can be helpful for distributing the plan to shareholders, lenders, or potential investors, for example.
• Financial reporting . If business financials and reporting are important to you, choose business plan software that excels in this area. Look for business planning tools that offer financial forecasting features beyond basic data reporting, including marketing and performance reports and data visualization through charts and graphs. If you need more extensive financial tools, consider investing in accounting software .
• Interface . Every tool you use in your business needs to have an interface that’s easy to navigate. Choosing business planning software with a steep learning curve or difficult-to-navigate interface may make the process of creating a business plan more frustrating than it needs to be.
• Templates . One of the greatest advantages to using business plan software is access to business plan templates and examples. The best business plan software options offer a range of templates, enabling you to create business plans for multiple audiences and different contexts.
• Software integrations . If you have a tightly connected tech stack, it would behoove you to find a business plan software that can integrate seamlessly with other popular business tools, including Microsoft Office and popular platforms for marketing and accounting.
• Support. If you run into trouble with your business planning software, a great support team or library of business resources can help you get back on track. As a bonus, most business plan software providers also offer online learning tools to help you maximize your results, including video tutorials and built-in advice modules
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Business plan software FAQ

What is the best software to write a business plan, what are the 4 types of business plans.

• Startup business plan
• One-page business plan
• Internal business plan
• Strategic business plan

Is there a template for a business plan?

Do i need a business plan to start a small business.

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Best Business Plan Software

Business plan software is used to create, manage, and share business plans for new companies or investments. This type of software helps users identify goals, strategies, and financial needs required to start a new business or launch a major project. A business plan should also describe the opportunities and risks related to the new company or project. Business plan software is used mostly by entrepreneurs who are starting a new company and in need of external investments. It can also be used by employees seeking funding for new projects.

This type of software should not be confused with strategic planning software, which is used for ongoing strategic operations. Strategic planning comes after a business plan has been implemented successfully. Business plan software may integrate with accounting software to generate financial statements or with document generation software to create documentation for investors.

To qualify for inclusion in the Business Plan category, a product must:

Best Business Plan Software At A Glance

• All Segments (32)
• Small Business (3)
• English (2)
• Pricing Available (2)
• G2 Score Information Checkmark
• Satisfaction
• Overview Expand/Collapse Overview

Upmetrics is a business plan software revolutionizing business planning with AI, helping entrepreneurs and small business owners find success in their business planning processes and growth strategies

• Computer Software
• 88% Small-Business
• 13% Mid-Market
• Pros and Cons Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons

Modeliks is a business planning software that helps startups & SMEs create pitch decks, business or financial plans & investor reports. Create your plan alone or in collaboration with your tea

• 83% Small-Business
• 17% Mid-Market
• Modeliks is a business planning tool that aids in the creation of robust business plans and financial projections.
• Users frequently mention the intuitive interface, comprehensive financial planning tools, and the exceptional support from the Modeliks team, including the ability to schedule video calls for guidance and customization.
• Reviewers experienced limitations such as the inability to sync with QuickBooks Online and Hubspot, lack of mobile application, and the inability to download reports in the free version.

LivePlan simplifies business planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance tracking for small businesses and startups. Become a more confident business owner and strategically manage your business

• 84% Small-Business
• 10% Enterprise

Cuttles is a fully interactive and guided pitch and business plan software that helps entrepreneurs build, understand and grow their business. The web app has all the features and in-app guides you ne

• 90% Small-Business

Data-driven business plans and marketing strategies informed by expert consultants and integrated data. Make smarter decisions faster with ProAI.

• 80% Small-Business
• 20% Mid-Market

Practical tools to help you understand customers, design better value propositions, and find the right business model.Strategyzer makes it easy for anybody to rapidly sketch business model ideas with

• 100% Small-Business

Startups.com is the world's largest startup platform. We help over one million startup companies find customers, funding, mentors, and world-class education. Our platform is a family of five products:

• 67% Small-Business

IdeaBuddy is an innovative business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and startups develop their ideas, create a business model, validate the business concept, and make an impressive business

Strategic Planning and execution that multiplies business value. Maus is an all-in-one platform for strategic, financial, and exit planning that turns big ideas into action. In one easy-to-use platfo

Decision Critical is a dynamic, cloud-based business modeling tool that is unique in its comprehensiveness. It is scalable, customizable and fast to implement. Decision Critical's modeling and zer

• 33% Mid-Market

Growth Forge is a cloud-based software as a service that helps innovation teams formulate, model, and evaluate business strategies to iteratively develop concepts from a hypothesis into a real busines

• 60% Mid-Market
• 40% Enterprise

Vizologi helps you reduce the uncertainty and risk in choosing your startup's business model. It searches, analyzes and visualizes the world's collective business model intelligence to help answer you

Our products are right for small business because we understand small business. We know what it's like to start from zero, with no outside investment, and build a company from 1 employee to nearly 50.

Strategic business planning software for professional users and individuals. As a business advisor, accountant or consultant, create tailored plans for clients using Planium Pro’s powerful inbuilt an

• 100% Mid-Market

The Business Plan Shop makes it easy to write a convincing business plan.

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10 Best Business Plan Software and Tools for Better Productivity

• May 17, 2024
• Curiosity Corner

Fast fact: 70% of businesses that survive for 5 years follow a strategic business plan. 

That makes having a comprehensive and compelling business plan a no-brainer for long-term business growth. It serves as a roadmap for your venture and demonstrates your vision, strategy, and potential to investors and stakeholders. 

However, drafting a business plan from scratch can take time and effort, especially for those with limited experience and resources. Fortunately, many excellent business plan software solutions are available to make the process easier.

This article covers the top 10 business plan software options available in 2024. Each offers unique features, pricing structures, and capabilities to cater to diverse business needs. 

Let’s get right in!

10 Best Business Plan Software for 2024

1. Upmetrics 2. LivePlan 3. Enloop 4. BizPlan 5. GoSmallBiz 6. Business Sorter 7. iPlanner 8. Cuttles 9. MAUS Master Plan Lean 10. Storydoc 11. Retable

1. Upmetrics

Upmetrics is a modern and AI-powered business plan generator that simplifies the complexities of creating a comprehensive business plan. With its intuitive business plan builder and built-in templates, Upmetrics allows users to customize their plans and forecasts according to their specific needs.

The newly launched AI assistant can help users create a business plan from scratch within 10-15 minutes. All you need to do is enter some information about your business and see your plan coming through.

Key Features:

• 400+ customizable business plan templates
• AI Pitch Deck Creator
• Strategic Planning Tools
• Financial forecasting capabilities

Pricing: Starter plan at $7/month, Premium plan at $14/month. (annual billing)

2. LivePlan

LivePlan is a comprehensive and user-friendly business plan software that serves to businesses of all sizes and industries. It offers a user-friendly interface and step-by-step guidance to make the process of crafting a professional business plan easier.

• Customizable templates and industry-specific examples
• Financial forecasting and budgeting tools
• Pitch deck and presentation mode
• Real-time collaboration and sharing capabilities
• Expert advice and educational resources

Pricing: Starts at $20/month for the basic plan, with more advanced options available.

Enloop is a cloud-based solution designed specifically for creating business plans for investors, banks, and lenders. Enloop’s writing and text synchronization features can help you streamline business plan creation for you. Let’s check out some of its best features.

• Free version for testing the solution
• Available in multiple languages
• Interactive PDF export
• Step-by-step guidance and templates

Pricing: Basic plan starts at $9/month, with more advanced plans ranging from $11 to $40/month.

BizPlan is a versatile business plan builder that connects to the Startups.com network, making it an ideal choice for startups seeking investment. With its step-by-step approach and the Progress Tracker tool, BizPlan helps users stay organized and on track.

• Connectivity to Findable for attracting financial investment
• Online educational programs for entrepreneurs
• Multiple owner access to a single account
• A lifetime access option is available

Pricing: Monthly plan at $29/month, annual plan at $249/year, or lifetime access for $349 (one-time fee).

5. GoSmallBiz

GoSmallBiz is an online support system specifically designed for small businesses and startups in the United States. In addition to business plan creation, GoSmallBiz offers valuable resources and educational materials to help to aspire entrepreneurs succeed.

• Access to up-to-date management information
• Unlimited access to online consultants
• Customer database for attracting and retaining customers

Pricing: Monthly fee of $39.

6. Business Sorter

Business Sorter is a cloud-based solution that simplifies the process of creating internal business plans. Featuring a user-friendly card system and pre-designed solutions tailored to different business needs, Business Sorter is perfect for entrepreneurs who aren’t looking for investor-focused presentations.

• 173 digital cards for comprehensive business planning
• Unlimited team member access and monitoring
• Multi-device accessibility
• Built-in help function and strong data protection

Pricing: Cost depends on the number of users, with a special offer for companies with an unlimited number of team members.

7. iPlanner

iPlanner is a multifunctional platform for business planning and project management. The tool provides a variety of business plan templates and financial forecasting tools , making it suitable for a broad spectrum of startups, from restaurants to large enterprises and venture capital initiatives.

• Step-by-step business plan creation wizard
• Integration with Microsoft Office and DropBox
• Training content library with practical recommendations
• Experienced mentor support

Pricing: Professional Plan at $55 (supports 1 project), Corporate Plan at $93 (supports 12 projects), and Corporate Plus (custom pricing).

Cuttles is a fully interactive business planning software with a focus on planning, budgeting, and financial forecasting. With its ready-made templates and multi-language support, Cuttles caters to a global audience of entrepreneurs.

• One-page business plan template for banks, investors, and lenders
• High-level security through cloud storage
• PDF export for business plans
• Online training courses and resource library

Pricing: Seed Plan at $8/year (1 startup, 1 user), Grow Plan at $16/year (1 startup, unlimited users), and Series Plan at $48/year (unlimited startups and users).

9. MAUS Master Plan Lean

MAUS Master Plan Lean is an Australian-based business plan creation software designed for strategic planning. With its comprehensive toolset, MAUS Master Plan Lean helps users create actionable plans, track tasks, and monitor performance.

• Strategic planning wizard
• Step-by-step action plan creation and task tracking
• Schedule creation and collaboration tools
• Real-time marketing reports and performance tracking

Pricing: Business Planning & HR Pack at $97/month, MasterPlan Learn at $299/year, and Business Planning Pack at $499/year.

10. Storydoc

Storydoc is a business plan creator designed to help entrepreneurs and businesses create outstanding and innovative business plans, as well as other types of presentations. With its intuitive interface and a wide range of features, Storydoc makes it easy to organize and present various aspects of your business plan.

• Ready-made interactive slide templates optimized for engagement
• Robust integrations with existing tech stack
• Ability to pull company branding directly from website
• Extensive analytics panel for tracking performance

Pricing: Starter plan at $40/month per user, Pro plan at $60/month per user, and custom Team plans (pricing available upon request).

11. Retable

Retable is a versatile and intuitive project management and data management software designed to streamline operations of all sizes of business. With its easy-to-use interface and robust feature set, Retable makes managing data sets, tasks and projects simpler and more efficient.

• Customizable templates for various use cases
• Advanced data views like grid, kanban, list, card, calendar, chart, map and form
• Collaborative workspaces with real-time updates
• Organization, team and role management
• Integration with popular productivity apps
• Over +30 column types
• Custom branding

Pricing: Starts at $12/month for the team plan.

Why use business plan software?

Using business plan software offers several advantages over creating a business plan from scratch. These software solutions are designed to streamline the process, provide guidance, and ensure a professional and well-structured outcome. For a customized approach, consider ServiceNow Software Development to tailor solutions that fit your specific business needs.

Here are some key reasons to consider using business plan software:

Time-saving: Business plan software automates many tasks, such as formatting, financial calculations, and data organization, saving you valuable time and effort.

Guided approach: Most business plan software provides step-by-step guidance, prompts, and templates to ensure you cover all essential components of a comprehensive business plan.

Professional presentation: These software solutions offer built-in tools to create visually appealing and professional-looking business plans, increasing the chances of impressing potential investors or stakeholders.

Financial forecasting: Advanced financial forecasting tools help you create accurate financial projections, a critical component of any successful business plan.

Collaboration and sharing: Many software options offer collaboration features, allowing multiple team members to contribute to and review the business plan, ensuring a cohesive vision.

By using the power of business plan software, you can simplify the process, improve efficiency, and create a compelling and comprehensive business plan that effectively communicates your vision and increases your chances of success.

How to Choose the Right Business Plan Software?

With so many business plan software options available, choosing the right one for your needs can take time and effort. Here are some key factors to consider when selecting the best business plan software:

Ease of use: Look for software with a intuitive navigation & user-friendly interface to ensure a smooth learning curve and efficient workflow.

Industry-specific templates : Consider software that offers customizable templates and industry-specific examples relevant to your business sector.

Financial forecasting capabilities : Evaluate the financial forecasting tools and their ability to create accurate projections based on your business data.

Collaboration and sharing features: If you plan to involve multiple team members or stakeholders, prioritize software with robust collaboration and sharing capabilities .

Educational resources and support: Software that provides educational resources, such as tutorials, expert advice, and customer support , can be invaluable, especially for first-time business plan creators.

Integration with existing tools: Consider software that easily integrates with your existing platforms and tools, such as accounting software or cloud storage solutions.

Pricing and scalability: Evaluate the pricing plans and ensure they align with your budget and long-term goals, considering the potential for business growth and scalability.

By carefully assessing your specific needs and prioritizing the features that matter most to your business, you can select the best business plan software that will streamline the process and maximize your chances of success.

Creating a well-crafted business plan is similar to preparing a business proposal , it should be neat & clean, to the point, and engaging enough to attract investors or partners. The top 10 business plan software options discussed offer a wide range of capabilities to cater to diverse needs.

From user-friendly interfaces to advanced financial forecasting tools, collaboration features, and industry-specific templates, tools like Upmetrics streamline the creation of a comprehensive and professional business plan.

Selecting the right software requires careful consideration of factors such as ease of use, financial forecasting capabilities, collaboration features , educational resources, and integration with existing tools.

By utilizing the power of business plan software, you can present your vision with clarity and professionalism, increasing your chances of attracting the resources and support needed for long-term success.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which business plan software is the best?

The best business plan software depends on your specific needs, goals, and budget. Some top options include Upmetrics, LivePlan, Enloop, BizPlan, each offering unique features and pricing structures. Carefully evaluate the capabilities of each software against your requirements to make an informed choice.

How do I create my own business plan?

Start by choosing a business plan software that provides templates, guidance, and tools for different components like executive summaries, market analysis, and financial projections. Follow the step-by-step process outlined by the software, filling in the necessary information and customizing as needed. Leverage the software’s features to create a comprehensive and professional business plan.

What are the different types of business plans?

The main types include standard business plans for presenting to investors or banks, lean business plans without extensive background information, and one-page business plans or pitches. Additionally, there are operational, tactical, strategic, and contingency business plans tailored to different purposes and business stages.

Is business plan software secure?

Most reputable business plan software solutions prioritize security features like multi-factor authentication, intrusion detection, data encryption, and regular security updates. However, it’s crucial to evaluate the specific security measures of the software you’re considering to ensure the protection of your sensitive business data.

Is it necessary for small businesses to use business plan software?

While not strictly necessary, using business plan software can significantly benefit small businesses by streamlining the process, providing guidance, and ensuring a professional outcome. It can save time, improve efficiency, and increase the chances of impressing potential investors or stakeholders.

What are the benefits of using Business Plan Software?

Key benefits include time-saving through task automation, a guided approach with templates and prompts, professional presentation tools, advanced financial forecasting capabilities, and collaboration features for multiple team members. Overall, business plan software simplifies the process and improves the quality of your business plan.

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Benefits of Using a Business Plan Software

1. infinity — a business plan software for businesses of all sizes, 2. ntask — a business planning software for small businesses.

• 3. ProofHub — An All-in-One Software for Business Planning 

4. Scoro — The Best Business Planning and Budgeting Software

5. trello — the top business planning software for startups.

• 6. Asana — A Powerful Business Planning Software  

7. ClickUp — A User-Friendly Business Plan App

8. planguru — a leading business planning software, 9. bizplan — a game-changing software for business planning, 10. enloop — an automated business planning software, 11. liveplan — a business plan software with performance tracking, 12. bizplanbuilder — the best free business plan software, 13. upmetrics — a high-end software for business planning, 14. planium pro — a strategic business plan software, 15. ideabuddy — an innovative business app, 16. plansnack — a simple and free business plan software, 17. cuttles — a recently launched business plan app, 17 business plan software to power up your business in 2024.

Admit it: you always get a rush of new business ideas at the least convenient moments—when sitting at a bar and chatting with friends or when taking a shower. And most of the time, instead of writing down those ideas, you let them go down the drain. 

...Which is how so many people end up missing a chance to do something big in their lives. 

It would be a pity to be one of them, right?

Yes, we know—writing a killer plan that will grab the investors’ attention and convince them of the viability and profitability (so they can expect a solid return) of your idea can be quite daunting and time-consuming. And getting your idea off the ground and laying out the roadmap for the future can definitely be too much of a bite for beginners and alone-doers.

Fortunately, you can turn to business plan software for help, no matter if you are an entrepreneur, manager, business executive, or an individual with a fantastic idea. Software takes out the need to start from scratch, simplifies the process, helps you get your message across, acquire funding, and saves your time (whoop whoop).

We are happy to announce you can choose between (wait for it) 17 business planning software and nail all those ideas without throwing a tantrum or dolling out a fortune.

Are you ready to set yourself up for success? Let’s dive in!

To begin with, let’s dive into some of the benefits of business planning software to get a better grasp of each so you can decide whether you need one by your side.

• Simplifies the Process —Whether you are a business novice or manager, you could use a helping hand when writing an actionable plan. The right software can simplify the process by guiding you step-by-step through making a plan and giving you hints on what you should insert or remove so you don’t have to think in too much detail.
• Saves Time —Business plan software comes up with suggestions based on your ideas, gives you insights into meaningful data, organizes the plan, and saves your energy and time .
• Helps with Your Finances —Not having experience in a financial background can make it nerve-wracking to work on the financial aspects (such as projecting cash flow and calculating an income statement) of your business plan. Software for business planning can help you work your way around financial projections and create a model that will back up your plan.
• Accessible for Multiple Team Members —Your team members can incorporate items to the plan you can further see and review. This way, everyone’s talents and competencies come to the forefront, which encourages a collaborative spirit and gives better results.
• Customizable Templates —Depending on the industry, you can choose from a library of templates and ensure your business plan reflects your ideas visually. Not all software offer this type of customization but, if you care about the looks, opt for something that delivers above-average results.

Top 17 Business Planning Software to Check Out

Infinity is an online business plan software tailored to the needs of different users and businesses. It is very intuitive to use and adapts to your processes, so you don’t have to waste time figuring out how to assemble the information you need.

Infinity simplifies complex procedures so personal users, freelancers, and companies (business owners, managers, and business executives) can get the most out of it. Basically, it is packed with all the features one could possibly need when making a business plan , organizing business, and managing time and finances. 

“Been using this for a few months now. Got the LTD. Stefan and his team are working hard to make a killer product. Thank you!” - Kodi Fletcher

Obviously, you need software that can handle various types of data, such as text, reports, charts, numbers, dates, etc., and Infinity gives you a myriad of customization options so you can organize data and control who sees what. 

You can also choose between visuals that represent your data—Kanban boards, Gantt charts, columns, doucments, charts lists, calendars, or create custom forms and save them for later as well. Infinity allows you to organize all data to your preference—filter, group, sort, reorder, hide, etc.

Check out the following video to learn more about how Infinity works:

Needless to say, Infinity could be exactly what you need to manage all aspects of a modern business . You get all this with one payment, so keep it in mind if you want to invest smartly.

Key Features

• Dozens of Templates —Use one of the pre-made templates and save time instead of building workflows from scratch. Our Business Roadmap and Product Roadmap templates can help you outline strategies, set goals, brainstorm with the team, and more. 
• Multiple Views —Infinity lets you view all the relevant information for your business plan in 8 ways. You can see the big picture or dive deep into the nitty-gritty details of your business plan using Lists, Tables, Columns, etc. 
• Attributes —Infinity lets you assign multiple attributes to every item of your business plan. You can write descriptions, set start and end dates, track progress on tasks using progress bars, rate importance, set an impact score, and add user stories to make sure your plan reflects your vision but also contributes to delivering a product your customers really need. 
• Roles and Permissions —Divide business goals and strategies across various departments and set permissions so everyone knows their responsibilities in developing business plans . 
• Filter, Group, and Sort —Infinity makes it a breeze to group, filter, and sort items on your business plan to goal, strategic goal, division, assignee, stage, release date, feature size, or any other attribute you choose. You can also color-code each attribute to make your items within your business plan easily scannable. 
• Automations —Automate your workflows (set up recurring tasks, reminders, or create IFTTT rules), reduce busywork, and help your business plan come to life faster. 
• External Sharing —You can invite stakeholders to review your business plan via links or export it to CSV or PDF file at a click.
• Integrations —Connect Infinity with Zapier , Trello, and Clockify to level up your game.
• iOS & Android Mobile Apps —Manage your business on the go through our mobile apps.

What’s great about Infinity is that you get to choose between attractive customizable templates and create boards for different purposes (finances, legal forms, invoicing), and this is just warming up. Once you get comfortable with using the tool, you can start putting together your own templates. Until then, get the most out of 70+ templates to create business plans and grow any business. 

Check these for starters:

• Business Roadmap
• Invoice Management
• Finances Tracker
• Meetings Calendar

The Finances Tracker template can help you understand your income sources, where your money goes, and uncover eventual hidden costs, which is essential for any thriving business.

Use the Public Board to collaborate with the team and create boards you can share with your clients. Clients can comment on tasks and make suggestions or create items to give you a better understanding of what they are looking for.  

INFINITY TIP : Planning a business involves planning finances, and this is the area where even the most experienced business planners slip up. Create a separate board under this name and then create folders such as “loan payments,” “expenses budget,” etc., to keep track of your finances and prevent miscalculations.

Infinity offers 14 days of trial for anyone who signs up. When it comes to pricing, you can choose between Basic and Pro plans, with Basic plans starting from $6 per user per month, and Pro plans starting from $9 per user per month.

Image Source: ntaskmanager.com

Most of you know nTask as a project management software. However, do you know you can use it to make business plans and receive nTask’s wholehearted support through it all? 

Being one of the top business planning software , nTask offers a bunch of planning features any home user, contractor, or project manager can find super-useful for handling daily workflow activities. You can invite stakeholders to check your business/project and see whether you are on the same page. 

Allocate resources, define budgets, collaborate with your team, use Gantt charts to track progress via stunning visuals , and enjoy every step of the way towards success. 

nTask is free and functional but a bit too complicated for first-time users. You may encounter a bug or two while working, which is probably its main downside, yet nothing to stress over when having in mind other first-class features this software offers.

• Budget Tracking
• Gantt Charts
• Multi-User Engagement
• Multitasking
• Risk Assessment
• Time Tracking Modules
• Integrates with Slack, Zoom, and Google Calendar

If your team counts 5 or fewer members, guess what? You pay nothing (unless you need more than 100MG of storage)! The premium plan starts at $2.99/month/user, business plan starts at $7.99/month/per user, while you can create custom plans as well. nTask offers a 14-day trial so you can tell whether you would be a good fit without committing.

3. ProofHub — An All-in-One Software for Business Planning 

Image Source: proofhub.com

ProofHub is an easy-to-use business software that can ensure your business runs without a hassle from the very beginning. You can use it to collaborate with the team, assign personal or group tasks and order them by priority, create reports, and even self-manage as you move from one stage to another.

You can communicate with clients and team members in 6 languages, which makes ProofHub’s interface one of the most user-friendly on our list. 

As we already mentioned, you don’t have to fill in details from scratch (thank God) when working in a time-saving business plan app like this one. Yet, with ProofHub, you can also create and save templates for the future and always be one step ahead of the game.

ProofHub offers numerous functionalities at a reasonable price without per-user fees. On the downside, it lacks budgeting features so you would have to find another way to plan and track your finances.

• Kanban Boards
• User Permission Settings
• Multi-Language Interface
• Built-In Invoicing
• Integrates with Dropbox, Google Drive, and Google Calendar

ProofHub’s essential plan is available to an unlimited number of users, offers 40 projects and 15GB of storage, and comes at a price of $45/month (billed annually) or $50/month (billed monthly). You can get their “Ultimate Control” limited-time offer for $89/month (billed annually) or $99/month (billed monthly) that enables you to provide custom access to team members and customers.

Image Source: scoro.com

Scoro could be the right tool if you struggle with planning budgets for your business plans. After all, achieving success is impossible without proper budgeting. 

This software combines all the financial elements you need to create a profitable business plan and manage expenses and resources as well as manage project budgets. However, its capabilities are far from just financial . 

Scoro features customizable dashboards, time tracking, team collaboration, and integration with other apps—everything medium-sized businesses and teams could ask for.

This is one-of-a-kind software for business planning, budgeting, project management, and CRM, and having access to all this data in one place can save your time and energy.

• Business Management
• Budget Forecasting
• Financial Reports
• Accounting Reports
• Financial Dashboard
• Customizable Dashboards
• iOS and Android Mobile Apps

Scoro offers a 14-day free trial to new users while their Essential package for at least 5 users costs $26/user/month. They have 3 more pricing plans if you need more features.

Image Source: trello.com

Trello is an online business plan software that can help you determine goals, key activities, map priority tasks, identify stakeholders, and determine resources. Put another way, it helps you outline requirements, expectations, and create a coherent business plan. All this—for free, or at a relatively affordable price if you need extra features.

With Trello, you can conduct a competitor analysis (direct and indirect competitors) and figure out what your advantages and disadvantages are. Going a step further, it allows you to conduct industry and customer analysis as well so you can map a plan, set daily tasks, milestones, etc. 

As you’re gonna need a financial plan as well, Trello helps you calculate funding requirements, write a revenue model, calculate expenses, etc. Once you set a clear direction on resources, budgets, and schedules, you can assign tasks and collaborate with the team, add and remove members. 

Trello integrates with Gmail, Outlook, Dropbox, and Slack and ensures that your team functions seamlessly.

• Custom Templates
• Custom Backgrounds
• File Storage
• Scheduled Commands
• Workflow Automation
• iOS and Android Apps

You can use Trello for free, pay annually $9.99/month/user for a Business Class plan, or $17.5/month/user for their Enterprise plan suitable for 100+ users.

6. Asana — A Powerful Business Planning Software  

Image Source: asana.com

Back in 2016, the guys from Asana announced they improved its core functionality by adding templates, custom fields, boards, and dependencies to help businesses conquer their planning challenges. From that moment, Asana became the ultimate software for business planning . It can help you set goals for the future, and, more importantly, achieve them.

With Asana, you can share ideas with team members, partners, and investors and communicate on future steps. To make things easier, Asana offers a comprehensive, ready-made Business Strategy Plan template so you can include components, share ideas, and take concrete actions towards success right away. It allows you to document and update your strategy, gives insights to your partners into expenses, processes, etc.

The ability to share your business plan with partners takes out the guessing and enables you to get almost immediate feedback so you can, eventually, re-strategize.

Asana simplifies planning processes and makes planning empowering so you can set up for success. It integrates with Outlook, Zoom, and Slack, so you can keep everything in one place. We wish it had more financial features, yet, overall, it’s still one of the best business planning software.

• Custom Fields
• Task Workflow Automation
• Document Management
• Task Analytics
• Shared/Private Access

If you are just getting started and your team counts 15 or fewer members, try Asana for free. Other than that, their paid plans come at $10.99 or $24.99/user/month (billed annually).

Image Source: clickup.com

Although ClickUp is mostly popular as a collaboration tool, it can definitely handle various planning tasks and needs of any business so it is no wonder millions of users claim it as the best business plan software . 

This centralized hub is most suitable for road mapping, assigning tasks, tracking progress, real-time chatting and time-tracking, and much more. Every time someone from the team leaves a comment or mentions you, ClickUp will send you a notification, and not having to check on everything yourself is just great.

ClickUp provides 15 views, allows you to filter tasks, set priorities, create statuses and custom labels, etc. Instead of writing your plan on a piece of paper, use ClickUp’s Docs to store your documents and share them with the team.

With ClickUp, you can create a custom Dashboard to track your financial goals, spending, and profits, manage invoices, etc. It would use some more budgeting and forecasting features, but the basics ones are still there!

• Risk Management
• Recurring Tasks
• Automatic Calculations
• Mobile Apps

ClickUp is free for an unlimited number of users until you reach 100MB of storage. However, it offers better functionality with its paid plans—$5 or $9/member/month (billed annually or monthly).

Image Source: justbusiness.com

If you need some help with forecasting and budgeting, check out PlanGuru. This business plan app combines business planning and financial reporting, although the emphasis is on finance. It is most suitable for small companies and teams, while mid-sized businesses are encouraged to use it as well. 

PlanGuru has several features that help you get a better understanding of your finances when making a business plan. It forecasts (boasts over 20 forecasting techniques), calculates, and creates reports you can further export to Word, Excel , and PDF. 

PlanGuru created various case studies and built-in video tutorials to help you navigate the software and learn more about making profitable business plans. 

A significant downside of this software is the cost, although you can get your money back within 30 days if you don’t like it.

• 20+ Forecasting Methods
• Forecasting Using Non-Financial Data
• Strategic Planning
• Unlimited Budgeting Flexibility
• Integration with QuickBooks, Xero, and Excel Import

PlanGuru comes at a price of $99/month or $899/year.

Image Source: bizplan.com

Bizplan is way more than just a business plan builder. This online business plan software provides you with a comprehensive education on business planning, which can be useful no matter if you are a novice or an experienced business executive. At any moment, you can get expert help through videos and how-tos.

This software combines functionality and striking visuals so your business plan is profitable and attractive for investors at the same time. After all, you need a plan that can help you acquire finances, right? Choose a template and add elements to your preference—charts, problems, reports, etc.

Bizplan is a great tool for financial projections. It also creates reports based on your financial data you can analyze and, maybe, reassess your strategy. To make sure you don’t miss out on anything important, Bizplan’s progress tracker gives you insights into how much of your plan is complete.

Polished and functional, this user-friendly software can save you time and money in the long run. However, note there is no free trial so you can’t really know whether this is the right software for your needs before making a payment.

• Step-by-Step Builder
• Progress Tracker
• Financial Tools
• Shareable with Investors
• Business Plan Templates

You can either pay $349 for lifetime access or choose a monthly plan ($29/month) or an annual plan ($20.75/month).

Image Source: businessinsider.com

Enloop is a quite simple, yet reliable software for business planning that focuses on financial data and reports. It automatically generates reports and turns data into text in the blink of an eye (lifesaving).

However, note that you might still need to fill certain data fields, and it can get tricky if you don’t have a proper understanding of it.

Once you start creating your plan, Enloop will assign it a score that will change as you work your way up. It allows you to choose between 2 forecast modules—one that covers one year and the 36-month module that is more comprehensive and consists of several forecasting methods.

You can invite your team members and partners to review, add suggestions, or edit your plan, which is one of the features more advanced software provide. However, keep in mind Enloop lacks third-party integration and has poor customer support.

• Automatic Text Writing
• Automatically Generated Financial Reports
• Country Currency Formatting
• Access Control
• Financial Forecasting

Enloop offers a 7-day free tier (no credit card needed). Once you decide whether you like it or not, you can choose between $19.95 and $39.95 monthly plans that offer different advanced features.

Image Source: liveplan.com

LivePlan is a simple and interactive business plan app that can help you learn and apply techniques for making profitable business plans. It guides you step-by-step through the process and helps you meet specific goals.

You can choose between 500+ templates that suit your business or simply find the ones that inspire you to achieve success. LivePlan integrates with Xero and QuickBooks so you can import data from there and get an even better overview of your financial standpoint.

Speaking of finances, LivePlan guides you through financial data and calculates financial outcomes. You can make budgets month by month or for the whole year, and turn them into eye-catching visuals, which could be useful when discussing the plan with the investors.

If you need a complete business planning tool that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, keep your eye on LivePlan. As a cherry on top, it offers a 60-day money-back trial, just in case you are not 100% sold on its features.

• Financial Performance Tracking
• 500+ Sample Plans
• Step-by-Step Guidance
• Appealing Visual Aids

Sign up for LivePlan’s annual package and you pay $15/month, a 6-month package comes at $18, or you can pay as you go ($20/month).

Image Source: businesspowertools.com

BizPlanBuilder is a no-brainer to use. Yet, these guys wanted to make sure you truly get into the essence of business planning so they integrated a wizard to guide you through the process. It offers a bunch of appealing templates and there’s no doubt one can find the perfect plan for their business goals.

This software is about business planning but puts financials into focus. Thus, it offers various financial tools—charts, graphs, and calculators to make cost analysis, forecast, and much more. If you have already signed up for BizPlanBuilder’s accounting software program, you can import financial data from there.

One of the features that set BizPlanBuilder apart from similar software is that it offers additional features next to business planning and financials. You can invite your team members to view and edit your plans, and team collaboration is crucial if you want to make winning plans.

• Financial Projections
• Team Collaboration
• Fundraising Management
• Investor Management

You can sign up as a guest and use BizPlanBuilder for free, although advanced plans, starting at $97/month can give you more options and deeper insights into business planning.

Image Source: upmetrics.so

Upmetrics is a powerful, yet super user-friendly and flexible business plan software that can help you turn great business ideas into an even greater reality. This business plan builder comes packed with a bunch of features—from planning to strategies, collaboration, and forecasting.

With Upmetrics, you get 100+ sample business plans that can save you time and simplify the business planning progress, no matter which industry you are in. However, if you are a complete newbie to business planning, we highly suggest you take a look at their library of pre-written business plans, at least if you want your plan to be impactful once you present it.

To help you create an impressive plan, Upmetrics encourages you to create and edit sections, attach images, highlight key points, build charts and checklists (checklists can help a lot with tracking your business plan execution). You can also create several versions of the same plan and modify scenarios until you are perfectly content about it. 

Upmetrics encourages team collaboration and allows you to invite co-workers to discuss inputs, initiate convos, and provide feedback. This way, you’ll ensure business plans you’re working on reflecting your vision but also open yourself to hearing new, constructive ideas. And, if you need to share your plan with investors, you can do that too, at a single link, and allow them to track your activity.

The only thing that’s left is to add the final touch to your business plan—a cover page that will make it stand out even more. This business planning software lets you choose between a gallery of beautiful, professional pages you might want to explore.

• Business Plan Template Gallery
• Cover Pages Gallery
• Business Plan Checklist
• Financial Planning
• Percentage Progress Tracking
• Competitor Analysis
• Multiple Plan Versions
• Real-Time Collaboration and Feedback
• Internal and External Sharing
• PDF Downloads

Upmetrics has 3 paid plans—solo ($5.42/month), team ($8.25, for up to 5 members), and premium ($29.09/month for an unlimited number of members).

Image Source: planiumpro.com

Planium Pro is among the best strategic business planning software out there. This solution captures all the info you need to write a profitable business plan in one place—vision, values, opportunities, and mission, and lets you update sections on the fly, as new ideas develop.

It boasts a user-friendly interface and comes with sample plans to help you kickstart the business planning process. Armed with powerful analytic capabilities, Planium Pro helps you analyze and understand the market and discover opportunities, then create winning business plans and come up with good strategies.

Once you outline a new business route, you can use Planium Pro to review and allocate resources and create financial forecasts to easily understand which impact your current strategy may have, and identify the worst-case and best-case scenarios.

This business plan software integrates with a few accounting software (like MYOB) and allows you to import data to your business plan. As you would expect, you can invite co-workers to join and communicate on the next steps via chat, but also add external users and give them limited or full access.

Planium Pro promotes highly engaging dashboards, colorful tables, diagrams, and charts, and superior reports you can use to make informed decisions and create the perfect business plan.

• Business Plan Samples
• Forecasting Modules
• Resource Management
• Business Plan Presentation Templates
• Detailed Reports
• Export to Docx and PDF
• Online and Offline Mode

Planium Pro for professional and advanced users is priced at $8/user/month and up. Their Lite version for small business users and startups comes at a price of $5/month when billed monthly or $4.16/month when billed annually.

Image Source: ideabuddy.com

IdeaBuddy is a one-of-a-kind business plan app designed for consultants, product managers, universities and business schools, future entrepreneurs, and everyone else who has groundbreaking ideas but feels uncertain about bringing them life and using them to build a winning business model.

This tool can light up your way from making a business plan to its completion and help you stun your clients, co-workers, or whoever you want to show it to. Start from outlining and structuring your idea on a single page. If you need additional support, you can always search for IdeaBuddy’s examples from your industry.

Once you sketch the concept and create a one-page plan, brainstorm it with others, and research the market so you get a 360-degree view of your idea before taking the plunge. IdeaBuddy lets you create financial projections and comes equipped with several financial calculators that can calculate cash flow, expenses, profit margin, and other metrics.

After all this, you’ll have everything neatly documented and available at a click. You can always edit your business plan further and export it outside this business planning software to present it to your partners or investors.

• Editable Templates
• Lean Business Canvas
• Building Blocks
• Brainstorming
• Market Analysis
• Automatic Financials
• Unlimited Edits
• Business Plan Share and Export to Word/PDF

IdeaBuddy has 3 paid plans—$45/year for solo users, $85/year for up to 3 users, and $165/year for up to 30 collaborators.

Image Source: plansnack.com

Writing a business plan with PlanSnack is as easy as falling off a log. This business plan app is incredibly simple and fun to use, has no learning curve, and allows you to develop winning plans in a matter of minutes, not days.

It features a unique approach to creating business plans and guides you through 5 essential steps. Packed with pre-written examples, PlanSnack makes business planning even smoother and pretty damn quick.

Unlike other tools that come with extensive galleries of business plan templates, PlanSnack uses a simple template format with a single page. Instead of wasting time scrolling through templates, you can start writing a plan right away and launch and grow a successful business at the double.

All in all, PlanSnack is a great business planning software that can generate short, to-the-point plans you’ll actually use and comes completely free (no credit card required, no upgrades, or Pro versions).

• Clear, Easy-to-Use Interface
• A Simple Business Plan Template
• Vision, Mission, and Objective Outlines
• Shareable Plans Outside the Platform
• Business Plan Download and Print
• External Sharing
• Integration with NameSnack (Business Name Generator)

PlanSnack is free forever for anyone (small business owners, startups, restaurants, etc.).

Image Source: cuttles.io

Although launched not so long ago, Cuttles managed to keep ahead of the tough competitors and make it to the top business planning software list. This fully interactive tool is built to help entrepreneurs start new businesses, and, more importantly, grow them.

With Cuttles, you can structure ideas and write impactful business plans using their startup business plan template, but also create budgets, track finances, define your team’s responsibilities, set milestones, and more. And, just in case you need some extra help, you can check for real-world examples this business planning app provides to guide you through the creation of a modern business plan.

Now, how can you make sure your team, customers, or investors will get on board with your vision? You can either share your work in a dazzling design or… Ask people behind Cuttles to review your plan. They will provide a comprehensive analysis and more even more in-depth feedback on your plan in a post-review meeting.

However, if writing business plans still seem downright exhausting, you can ask guys from Cuttles to handle this for you. Share your idea, provide them with other relevant info, arrange a few follow-up meetings to make sure every detail is right, and have your business plan delivered within 2 to 4 weeks.

• Business Plan Template
• Idea Pitcher
• Budgeting Features
• Business Plan Presentations

Cuttles has 3 paid plans, starting at €15/month. If you want them to review your plans, the price goes to €250/year or €1,250 if writing business plans is not your favorite activity and you want Cuttles to do this for you.

One of these business plan software might be the one that makes your life easier. Hopefully, you already have a notion of the right fit. If not, don't hesitate to go back to the list and see which one catches your eye first.

 If Infinity has sparked your interest, feel free to schedule a demo call or email us at [email protected] .

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Best Business Plan Software Review (2024 Update)

• by IdeaBuddy Team
• October 20, 2023
• 10 minute read

Table of Contents Hide

The key features of a business plan software, the most popular business plan software in 2024, best business plan software: the verdict.

Sure, you can try to flesh out your idea and plan your future business by using a Word document or spreadsheet. But a good business plan software makes the whole process a lot easier.

These handy business tools help you structure your thoughts and build a business model that’s both workable and presentable. This in turn lets you seize on good opportunities in real-time.

Plus, business plan software usually comes with automated calculations, budgeting, and forecasts. You can assess the feasibility of your idea and then build a robust business plan.

Finally, business plan software saves a huge amount of time as it guides you through the entire planning process.

So, in this piece, we will first look at the key features a reliable business plan software needs to have. We’ll then provide a rundown of the best business plan tools available in the market.

If you’re an experienced business owner, skip right to the business plan software review. But if you’re still new to business making, start with the features. This will help you decide which of the selected software works best for you.

Here is a list of the key product features you should look for in a business plan software. Make sure that your preferred tool ticks all the boxes!

• Step-by-step guide – Business planning wizard is especially convenient for first-time founders, as it provides help at all stages of the business plan.
• Modularity – This allows first-time founders to build and test the basic business idea, gradually expanding the scope and moving towards its other aspects.
• Financial projections – If you’re venturing into a new industry or founding a business for the first time, make sure to find a business planning software that comes with a robust financial planning feature.
• Editable templates – Designing a business plan from zero can lead to significant time loss, so find a tool that offers built-in business plan templates, that can fit your industry and niche.
• Integrations – Being able to connect your business plan software with other tools can streamline your business workflow quite a bit.

So these were the features of a reliable business plan software. Let’s now review best-in-class tools and see how they can work for your niche and expertise.

In order to help you select the right business plan software , we broke down the list into two categories – traditional business plan software and innovative business planning software.

Innovative business planning software:

Traditional business plan software:

We will now dive into a detailed review of each software, pinpointing features, pros, cons, and pricing, as well as who they’re best suited for.

Innovative business planning software

IdeaBuddy is an innovative business plan software that helps aspiring entrepreneurs and teams develop their ideas. With IdeaBuddy, you can create a business model, develop your business idea, make financial projections, validate a business concept, and get a modern business plan.

All this comes with a step-by-step guide and editable templates. Plus, you will have access to documentation that brings an added level of support.

At its core, IdeaBuddy gives a spin to traditional business planning — the tool is simple, easy, and fun to use. Also, it lets you focus on key aspects of your business first. It then gradually leads you towards more complex aspects. As a result, you end up with a customizable and comprehensive business plan.

At first glance, that’s due to its simplicity and stunning visual appearance; also, it is very versatile.

IdeaBuddy Features

So, suppose you’re still sketching your idea. In that case, IdeaBuddy has its own business canvas called Idea Plan , which will help you build a business model.

It’s reminiscent of Business Model Canvas and Lean Canvas, but with its own flavor. Like with any other canvas, your goal is to build your business model by posting idea notes until you’ve covered all your business elements.

Business Guide

The next cool feature is Business Guide , a step-by-step guide that takes you through the five stages of the business planning process.

It helps you create your marketing and sales strategy , define your target customers, compare yourself with the competition, and plan all the other elements of your future business.

IdeaBuddy has automated financials and calculators, which will help you outline your startup expenses, loan payments, profit margins, cash flow, and many other important financial metrics.

After you develop the idea through the Business Guide, IdeaBuddy documents the entire planning process and converts it into an investor-ready business plan, which is quite useful and hassle-free.

IdeaBuddy Features Overview

• Business canvas
• Step-by-step business planning guide
• Automatic financial projections
• Business plan builder
• Idea validation tool

👍 IdeaBuddy Pros

+ Attractive visual appearance + Innovative step-by-step business guide + Idea templates

👎 IdeaBuddy Cons

– Limited features in the free trial – Some of the features are ‘coming soon’

IdeaBuddy Pricing

Dreamer plan – Starts from $15 per month / $5 per month (billed annually), and in this plan you are getting the essential tools to help you flash out your idea.

Founder plan – Starts from $25 per month / $10 per month (billed annually), and in this plan you will get everything you need to plan and start your business.

Team plan – Costs $35 per month / $20 per month (billed annually), and this is the perfect plan for bigger teams, and collaboration.

Who is this IdeaBuddy best suited for?

IdeaBuddy caters to startup founders and entrepreneurs who are working in dynamic markets. Its modularity helps less experienced founders master the essentials first, then move onwards. This business plan software helps build a sustainable business. Its variety of modules are all customizable to your needs.

You have a brilliant business idea, but don’t know where to start? IdeaBuddy can help you will that. Get started today!

Cuttles is an online web app for writing business plans and turning ideas into profitable startups.

Entrepreneurs and startups will get the help they need when starting their business using a business canvas or creating their business plans with budgets and other financial forecasts.

The one-pager offers a simple business plan that has creative visual assistance. At the same time, the finance tool allows you to track your finances and budgets.

You can turn any idea into a business and meet potential investors with proper planning tools and resources. And you can track your progress and performance with a simple roadmap feature.

Cuttles Features

• Budgets and forecasts
• Roadmapping tool

👍 Cuttles Pros

+ Visualize and share one dynamic dashboard + Great budgeting and runway feature + User-friendly

👎 Cuttles Cons

– Some features are still under development – Need more customization, especially when it comes to the financials, such as revenue

Cuttles Pricing

• Dreamer Plan – For the entrepreneur with a great business idea ($15/month)
• Startup Plan – For startups working together to bring one business idea to life ($30/month)
• Unlimited Plan – For entrepreneurs and startups with more ideas to pursue ($50/month)

Who is Cuttles best suited for?

Cuttles can work for newbie founders and solo entrepreneurs still figuring out their business plans. Cuttles is easy to use and comes with powerful visualization capabilities. But, more experienced business owners may have issues with a lack of features and little customization. This is particularly palpable in the financial aspects of your business plan.

Traditional business plan software

LivePlan is a cloud-based business plan software, which comes with a step-by-step wizard that guides you through writing the plan on autopilot. In turn, you can focus on the content, leaving the format of your plan to the software.

LivePlan can track day-to-day performance using a live dashboard. You need to choose from the over 500 included sample plans that can be turned into inspiration in just minutes. It also does automated financial calculations and forecasts for you.

LivePlan Feature Set

• Business Plan Templates
• Financial Projections
• Fundraising Management
• Track actual performance
• Step-by-step wizard

👍 LivePlan Pros

+ Attractive interface + Includes hundreds of sample plans + Simplified pricing of a single-tier + Automated financial calculations

👎 LivePlan Cons

– No free trial – No mobile version – Steep entry price – Can be overwhelming to use, even after the tutorials

LivePlan Pricing

LivePlan comes with a simple pricing scheme and two packages. The standard package lets you create a business plan and a premium package includes financial tools, key performance indicators and sync with QuickBooks.

Standard plan pricing:

• Monthly plan for $20/month (1 business plan)
• Annual subscription for $180 (1 business plan)

Premium plan pricing:

• Monthly plan for $40/month (1 business plan)
• Annual subscription for $360 (1 business plan)

Who is LivePlan best suited for?

LivePlan works for mid-size companies and enterprises. It features a walkthrough and educational tutorials, but first-time founders may find it less intuitive. It can also be overwhelming to use, especially when it comes to financing and projections. Overall, LivePlan is aimed towards more experienced users and comes with a traditional feature set. If you want to learn about more modern, market-relevant solutions, keep on reading.

Read Also: Best Liveplan Alternatives (Reviews And Pricing)

Enloop is an online business plan writing and financial forecasting app to create and manage your business plans.

You can choose from over 100 currency symbols and formats to set up your financial reports for your local currency.

It generates basic text for each section of your plan. You can edit the text, add images and tables. You can also insert financial forecast data into your text. It will be updated automatically whenever you change your financials.

Also, it automatically generates financial forecasts as bank-ready reports in your business plan. It can do hard accounting work for you and explain everything in simple terms.

Enloop Features

• Business plan
• Progress tracker
• Drag and drop templates
• Revenue projections
• Team collaboration

👍 Enloop Pros

+ Free plan, and a free trial + Compatibility with various platforms + Unique features like AutoWrite & TextSync

👎 Enloop Cons

– Doesn’t integrate with Quickbooks, Xero, or other accounting software like other business planning software. Therefore, you must import your own financial data. – Lack of assistance for beginner founders

Enloop Pricing

Enloop pricing is feature-based and comes with a free plan, as well as a free trial period.

• Free tier – Limited to a single business plan with simple text, no images, and no advanced features.
• Detailed plan – $19.95 monthly supports three business plans, detailed financials, and 3 ratios analyzed.
• Performance – For $39.95 monthly, it supports three business plans, detailed financials, and 16 ratios analyzed.

Who is Enloop best suited for?

Enloop is praised for its ease of use as well as a robust financial projections and calculations feature set. As such, it might work for first-time founders or owners with little experience who want to test and try their ideas. Plus, it comes with a free plan that has very limited possibilities, but could work for the bare necessities of business planning.

Bizplan is an online business planning software, which is part of a Startups.com platform.

It comes with a guided business plan creator that allows you to make a modern business plan. It also offers expert feedback on every step of the way, including models that can be dropped in and completed, along with quick incorporation of visuals along the way.

And if you get stuck, the Bizplan Academy offers additional resources that can come in handy when starting a business and making a business plan.

Those who need even more assistance can also take advantage of an expert consultation from a financial expert that starts at $999.

Bizplan Features

👍 bizplan pros.

+ Intuitive and user friendly, with drag and drop modules + Good to use for existing businesses + Financial tools that help make automatic financial projections + Fundraising management and collaboration tools

👎 Bizplan Cons

– Overwhelming interface that makes its use slightly difficult at times – Confusing data importing that is often misaligned with existing data formats – Doesn’t offer training

BizPlan Pricing

BizPlan brings simple pricing models that let you get a taste of all their features. Each model includes unlimited business plans, collaborators, and all available features.

• Monthly price: $29
• Annual price: $249
• Lifetime plan: $349

Who is Bizplan best suited for?

Bizplan is best suited for founders with some experience in setting up a business. While the step-by-step wizard can come in handy, some users cite the sheer availability of features to be overwhelming. At first, it takes the focus off the actual planning. Besides, the tool lacks options to customize business planning, which can be a challenge for less experienced founders or those working in a particular niche.

Upmetrics is a useful software if you want to create a business plan. It features a business plan editor, which refines your business plan to make it a lot more impressive.

Furthermore, finance modeling estimates the profit that you will be making from the business in the future. The pinboard is a handy feature that organizes the business inspiration materials in the right order.

Upmetics Features

• Collaboration
• Financial Templates
• Pitch Presentation
• Social Sharing
• Step-by-Step Wizard

👍 Upmetrics Pros

+ Highly customizable and fast + Cloud-based + User-friendly + Supports real-time collaboration + Can be tailored to specific industries

👎 Upmetrics Cons

– No dashboard – Needs more inbuilt templates – No free trial – Lacks investors module

Upmetrics Pricing

• Solo – For a team of entrepreneurs who just started planning, monthly price: $5.42 / annual pricing: $65.5 — 1 workspace, 2 members / workspace, 5 canvases / workspace
• Team – For teams & companies that need to manage multiple business initiatives, monthly price: $8.25 / annual pricing: $99 — 5 workspaces, 5 members / workspace, 8 canvases / workspace
• Premium – For large organizations and professional consultants, monthly price: $29.09 / annual pricing: $349.08 — unlimited workspaces, members and canvases.

All the prices are billed annually.

Who is Upmetrics best suited for?

Given its simplicity and ease of use, Upmetrics can get the job done for less experienced business owners. Besides, its real-time collaboration capabilities can streamline business planning and decision-making.

However, if you’re planning a mid- or large-scale enterprise, you may find some features to be missing at the moment. For instance, there is no investors module, which could be useful for startups looking for capital.

So these were the ins and outs of the best business plan software. Now, assess your business stage, identify the features you need, and select the right tool for you.

That’s the safest way you get a tool that naturally fits your business making. You will avoid paying for features you will hardly use or getting a tool without the capabilities you desperately need.

In case you’re just starting out or need a hand, check out how IdeaBuddy can take your business idea from scratch to a fully-fledged business plan.

IdeaBuddy Team

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9 Best Business Plan Software in 2024

Business plan is a document outlining business goals, financial projections, and strategies. It clarifies organizational vision, strategy, and finances while increasing the chances of securing funding and attracting investors. A well-written business plan works as an investor’s roadmap, showcasing a researched market opportunity, a sound strategy, and the true potential for financial return.

While developing a business plan using the traditional method is time-consuming and overwhelming, business planner software can assist entrepreneurs in creating a professional plan. These provide the necessary structure and guidance to create business plans efficiently.

Geekflare reviewed dozens of business planning tools and picked the best business plan software applications based on their features, ease of use, and pricing.

• Cuttles – Best for Interactive Business Planning and Pitching
• IdeaBuddy – Best for Comprehensive Planning with Financial Projections
• LivePlan – Best for Innovative Idea Development
• Bizplan – Best for Modern and Visual Planning
• Upmetrics – Best for Data-Driven Planning
• PlanGuru – Best for Advanced Financial Analysis
• Enloop – Best for Automated Financial Forecasting
• PlanBuildr – Best for Quick and Simple Business Plans
• The Business Plan Shop – Best for User-Friendly Interface
• Show more Show less

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Best for Interactive Business Planning and Pitching

• Financial Reporting Comprehensive
• Integration Yes
• Ease of Use Beginner-Friendly

About Cuttles

Cuttles is fully interactive business plan software that helps entrepreneurs develop business plans and understand their businesses. It is a web app that asks questions and creates a plan based on the answers given by the company, with a layout according to the brand.

Cuttles offers fully customizable business plan templates that organizations can modify according to their industrial needs. It has a beautiful editor that anyone can use with flexibility. It is available in English, French, Spanish, German, and Portuguese.

After creating a solid business plan, users can easily share its link with other team members or investors. It also supports exporting the plan in PDF format.

Cuttles Pros and Cons

250+ guides, examples, and widgets for assistance

7-day free trial on any plan

Dashboard to track financial health

No free plan is available

Does not offer any mobile app

Best for Comprehensive Planning with Financial Projections

• Financial Reporting Advanced
• Integration No

About IdeaBuddy

IdeaBuddy turns innovative business ideas into professional business plans for successful ventures. This free business planning software allows you to enter data in the sections in the Business Guide and automatically generate an investor-ready business plan.

IdeaBuddy has pre-built templates that companies can customize using an unlimited-edit-ability built-in editor. The business plan can be exported in Word, Excel, and PDF format or shared using a link. Organizations can use it to collaborate with teammates and stakeholders in real-time.

IdeaBuddy has a financial plan feature that companies use to get financial forecasts, which is an important component of a business plan. However, businesses can utilize sales pipeline software to generate data on financial projections.

IdeaBuddy Pros and Cons

Free plan available for one idea

15-day free trial

Mobile-friendly platform

Does not have any dedicated mobile app

Whiteboard is only available for Free and Team Pro plan users

Best for Innovative Idea Development

• Ease of Use Intermediate

About LivePlan

LivePlan allows users to create their business plans for all major industries with its collection of 500+ templates. LivePlan forecast feature lets companies skip the manual calculation and provide the data input based on which it will generate charts, figures, graphs, and other documents for the business plan.

After creating the business plan, companies can export it in Word or PDF formats. LivePlan supports real-time financial data tracking and Xero and QuickBooks integration. It also offers milestone scheduling and sales and budget tracking. It lets users create a one-page pitch in 30 minutes.

LivePlan Pros and Cons

AI-powered LivePlan Assistant for improved writing version

Performance dashboard with 20+ trend reports

Compare KPIs with industry benchmark data

Does not offer any free trial

Standard plan users do not get integration support

Best for Modern and Visual Planning

About Bizplan

Bizplan is ideal business plan software for startups looking for investors or funding. With this modern and intuitive business plan builder, entrepreneurs can create a business plan exactly as they want.

Bizplan also offers educational resources to help companies easily use this drag-and-drop tool for building templates. Its Financial Command Center comes with various financial tools. Companies can use this business plan software platform to create team salary forecasts, revenue projections, and balance sheets.

While users can add collaborators and stakeholders here, they can control who can view sensitive data and comment on them. Companies can share their business plan using the online link.

Bizplan Pros and Cons

Direct access to a community of 20,000 startup founders

1200+ detailed guides

Free technical support

No free trial available

No mobile apps

Best for Data-Driven Planning

About Upmetrics

Upmetrics offers an AI-powered business plan generator that can write a complete or partial business plan, re-format sections, make improvements, and adjust content tone. It allows real-time feedback and collaboration with an easily navigable comment section.

Upmetrics offers a drag-and-drop interface so that companies can create plan outlines according to their preferences. Once the plan is generated, users can save the file in DOC or PDF formats or share it online with the stakeholders.

Upmetrics users also choose creative cover pages to make their business plans stand out. It also has a financial forecasting feature that suggests expense types, revenue streams, sale costs, and expenses. It generates reports on cash flow, profit breakdown, retained earnings, etc.

Upmetrics Pros and Cons

400+ templates for almost all industries

Business plan checklist to track progress

15-day money-back guarantee

Does not have any mobile app

Best for Advanced Financial Analysis

• Ease of Use Advanced

About PlanGuru

PlanGuru is the right business planning software for companies focused on the financial aspect of the company. Businesses can utilize its budgeting, and reporting, and financial forecasting tools to include in the business plan.

PlanGuru is a web app that is also available on Windows-based apps. Using its 20+ standard forecasting methods, companies can generate forecasts for up to 10 years.

PlanGuru supports integration with QuickBooks, Xero, and Microsoft Excel for data import. The generated reports can be exported in Word, Excel, and PDF formats.

PlanGuru Pros and Cons

30-day money-back guarantee

14-day free trial

US-based technical support

Does not offer business plan templates

No desktop app for Mac

Best for Automated Financial Forecasting

About Enloop

Enloop facilitates quick business plan creation by generating automated text that users can easily edit. It automatically syncs the company’s financial data with the business and updates it whenever that data changes.

Enloop users can develop business plans using customizable text, tables, charts, images, and 100+ currency symbols and formats. They can invite their colleagues to edit the plan and other partners to view it.

Enloop automatically generates bank-ready financial forecast reports and 16 critical financial ratios for forecasted performance analysis. This tool allows users to utilize real-time performance scores in their business plans.

Enloop Pros and Cons

7-day free trial

Pass/fail report for understanding critical issues

Colored chart for data visualization

Free subscription plan is unavailable

Costlier than many of its competitors

Best for Quick and Simple Business Plans

About PlanBuildr

PlanBuildr is a user-friendly solution that prompts businesses to fill in the blanks to generate a business plan. Users have 10 templates of various industries to choose from to build a business plan for their company.

PlanBuildr automatically makes financial projections for 5 years, including income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, charts, and graphs to be included in the business plan. It supports direct printing of the plan and downloading to share with others.

PlanBuildr also supports adding teammates and creating an executive summary. The content and format generated by PlanBuildr are highly tailored to raise money faster from investors.

PlanBuildr Pros and Cons

Limited free trial

Expert customer support team and online support center

Business plan samples for various industries

Only 10 designs to choose from

Unavailability of free plan

The Business Plan Shop

Best for User-Friendly Interface

About The Business Plan Shop

The Business Plan Shop is a solution that offers a wide collection of templates for business plan creation. After signing up for this user-friendly software, users get instructions and examples for each section of the business plan.

The Business Plan Shop generates forecasts for three to five years, and measures progress toward goals using KPIs. Companies can use business consulting software while working on goals. It also supports side-by-side scenario comparisons between actual and forecast.

The Business Plan Shop integrates with Xero and QuickBooks to import accounting data for forecasting purposes. After creating the plan, users can easily export it in MS Word or PDF formats.

The Business Plan Shop Pros and Cons

7-day free trial is available

Built-in document editor for quick formatting

SSL for data security

Does not work offline

Free trial does not include access to templates

Business Plan Software Comparison

What Is a Business Plan?

A business plan is a document that explains a business’s objectives and how it aims to achieve them. It is an essential written document that companies need for internal (organizational decision-making) and external (securing funding from investors or partners) audiences. It focuses on key elements to demonstrate the business’s viability.

A standard business plan should consist of 15 to 20 pages. If it includes lengthy components, it is better to add them to the appendix and refer to them in the main plan.

How to Create a Business Plan

Creating a business plan involves steps like creating an executive summary, performing market research, developing business strategies, discussing business products, and making financial projections. To develop a business plan for an organization, go through the steps below.

#1. Write an Executive Summary

Consider it as the elevator pitch and include the summary of the whole business plan, including the mission statement. It is better to write it in the end.

#2. Define the Business

In this section, mention the basic info about the company, such as its registered name, location, key people, and their expertise. Also, include business structure, company history, and ownership percentage.

#3. Mention Business Objectives

The business plan should include an objective statement – what the company wants to achieve in the long run. While developing a plan for investment or loan, emphasize this section and make it elaborate.

#4. Discuss Products and Services of the Business

Here, describe in detail the product or service the business will offer. Also, include the pricing model, target audience, and sales and distribution strategy.

#5. Market Research

In this segment, discuss the competitors. Include the reason behind their success and how the organization has the potential to outperform them.

#6. Develop Business Strategy

Mention how the organization is planning to persuade customers to avail of the services and retain customer loyalty. Include detailed plans of marketing, management, and operational strategies.

#7. Financial Analysis

While startups may not have enough information on business financials, existing businesses should include a balance sheet, profit-and-loss statements, and a cash flow statement.

#8. Make Financial Projections

This is a critical section for financing or investors. Here, outline how the company is planning to generate profit to repay the loan or offer a generous return to the investors. 

#9. Additional Information

Any supporting information that the company wants to include in the business plan should go in the appendix.

Benefits of Business Plan Software

Business plan software has a robust toolkit that allows businesses to create investor-ready documents from the concept. It offers step-by-step guidance for business plan creation and pre-formatted templates for a professional structure. 

Business planning tools, when integrated with BPM software , accounting software, and market research software, can automatically collect relevant data for the business plan. It even has built-in tools to generate financial projections with complex calculations and graphs.

With these features, business planning software solutions empower companies to create compelling and error-free plans. Thus, they effectively communicate the organizational vision to investors.

How to Choose the Right Business Plan Software

Creating solid and convincing business plan tools is crucial, so companies must choose the right software to make the process smoother. Although there are many options, following these points will help them select the most suitable business plan software solution. 

Assessing Business Needs

Companies should start by identifying what the business plan requires. Does the company need in-depth financial forecasting, or does it need to focus on market research? Match it with the software’s features to choose the most useful software. 

Considering Team’s Expertise

Always take the technological expertise of the team into consideration. If the team has limited tech experience, go for user-friendly software with clear instructions and a flat learning curve.

Budgeting for Business Plan Software

Determine the organizational budget for the business plan apps and choose the tool with an affordable plan. To that end, compare the pricing models of the shortlisted applications.

Reading Reviews and Getting Recommendations

Read online user reviews and seek recommendations from other entrepreneurs or business advisors. This will provide valuable insights into the software’s effectiveness and user experience.

Regardless of the estimated business size, a properly written business plan is vital for future growth and success. Companies should choose the right tool to ensure that they send a clear and focused message to investors. It guides them through essential elements and helps them avoid critical oversights.

With sophisticated business plan software providers, users can effortlessly write a business plan. The above list will help them choose the right solution for business.

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• Workflow Management Software to Optimize Processes
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7 Best Business Plan Software in 2024

One aspect of start-up business planning that never seems to get the attention it deserves is how a business gets its venture capital. Banks and investment institutions are looking for very detailed plans that outline your business. And business plan software can help you create those layouts.

What is Business Plan Software?

Business plan software helps you create a full business plan that is attractive to potential investors. The reports that the software generates will explain how you will get customers, who will run the business, and most importantly, where the start-up or venture capital will come from.

The reports are created with investors or financial institutions in mind.

This software is intended for people who have already done significant research and planning for their business. In most cases, the software will ask you to enter information that it already assumes you have available, like financial calculations.

Thus, this type of software is not intended for people trying to come up with an idea.

Alongside most business planning software, you are going to need other tools with the main one being spreadsheet software. In fact, many of these pieces of software will expect you to upload data straight from a spreadsheet .

Here are some of the best business plan software to use in 2024.

The Best Business Plan Software

1. liveplan.

LivePlan is the most well-known business planning software on the market. With over 15 years of experience, it has helped over 850,000 small businesses achieve their goals. And that’s because their software is easy to use and affordable.

And at the end of the day, what more could you want?

The software uses a step-by-step interface that helps lead you through the process of building a fully-fledged business plan. This process will help you create the initial pitch that you will use to secure funding, create a detailed report that will impress investors, and even help you map out future financial information.

This will help make sure that your business is on track to meet your goals. All of the information is entered through a series of text boxes following the questions. It’s literally like going through a form, but the end result is that the software will generate a report from it.

It really doesn’t get any easier than this.

Benefits of LivePlan

• This is a cloud-based software
• If you have all of the information ready, you could be done within an hour
• Over 500 sample plans to help you get started

Price of LivePlan

• Standard plans begin at $15 per month
• Premium plans begin at $30 per month

Enloop is another excellent choice in the business plan software market. It does everything you could possibly want at a low cost without all of the headaches. And, it even supports multiple users, which many similar software options lack.

But don’t just take my word for it, try it today for free with the 7-day trial.

One of the hardest parts of starting a business from scratch is the language you must use. Luckily, Enloop will automatically generate text that you can utilize. The text is fully editable, so you can make changes to it at any time.

This will make your plan sound professional, and increase the likelihood of receiving funding.

Many people seem to think that starting a business all comes down to one person, but that just isn’t true. While the core idea might start with one individual, you typically have partners, accountants, and others helping you out. Thus, allowing multiple users is necessary in many cases.

Benefits of Enloop

• Compatible with over 100 currencies
• An extensive evaluation of your report tells you if its good to go
• Generates bank-friendly financial reports

Price of Enloop

• Detailed plans start at $19.95 per month
• Performance plans start at $39.95 per month

3. GoSmallBiz.com

GoSmallBiz.com is another top-of-the-line business plan generator that is completely web-based. That means you can log into your account from any device, including mobile. That’s right, there are dedicated mobile apps for both Android and iOS.

However, there are far more features than just business planning software.

On top of building a detailed plan to start your business, GoSmallBiz.com will be there after your doors open. That’s because it also includes access to legal advice (free and discounted), a website builder, customer relationship manager , digital marketing, and so much more.

However, when it comes to business plan software, it has a series of industry-specific templates to help you get started. Simply follow the step-by-step wizard and build your plan the same day. You can even generate detailed financial reports to give you an idea of your earning potential down the road.

Benefits of GoSmallBiz.com

• Utilize a large library of business documents
• Get a detailed website analysis to ensure your website is up to current quality standards
• Communicate with an experienced consultant team

Price of GoSmallBiz.com

• There is only one plan that starts at $39 per month

Looking for business plan software that has generated over 500 million dollars in investment? Then you must be looking for BizPlan . The Software was built by experts to help small businesses secure the funding they need.

It has all of the tools you need from plan generation to financial assessments.

Many people want to start a business but don’t quite have the knowledge to do so, that’s where the video courses come into play. BizPlan offers an extensive and informative set of courses to learn the basics of building a business from a start-up. There are hundreds to choose from at no extra cost to you.

The actual business plan software leads you through a guided experience to create a business plan. The process is simple and straightforward. It will highlight areas that investors look to help boost your funding potential. It also offers a wide array of financial tools to choose from.

Benefits of BizPlan

• Drag and drop templates are available to speed up the process
• Progress tracker lets you see your progress in real-time
• Calculate team salary forecasts with minimal input

Price of BizPlan

• Monthly starts at $29 per month
• Annual starts at $20.75 per month
• Purchase lifetime access for a one-time payment of $349

By far, the most common reason people do not try to start a business is the money they need to spend before they receive funding, and business planning software is no exception. However, nTask ensures you can build a plan without breaking the bank.

It is, by far, the best free business plan software on the market.

Even if you are not using the free plan, take note of its incredibly low prices in comparison to the rest of this list. There is no cheaper option than nTask. However, don’t let the price fool you, this software is feature-rich and gets results.

This software is not just for creating start-up plans. You can use it to manage just about any project in a team-friendly environment. Thus, nTask will be with you before and after your business opens.

Just be aware that unlike most of the competition, there are no pre-built templates, so a little more work is involved.

Benefits of nTask

• Visualize projects with an interactive Gantt chart online
• Create detailed timesheets to help manage your employees
• Integrates with Zapier, Zoom, Slack, Google Calendar, and Outlook Calendar

Price of nTask

• A free plan is available
• Premium plans start at $2.99 per month per user
• Business plans start at $7.99 per month per user
• Enterprise options are available upon request

6. EquityNet

At its core, EquityNet is a network that helps investors connect with businesses looking for funding. It comes bundled with a wonderful business plan software that will help you attract investment on and off the website. And most of the website can be accessed for free.

Advertising your business plan on a platform filled with potential investors is a smart choice.

The business plan software itself is quite robust and will help you write up a professional report that will put additional focus on what investors are looking for. However, keep in mind that while the tool offers a lot of help text and explanations, you are still going to need to do most of the writing.

The main benefit of EquityNet is the premises of the platform. Think of it as a crowd funder that focuses on getting start-up businesses the funding they need. This platform really does make getting investments a breeze as long as you have a strong pitch and a plan to match it.

Benefits of EquityNet

• The largest marketplace for private investment deals
• Status bars help you identify parts to work on in your business plan
• Supports both PDF and Word documents

Price of EquityNet

• EquityNet does not make its subscription prices public. Thus, you must contact them for more information.

7. IdeaBuddy

And closing up this list is IdeaBuddy, but don’t let its placement fool you. It is one of the best. This software can take even the most basic idea and turn it into an attractive business plan that investors will be drooling over.

And you will never get lost during the process thanks to the excellent help center.

The planning process is similar to others on this list. You will be brought through a guided experience that will provide instructions and tips to help your business find success. You can also view multiple examples of similar businesses to help give you a clearer direction.

All of the financial calculations are done for you. The only part of this process you need to do is enter the numbers. These financial reports will look great and pique investor interest.

All of the reports and plans can be exported as PDF and Word documents to make sharing easy.

Benefits of IdeaBuddy

• Use pre-built templates to speed up the process
• 15-day free trial
• This software is great in a team environment

Price of IdeaBuddy

• Dreamer plans start at $15 per month
• Founder plans start at $25 per month
• Team plans start at $55 per month
• A lifetime deal is available for a one-time payment of $155

Who Is This Software For?

Business ideas come from the strangest places, and only a fraction of people act on them. That’s because creating a business from scratch is extremely challenging and risky. However, if you are one of the few people who is actively trying to bring their plan alive, then you are going to want this type of software.

However, you need to do a significant amount of work to make this software useful.

It is not intended for people who have just had an epiphany. Instead, it’s for people that have a full plan in place and just need to make it presentable. Banks and investors want to know everything about your potential business.

After all, if you have a great plan that is likely to succeed, the investment is safer. Thus, you are more likely to get the funding you need.

Bring Your Business to Life

The most common reasons banks and financial institutions do not lend small businesses money are the four C’s of Credit : Capital, Collateral, Capacity, and Character. If banks are unhappy with any of these individual elements, you can kiss your loan opportunities goodbye.

Business plan software can help improve your chances by clearly outlining your business assets and the role they will play, financial estimates that compare the cost of business to potential earnings, who will be managing the business (experience matters to banks), and much more.

These reports show that you are serious about starting a business and you can handle the workload.

What business planning software did you use to secure your loan?

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Create a fundable business plan. Then use financial tools to bring it to life.

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With the right tools and a little guidance, you can achieve almost any business goal

Build your business plan faster and easier with AI

Say goodbye to writer’s block. Ensure your business plan is the best it can be with the AI-Powered LivePlan Assistant.

Get inspired by 550+ sample business plans

Browse hundreds of sample business plans that cover every industry imaginable. This helps you visualize what your completed plan should look like.

Organize & pitch your ideas

Clarify and vet your ideas in 30 minutes by creating a One-Page Pitch. Then use it to easily explain your business opportunity to investors.

Create financials without clunky spreadsheets

No more complicated formulas. LivePlan guides you through a simple process for building financial forecasts and reports for your business plan.

LivePlan has helped over 1 million business owners build better businesses

It’s proven, companies that plan and track against their plan grow 30% faster than those that don’t. No matter your industry, location, or size — LivePlan helps you get your business off the ground and grow

“Trying to open a new business is very time-consuming, and since I was running another business while I was trying to set up Tailored, I didn’t have a lot of time.”

Owner & Founder, Tailored Coffee

“It wasn’t my intention to be an entrepreneur or a business person. My intention was to work with dogs. I kind of had to learn the rest of it in order to do what I wanted to do.”

Joanna Stanford

Founder, Trots Dogs

“That’s what it does for your business; [using LivePlan] has got us all talking and much more engaged about what we are and what we’re trying to do.”

Owner & Founder, Web Ninja

“Before LivePlan, I was making decisions that were poorly informed. Now I test everything through my business first, before I take it to my clients.”

Enae Jackson-Atkins

Owner & Founder, Esquire Accounting

Entrepreneurs & business owners love LivePlan

“I learned more about running my small business from a week of focused work in [LivePlan] than I have from any other single source. It has fundamentally changed the way I view my business ventures”

Capterra Review

“Using LivePlan is easy and there is so much assistance available. There are examples, templates, and videos explaining what to write. [...]. It does the math for you. It creates graphs and charts. It is amazing.”

Shawnnell B

“LivePlan was a great help to design, work out, plan and strategically organize and think about all the ideas that go into developing a new project and business plan [...] Think about it like a coach guiding you through the process.”

Shopper Approved Review

“I’ve been using LivePlan with Xero for a few months now and love it. It’s given me visibility about how we’re doing against Forecast like I’ve never had before...”

Rob Mackley

Xero App Store Review

“Before LivePlan, my team and I had no idea where or how to start [...] It helped us focus on and build every single area of our business strategy and recognize that some aspects of the company needed to be adjusted before we could launch.”

“LivePlan has eased my business planning processes and have provided me with easy access to credit from both banks and investors alike.”

“All businesses require solutions and tools [...] for control of expenses, spreadsheets were always the first option, but since the arrival of LivePlan, all work is easier and more automated.”

Trust Radius Review

“I didn’t have a business plan and using LivePlan helped give me an easy tool to build a strong business plan for myself and clients. My clients have gone on to enhance their plans and grow their businesses.”

Gabriella B

“LivePlan made us feel confident and secure in our numbers and gave us a clear view of our past, present and future!”

“LivePlan provides the balance between stating your vision, the framework to support it, and the numbers.”

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Home / Business Plan Software / Business Plan Software For Free

Updated on: August 22, 2024

Business Plan Software For Free List (August 2024)

• Business Plan Software (10)
• Upto $10 (4)
• $10 - $20 (2)
• Above $40 (2)
• Business Plan Templates Helps providing the pattern for professional-looking business plan (8)
• Financial Projections Gives a forecasts of the cash inflows and outflows, income and balance sheet (8)
• Dashboard A digital insight of reports and other workings on a single screen (7)
• Financial Templates Provides an automated pattern to create a financial plan quickly (7)
• Collaboration Helps you safely share data with only those who matter and enhances your teamwork (5)
• Fundraising Management Provides step-by-step guidance on planning cost effective fundraising strategies and much more (5)
• Investor Management Tracks and manages detailed investor contact, subscription and allocation data (5)
• Pitch Presentation Helps in briefing the business plan to the investors and provides a well-planned sales presentation strategy (5)
• Step-by-Step Wizard Provides guidance in each step to input data in a prescribed and appropriate manner (5)
• Social Sharing Offers excellent marketing opportunities and helps to promote the brand or digital content on social media sites (4)
• 86 - 90 (1)
• 81 - 85 (2)
• 70 - 80 (6)
• SaaS/Web/Cloud (8)
• Mobile - Android (2)
• Mobile - iOS (1)
• Individuals (3)
• Freelancers (1)
• Large Enterprises (5)
• Medium Business (8)
• Small Business (9)
• Free Trial (19)
• Freemium (10)
• One-time license (5)
• Open-source (2)
• Subscription (32)
• Quotation Based (10)

87 % SW Score The SW Score ranks the products within a particular category on a variety of parameters, to provide a definite ranking system. Read more

What is Bizway and how does it work?

Establish and oversee a team of personalized GPT Assistants tailored to assist in planning, managing, and expanding business effortlessly. Automate task lists without the need for coding expertise. This platform empowers users to assemble a team of GPT Assistants uniquely configured to cater to the specific needs of business. The intuitive interface ensures a seamless experience, allowing effortlessly to delegate tasks, streamline processes, and enhance overall efficiency. The key feature of this tool is its automation capability, enabling the creation and execution of task lists without delving into complex coding. Whether a seasoned entrepreneur or a newcomer to business management, this platform simplifies the process, making it accessible to all.By incorporating customizable GPT Assistants into business strategy, unlock a new level of productivity and organizational efficiency. This innovative solution eliminates the need for intricate coding and puts the power of automation directly in hands. Revolutionize the way plan, manage, and expand your business with the user-friendly and powerful capabilities of this GPT Assistant management platform.

SW Score Breakdown The SW Score breakdown shows individual score for product features. Read more

• Features 95%
• Reviews 60%
• Momentum 67%
• Popularity 72%

Bizway Pricing

• Free Trial Not Available
• Starts at $49.00. Offers Free-forever plan.

84 % SW Score The SW Score ranks the products within a particular category on a variety of parameters, to provide a definite ranking system. Read more

What is Enloop and how does it work?

Real-time Performance Score Your business plan becomes stronger as your score increases. Watch your score change and you'll feel the motivation. Automatically Generated Financial Reports We generate bank-ready financial forecast reports in your business plan. And then explain everything to you.

• Features 89%
• Reviews 67%
• Momentum 68%
• Popularity 71%

Enloop Pricing

• Free Trial Available
• Starts at $11.00. Offers Free-forever plan.

TheBizPlanner

What is TheBizPlanner and how does it work?

TheBizPlanner is a business planning tool that allows users to streamline workflows throughout the office. It brings a range of handy features on a single platform. This includes a Business Profile in the form of a quick worksheet to jot down ideas which can then be brought to life via multiple business plan templates. Further startup templates help users to validate their ideas to realize the maximum possible ROI. Users can even set quantitative and qualitative goals and track the associated KPIs to understand whether their team is on the right path. This is complemented by collaborative and communication tools that include productive features like task assignment and in-app chat. What’s more? A dashboard that provides a bird’s eye view of every vertical and a selective share feature that restricts access to only the requisite team members. Such features, along with a state of the art infrastructure, place emphasis on data privacy and security.

• Features 96%
• Momentum 60%
• Popularity 75%

TheBizPlanner Pricing

• Offers Free-forever and Custom plan.

80 % SW Score The SW Score ranks the products within a particular category on a variety of parameters, to provide a definite ranking system. Read more

What is Kradle and how does it work?

Kradle is a cloud platform that enables users to build intuitive data models that reflect the functioning of their businesses. They can then accordingly manage data and the associated files, control internal processes and create performance reports. It also sports a dedicated internal referral program which users can join to earn money. With the Process Manager, they can also build templates, create tasks, manage jobs, and curate workflows. Kradle even includes a report generator along with user-specified dashboards. All this and more enables businesses to increase their visibility, boost performance levels, reduce the associated costs, maximise the return on assets, reduce the involved project risks, and have better control on project outcomes. With customized data models, users can effectively manage databases, implement personalized changes, and tailor the functioning of businesses according to their needs.

• Features 90%
• Momentum 62%
• Popularity 74%

Kradle Pricing

78 % SW Score The SW Score ranks the products within a particular category on a variety of parameters, to provide a definite ranking system. Read more

What is Poindexter and how does it work?

The Poindexter Business Plan software helps to prepare yourself to deal with any given scenario.The software features performance tracking that helps to track your revenue and bank account balance.Moreover, Poindexter can deliver 3 years to 10 years of financial forecast.The monthly goal dashboard helps to keep track of your acquisition goals.The software also provides answers to the various complicated financial questions without any lag.You can even provide a password protected link to all the stakeholders,so that they can read and edit your business plans.The software also automatically provides full financial statements that helps you take detailed decisions.

• Features 77%
• Reviews 71%
• Momentum 64%
• Popularity 76%

Poindexter Pricing

• Starts at $12.00. Offers Custom plan.

76 % SW Score The SW Score ranks the products within a particular category on a variety of parameters, to provide a definite ranking system. Read more

Business Plan Quick Builder

What is Business Plan Quick Builder and how does it work?

The Business Plan Quick Builder helps to create a business plan with greater efficiency and ease.It also offers planning templates, which are very easy to use. After getting all the information, the software will analyse them and can deliver the forecast of the business for up to 5 years. It also helps in understanding the income statement as well as the cash flow statement.You can even modify your plan anytime you want to. Apart from these, it helps you attract employees as well as business joint ventures and alliances. It also uses the succession planning for family business so that you can hand over the authority of the business to the next generation without any headache.

• Features 81%
• Reviews 69%
• Popularity 68%

Business Plan Quick Builder Pricing

• Starts at $0.99.

74 % SW Score The SW Score ranks the products within a particular category on a variety of parameters, to provide a definite ranking system. Read more

What is 123BizPlan and how does it work?

123BizPlan is one of the best in its segment.It is enriched with a number of essential features.The software comes with a business plan tool box to create new plans hassle-free and quickly.It also provides a maximum of five years forecast, which is calculated by your provided information. Attractive financial tools are equipped to attract and impress the investors. Moreover, the high quality graphs and charts also help in drawing the investors’ attention.The key feature of this business plan software is the high level security it provides to secure your confidential data from third party access.

• Features 74%
• Reviews 81%
• Popularity 73%

123BizPlan Pricing

• Starts at $47.00.

72 % SW Score The SW Score ranks the products within a particular category on a variety of parameters, to provide a definite ranking system. Read more

What is Brandmoxe and how does it work?

Introducing Brandmoxe, the ultimate solution for all aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business professionals alike. With its innovative and comprehensive features, Brandmoxe is the all-in-one business planning, competitive analysis, and startup development software that will take their venture to new heights. In today's competitive landscape, it is essential to have the right tools and resources at their disposal. Brandmoxe understands the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, and that's why we have created a powerful platform that helps they build, understand, and ultimately grow their business. Imagine having access to a virtual library of business planning resources, all conveniently located in one place. With Brandmoxe, they have access to a range of templates, frameworks, and expert advice, allowing they to create a solid and strategic business plan that will guide they towards success. This software guides they step-by-step through the process, ensuring that no crucial aspect of their business is overlooked. But it doesn't stop there. Brandmoxe also offers an in-depth competitive analysis toolkit that empowers they to understand their industry and identify key opportunities for growth. By analyzing market trends, consumer behavior, and competitor strategies, they can stay one step ahead of the game and position their business for maximum success. Startup development can be a daunting task, but with Brandmoxe, it becomes an exciting and streamlined process. This software provides they with the tools and guidance they need to navigate through each stage of their startup journey. From identifying potential investors to creating a pitch deck that stands out, Brandmoxe equips they with the knowledge and resources to pave their path to success. As a professional seeking a third-party perspective, Brandmoxe is designed with they in mind. This software is built on industry best practices and leverages valuable insights from leading experts. With Brandmoxe, they can trust that they are making informed decisions backed by data-driven analysis and expert recommendations.

• Features 85%
• Popularity 62%

Brandmoxe Pricing

• Starts at $5.00. Offers Free-forever plan.

71 % SW Score The SW Score ranks the products within a particular category on a variety of parameters, to provide a definite ranking system. Read more

What is Ballparq and how does it work?

Ballparq is a Startup Business Modeling Tool that gives you fast insights into your business without spreadsheets. Startups can use Ballparq to build their financial model and then share with collaborators and investors with secure sharing. Consider both indirect and direct costs as you scale. Create your own templates for quick input for your direct costs. Understand how and when capital flows through your business and manage offsets for your G&A office expenditures. Find your break-even point with a fundraising analyzer. Plan out multiple rounds of funding.

• Features 80%
• Popularity 66%

Ballparq Pricing

• Starts at $4.99. Offers Free-forever and Custom plan.

70 % SW Score The SW Score ranks the products within a particular category on a variety of parameters, to provide a definite ranking system. Read more

What is Bizplanr and how does it work?

Bizplanr offers an innovative solution for entrepreneurs looking to create professional business plans effortlessly. This AI-driven business plan generator asks them a few simple questions about their business ideas and swiftly crafts a detailed, comprehensive plan tailored specifically for them, Bizplanr’s technology handles the complex structuring and drafting, saving users significant time and effort. Whether they're validating an idea or launching a startup, Bizplanr provides industry-specific advice and structured formats without any financial commitment. Users benefit from expert-level plans that include all necessary components, such as market analysis and financial projections. Once their plan is ready, they can review and share it easily with stakeholders and investors. Bizplanr ensures its business plan stands out by clearly describing its financial needs and potential. Ideal for banks, investors, or grants, the detailed plans cover all operational and marketing aspects essential for startup success. Additionally, Bizplanr is a valuable tool for students, providing detailed business plans for projects and presentations, and facilitating comprehensive learning. With Bizplanr, creating a persuasive business plan has never been easier, allowing users to focus on growth and innovation.

• Popularity 65%

Bizplanr Pricing

• Starts at $7.00. Offers Free-forever plan.

List of Business Plan Software For Free

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21 Accounting & Bookkeeping Software Tools Loved by Small Businesses

Published: August 16, 2024

If you’re a small business owner, I’m sure you’ll agree that your company's financial health is your top priority. And with that comes the need for accurate and agile accounting for your business.

But with so many accounting solutions available, how do you find the best accounting software for you? To help you make that decision, I've compiled a list of the leading accounting software currently on the market. I recommend reviewing these accounting software examples, their key features, and the pricing options, to inform your decision-making.

Best Accounting Software for Small Business

• Intuit QuickBooks
• Sage 50cloud
• AccountEdge Pro
• NetSuite ERP
• Accounting Seed

1. Intuit QuickBooks

Free Business Budget Templates

Manage your business, personal, and program spend on an annual, quarterly, and monthly basis.

• Personal Budget Template
• Annual Budget Template
• Program Budget Template

Download Free

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Click this link to access this resource at any time.

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6 templates to manage your business, personal, and program spend on an annual, quarterly, and monthly basis.

Powerful and easy-to-use sales software that drives productivity, enables customer connection, and supports growing sales orgs

• Disaster recovery planning and management

pathdoc - stock.adobe.com

6 business continuity plan software providers to know

Business continuity planning software can help organizations create a plan that automates time-consuming processes and accounts for critical aspects such as regulatory compliance..

• Brien Posey

Developing a business continuity plan can be an overwhelming task, particularly for larger organizations. Business continuity plan software can help ease the process.

Business continuity encompasses the processes that get an organization back to normal operations after a disruption. Depending on the industry, the amount of downtime a business experiences can result in loss of reputation or even legal action from customers. Organizations can manually create business continuity plans , but might not want to risk the possibility of human error in a critical process.

Business continuity software does more than just outline the details that need to be included in an organization's planning effort. It can help identify key risks and existing single points of failure within the organization's operations. A good business continuity plan software package can help the organization maintain regulatory compliance as well as automate some of the more time-consuming tasks associated with the planning process, such as gathering data with a business impact analysis .

The sections below outline some of the more prominent software options for risk management. While some of these options might best be described as full-blown business continuity plan software suites, others focus on specific aspects of the business continuity planning process.

The following list is based on the writer's research and professional insights into the business continuity and disaster recovery market. In choosing featured vendors, the author focused on ease of use and range of features.

This list is unranked and published in alphabetical order.

Agility Recovery

Agility Recovery specializes in helping businesses acquire the resources they need in times of crisis. This might include replacement IT hardware or fuel for generators. In addition to business continuity testing and tabletop exercises, the company also offers Agility Planner.

Agility Planner is designed to be easy to use and helps organizations create a business continuity plan. Where possible, these plans are prepopulated, using the organization's own data, all with an eye toward maintaining compliance. A built-in reporting engine makes it easy to generate reports on the organization's emergency preparedness.

Agility Recovery does not publicly disclose pricing information.

Archer Engage might best be described as a collaborative platform that is geared toward risk management. The idea is that to be effective, risk management practices must be adopted throughout the organization, and Archer Engage provides a way for stakeholders to participate in the risk management process.

Risk management is all about balancing the potential financial impact of risks against the cost of mitigating those risks . Archer Engage provides decision-makers with information about the potential economic impact of various risks as well as an analysis of risk prevention options.

Archer does not publicly disclose pricing information.

Everbridge provides business continuity planning software, but also focuses on workforce safety, IT-related disruptions, physical security and public safety.

Everbridge provides options for developing business continuity plans, particularly for retail and manufacturing. Everbridge has designed its software so that business continuity plans become part of an end-to-end protective tool revolving around an interactive dashboard that provides risk intelligence. The company also offers a mass messaging feature designed to deliver notifications to employees who are affected by an incident.

Everbridge does not publicly disclose pricing information.

Fusion Risk Management

Fusion Risk Management provides risk management software options, but also focuses on operational resilience, third-party risk management, IT and security risks, crisis and incident management, and business continuity management.

The company's business continuity management software, Fusion Framework System, works by charting all of a business's processes. This helps the software map dependencies and identify business impact tolerances . The software also enables organizations to perform what-if analysis and various exercises as a way of improving operational resiliency . Recently, Fusion Risk Management also integrated generative AI-powered assistants as an additional tool that customers can use in the resilience planning process.

Fusion Risk Management does not publicly disclose pricing information.

LogicManager

LogicManager is designed to act as a comprehensive enterprise risk management suite. Business continuity is only one of the software's core functions. The software also helps with IT governance and cybersecurity, third-party risk management, compliance, internal audit management, financial controls and HR risk management. Users can manage all these areas through a central risk management hub.

Because LogicManager is designed for enterprise use, risks can be defined on a per-location basis; for example, an organization might have one location that is especially prone to flooding. LogicManager also provides native integration with more than 500 business applications, making it easier to work with an organization's existing data.

LogicManager does not publicly disclose pricing information, but the company does offer a 90-day free trial.

Riskonnect Business Continuity Management software is designed to assist organizations with disaster readiness.

Riskonnect's software is based around a series of KPIs and enables businesses to experiment with various what-if models. Perhaps more importantly, Riskonnect detects hidden vulnerabilities that an organization has not addressed. It also automates the review, update and approval cycle. This process is critical, since without regular reviews, business continuity plans quickly become outdated.

Riskonnect does not publicly disclose pricing information.

Brien Posey is a 22-time Microsoft MVP and a commercial astronaut candidate. In his more than 30 years in IT, he has served as a lead network engineer for the U.S. Department of Defense and a network administrator for some of the largest insurance companies in America.

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8 Best Scrumban Project Management Software for 2024

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Initially conceived to help teams transition from scrum to kanban, scrumban has evolved into a standalone hybrid project management methodology. As project requirements become more complex and fluid, scrumban’s hybrid approach offers a versatile solution for teams looking for more flexibility.

Here are eight of the best current project management software tools that support scrumban, compared against their key features, pricing and suitability for a variety of team needs.

• Best for software development teams: Jira
• Best for feature variety: ClickUp
• Best for visual collaboration: Miro
• Best for resource management: Teamwork
• Best for flexible scrumban workflows: Asana
• Best for scrumban automation: monday.com
• Best for complex projects: Wrike
• Best for enterprise scrumban management: Rally

Top scrumban project management software comparison

Here’s a comparison of top scrumban project management tools that highlights their ratings, best uses, starting prices and key scrumban features.

Jira: Best for software development teams

Our rating: 4.6 out of 5

Jira by Atlassian is a leading project management tool designed specifically for software development teams practicing scrumban. It seamlessly combines the structured sprint planning of scrum with the continuous flow and visual task management of kanban . This allows software development teams to customize workflows, set WIP limits and manage tasks efficiently. Jira’s robust reporting tools provide critical insights into team performance, making it easier to track progress and make data-driven decisions.

Why I chose Jira

I chose Jira because of its powerful features tailored for software development teams practicing scrumban. Its ability to manage both structured sprints and continuous task flows is essential for maintaining the dynamic nature of software projects.

The integration of kanplan, which blends kanban’s visual task management with scrum’s backlog grooming, offers a unique advantage in keeping projects organized and on track. Additionally, Jira’s extensive reporting tools, such as burndown and velocity charts, deliver valuable insights into team performance and project progress.

• Free: $0 for up to 10 users.
• Standard: $8.15 per user billed monthly and $850 annually for 1–10 user tier.
• Premium: $16 per user billed monthly and $1,600 annually for 1–10 user tier.
• Enterprise: Available for teams with more than 201 users and only billed annually. Contact Jira Service Management sales for pricing information.

Standout features

• Custom workflows to match specific scrumban processes, blending sprint planning with continuous delivery ( Figure A ).
• WIP limits to maintain efficiency and prevent task overload.
• Kanplan to combine kanban’s visual board with scrum’s backlog, allowing for efficient backlog grooming and task management.
• Advanced reporting with burndown charts, velocity charts and cumulative flow diagrams for data-driven retrospectives and performance tracking.

Pros and cons

ClickUp: Best for feature variety

Our rating: 5 out of 5

ClickUp is a versatile project management tool with all sorts of features that support scrumban. It combines more than 15 views with structured sprint planning, which helps teams find that balance between flexible and organized project management. ClickUp’s highly customizable interface and vast feature set means its users can adapt their workflows to match all manner of project requirements, whether long or short-term.

Why I chose ClickUp

I chose ClickUp because of its huge feature catalog. For instance, its multiple views offered me variety for visualizing my workflows effectively, with the option of using its Board view as a scrum board to maintain the structured nature I needed. It also offers a task management kanban template to quickly get off the ground with kanban. ClickUp also delivers customizable task statuses and automation capabilities that streamline task management and improve efficiency.

• Free plan available.
• Unlimited: $7 per user per month if billed annually, or $10 per user per month if billed monthly.
• Business: $12 per user per month if billed annually, or $19 per user per month if billed monthly.
• Enterprise: Custom pricing available for larger organizations.
• Visualize tasks with the kanban Board view, allowing drag-and-drop management and customizable columns ( Figure B ).
• Custom task statuses for better workflow management, tailored to scrumban processes.
• Automation to reduce manual effort with rules for recurring tasks and status changes.
• Advanced reporting and dashboards to track progress and performance.

Miro: Best for visual collaboration

Miro is a dynamic collaboration tool whose versatile visual project management features align with scrumban practices. Pairing the strengths of kanban boards and scrum methodologies, Miro gives users an infinite digital canvas for teams to visually organize tasks, brainstorm ideas and track project progress. This flexibility makes it particularly useful for remote and distributed teams that most appreciate a customizable visual platform to manage their workflows.

Why I chose Miro

Miro caught my eye because of its unique visual project management that flexibly converts sticky notes, shapes and text boxes into cards with information. This delivers an infinite canvas for expansive project mapping and brainstorming without space constraints, fostering creative and engaging collaboration. Plus, I found that Miro’s real-time collaboration and integration with tools like Jira and Slack made it more transparent and efficient for scrumban.

• Free: Basic features for individual users or small teams.
• Starter: $8 per user per month billed annually or $10 monthly.
• Business: $16 per user per month billed annually or $20 monthly.
• Enterprise: Custom pricing available starting from 30 plus members.
• Infinite canvas for limitless project mapping and brainstorming.
• Real-time collaboration to facilitate instant teamwork and efficiency.
• Customizable scrum templates and kanban boards ( Figure C ).
• Interactive brainstorming tools like mind maps and sticky notes.

Teamwork: Best for resource management

Our rating: 3.7 out of 5

Teamwork is a robust project management tool with support for scrumban through detailed resource management capabilities. It enables teams to plan, track and optimize resource allocation with features like task dependencies, time tracking and workload management. Teamwork is also capable of visualizing workflows through customizable kanban boards and advanced reporting tools, which come in handy when managing resources across multiple projects and ensuring transparency.

Why I chose Teamwork

I chose Teamwork for its resource management as it best visualized resource allocation and tracked workloads, which helped me prevent bottlenecks in my project. With Teamwork, I can easily balance workloads, reassign tasks and monitor project progress to maintain a steady flow in scrumban projects.

• Free: $0 for up to 5 users.
• Deliver: $11 per user per month if billed annually, or $13.99 per user per month if billed monthly.
• Grow: $19.99 per user per month if billed annually, or $25.99 per user per month if billed monthly.
• Scale: Custom pricing available for larger organizations.
• Customizable kanban boards for visual task management and workflow optimization ( Figure D ).
• Sprint planning tools to help organize and execute sprints efficiently.
• Advanced reporting features for insightful project performance metrics.
• Time tracking and resource management to ensure optimal task allocation.

Asana: Best for flexible scrumban workflows

Our rating: 3.9 out of 5

Asana is a versatile project management tool that aligns with scrumban by providing a flexible framework for managing tasks and workflows. The platform not only delivers both scrum and kanban software features but also moves seamlessly between these methodologies. Additionally, Asana has a customizable scrumban template and automation features that help teams optimize their workflows and improve productivity.

Why I chose Asana

Asana made it onto my list because of its scrumban-focused customizable template. Many tools support scrumban by providing scrum and kanban capabilities and direction on how to combine them intuitively. However, Asana takes this a step further with a scrumban template that includes directions on how to organize the information. This provides consistency when transitioning from one methodology to the other.

• Basic: Free with limited features.
• Premium: $10.99 per user per month if billed annually, or $13.49 per user per month if billed monthly.
• Business: $24.99 per user per month if billed annually, or $30.49 per user per month if billed monthly.
• Board view for visual task management and workflow optimization ( Figure E ).
• Custom fields to sort and filter work according to team requirements.
• Automation to streamline repetitive tasks and improve efficiency.
• Advanced reporting and dashboards to track project progress and performance.

monday.com: Best for scrumban automation

monday.com is a project management platform whose scrumban qualities are supported by powerful automation and customization capabilities. It allows teams to efficiently manage their tasks, sprints and workflows with features like customizable kanban boards, sprint management and over 150 pre-built automations. Its interface is both attractive and highly customizable, enabling teams to adapt their workflows to all kinds of project needs.

Why I chose monday.com

monday’s advanced automation features simplified and streamlined my scrumban processes through the ability to automate repetitive tasks and reduce manual effort. Its customizable kanban boards and sprint management tools offer a structured yet adaptable framework for managing scrumban projects.

• Free: $0 for up to 2 users.
• Basic: $9 per user per month if billed annually, or $12 billed monthly.
• Standard: $12 per user per month if billed annually, or $14 billed monthly.
• Pro: $19 per user per month if billed annually, or $24 billed monthly.
• Customizable kanban boards to manage tasks and visualize workflows ( Figure F ).
• Sprint management tools for planning and tracking project progress.
• Automation features to streamline repetitive tasks and notifications.
• Advanced reporting and dashboards to monitor project performance.

Wrike: Best for complex projects

Wrike is a powerful project management tool that’s well-suited for complex projects thanks to flexible and robust features for both structured and adaptive workflows. It provides customizable online scrum boards, real-time collaboration tools and advanced reporting capabilities, allowing teams to manage complex projects with ease and transparency. Plus, Wrike’s focus on adaptability and continuous improvement makes it a great choice for teams needing to transition between different project methodologies seamlessly.

Why I chose Wrike

I found Wrike to be set up in the best way to handle complex projects. Its customizable online scrum boards allow teams to visualize their workflows and prioritize tasks, while the real-time collaboration tools enhance communication and teamwork. Additionally, Wrike’s automated reporting and analytics provide valuable insights into project performance, helping teams to continuously improve their processes and adapt to changing project requirements.

• Team: $9.80 per user per month.
• Business: $24.80 per user per month.
• Enterprise: Custom pricing available.
• Pinnacle: Custom pricing available.
• Customizable scrum boards to visualize and manage workflows ( Figure G ).
• Real-time collaboration tools to enhance team communication.
• Automated reporting and analytics for continuous improvement.
• Advanced time tracking and resource management features.

Rally: Best for enterprise scrumban management

Rally, formerly CA Agile Central, is an enterprise-class agile development platform that’s well suited for large-scale scrumban implementations. The platform offers features such as customizable scrum and kanban boards, robust reporting tools and real-time visibility into work in progress. Its project tree and backlog management tools allow teams to visualize and manage tasks effectively.

Why I chose Rally

I saw Rally as a straightforward pick for large-scale agile project management. The platform’s customizable boards and real-time reporting tools provide a clear view of project progress and resource allocation, while its integration with CI/CD pipeline tools like Jenkins and SonarQube makes it more valuable in software development environments.

Contact Broadcom sales for a quote as pricing information isn’t listed publicly.

• Customizable kanban boards for visual task management and workflow optimization.
• Advanced reporting and analytics to monitor project performance ( Figure H ).
• Comprehensive backlog management and project tree visualization.

What is scrumban?

Scrumban is considered to be a hybrid agile project management methodology, which means it’s designed to break down a project into smaller tasks. It combines the visual and flow-focused strengths of kanban with the structure of scrum to enhance scrum’s flexibility. Scrumban is ideal for a team that is looking to work in sprints to produce a large quantity of deliverables.

How do I choose the best scrumban project management software?

To choose the ideal scrumban project management software , you’ll need to determine if it meets the needs of your specific use case. You can assess this by answering questions such as:

• Independent of its agile features, is the tool customizable enough?
• Does it integrate with your existing technology stack?
• Will its automation features help streamline the work you’re doing?
• Does it offer collaboration features that fit your team’s communication style?
• Is this tool scalable if your project needs change?
• How user-friendly is it, and will your team require training?

You also need to evaluate scrumban-specific features to make sure the tool is a good fit for your project needs and enhances your workflow.

Visual workflow management

Look for software that provides kanban boards where you can visualize your work and track the progress of tasks through various stages such as “Backlog,” “In Progress” and “Done.” This feature is useful for understanding the flow of work and identifying bottlenecks in real time​​.

Work-In-Progress limits

Choose tools that allow you to set limits on the number of tasks that can be in progress concurrently. This helps prevent overloading your team and ensures that members focus on completing tasks before taking on new ones. WIP limits ensure a manageable workflow and improve task completion rates​.

Pull system

Opt for software that supports a pull system where team members can pull tasks from the backlog as they have the capacity to work on them, rather than being assigned tasks in advance. With this, you can expect greater flexibility as it allows team members to work at their own pace, which reduces stress and improves productivity​.

Continuous improvement

Select tools that facilitate regular retrospectives and process evaluations, as they help teams identify areas for improvement and make necessary adjustments to workflows. Continuous improvement is a cornerstone of scrumban, which aims to see processes evolve and improve over time​​.

Flexibility

Ensure the software is flexible enough to adjust processes and workflows as needed. This is particularly important in dynamic, fast-paced environments. The tool should support easy modifications to task priorities, workflow stages and project timelines to accommodate shifting project requirements​​.

Methodology

The tools on this list were chosen by first assessing whether they offer agile features and then investigating their agile features to determine their approach to both scrum and kanban. I then tested the tools where possible to get a feel for the kanban and scrum features and compared them to the features they list on their web pages as well as the feedback these tools get from verified user reviews. From these, I was able to have a holistic picture of each tool and determine the strengths, weaknesses and differentiating qualities of each one.

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Top 27 Small Business Tools to Boost Productivity

Learn why these tools for small business are key for growth and productivity.

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Let’s say you start your workday by checking your email and going over your sales stats. You peek at your calendar to confirm a few meetings. Then, you get pinged with an urgent message from a coworker and jump on a quick call to chat. You just used four business tools and your day has just begun.

No matter your goals, there are tools you can use to save time, reduce errors, and increase your bottom line. We’ll break down the top tools essential for growing your small and medium-sized business ( SMB ) and the key features to look for in a variety of solutions.

What you’ll learn

Why small business tools are important, key features to look for in small business tools, how small business tools drive growth, the top 27 tools for small business productivity, think big with small business tools.

Small business tools are software and services that help streamline operations, increase productivity, and automate simple and repetitive tasks you must do every day. And there’s a tool for almost everything you can think of — from project management and productivity to data analytics and accounting.

While tools have always been essential for small businesses, the rise of AI has made many of these tools more efficient and effective. Automation is one key advantage of AI-powered tools . By automating routine tasks such as invoicing, inventory management, and email marketing, businesses can reduce their teams’ time and effort, freeing up their days for more important tasks like strategy and selling.

Some small business tools can significantly boost productivity by streamlining daily operations. For example, you can use project management tools to enhance collaboration and keep teams on track. With 360-degree project visibility, everyone can see their progress, responsibilities, and deadlines all in one place, making it easy to see tasks to completion.

The only tool your SMB really needs

Whether you’re just starting out or growing like crazy, check out Salesforce Starter Suite for all your small business needs.

Data analytics and reporting tools can provide valuable insights about your business. Keep an eye on your financial progress, get a better understanding of your customer’s behavior, and use dashboards to track key performance indicators (KPIs) — all in real time.

Communication tools such as instant messaging and video conferencing make it possible to connect instantly with customers and clients — reducing the delays of traditional email. These tools help you stay connected no matter where you are. Remote, hybrid, and onsite teams can operate smoother, respond to customer needs quicker, and achieve better results with less effort.

For sales and service teams, customer relationship management (CRM) software is an essential part of the puzzle. CRMs offer a comprehensive view of customer data. This provides a single source of truth for your business and allows for more strategic decision-making and personalized engagement. When choosing other tools, look for CRM-compatible integrations so you can use your data everywhere, collaborate across teams, and simplify your workflows. ( Back to top .)

Before you decide on any tool, be sure to read the fine print. Some tools have terms and conditions that state that the platform can access users’ content by manual and automated methods. This is something to think about if your company deals with proprietary products or sensitive materials.

When choosing what tools are right for your small business, look for features that enhance functionality, efficiency, security, and scalability. These might include things like:

A user-friendly interface

To avoid spending precious time learning a new platform, make sure the tools you choose are intuitive and easy to use. Some tools have a steep learning curve and require hours of training, while others are intuitive and built for user-friendliness.

Integration capabilities

Few things are more frustrating than buying software that’s incompatible with the system you already have in place. Look for tools that can integrate seamlessly with other programs you frequently use such as email, CRM software, accounting, and e-commerce platforms.

Automation capabilities

To save time and reduce human error, choose tools that can automate repetitive tasks. Automation capabilities enable software to perform tasks without human intervention from simple mechanized processes to complex algorithms that drive artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Automation is used across various industries for purposes such as improving efficiency, reducing errors, increasing production speed, and lowering operational costs. 

Customization

Ideally, tools should be flexible enough to customize dashboards, reports, and workflow processes. Tools that can be tailored to your specific business needs mean you can work through tasks quickly and seamlessly.

Collaboration features

The ability to collaborate in real time with shared workspaces, chat, and video conferencing is a game changer for companies because it allows for things like remote work and instant communication.

Scalability

Make sure your tools can grow along with your business, easily handling increased data, users, and complexity without a significant drop in performance. 

Data breaches are a serious and ever-evolving problem — even for small businesses. To keep your information from getting into the wrong hands, look for enhanced security measures such as data encryption, secure access controls, and automated backup.

Make data-driven decisions with a tool that tracks key metrics and has comprehensive reporting capabilities . This type of reporting involves the use of specialized tools that can process large volumes of data to identify trends, patterns, and anomalies. The reports generated from analytics are used by organizations to understand performance, optimize processes, and guide strategic planning. 

Customer support

The tool you choose should have easily accessible help resources for your customers, including live chat, email and phone support, or chatbots and self-service options. ( Back to top. )

About 93% of today’s small business owners report using at least one technology platform to help run their businesses, according to a study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. An additional 85% of owners reported that technology platforms helped get their businesses up and running, and 94% said that technology helps them run their businesses more efficiently.

Digital tools are effective at increasing production by streamlining operations and automating repetitive tasks. Other features that fuel growth include:

• Enhanced collaboration : Many tools improve team collaboration with features like real-time communication, task tracking, and project management.
• Accurate analytics : Reporting features in some tools use data to generate tables, graphs, and other visualizations to provide insights into customer behavior, sales trends, and operational performance.
• Market expansion : Ecommerce platforms can help businesses reach clients all over the world. These tools can also help build your customer base by creating targeted marketing campaigns and managing your company’s social media presence.
• Cost savings : When you implement the right tools, you reduce the need for manual labor and minimize human error, helping your business save money. These savings can be applied to other areas of the business, like product development, marketing, or expansion. ( Back to top .)

If you’re in sales, you probably already use a CRM. But with just 37% of sales professionals strongly agreeing that their organizations fully use theirs, according to the State of Sales report, you may be wondering whether you’re using your CRM to its full potential.

To turbocharge your efforts, consider add-ons designed to help your team with specific tasks like data analysis, engagement, and more. Be sure to look for tools that will integrate with your CRM and enhance your performance.

Here are some tools that easily integrate with Salesforce:

• Ambition : This sales management tool creates transparency around key metrics, improving visibility and simplifying reporting.
• Cirrus Insight : With Gmail and Salesforce integrations, this tool provides reliable email and calendar sync features.
• Clearbit : By enriching prospect data inside your CRM, this tool organizes potential customers’ contact information, including social media handles.
• Demandbase : An account-based development tool that gathers marketing, sales, and support teams into one interface.
• Drift : Using prospect engagement data directly from your website, this tool helps craft conversational messaging and hyper-personal chat functions.
• Guru : Connect all your apps, docs, and chats and get instant answers with AI search assistance.
• Tenfold : Build better relationships by integrating your data, workflow, and engagement systems. This tool is flexible and can connect with legacy phone systems and multiple CRMs.

8. Sales Dialer : This tool helps you more easily manage all your in- and outbound calls so you can communicate with prospects and customers efficiently.

9. Tableau : This analytics platform helps teams visualize and understand data, making insights available to everyone.

10. Writer : Build generative AI into any business process. Writer removes complexity so that you can focus on AI-first workflows.

Communication and collaboration

11. Dropbox : This cloud storage tool offers file sharing, synchronization, and collaboration with team members.

12. G Suite : When synced, G-Suite tools help you streamline productivity within your CRM. You can automatically log your email and calendar to optimize your workflow.

13. Slack : This messaging app supports real-time communication, file sharing, and integration with various productivity tools.

14. WhatsApp : This popular messaging app offers private messaging and free calls worldwide. When integrated with your CRM, you can create a messaging channel dedicated to customer support for your business.

15. Zoom : With the rise of remote work, Zoom has become an indispensable video conferencing platform that provides online meetings, webinars, and collaboration capabilities. Integration allows you to start and schedule meetings directly within your CRM.

Project management

16. Asana : A work management platform that helps teams organize, track, and manage their work efficiently.

17. Smartsheet : This tool lets you create reports and dashboards for greater visibility and alignment across your organization and with clients.

18. Trello : Using virtual bulletin boards, this collaboration tool helps teams organize projects, and their many details, in one place. CRM integration lets you attach leads, contacts, opportunities, and cases to virtual sticky notes.

19. Wrike : This tool helps streamline processes using automation, so teams can work together more efficiently.

20. Starter Suite : This powerful CRM suite for small businesses includes email marketing capabilities, so you can easily build effective nurturing campaigns. Built-in analytics let you review performance so you can adjust your approach as needed.

21. BrightEdge : This SEO solution provides marketers with real-time keyword research, recommendations, and rankings. It reveals search query intent, shows top-ranking competitors, helps guide content creation and optimization decisions, and monitors content performance.

22. Optimizely : Use recommendations from your email content to encourage customer engagement on your website. This tool can also facilitate A/B testing to uncover insights and create high-performing web sites.

23. LinkedIn : Target buyers and companies that are a good fit for your products and services. Engage buyers with personalized outreach and save time by making sure everything is captured in your CRM.

Accounting and sales

24. Accounting Seed : This fully customizable tool eliminates the need for manual accounting. It’s scalable and seamlessly connects financial data across your company.

25. Commerce Cloud : Boost sales and ensure a smooth e-commerce journey across every customer touchpoint with AI insights, merchant dashboards, and more.

26. Conga Contracts : Close deals faster with automated contract creation, controlled negotiations, eSignatures, and streamlined reporting.

27. QuickBooks : This accounting tool helps SMBs with bookkeeping, payroll, and financial management. CRM integration lets you share data between sales and accounting — including customer information, sales orders, expenses, and invoicing. ( Back to top .)

Small business tools are essential for today’s businesses to stay competitive. These digital tools have revolutionized the workforce, enhancing efficiency through automation. And, with less time spent on routine tasks, your employees will have more time to put their creativity and talents to work.

Ready to dip your toe into the world of CRM and digital tools? Dive in and see results on day one with Starter Suite .

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How To Create A Successful Marketing Plan

Published: Aug 13, 2024, 7:15am

Table of Contents

What is a marketing plan, marketing plan vs. marketing strategy, why businesses need a marketing plan, essential marketing channels, how to create a marketing plan, bottom line, frequently asked questions (faqs).

The difference between a flourishing business and a floundering business often comes down to an effective marketing campaign. This is especially true for small businesses. Every successful marketing campaign starts with a well-thought-out marketing plan. In this article, we will guide you through the steps on how to create a top-notch marketing plan to help put your business on the road to success.

A marketing plan is essentially a roadmap that guides businesses through the complex terrain of promoting their products or services. Think of it as a blueprint that details specific marketing campaigns, timelines, target audiences and channels such as social media , email or traditional media. Your plan should also establish clear metrics for success, the methodology used to evaluate performance and allocated budgets.

It is important to note that a marketing plan is not a static document. It is supposed to be an ever-evolving plan that adapts to market trends, customer feedback and the successful or unsuccessful marketing efforts. If done properly, a marketing plan will help you synchronize your marketing objectives with your overall business goals and ensure every marketing activity aligns with your broader vision of growth.

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Some assume that “marketing plan” and “marketing strategy” are the same thing, but be aware they hold distinct meanings and serve different purposes. A marketing strategy is more big-picture thinking. It identifies your target market, your value proposition, how you position yourself against competitors and how you will sustain your value over time. It involves deep insights into your customers’ needs, market trends and competitive analysis. It is essentially the “why” behind all your marketing actions.

The marketing plan, on the other hand, details the “what” and the “when” of those efforts. Once you have your marketing strategy outlined, you can begin to create a marketing plan. The plan should outline the specific campaigns, activities and tactics you’ll use to carry out the strategy. This includes details on the marketing channels you’ll use, the timeline for implementation, the budget and the key performance indicators you’ll track to measure success. It’s a blueprint that translates the strategy into actionable tasks and schedules.

A carefully crafted marketing plan can be a game-changer for small businesses dreaming of steady growth and a competitive edge over larger companies. Marketing plans with smart strategies and targeted campaigns can level the playing field by helping small businesses carve out their niche. It provides a clear roadmap that aligns marketing efforts with business objectives to ensure every marketing action contributes to the broader company goals.

This focused approach saves small businesses money by efficiently focusing resources instead of using a scattergun approach that can drain limited budgets. By identifying and understanding target markets, businesses can tailor their messaging to meet specific needs, which increases the likelihood of conversion. A solid marketing plan offers a framework for measuring success by setting benchmarks. With careful tracking, small businesses can quickly see what’s not working and adjust strategies in real time for better outcomes.

Today’s businesses have a wide array of marketing channels available to them. From highly analytical PPC advertising to engaging in-person event marketing, there’s no shortage of methods to promote your company.

Social Media

During the past two decades, social media has proved to be a highly effective way for small businesses to market themselves at little to no costs. Platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn offer businesses a dynamic platform to engage directly with their audience. They allow for the sharing of content, running targeted ads and fostering community through comments and shares. Effective social media marketing can enhance brand awareness, drive traffic and strengthen customer loyalty.

Email Marketing

Email marketing is another highly effective way to reach an audience directly. Newsletters, promotional offers and personalized content can nurture leads, promote loyalty and drive conversions. Email marketing offers measurable results and high ROI, making it a staple in a digital marketing strategy toolbox.

• Content Marketing

Content marketing involves creating hyper-relevant and compelling content that will act as a magnet to attract a laser-focused group of people. You can create blogs, videos, infographics and podcasts to cultivate an engaged community of followers with whom your brand’s message genuinely resonates.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO is the practice of optimizing website content to rank higher in search engine results pages. Effective SEO strategies including on-page optimization, quality link building and keyword research help drive traffic to your website.

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising

PPC advertising is a method of online marketing where you pay a fee each time someone clicks on your ad. Popular platforms such as Google Ads and Bing Ads guarantee your ads show up first in search engine results for specific keywords, allowing you to bypass the “organic” results. While the pay-per-click fees can add up, this form of advertising provides immediate traffic and measurable results.

Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing leverages the reach of influencers in specific niches to help you promote your business to a larger audience. When you partner with a credible influencer, you can tap into their loyal followings, gain trust quickly and drive engagement that will hopefully lead to greater sales. Affiliate marketing can complement influencer marketing by allowing influencers to earn commissions on the sales they drive. This performance-based option is cost effective, as you will only pay for actual results.

Event Marketing

Event marketing involves marketing your brand, company or service through in-person or virtual events. It can be anything from interactive webinars and educational workshops to large-scale conferences and industry trade shows. Event marketing gives you the opportunity to directly engage with your audience and hopefully provide a memorable experience for your customers.

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Creating a marketing plan is a step-by-step process. Make sure you take your time with each step before moving on to the next one.

1. Create an Executive Summary

An executive summary is a snapshot of your simplified marketing goals, significant milestones and an outline of future plans. It should encapsulate relevant facts about your brand, setting the stage for the detailed strategy that follows. This section provides stakeholders with a clear understanding of where the company stands and where it intends to go, concisely summarizing the essence of the marketing efforts.

2. Identify Your Target Market

Who are you trying to reach? By identifying your target market you can tailor your marketing strategies effectively to help them reach the people most likely to be interested in your products or services. Outline the characteristics of your ideal customer including age, location, goals, pains and trigger points.

3. Research Your Competitors

Competitor research is a critical step in forming a marketing plan. Analyze the strengths and weaknesses in other businesses in your industry. This insight can help you identify opportunities for differentiation and areas where you can fill in the opportunity your competitors may have overlooked.

4. Determine Your Marketing Goals

Without clear marketing goals, you are just shooting barrels in the dark. Are you trying to increase brand awareness, boast sales or grow your digital footprint? And if so, by how much and in what timeframe? Use the SMART criteria for goal setting, which advises that goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.

5. Establish and Track Benchmarks

Once you determine what your marketing goals are, it is important to track their effectiveness.

To do this, set baseline measurements for key performance indicators related to your goals, such as website traffic, conversion rates or social media engagement. Monitor these benchmarks on a regular basis and adjust strategies as needed to enhance marketing performance.

6. Identify Your Marketing Channels

Are you going to throw all your eggs in the social media basket? Or are you going to diversify your marketing strategy with both digital and in-person events? This step requires a deep dive into the various channels available—be it social media, email marketing, SEO or traditional advertising. When choosing your marketing channels, be sure to ask yourself where your target audience is most engaged.

7. Create a Budget

Finally, create a budget that covers all aspects of your marketing efforts from paid advertising and content creation to software subscriptions and event sponsorships. This will help you stay financially responsible as more marketing opportunities arise.

One of the keys to a successful business is setting yourself apart from the competition. A strategic marketing plan that details your marketing efforts can not only help you stand out but also provide a step-by-step guide toward reaching your business objectives.

What are the main elements of a marketing plan?

The main elements of a marketing plan typically include an executive summary, marketing objectives, target audience definition, marketing strategies, budget and metrics for performance evaluation. It outlines the company’s strategy for attracting and retaining customers by detailing specific actions to achieve campaign goals, timeline with key milestones, channels to be used and team members responsibilities.

What is a realistic marketing budget?

A realistic marketing budget is typically determined as a percentage of a company’s revenue. It is recommended that B2B companies spend 2% to 5% of their revenue on marketing. Because B2C companies typically have a broader range of marketing channels, it is recommended they spend between 5% and 10% of their revenue on marketing.

What should every marketing plan start with?

Every marketing plan should start with a clear mission statement for the marketing department that aligns with the overall mission of the business. This statement should be specific enough to guide marketing efforts but also allow room to adjust the plan as needed. For example, if your company’s mission is “to revolutionize home cooking,” the marketing mission might be “to inspire home cooks and provide them with innovative cooking solutions.”

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Jennifer Simonson draws on two decades as a journalist covering everything from local economic developement to small business marketing. Beyond writing, she tested entrepreneurial waters by launching a mobile massage service, a content marketing firm and an e-commerce venture. These experiences enriched her understanding of small business management and marketing strategies. Today, she channels this first-hand knowledge into her articles for Forbes Advisor.

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Increase business efficiency with enterprise resource planning software

Keith Rabkin Chief Revenue Officer for PandaDoc

• Copy Link Link copied

If your company has a scattered web of teams and departments working with disparate systems, you need robust enterprise resource planning software.

Why? Because it will help your organization consolidate and integrate data from multiple sources for better decision-making and productivity.

This article covers everything worth knowing about software solutions for enterprise resource planning — how to choose them and the challenges to expect.

Key takeaways

• Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software enables corporations and large-scale companies to manage different business functions through a centralized architecture.
• Businesses can use ERP to manage supply chains, company finances, warehouse inventory, product delivery, human resources, and data analysis.
• Before implementing an ERP platform , ensure your IT team and other end-users in your company have the support they need to fully embrace, learn, and utilize the integrated solution.

What is enterprise resource planning software?

Enterprise resource planning software is a system that enables organizations to manage financial, logistics, administrative, and operational business processes.

These systems help administrators, managers, and accountants manage and allocate resources in a transparent, collaborative environment.

With ERP software properly deployed, expanding operations and reducing workloads flow like clockwork, regardless of industry or workforce size.

Applications of enterprise resource planning software

ERP systems are applicable to different modules and functions within an organization.

Here are the core ERP modules:

Supply chain management

ERP software helps managers organize and optimize the service delivery pipeline.

Inventory management

ERP solutions give you inventory management capabilities for keeping stock of goods in your inventory and handling procurement or disposal.

This extends to warehouse management and order management.

Customer relationship management (CRM)

This modular function focuses on every customer-facing aspect of the business, ensuring the best user experience.

It also involves processing feedback and user-generated content.

Financial management

Business analysts and accountants can use ERP accounting software to manage finances, subscriptions, invoicing, and budgeting from the general ledger.

Human capital management

This module focuses on managing an organization’s human resources.

It covers functions such as recruitment, onboarding, payroll, performance review, and conflict resolution.

Risk management

Enterprises can use ERP technology to monitor compliance, certifications, licenses, access privileges, suspicious user activity, and security threats.

Data analytics

This module focuses on filtering and consolidating jumbled-up data from silos to centralized dashboards for complete visibility and easy access to administrative and financial reporting.

Research and development (R&D)

Companies use ERP software to conduct research and explore deployment options for products and services.

Content management

Marketers and salespeople use ERP modules to curate content creation, advertising, branding, and distribution.

ERP deployment models

Companies can deploy their enterprise resource planning infrastructure on different server types.

Here are the three types of ERP deployment models:

On-premises ERP

Large corporations with established R&D departments can house their ERP servers on-site at a data center of their choosing.

SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft use this deployment model because it gives them the autonomy to run maintenance as well as the added security of isolating their data infrastructure from potential competitors and hackers.

The drawback of on-premises ERP is that it multiplies the workload for system administrators, IT specialists, and developers.

The system needs to undergo regular maintenance and updates to keep it running like a Swiss watch.

Besides, on-site ERP is expensive to set up from scratch and maintain. You also need to buy licenses and certifications for hardware and software.

Cloud-based ERP

Some ERP vendors offer software as a service (SaaS) options hosted in the cloud instead of at the contracting company’s data center.

Why is cloud a good ERP option?

First, cloud ERP removes the cost of development, deployment, and maintenance.

You’re only required to pay a subscription fee to access the entire suite of features.

With your ERP solution on the cloud, your business can scale operations and gain access to bleeding-edge technology — artificial intelligence (AI) , machine learning (ML), and Internet of Things (IoT) connection.

However, cloud-based ERP locks you in with one vendor, limiting you to only the features they provide.

The system is online, which means you’d require internet access to work with your ERP unless the vendor provides offline access.

When you combine the best qualities of on-premise and cloud-based enterprise resource planning systems, the product is hybrid ERP.

Hybrid ERP project management software gives you more control and autonomy over how the solution adapts to your business ecosystem.

Megacorporations and e-commerce giants like Amazon use the model to control data residency and keep the system nimble to changes.

Most times, the payment model provides you access to different deployment models based on pricing tiers.

This model’s only drawback is that it is too expensive and resource-intensive to maintain with a small team or limited budget.

Key features of ERP software

The functionality of every ERP software varies, but here are the core features:

• Self-service portals for faster issue resolution
• Multi-language support for multinational companies
• Versatility for multi-platform integration and compatibility
• A consistent user interface, navigable by all company staff
• Automation tools , powered by AI assistants and ML algorithms.
• Modular, decentralized architecture for each core business function
• A centralized dashboard with multiple real-time data visualization options
• Analytical tools for business management, data analysis, and forecasting
• A document repository for creating and working on business documentation
• Customizable modules to align with your branding and business requirements
• Security features such as access controls, server backup, and encryption protocols
• Alerts and notifications for risk management, work reminders, and renewal notices.

Benefits of enterprise resource planning software

The global ERP software market was valued at nearly $60 billion in 2023 , and at an 11% CAGR, that number is not slowing down — it’s expected to reach over $123 billion in value by the end of the decade.

In other words, companies are not adopting ERP software because it is a new flashy toy. Here are the tangible benefits of ERP software for enterprises:

Cost savings

It reduces expenses by eliminating SaaS sprawl and getting every part of your business working on the same platform.

This means you have to pay for the licensing and renewal of one solution instead of a multitude.

Increased productivity

ERP solutions streamline business operations by automating and optimizing redundancies, such as manual document creation and approval.

This increases overall productivity and organizational efficiency.

Better business intelligence

ERP systems break down information silos between teams and partner companies, making data visible and accessible for accurate reporting in real time.

Security and privacy

Unifying disparate systems into one ERP solution makes it easy to implement security features and audit trails to monitor user and stakeholder activity.

Better decision-making

Having access to multiple data sources and metrics gives businesses a competitive advantage in forecasting and predicting trends. It also points out inconsistencies and irregularities in management models and finances.

Smooth collaboration

ERP software makes it easy for businesses to onboard new customers and partners with access controls and user permissions.

These partnerships flourish because it is easy to share historical and real-time information seamlessly.

Common challenges to ERP software implementation

ERP implementation can solve your business needs, but it also comes with several potential headaches.

Platform migration

Moving from different SaaS applications involves decoupling services and their dependencies.

If done wrong, the migration could lead to service disruption, data loss, and one or more nightmares for IT teams.

Solution : Establish a migration plan that factors in what needs to be moved and prioritizes the order of movement. Conduct extensive testing before migrating critical business processes.

Resistance to change

Implementing an ERP solution can hit a speed bump if the organization is not ready for it.

For instance, teams or departments using legacy systems might resist adopting modern ERP solutions because of the massive technical debt or modernization costs.

Solution : Communicate the long-term benefits of adopting ERP software — painful at first, but smooth sailing afterward.

Budget overruns

Your company could run up the bill to exponential proportions when modernizing platforms for ERP integration or onboarding more users.

Solution : Monitor the budget closely to optimize costs while still fulfilling generic and specific needs.

Lack of expertise

Imagine adding a company-wide ERP solution that most of your staff cannot operate.

This is a common migraine for enterprises that adopt new technologies without extensive surveys or a plan in place to train as needed during adoption.

Solution : Always consult with team leads and managers before choosing a new ERP system. Once the solution is in place, organize training workshops and hands-on tutorials for the entire business workforce.

Stay in charge with robust ERP software

ERP systems allow enterprises and massive corporations to unify their SaaS and technology sprawl under one system to simplify management.

Without proper planning and extensive internal consultation, implementing ERP solutions may introduce more technical and administrative headaches for your organization, instead of relieving them.

The best way forward is to choose a multi-faceted ERP software system within your budget.

PandaDoc provides assistance here, with product offerings that include a robust document management system for enterprises.

Book a demo to see how PandaDoc can assist your business with enterprise resource planning.

PandaDoc is not a law firm, or a substitute for an attorney or law firm. This page is not intended to and does not provide legal advice. Should you have legal questions on the validity of e-signatures or digital signatures and the enforceability thereof, please consult with an attorney or law firm. Use of PandaDoc services are governed by our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

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