ZenBusiness reviews its own products and services and compares them to others in the industry.
Compare the best business planning software as reviewed by ZenBusiness, or start your dream business today.
Ready to form an LLC? Starts at $0 + state fees and only takes 5-10 mins
Last Updated: August 27, 2025
Business planning software can be a lifesaver for a busy business owner. After all, you’re occupied turning your business idea into a successful company, from acquiring supplies to registering with the state and everything in between. There’s a long to-do list, and writing a business plan can feel like a low priority.
It might be tempting to skip the business plan creation step, but you shouldn’t. A business plan can be a very helpful tool, acting like a road map for your company. It could even help you get funding or bring on a new business partner.
If writing your own plan feels overwhelming, then online business planning software can help you create one with minimal hassle, leaving you with more time and energy to focus on what you love: building your new company.
But which business planning software should you choose? In this guide, we walk through some of the best business planning software options so you can create yours quickly.
A business plan is just what it sounds like: a roadmap for your new company. It’s a big-picture look at your business model. Technically, there isn’t a strict legal requirement to write a business plan — you don’t have to file one with the state — but you should still have one for several reasons.
First, a business plan helps you put down on paper exactly how you plan to develop and operate your new company. Granted, you might already know a lot of this strategy intuitively. But even the act of writing down your plans can help provide you with a new level of clarity and analysis.
In addition, a business plan can also help you set and achieve important milestones throughout the life cycle of your business. Your business plan should forecast at least the first three years of your company, detailing its purpose and how it will turn a profit. Throughout those first few years, you can revisit your business plan periodically to evaluate your progress. As you grow, you can update your business plan to match your company’s current needs and strategy.
Finally (and most importantly for some business owners), a good business plan can help you secure funding from outside investors. Investors love detailed business plans because these documents help them get a complete picture of the company’s current activities, financial data, and future plans.
There are no set laws regarding what needs to go in your business plan. But there are some general guidelines for what usually gets included in a good plan:
Of course, you can add to this list as needed to suit your business’s needs.
With all that in mind, let’s talk through some of our favorite business planning software options.
LivePlan is a good business planning software option that gives you everything you need to create a top-shelf business plan with prices that won’t break the bank. Currently, LivePlan offers two subscription options: Standard ($20/month) and Premium ($40/month). For most business owners, the standard or premium plans will more than do the job. Note: Annual plans are a little cheaper, but we’ve listed the monthly costs here in case you don’t plan to use the software for an extended period.
LivePlan offers impressive financial reporting and forecasting capabilities, and its one-page pitch builder is an excellent tool to prepare for pitch meetings. It also provides more sample plans than any other competitor, with more than 550 samples to peruse.
LivePlan also has a live onboarding session to help you get acclimated and an AI-powered assistant to help you out if you get stuck with writer’s block. Pair that with options to run competitive research, export to Excel or Quickbooks, and other features, and you’ve got a well-rounded business planning software option.
If you’d like to pair your business planning software with extra features like website building and analysis, then GoSmallBiz is an intriguing choice. Granted, you can get the business planning software by itself for just $15 a month, but a lot of the value comes in when you get the business plan template as part of the Essentials plan. This plan adds several business resources to improve your digital visibility, including building and optimizing your website, optimizing your Google profile, and more. Currently, the Essentials plan costs $49 per month.
Whether you buy the business plan access separately or pair it with the Essentials package, you’ll find that GoSmallBiz has a simple but well-rounded business planning software offering. You can choose from a variety of industry-specific templates to build your own plan, complete with detailed financial projections. If you’re feeling stuck, their included video tutorials give you step-by-step guidance through the writing process.
If you’re seeking a more affordable business planning software option without losing access to helpful tools, then UpMetrics is worth a look. Now available in six languages, UpMetrics provides over 400 sample business plans, financial forecasts for up to three years, a pitch deck creation tool, and more — all for just $9 a month with the starter plan. You can also add up to five collaborators and take the UpMetrics business planning course to help guide your planning efforts.
If you want additional features, an AI assistant, or extended forecasting options, the Premium and Professional plans cost $19 per month and $49 per month respectively. Both of these options allow you export your plan in a variety of formats, track your changes across plan versions, and more.
If you’re still in the concept stage for your business, then IdeaBuddy may be an appealing option for you. Not only do they offer a business planning software solution, but they also offer a variety of tools to help you clarify your business vision, explore that concept with other collaborators, and even validate the idea to see if it’s viable. There’s also AI support if you get writer’s block.
IdeaBuddy includes tools for market research, calculating startup costs, making financial projections, and more. The Guide feature takes you through everything step by step so you feel prepared to launch your business, even if you only have a vague concept to start.
Currently, IdeaBuddy has a variety of subscription tiers. The 15-day trial is free, but the features are pretty limited. Paid tiers start at $15 a month and max out at $50 a month.
Next on our list of business planning tools is Bizplan. It’s especially appealing for those entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their business. Bizplan integrates directly with Fundable, an equity fundraising platform for startups.
As a Bizplan customer, you’ll gain access to Startups Unlimited — a family of resources by Startups.com that lets you create unlimited business plans, get expert guidance from over 20,000 mentors, and access their library of masterclasses. This comes with a monthly fee of $29 ($249 if you pay annually). You can also purchase lifetime access for $349.
The Bizplan plan builder approaches the writing process from the perspective of an investor: the builder walks you through building a pitch with drag-and-drop templates. You’ll also gain access to a lot of financial tools, including balance sheets, income statements, break-even analysis, and more.
It’s entirely possible to open up a Microsoft Word document or Google Doc and type out a business plan all on your own. And for some small business owners, that could be the best approach. That’s especially true if your business plan won’t include extensive financial forecasts (or if you’re well-versed in finance and feel comfortable creating your own reports). You don’t have to create the most artistic, detailed document on Earth to have a successful business (but it can help).
But if you’re seeking funding, then you’ll need a business plan with detailed financial information; after all, investors will want a clear look at the company they’re considering giving money to. But you might find that creating cash flow statements, income projections, and summaries for other key metrics is a bit intimidating or time-consuming. That’s where business planning software can really come in handy.
Many software options are also helpful to business owners who aren’t graphic designers by nature. These tools can help you not only convey your business idea but also do so in a way that’s visually appealing.
No matter what type of business you’re forming or what industry you’re starting it in, you should create a business plan for your new company. A business plan can help you organize your thoughts and share them with other stakeholders to provide a clear picture of where your company is headed.
There are lots of different business planning software options available to you, and we hope this guide has helped you narrow down the right choice for your business. Good luck with your new company!
Recommended: What Kind of Business Solutions Can Be Developed With Python?
The best software depends on your business’s needs, but LivePlan is often considered the most well-rounded option. It offers strong financial forecasting, an AI writing assistant, and more than 550 sample plans to guide you. Other great options include UpMetrics for affordability, Bizplan for funding-focused startups, and GoSmallBiz for additional business tools. The right software will match your goals, budget, and experience level.
Dedicated business planning software is probably a better choice, as these tools are built for all the nuances of a business plan, and ChatGPT isn’t. That said, if you’re feeling stuck or don’t know how to start, then ChatGPT can help you draft a business plan. The tool can help guide you through each section, generating content and suggesting structure based on your inputs.
If you do decide to use ChatGPT for part of your business plan creation process, remember that you should always review and edit the plan ChatGPT suggests. ChatGPT can make mistakes, even if you give it a perfect prompt, so you’ll need to review its outputs very carefully. Additionally, you should edit the text to fit your writing style and brand voice.
Many businesses use a combination of tools for planning. Dedicated business planning software like LivePlan, Bizplan, and UpMetrics are common choices because they include templates, financial projections, and collaboration tools. Others rely on a combination of tools, such as spreadsheets like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets for financial planning and project management tools like Trello or Notion to map goals and milestones. The tools vary based on the complexity of the business and its planning needs.
Yes, several business planning tools offer free versions or trials. IdeaBuddy offers a 15-day free trial to preview the software. Some software, like UpMetrics, also has low-cost starter plans that include core planning features. If you’re creating a simple business plan and working on a tight budget, these options can be a great place to start.
Deciding whether a software is easy to use is a bit subjective, but generally speaking, UpMetrics and GoSmallBiz are two business plan software options that are beginner-friendly. Both platforms offer user-friendly interfaces, templates, and step-by-step guidance that can help simplify the planning process. UpMetrics even includes a planning course with all subscription levels, while GoSmallBiz provides helpful video tutorials you can consult as you work.
Recommended Resources
Compare Products
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
ZenBusiness is a financial technology company and is not a bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 850,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
Ready to Start Your LLC?
Open Your Business Bank Account