top 10 business plans

The 7 Best Business Plan Examples (2024)

As an aspiring entrepreneur gearing up to start your own business , you likely know the importance of drafting a business plan. However, you might not be entirely sure where to begin or what specific details to include. That’s where examining business plan examples can be beneficial. Sample business plans serve as real-world templates to help you craft your own plan with confidence. They also provide insight into the key sections that make up a business plan, as well as demonstrate how to structure and present your ideas effectively.

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Example business plan

To understand how to write a business plan, let’s study an example structured using a seven-part template. Here’s a quick overview of those parts:

• Executive summary: A quick overview of your business and the contents of your business plan.
• Company description: More info about your company, its goals and mission, and why you started it in the first place.
• Market analysis: Research about the market and industry your business will operate in, including a competitive analysis about the companies you’ll be up against.
• Products and services: A detailed description of what you’ll be selling to your customers.
• Marketing plan: A strategic outline of how you plan to market and promote your business before, during, and after your company launches into the market.
• Logistics and operations plan: An explanation of the systems, processes, and tools that are needed to run your business in the background.
• Financial plan: A map of your short-term (and even long-term) financial goals and the costs to run the business. If you’re looking for funding, this is the place to discuss your request and needs.

7 business plan examples (section by section)

In this section, you’ll find hypothetical and real-world examples of each aspect of a business plan to show you how the whole thing comes together. 

• Executive summary

Your executive summary offers a high-level overview of the rest of your business plan. You’ll want to include a brief description of your company, market research, competitor analysis, and financial information. 

In this free business plan template, the executive summary is three paragraphs and occupies nearly half the page:

• Company description

You might go more in-depth with your company description and include the following sections:

• Nature of the business. Mention the general category of business you fall under. Are you a manufacturer, wholesaler, or retailer of your products?
• Background information. Talk about your past experiences and skills, and how you’ve combined them to fill in the market. 
• Business structure. This section outlines how you registered your company —as a corporation, sole proprietorship, LLC, or other business type.
• Industry. Which business sector do you operate in? The answer might be technology, merchandising, or another industry.
• Team. Whether you’re the sole full-time employee of your business or you have contractors to support your daily workflow, this is your chance to put them under the spotlight.

You can also repurpose your company description elsewhere, like on your About page, Instagram page, or other properties that ask for a boilerplate description of your business. Hair extensions brand Luxy Hair has a blurb on it’s About page that could easily be repurposed as a company description for its business plan. 

• Market analysis

Market analysis comprises research on product supply and demand, your target market, the competitive landscape, and industry trends. You might do a SWOT analysis to learn where you stand and identify market gaps that you could exploit to establish your footing. Here’s an example of a SWOT analysis for a hypothetical ecommerce business: 

You’ll also want to run a competitive analysis as part of the market analysis component of your business plan. This will show you who you’re up against and give you ideas on how to gain an edge over the competition. 

• Products and services

This part of your business plan describes your product or service, how it will be priced, and the ways it will compete against similar offerings in the market. Don’t go into too much detail here—a few lines are enough to introduce your item to the reader.

• Marketing plan

Potential investors will want to know how you’ll get the word out about your business. So it’s essential to build a marketing plan that highlights the promotion and customer acquisition strategies you’re planning to adopt. 

Most marketing plans focus on the four Ps: product, price, place, and promotion. However, it’s easier when you break it down by the different marketing channels . Mention how you intend to promote your business using blogs, email, social media, and word-of-mouth marketing. 

Here’s an example of a hypothetical marketing plan for a real estate website:

Logistics and operations

This section of your business plan provides information about your production, facilities, equipment, shipping and fulfillment, and inventory.

Financial plan

The financial plan (a.k.a. financial statement) offers a breakdown of your sales, revenue, expenses, profit, and other financial metrics. You’ll want to include all the numbers and concrete data to project your current and projected financial state.

In this business plan example, the financial statement for ecommerce brand Nature’s Candy includes forecasted revenue, expenses, and net profit in graphs.

It then goes deeper into the financials, citing:

• Funding needs
• Project cash-flow statement
• Project profit-and-loss statement
• Projected balance sheet

You can use Shopify’s financial plan template to create your own income statement, cash-flow statement, and balance sheet. 

Types of business plans (and what to write for each)

A one-page business plan is a pared down version of a standard business plan that’s easy for potential investors and partners to understand. You’ll want to include all of these sections, but make sure they’re abbreviated and summarized:

• Logistics and operations plan
• Financials 

A startup business plan is meant to secure outside funding for a new business. Typically, there’s a big focus on the financials, as well as other sections that help determine the viability of your business idea—market analysis, for example. Shopify has a great business plan template for startups that include all the below points:

• Market research: in depth
• Financials: in depth

Internal 

Your internal business plan acts as the enforcer of your company’s vision. It reminds your team of the long-term objective and keeps them strategically aligned toward the same goal. Be sure to include:

• Market research

Feasibility 

A feasibility business plan is essentially a feasibility study that helps you evaluate whether your product or idea is worthy of a full business plan. Include the following sections:

A strategic (or growth) business plan lays out your long-term vision and goals. This means your predictions stretch further into the future, and you aim for greater growth and revenue. While crafting this document, you use all the parts of a usual business plan but add more to each one:

• Products and services: for launch and expansion
• Market analysis: detailed analysis
• Marketing plan: detailed strategy
• Logistics and operations plan: detailed plan
• Financials: detailed projections

Free business plan templates

Now that you’re familiar with what’s included and how to format a business plan, let’s go over a few templates you can fill out or draw inspiration from.

Bplans’ free business plan template

Bplans’ free business plan template focuses a lot on the financial side of running a business. It has many pages just for your financial plan and statements. Once you fill it out, you’ll see exactly where your business stands financially and what you need to do to keep it on track or make it better.

PandaDoc’s free business plan template

PandaDoc’s free business plan template is detailed and guides you through every section, so you don’t have to figure everything out on your own. Filling it out, you’ll grasp the ins and outs of your business and how each part fits together. It’s also handy because it connects to PandaDoc’s e-signature for easy signing, ideal for businesses with partners or a board.

Miro’s Business Model Canvas Template

Miro’s Business Model Canvas Template helps you map out the essentials of your business, like partnerships, core activities, and what makes you different. It’s a collaborative tool for you and your team to learn how everything in your business is linked.

Better business planning equals better business outcomes

Building a business plan is key to establishing a clear direction and strategy for your venture. With a solid plan in hand, you’ll know what steps to take for achieving each of your business goals. Kickstart your business planning and set yourself up for success with a defined roadmap—utilizing the sample business plans above to inform your approach.

Business plan FAQ

What are the 3 main points of a business plan.

• Concept. Explain what your business does and the main idea behind it. This is where you tell people what you plan to achieve with your business.
• Contents. Explain what you’re selling or offering. Point out who you’re selling to and who else is selling something similar. This part concerns your products or services, who will buy them, and who you’re up against.
• Cash flow. Explain how money will move in and out of your business. Discuss the money you need to start and keep the business going, the costs of running your business, and how much money you expect to make.

How do I write a simple business plan?

To create a simple business plan, start with an executive summary that details your business vision and objectives. Follow this with a concise description of your company’s structure, your market analysis, and information about your products or services. Conclude your plan with financial projections that outline your expected revenue, expenses, and profitability.

What is the best format to write a business plan?

The optimal format for a business plan arranges your plan in a clear and structured way, helping potential investors get a quick grasp of what your business is about and what you aim to achieve. Always start with a summary of your plan and finish with the financial details or any extra information at the end.

Want to learn more?

• Question: Are You a Business Owner or an Entrepreneur?
• Bootstrapping a Business: 10 Tips to Help You Succeed
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: 20 Ways to Think Like an Entrepreneur
• 101+ Best Small Business Software Programs 

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The Top 10 Best Business Plan Templates

Having a good business plan for small businesses helps set the foundation in establishing a strong foundation for success. It is vital for entrepreneurs to ask themselves essential and critical questions about their business. A well-crafted professional business plan is an essential roadmap for any successful enterprise, serving as a comprehensive guide for entrepreneurs, investors, and stakeholders. In the digital age, numerous platforms offer simple business plan templates to simplify the process of creating a strategic roadmap for your business. In this article, we will explore the top 10 best business plan templates, each catering to different needs and preferences.

#1 – HubSpot Business Plan Template

HubSpot , established in 2006, stands out as a premier all-in-one platform for marketing, sales, and customer service across businesses of all sizes. Its user-friendly interface seamlessly integrates inbound marketing tools, covering email marketing, social media management, and SEO optimization. The Sales Hub efficiently manages customer relationships, while the Customer Service Hub enhances post-purchase satisfaction with ticketing and automation. HubSpot’s adaptability caters to startups and enterprises alike, fostering collaboration in marketing, sales, and service teams. A pioneer in inbound marketing, HubSpot continually innovates, providing essential tools, including small business plan templates, the ultimate business plan, and a free startup business plan template, for sustained growth and success.

#2 – Spotify Business Plan Templates

Shopify , a trailblazer in the music streaming industry, harmonizes innovation with a strategic business plan model. Entrepreneurs can find inspiration in Spotify’s success, navigating their journey with a meticulously designed 1 year business plan template tailored for small businesses. Spotify’s commitment to creativity extends to its user-friendly free business plans template, a valuable resource for startup ventures. Entrepreneurs benefit from the comprehensive business plan for small business provided by Spotify, featuring a simple business plan outline and sample startup business plan. Aspiring business owners can leverage Spotify’s platform as a guide, unlocking the potential for a successful business journey.

#3 – Cascade Business Plan Template

Cascade , an innovative strategy execution platform, transforms conventional business planning with dynamic solutions. Entrepreneurs find support in Cascade’s user-friendly template designed for small businesses. The platform empowers users with a comprehensive business plan, including a well-structured business planning worksheet and format. Cascade’s resources guide entrepreneurs through the intricate landscape of strategic business planning , fostering success through a collaborative approach.

#4 – Bplans Business Plan Template

Bplans stands as a reliable resource for entrepreneurs with its diverse array of business planning tools. The 2023 business plan template, along with a basic business plan template, serves as a foundation for strategic ventures. Offering user-friendly business plan forms, Bplans supports startups with a specialized start up business plan template. Entrepreneurs benefit from the latest resources, such as the business plan template 2020, and small business plan samples, providing valuable insights. With small business plan templates and examples tailored for startups, Bplans simplifies the business planning process. Small business owners appreciate the ease of use with free business plan templates, creating a seamless path to success.

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#5 – Growthink Business Plan Template

Growthink, a premier business planning resource, empowers entrepreneurs with a business plan small business template. It facilitates creating a professional business plan template, guiding users through the essential steps in crafting a business plan draft. Offering specialized templates for startup ventures, Growthink caters to those seeking to buy a business plan or explore a new business plan template. The platform provides a variety of options, including professional business plan templates and sample business plan template, ensuring users can create a business plan aligned with their vision. Explore Growthink for a comprehensive suite of tools, including a template for business plan , to set your entrepreneurial journey on the path to success.

#6 – Forbes Business Plan Template

Forbes Advisor has introduced a straightforward yet comprehensive simple business planner template . This free business plan template serves as a practical guide for business startups, providing step-by-step assistance in crafting a concise business plan. Covering essential elements such as the vision and mission of the business, offer and value proposition, audience and ideal customer, revenue streams, sales channels and marketing, suppliers and operations, and financial forecasts , this 6-section template offers a holistic framework. Entrepreneurs can freely download this template to streamline the planning process and establish a robust foundation for their business endeavors. However, for those seeking funding , it’s advisable to consult a professional business plan writer to ensure a thorough and effective business plan write-up.

#7 – BSBCON Business Plan Template

Black Sheep Business Consulting (BSBCON) in Houston, TX , is committed to building enduring partnerships with key groups of professionals, including Investment Bankers, Immigration Consultants, Franchisors, and business brokers. Our specialized business consultants, with a track record of successful turnarounds and startup ventures, work collaboratively with these professionals to offer comprehensive support. At BSBCON, we not only assist established companies in growing their revenues but also provide tailored business plans for various purposes. Whether it’s for bank loans , investor presentations, growth strategies , or immigration requirements, our business plan template serves as a structured guide, ensuring clarity and coherence in presenting objectives and strategies within these partnerships.

#8 – Score Business Plan Template 

In Herndon, VA, SCORE , a non-profit organization, strongly believes that small businesses are pivotal in driving the national economy by encouraging business formation, job creation, and wealth building. SCORE is devoted to cultivating vibrant small business communities through mentoring and education. The team is dedicated to offering every individual the support they need to thrive as a small business owner, providing a startup business plan template . This approach ensures an ethical and unified strategy to attain the organization’s goals, contributing to their greater cause.

#9 – Smartsheet Business Plan Template

Since its establishment in 2005, Smartsheet , based in Washington DC , has been a leader in empowering individuals and teams. They develop innovative work management solutions and offer a system to make a business plan template for strategic planning support. Smartsheet’s success is attributed to a diverse global team, fostering creativity, and making a positive impact in communities. Their groundbreaking platform is extensively utilized by nonprofit organizations, small businesses, and over 80% of Fortune 500 companies worldwide. Smartsheet is transforming the work management landscape, expanding possibilities, and empowering people to accomplish remarkable feats.

#10 – Pandadoc Business Plan Template

PandaDoc , established in 2011 by Mikita Mikado and Sergey Barysiuk, revolutionizes document management. Headquartered in San Francisco, CA , this platform empowers teams to efficiently engage with customers by swiftly generating personalized documents, fostering meaningful connections, and saving significant time. PandaDoc’s user-friendly interface simplifies the document creation process, enhancing collaboration and productivity. It provides business plan template for small business seeking seamless communication, negotiation, and e-signature capabilities. With a commitment to innovation, PandaDoc streamlines workflows, making it an invaluable tool for modern businesses aiming to enhance efficiency and elevate the document experience.

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What does a simple business plan include.

A simple business plan is a brief one-page summary encompassing six crucial elements that every aspiring entrepreneur should contemplate when initiating a startup. These elements comprise your vision or mission, product or service offering, target audience , revenue streams and sales channels, structure and operations, and financial forecasts .

How to Start a Business Plan Template

Begin by using our complimentary startup business plan template free, encompassing all vital aspects of a business. After downloading, you can customize this document in Google Docs or another word processing application, seamlessly adding information about your business and incorporating new sections or subsections to tailor the template to your specific business plan requirements. You can also review our sample of business plans for small business to gain further insights.

The difference between “How to create a business plan template” and “How to write a simple business plan” lies in their respective purposes and approaches to the business planning process.

How to Create a Business Plan Template

Creating a template for writing a business plan involves developing a structured framework that can be easily adapted for various businesses and purposes. The template serves as a guide for individuals to fill in their business details systematically. The header includes space for essential information such as the business name, logo, and date.

The executive summary section offers a concise template for summarizing the business idea and goals. Sections are organized for key elements, including business description, products/services, market analysis, organization structure, sales and marketing, funding (if applicable), and financial projections. Each section includes instructions and prompts to guide users in providing relevant information.

Maintaining a consistent format throughout the template is essential for clarity and professionalism. Key fields are made editable to accommodate specific business details, ensuring flexibility for different ventures. A section is reserved for an appendix to attach supporting documents.

The template’s purpose is to simplify the planning process for future ventures, providing a standardized format that individuals can use as a starting point. It aims to streamline the planning process and ensure a solid foundation for business endeavors by offering a user-friendly structure that is easily accessible in common word processing software or online platforms.

In essence, while “How to Write a Simple Business Plan” guides individuals through the detailed process of creating a specific business plan for their venture, “How to Create a Business Plan Template” focuses on developing a flexible and adaptable framework that can be customized for different business needs and scenarios.

How to Write a Simple Business Plan

Writing a simple business plan involves crafting a detailed document that outlines the key components of your business. The process begins with an executive summary, providing a brief overview of your business, its mission, and your primary objectives. This section is crucial as it sets the tone for the entire plan and offers a snapshot of your business to potential readers.

The business description follows, offering an in-depth look at your business idea and the industry it operates in. This is where you define your target market and emphasize your competitive advantage. The products or services section delves into the specifics of what your business offers, highlighting unique features and demonstrating how your offerings meet the needs of your target audience.

Market analysis is a critical component, requiring thorough research into your industry, competitors, and target market. Identifying opportunities and potential challenges is crucial for informed decision-making. The organization and management section outlines your business structure and introduces key team members, providing insights into the management hierarchy.

The sales and marketing section details your strategies for sales and customer acquisition. It outlines your marketing plan, encompassing various channels and campaigns. If seeking external investment, the funding request section specifies your financial requirements and how you plan to utilize the funds.

Financial projections present a realistic outlook for your business, including income statements and cash flow projections. These projections may include assumptions made during the planning process. The appendix section is reserved for additional documents or information that supports the overall plan.

Selecting the right business plan template for entrepreneurs is an integral part of transforming your entrepreneurial vision into a strategic reality. Whether you lean towards the artistic flair of Spotify’s templates, the strategic precision of Cascade, or the customizable options from Growthink, the pivotal decision is to choose a template that not only aligns with your business goals but also resonates with your target audience.

In the dynamic landscape of business, these top 10 business plan templates, encompassing a variety of templates for a business plan, small business plans, and business plan printable, lay a robust foundation for aspiring entrepreneurs. A meticulously crafted business plan ensures a thorough examination and articulation of your business strategy, significantly enhancing your prospects in a competitive market. As the business environment evolves, these templates serve as valuable tools to adapt and thrive. They act as a guiding light for entrepreneurs, aiding in the articulation of vision, attracting potential investors, and navigating the intricate path to success.

If you find yourself in need of personalized guidance and support for your business plan requirements, take the initiative and contact us at BSBCON today. Our team is ready to assist you on your journey towards entrepreneurial success. 

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8 Business Plan Templates You Can Get for Free

8 min. read

Updated April 10, 2024

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

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

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

So, which ones are actually worth using? 

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

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

What to look for in a business plan template

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

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

1. Bplans — A plan with expert guidance

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

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

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

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

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

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2. SBA — Introduction to business plans

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

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

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

Explore: The SBA’s planning guide and free templates

3. SCORE — Planning workbook

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

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

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

Download: SCORE’s business plan template

4. PandaDoc — A template with fillable forms

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

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

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

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

Explore: PandaDoc’s business plan template library  

5. Canva — Pitch with your plan

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

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

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

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

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

Explore: Canva’s business plan gallery

6. ClickUp — The collaborative template

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

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

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

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

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

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

7. Smartsheet — A wide variety of templates

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

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

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

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

Explore: Smartsheet’s business plan template library  

8. ReferralRock affiliate marketing business plan

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

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

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

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

Download: ReferralRock affiliate marketing business plan template

Does it matter what business plan template you use?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See why 1.2 million entrepreneurs have written their business plans with LivePlan

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

Table of Contents

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

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Some people venture into entrepreneurship with a clear vision: They know what industry they want to conquer and the path they’re going to take to get there. However, for many new entrepreneurs, it can be difficult to figure out how to start a business — plus, determine exactly what type of business is the best choice to invest in.

To help you launch your journey, we’ve compiled a list of the most profitable businesses, considering factors such as industry growth and competitiveness, startup costs and barriers to entry, as well as profitability potential.

ZenBusiness

Most profitable small businesses

With a solid business plan, hard work and determination, any strong business idea may become successful and profitable.

Businesses in high-growth industries with lower startup costs , however, may have greater profitability potential. With the rise of technology, for instance, you’ll probably have more success starting a virtual assistant business than opening a grocery store.

Although some of the most profitable businesses are based online, others involve in-person services, and some are a great fit if you're an entrepreneur on the go. Here’s our list of the most profitable small businesses:

1. Food trucks

The food truck movement has been experiencing consistent growth over the past five years — and it’s expected to continue — with the market projected to grow to $6.87 billion by 2029, according to a 2023 report by Mordor Intelligence [0] Mordor Intelligence . Food Truck Market Size & Share Analysis . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources . You can start a food truck business for less than a third of what it costs to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant; plus, you have geographic versatility, the potential for high revenue returns and the flexibility to create a custom menu that’s all your own.

Keep in mind that bigger, trendier cities like San Francisco, Boston and Washington, D.C., already have a pretty saturated food truck market (as well as tougher regulations to get started) — so this might be a more successful business in a smaller heartland metropolis.

Food trucks have their own special set of ordinances, business licenses and safety compliance standards. They also require food business insurance , so you’ll want to contact your local health department to find out what will be required.

2. Car wash services

The rising prices and pandemic-induced shortage of new vehicles are causing car owners to keep their cars longer. And as drivers keep their cars longer, businesses like car washes that help people maintain the value of their auto investment are expected to keep rising as well.

In fact, the car wash market is projected to increase from $15.86 billion in 2023 to $23.79 billion by 2030 [0] Grand View Research . U.S. Car Wash Services Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources . And according to a 2023 study from the International Carwash Association, 96% of U.S. car owners and lessees washed their vehicle at least once in the previous year— and 89% did so at a professional car wash [0] International Carwash Association . 6 Insights into Why Car Washing Is at an All-Time High . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources .

You might make a car wash business even more profitable by turning it into a mobile service. Customers may pay more for a car wash that comes to them, especially if they have a luxury car and prefer a more personalized service. And as a mobile car wash and auto detailing service, you’d avoid the overhead and startup costs of having a physical location.

3. Auto repair

The average age of cars and light trucks in the U.S. rose to 12.5 years in 2023, increasing from 9.7 years a decade ago, according to S&P Global Mobility [0] S&P Global Mobility . Average Age of Light Vehicles in the US Hits Record High 12.5 years, according to S&P Global Mobility . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources . People are keeping their cars longer than ever, suggesting there’s significant opportunity in the maintenance and repair business.

Additionally, car owners are more likely to visit a small business for repairs. According to the Auto Care Association, more than 70% of repair business is captured by independent repair facilities compared with dealerships or manufacturer-authorized repair facilities [0] Auto Care Association . Auto Care Association Applauds Advancement of REPAIR Act . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources .

If you’re skilled as a mechanic, you might consider an auto repair service as one of the most profitable business ideas. You can offer oil changes, fluid refills, battery swaps, headlight repair and more. And if you’re looking to save on overhead costs, you might make it a mobile service and travel to your customers, performing repairs in their driveway or office parking lot.

4. Personal trainers

Employment of fitness trainers and instructors is projected to grow 14% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics [0] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics . Occupational Outlook Handbook, Fitness Trainers and Instructors . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources . But turning your love of fitness into a career doesn’t have to mean working for a big corporate gym — nor do you need the overhead of having your own location to train clients.

Throw a few weights, bands and yoga mats into the trunk of your car, and take your fitness show on the road.

You can become a personal trainer by offering one-on-one sessions in your clients’ homes or advertising group classes at a local park or community center. Making fitness more available to your clients might just be the ticket to helping both of you achieve your goals.

» MORE: Best mobile business ideas for on-the-go entrepreneurs

5. Newborn and post-pregnancy services

Although millennials and Generation Z are deferring parenthood for longer than previous generations, many do eventually want to have kids.

And with both generations considering parenthood, the need for child-oriented businesses is growing, starting with post-pregnancy and newborn-related services. As a result, a 2024 Market Research Future report expects the global maternity care market to reach $106.6 billion by 2032 (up from $62.5 billion in 2023) [0] Market Research Future . Maternity & Personal Care Market Research Report . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources .

Demand for doulas and lactation consultants, in particular, has risen among new mothers, and both business options have relatively low overhead requirements beyond education and certification.

6. Enrichment activities for children

Shrinking budgets for education mean that both traditional academics and enrichment subjects like music, art and athletics often take a significant hit.

A successful business to start might be one that teaches enrichment activities to children. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, kids are more involved in extracurricular activities today than they were 20 years ago [0] U.S. Census Bureau . Children Continue to be More Involved in Some Extracurricular Activities . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources . And some research indicates that approximately half of American parents spend more than $1,000 annually on their children’s activities [0] GoBankingRates . How To Afford $1,000 Worth of Kids Activities Per Year . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources .

You could launch a gymnastics center or music school, become a swimming instructor or kids’ yoga teacher, or focus on some other child-centered activity. If you have a skill that could be easily taught to young students, you might already have a profitable business in the making.

7. Mobile apps and entertainment for children

If your interests are in development and engineering, you might consider gearing your technology toward the youngest users. Research shows that demand for tablets, apps and mobile entertainment for children is on the rise — especially if those products are education-focused [0] Excellent Web World . Is The App Development Market For Kids Getting Bigger? . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources .

Do you have an idea for an educational app for children or parents? If so, now may be the time to move forward on your bright idea for the next generation and make this potentially profitable business a reality.

8. Shared accessories and attire

Sites like Rent the Runway and Gwynnie Bee have banked on the idea of the sharing economy — where we want and need to own less stuff, so instead, we share resources.

These companies offer borrowed or rented clothing and accessories at a fraction of their purchase prices, and because the same piece of inventory generates revenue multiple times, the profitability of these ventures can be significant. According to a 2023 study by the reselling platform ThredUp, the secondhand-clothing market is projected to nearly double by 2027 [0] ThredUp . thredUP’s 11th Annual Resale Report Reveals Consumers Continue to Embrace Secondhand Amid Economic Uncertainty . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources .

Do you have an eye for fashion and a sense of style not currently offered by other rental services? Maybe you’re ready to be the next big thing.

Even if you’re not prepared to launch a multimillion-dollar fashion startup, you can just as easily profit from shared fashion at the local level. Gather some favorite accessories or clothing picks and host a borrowing party — where customers can rent or purchase items from your closet — for high school students before the next formal dance.

If you’re in a college town, Greek life formals are another great opportunity to profit from shared economy fashion. And because you’re taking shipping costs out of the equation, you have the potential to be even more profitable.

9. Shared home improvement equipment

Are you the go-to person in your neighborhood for every lawn, garden and home repair tool? Why not turn those tools into a profitable business by advertising your available equipment beyond your immediate friend group?

You might even decide to invest in more specialized and higher-cost equipment that would be useful to those around you. And if a customer doesn’t know how to use a specific tool, combine equipment rental with your mobile service for even more cash in the bank.

Home improvement spending has increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic — and U.S. households spent an average of $13,667 on improvement projects in 2023 alone, according to a study from Angi, a home services marketplace [0] Angi . State of Home Spending . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources . As more people continue to invest in fixer-upper houses and remodel, this could be a big opportunity.

» MORE: Best small-town business ideas

10. Vacation rentals

If you live in a highly desirable tourist destination, you can make a profit renting space in your home to travelers. Sites like Airbnb or VRBO have made it easier than ever to profit from your unused vacation property — or even your extra bedroom. According to Airbnb, the typical U.S. host makes approximately $14,000 a year [0] Airbnb . Hosts in the US earned $22 billion in supplemental income last year . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources .

It's not too difficult to become an Airbnb host , and the demand for these types of rentals has only grown in recent years. In 2022, 394 million nights and experiences were booked on Airbnb — up from 301 million nights in 2021 [0] Statista . Airbnb Bookings Already Past Pre-Pandemic High in 2023 . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources . However, some cities have laws and regulations regarding Airbnb and other rental platforms, so you’ll want to make sure you check the guidelines in your area before getting started.

11. Electronics repair

According to the Pew Research Center, as of 2023, 90% of Americans own a smartphone [0] Pew Research Center . Mobile Fact Sheet . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources , and 80% of U.S. adults subscribe to high-speed internet at home [0] Pew Research Center . Americans’ Use of Mobile Technology and Home Broadband . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources . And with more employees working from home, there’s an even greater reliance on a variety of electronics.

That means that when something goes wrong, people want help fixing it as soon as possible. This makes electronics repair a potentially lucrative business idea. According to a 2024 report from the Business Research Company, the global electronics repair and maintenance market is expected to grow from about $8.69 billion in 2022 to $9.88 billion in 2028 [0] The Business Research Company . Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Global Market Report 2024 . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources .

With this service, you could be the solution for every broken iPhone screen, Wi-Fi card and laptop battery. And you might be even more successful if you’re willing to travel to your customer. Apple stores and other electronics retailers have come under fire over the past few years for long customer wait times, which could work in favor of mobile providers.

Although a mobile electronics repair business involves some overhead in the form of purchasing supplies, being mobile saves you from having to pay the costs associated with a physical location.

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.

12. Academics courses

Online entrepreneurs can offer courses through educational platforms or independently on their own websites. The U.S. e-learning market has accelerated growth since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and is predicted to reach nearly $170 billion in 2030, according to a 2023 report by Renub Research [0] Renub Research . United States eLearning Market, Size, Forecast 2023-2030 . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources .

You might start your business by providing courses in traditional academics, offering online instruction in grade-level reading, math, science, history or standardized test preparation. You could even create a review course for parents helping teens with their algebra homework. If you’re creative, the possibilities are truly endless.

And academic courses don’t have to end at the high school or even college level. You can create an online course to share your love of political history, Buddhist theology or rocket science. If you’re interested in a particular subject, chances are someone else is, too.

13. Language courses

Currently, one-fifth of U.S. families speak one other language, apart from English — based on data from the Census Bureau [0] U.S. Census Bureau . What Languages Do We Speak in the United States? . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources . And with more languages being spoken nationwide, the demand for online language learning courses is growing. The market is projected to increase by $26.33 billion from 2023 to 2030, according to a 2023 report from Verified Market Research [0] Verified Market Research . Online Language Learning Market Size And Forecast . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources .

So whether you take to the online education space with expertise in English, or you harness your mastery of Swahili, there’s likely someone out there who wants to learn a language from you.

And if you speak one of the most in-demand languages, such as Mandarin, Spanish or Arabic, then online-based language courses could be one of your most profitable business ideas.

» MORE: Easy online business ideas you can start now

14. Business or marketing courses

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, participation in career-focused online courses has grown significantly, especially as more employees look to change jobs or work from home. For instance, education technology platform Udemy gained 10 million new global learners from 2022 to 2023, spanning 134 million course enrollments [0] Udemy Business . 2024 Global Learning & Skills Trends Report . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources .

Companies have expanded or launched new coverage for tuition reimbursement in recent years, meaning workers have money to spend on these types of classes. According to the Society for Human Resource Management’s 2023 Employee Benefits Survey, 48% of employers offer tuition assistance, 87% cover costs for professional memberships and 78% pay for employees’ certifications or recertifications [0] Society for Human Resource Management . SHRM Releases 2023 Employee Benefits Survey Results . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources .

If you have career skills to share, you can start creating online courses with few initial costs. Popular course topics include bookkeeping, QuickBooks accounting software , WordPress web development, graphic design or even how to write a great cover letter or resume.

15. Personal wellness

Are you a therapist or counselor, a yoga instructor, a life coach or a longtime meditator? If you have a deep passion for personal wellness, you might be able to help others — while also earning a significant income.

For example, a report from the Yoga Alliance found 38.4 million Americans (11% of the population) practiced yoga in 2022; up 4.6% from 2016. These Americans spent over $21 billion on yoga in 2022 alone [0] Yoga Alliance . Yoga in the World . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources . And a Grand View Research report predicts the North American yoga market to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.8% by 2030 [0] Grand View Research . Yoga Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources .

Like many of the options on our list, as long as you have the knowledge, the costs to start a personal wellness business are low.

Every person has a desire to better themselves, and that’s what online courses are all about. If you have this expertise to share, you could turn your knowledge into a profitable business.

16. Courses in hobbies or interests

While many courses are designed to further an education or career prospects or to promote major life changes, you can just as easily design an online course around any hobby or interest.

Do you have a passion for calligraphy or craft brewing ? Have you mastered a certain video game? You'd be surprised at the number of people willing to pay to learn about topics they're interested in. Some of the bestselling courses on the popular online learning platform Udemy include web development, digital marketing, ethical hacking, stock trading and WordPress — and they sell for up to $200 per class [0] Udemy . Popular and trending topics . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources .

Not sure how to start designing your own online course? Well, there are even online courses for creating your own online course. You can use one of these courses to propel your own online course business.

17. Bookkeeping and accounting

Accounting and bookkeeping are unavoidable requirements of business ownership. But for many entrepreneurs, money management is the most tedious part of owning a business; that's why some business owners choose to outsource those tasks.

Whether you’re a certified public accountant or just a QuickBooks wizard, you might be the perfect candidate to launch your own bookkeeping business . With accounting firms seeing a growth rate of 9.1% in net revenue from 2021 to 2022 (up from a 4.2% growth rate in 2020), bookkeeping, accounting, tax preparation and payroll services have long been some of the most profitable businesses for entrepreneurs [0] Association of International Certified Professional Accountants . U.S. Accounting Firms Show Strong Growth in Profit and Revenue, AICPA & CIMA Research Finds . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources .

As a bookkeeper, you can process invoices and payroll, compile expense reports and more. If you have a CPA license, you can help business owners file taxes, generate balance sheets and other accounting documents, as well as make professional recommendations about your client’s bottom line.

18. Consulting

If you’ve been in the business world for a long time, folks may be clamoring for your knowledge and expertise within your industry. Why not turn all that know-how into a new career as an independent consultant?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for consulting services is expected to increase, particularly among smaller companies that deal in specialized industries or business functions. Employment of management analysts, which includes consultants across different industries, is projected to grow 10% from 2022 to 2032 — faster than average for all occupations [0] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics . Occupational Outlook Handbook, Management Analysts . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources .

As an independent consultant, you can be paid to speak at industry conferences or events, serve on a board of advisors for a fledgling business, or lend your expertise to shape the strategy of an existing business on a contract basis.

Whatever your skill set, starting a consulting business is a great way to make the income of your dreams while working on your own terms.

» MORE: 145 new service business ideas

19. IT support

Our reliance on technology makes IT support just as profitable a business idea as electronics repair and other tech businesses — especially considering employment of IT professionals is projected to grow 5% from 2022 to 2032, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics [0] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics . ccupational Outlook Handbook, Computer Support Specialists . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources . With an IT business, you can help customers when they have issues with their internet or computer software, as well as install security programs and network updates.

If technology comes easily to you — and you’re a relatively patient person — then the most profitable business for you might be hitting the road, at least in your neighborhood, with mobile IT support. You can offer a service to combat the chat or phone support typically offered by technology manufacturers, which often includes long wait times and leaves customers with unanswered questions.

All you need is time, transportation and your own know-how, so this low-overhead business model could be almost pure profit.

20. Graphic design

As the number of brands vying for consumers’ attention grows, a slick and polished image has become more important than ever for small businesses.

And although, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for graphic designers is expected to grow only 3% from 2022 to 2032, there are opportunities out there, especially for graphic designers who are self-employed [0] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics . Occupational Outlook Handbook, Graphic Designers . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources . The BLS says most graphic designers are self-employed, compared to those that work for advertising services, publishing industries and similar employers.

Do you know your way around Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign? Have you taken a few design classes, and do you have an eye for good branding? Turn your skills into a business as a freelance graphic designer. You’ll have almost no overhead and can help small-business owners create awesome marketing graphics.

21. Social media management

These days, customers expect a business to have a strong social media presence and to be responsive to customer service issues on social media.

Although many small-business owners know they need to engage in social media marketing, few have the necessary time or expertise to manage all of their social media accounts.

If you’re fluent in Twitter, live your life on Facebook and have gotten every job you’ve ever had through LinkedIn, you might consider turning your social media expertise into your own solopreneur business venture — offering support to business owners who need help managing their brands' social media platforms.

As long as you have your own laptop, smartphone and social media accounts, there are few costs to getting started, and job growth in the industry is projected to increase 6% from 2022 to 2032 — faster than average for all other occupations [0] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics . Occupational Outlook Handbook, Public Relations Specialists . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources .

22. Marketing copywriter

If you’re particularly adept with words, you can use your talents to write copy for various companies’ marketing efforts. According to an Industry Research report, the global digital content creation market is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 9.5% from 2023 to 2030 [0] Industry Research . Digital Content Creation Market 2023-2030: Trends, Size, Share, and CAGR Status . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources .

Whether you’re coining a catchy slogan or writing an in-depth description of a company’s offerings, if you’re doing it as an independent contractor, you’ll have very few startup costs. Once you get started and build relationships with clients, you’ll quickly be able to earn a profit for your services.

23. Virtual assistant services

With more employees working from home, and with teams spread out across different locations and time zones, businesses can benefit from an assistant who is just as flexible as they are. There's no longer the need to meet with a client every day in an office — you can work as an assistant from New York when your client lives in Florida.

According to ZipRecruiter, the average remote virtual assistant in the U.S. makes $50,749 a year [0] ZipRecruiter . Remote Virtual Assistant Salary . Accessed Feb 26, 2024. View all sources . As a virtual assistant , you can choose your clients and create your own schedule, managing emails, scheduling meetings, booking travel and completing other basic tasks to make your customers’ lives and businesses run more smoothly.

Plus, all you need is a laptop and an internet connection to start this business.

How to start a profitable business

These ideas for profitable businesses span a variety of industries and involve varying time commitments and startup costs. Before you can earn any profit, however, you’ve got to get your business off the ground.

Here are three steps to help you get started:

1. Do your research

Whether you choose one of the ideas here or come up with something on your own, do your research before committing to any concept. You'll want to perform idea validation, a process that involves market and competitor research, as well as a financial feasibility analysis to help test your business idea and determine whether you want to move forward with your business proposal.

2. Get organized and make it official

Once you’ve chosen a strong business idea, you’re ready to create a thorough business plan . Your business plan will outline your company’s goals — and how you’ll achieve them — as well as provide a roadmap for you (and potential investors) to follow for the next three to five years.

After you’ve written your business plan, you can take the necessary steps to make your small business official. You’ll choose a business structure, apply for an employer identification number , register your “Doing Business As” name (if necessary) and get the business licenses and registrations you need to open your doors.

» MORE: Important legal requirements for starting a small business

3. Find the right financing

It can be difficult for startups to qualify for some traditional business loans, as they often require multiple years of business history for approval. Instead, new business owners might consider startup funding options, such as microloans, grants, crowdfunding, or asking friends or family for an investment.

Business credit cards are also an option for short-term financing, especially for everyday business purchases. With a business credit card , you can earn perks and rewards on your spending, as well as start building a business credit history.

See how to get your business started quickly

Find the money to get going: Compare the best small-business loan options right now.

Set up a bank account: Details on how to get a free business checking account .

Start accepting credit cards and other payments: Options and how to use point-of-sale systems .

Start tracking your profits: Pick out and set up simple accounting software .

A version of this article originally appeared on JustBusiness, a subsidiary of NerdWallet.

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10 Best Business Plan Software and Tools in 2024

Do you know what’s common between a global IT firm and a small food truck business?

Like any other business on the planet Earth, they both require a  solid business plan  to make their business a runaway success.

Business plan. No entrepreneur is a stranger to this term, but do they all consider it seriously? Not sure.

Results? Spending a lot of time, money, and resources on the wrong marketing strategies, missing several growth opportunities, and of course, facing tough times raising funds. 

No one wants to be in this situation! 

That’s where a perfect business plan software can help you out. These tools make drafting an investment-ready business a breeze.

So how exactly can these business planning tools help?

Simply put,  business plan software  can help you create a winning business plan, develop marketing strategies, and predict your financial future—ultimately helping your business grow.

Now, how to choose a tool that will suit your business’s requirements and your budget too? The answer is right here.

In this article, we’ve narrowed down our search for the best business plan software to the 10 best paid and free software considering factors like—pricing, features, performance, and credibility. 

So you can easily pick the one that best suits your requirements.

All sorted? Shall we begin? Let’s roll.

Best Paid and Free Business Plan Software and Tools

Jump to section, 1. upmetrics.

Upmetrics  is a top business and financial planning software helping entrepreneurs and small business owners start and grow their businesses.

Its 200+ fully customizable sample business plans, video tutorials, well-written documentation, and go-to guides make writing a business plan a lot easier for someone new to business plan writing.

The best part about Upmetrics is—it’s affordable, reliable, and best for beginners. 

In fact, the creators of Upmetrics believe that creating a business plan requires no special qualifications, nor a degree in finance to draw financial projections.  

And the tool they’ve created speaks volumes of their words—making it a go-to solution for budding entrepreneurs. 

Let’s have a look at the features you get with Upmetrics—the #1 business plan software: 

• 400+ fully customizable business plan templates to get started.
• Easy-to-use business plan builder with drag and drop tools.
• Financial forecasting tool to plan and manage your cash flow with ease.
• Easy to share or collaborate with the team in real time.
• Pitch deck creator to create perfect pitches and impress investors.
• Create actionable business strategies using various business model canvases.
• Easily customize and edit cover pages.
• Real-time updates and cloud storage, eliminating the risk of data loss.
• Business resources, video tutorials, and guides to help get started.
• Intuitive, seamless, and responsive user interface.

The Upmetrics subscription starts at $7/month (billed annually) with one workspace; it also provides a free demo and a 15-day money-back guarantee —so no risk at all!

Create winning Business Plans with ultimate

Plans starting from $7/month

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2. Liveplan

LivePlan  is one of the best and most renowned business planning, budgeting, and performance-tracking software for startups and small business owners.

Whether you are a startup looking to attract potential investors or an established organization that needs help creating a forecast of your business’s financial future—LivePlan can help.

LivePlan simplifies the process of creating a professional business plan with its instruction manuals, tutorials, and expert guidance, whereas its automated financials built-in with formulas ensure precise financial forecasting.

LivePlan provides a wide range of features which may include:

• Business plan templates
• Budgeting and expense tracking
• Online learning tools & resources
• Collaborative planning
• Pitch deck creator
• Dashboard and reporting
• Integrated document storage

Though LivePlan has been in the market for a long time now, it isn’t suitable for short-term business planning. That’s why we recommend exploring some LivePlan alternatives.

LivePlan’s subscription model consists of two plans: standard and premium. The standard plan costs $20/month, whereas the premium plan costs $40/month. However, they do not have any free trial or demo as a part of their pricing plan.

What I didn't like about LivePlan?

Here are the average user ratings, comparing the experiences on Liveplan and Upmetrics.

Compare Liveplan with Others

Liveplan vs. Enloop: Which is Best for Your Business?

IdeaBuddy vs. Liveplan: Which is Best for Your Business?

Bizplan vs. Liveplan: Which is Best for Your Business?

Enloop  is an advanced business planning and financial forecasting tool helping business owners maximize the potential of their business venture.

Unlike Upmetrics and LivePlan—Enloop is designed for individuals with prior financial knowledge and business planning experience.

Understanding all of its functionalities is tough, but it has a lot to offer once you figure out its basic functionalities. Still, it’s not the most intuitive and user-friendly application in this space, so it may take a while to get used to it.

If you’re not a beginner and are willing to invest some time understanding and learning its functionalities—it’s well worth it. But, if you’re not, you may consider looking for a few other business plan software.

Enloop provides a wide range of advanced financial tools and business planning features, which may include:

• Business plan creation
• Automated financial forecasts
• Collaboration and sharing
• Funding and investor tools
• Exporting and integrations
• Auto-generated financial reports
• Automated text writing

Enloop’s monthly subscription plans range between $19.95 and $39.95, depending on your plan and functionalities. It also has a 7-day free trial with no credit card details required.

What I didn't like about Enloop?

Here are the average user ratings, comparing the experiences on Enloop and Upmetrics.

4. IdeaBuddy

Ideabuddy  is an innovative business plan software helping new-age entrepreneurs turn their ideas into successful business plans.

Customizable templates, industry-based guides, and streamlined idea and business plan creation make it one of the most user-friendly applications on the list.

It is designed on a principle where users can develop, test, and launch their business idea—all in one place. While it’s great for idea creation, it may lack several comprehensive business planning features.

Financial forecasting is vital to a business plan, but IdeaBuddy may not provide all the necessary financial tools for accurate projections.

So if your business is in the idea stage—choosing IdeaBuddy could be a fair call, but if you plan to build a comprehensive business plan, you need another tool.

IdeaBuddy provides a wide range of features, which may include:

• Modern business plan with a click
• Export your plan and financials
• Mobile-friendly platform
• Customizable templates and industry-based guides
• Test to score your idea
• Step-by-step business guide
• Brainstorm ideas with your team

IdeaBuddy’s subscription model consists of four plans: free, dreamer, founder, and team pro.

Depending on the plan specifications and features, these plans may cost between $15 to $40 a month. You can also save up to 60% on annual memberships.

What I didn't like about IdeaBuddy?

Here are the average user ratings, comparing the experiences on IdeaBuddy and Upmetrics.

Planful  is a business planning and financial performance management cloud software. It provides a structured framework for industry-wide businesses to develop, track, and execute their plans.

The tool specializes in financial performance management with advanced features like—financial close management, reporting, and consolidation.

While the tool has numerous advanced features and functionalities—they all come with a high price tag as it’s mainly designed for medium and large-scale enterprises.

Let’s have a look at the extensive financial tools and features you may get with a planful subscription:

• Budgeting and forecasting
• Financial consolidation
• Scenario modeling
• Reporting and analytics
• Financial close management
• Data integration and connectivity
• Responsive web and mobile apps

Planful has no structured pricing model on their website; users may contact their sales team for a custom quotation.

What I didn't like about Planful?

6. iPlanner

iPlanner  is an enterprise business plan software that has been helping entrepreneurs develop their business plans since 2007. It is suitable for businesses looking to secure funding, better understand and manage risks, or communicate the company’s business model and strategy to the team.

Though the business plan software has been around for over a decade now, it didn’t seem to cope with the technological advancements, so it may not provide the most intuitive and visually appealing user interface.

But if you are searching for an affordable business planning and performance tracking tool with KPIs, analytics, and reporting features, iPlanner can be a good investment.

Here’s an overview of the key features of iPlanner—business plan software:

• Financial forecasting
• Secure and accessible
• Data security and backup
• How to articles and guides

iPlanner’s subscription model consists of two plans: professional and corporate. Professional subscriptions start at $24 for a 3-month subscription with one project, while corporate subscriptions start at $59 for a 6-month subscription with 12 projects

What I didn't like about iPlanner?

7. PlanGuru

PlanGuru  is a business planning software that helps entrepreneurs make better decisions, increase profits, and accomplish their business goals through strategic business planning and accurate forecasting.

Budgeting & financial analytics, rolling forecast, and strategic planning are three critical components of PlanGuru’s feature list.

PlanGuru specializes in forecasting financial statements, scenario analysis, budgeting, and gaining insights through reporting tools.

It offers many advanced financial forecasting features but is quite expensive— making it unsuitable for startups with limited investment capital.

PlanGuru provides a wide range of financial tools and business planning features to create business plans, which may include:

• Business valuation tool
• 20+ standard forecast methods
• Budget/forecast for up to 10 years
• Archive budget feature
• Standard report export to PDF, Excel, and Word
• Custom report builder for Excel
• Online dashboard, scorecard, and reporting tools

PlanGuru has two different pricing plans; one for businesses and nonprofits and another for business advisors. Depending on the plan specifications and features, these plans may cost between $99 and $299/month.

What I didn't like about PlanGuru?

8. The Business Plan Shop

The Business Plan Shop  is a business & financial planning and analysis platform for small and medium-sized business owners and financial advisors.

Its business plan templates make writing a business plan relatively easier for beginners. Despite its many features, the business plan software specializes in financial analysis, forecasting, and KPI tracking.

It surely has a few advanced features but can be expensive for startups and small businesses.

This business plan software provides a wide range of features, which may include:

• Financial forecasting software
• Sync accounting data
• Drag and drop templates and editor
• Integration with financial data
• Faster than Microsoft Word

The Business Plan Shop has two different pricing plans; one for businesses and CFOs and another for advisors. The business & CFO plan costs $25.50 per month, and the Advisor plan costs $94.20 per month.

What I didn't like about The Business Plan Shop?

Bizplan  is a comprehensive business plan software helping startups, entrepreneurs, and small business owners create business plans with direct access to planning experts. 

Financial tools help create detailed financial projections and financial and cash flow statements in no time, so entrepreneurs can spend more time growing and scaling their businesses.

The platform also has a fundraising tool to help startups connect with potential investors—which has already helped raise over $500 million for startups.

It has all the features to create a basic business plan but may lack industry-specific guidance or assistance.

Let’s have a look at the wide range of features that come with a Bizplan subscription:

• Financial modeling
• Integration and export
• Reporting and presentation
• Progress tracking
• Step-by-step guidance

Bizplan’s pricing plans start at $29/month, whereas the lifetime access costs $349. You may check their pricing page for more information.

What I didn't like about Bizplan?

Here are the average user ratings, comparing the experiences on Bizplan and Upmetrics.

Brixx  is a financial forecast software for cash flow, budgeting, and financial planning. Apart from helping users create a basic business plan, the platform also helps them with financial modeling, scenario planning, and goal tracking.

Its interactive charts and graphs can help you clearly present your financial data and cash flow statements for enhanced reader understanding.

Integrating Brixx and other accounting software automates the syncing of your actuals and forecasts, giving you a head start using Brixx.

The tool primarily focuses on financial projections and forecasting, so there are only a few features for other parts of the business plan.

Let’s have a look at the wide range of features that come with a Brixx subscription:

• 1-10 year financial forecasts
• Professional charts and reports
• Automated tax forecasts
• Quick-start templates
• Share plans in real-time
• Business Resources
• 3-way forecasting

Brixx has four packages in its subscription model: Foundation, Essentials, Professional, and Enterprise. The pricing for these packages may range from $0 to $66 per month.

What I didn't like about Brixx?

How to Choose the Right Business Plan Software?

All the business plan tools on our list are credible and can help you create a winning business plan. However, it’s critical to understand each tool specializes in certain aspects of business planning.

Let’s understand which factors to consider while choosing the right tool to help you create a professional business plan:

The most obvious factor. Ask yourself how much you can afford to spend on a business plan maker.

A free or low-cost tool may provide only some necessary functionalities to create a detailed plan. So, figure out your budget and shortlist the tools that you can afford to invest in.

2. Your specific requirements

The next step. Learn your specific requirement. For instance, if your business is in the idea stage, you may not require a tool with advanced financial features like—PlanGuru; Ideabuddy may work.

Both tools cater to specific audiences; if you are not sure, you may go with Upmetrics. It has pricing plans suitable for all business sizes.

3. Business plan templates

Custom designing a business plan can be tedious, so make sure the business plan software you choose has industry-specific templates to help you get started.

4. AI assistance

Artificial Intelligence has revolutionalized the way people get their things done. Make sure you select a platform that also provides AI assistance while creating a business plan.

With tools like  ChatGPT  and  AI business plan generators,  you can draft a business plan in a breeze.

5. Charts and graphs

Let’s face it, no one likes to read long paragraphs. The tool you choose must be able to turn your financial data and balance sheets into appealing and easy-to-understand charts and graphics.

6. Financial projections

Most critical section of a business plan. Understand your requirement regarding financial projections and the level of features the tool provides.

For instance, a large-scale organization may require a tool that can easily do  business financials  for ten or more years.

7. Contribution and sharing features

Make sure the tool you choose must provide the contribution and sharing features so that you can work with multiple team members.

8. Convenience and user-friendliness

A no-brainer. Ensure the software you choose has a user-friendly user interface and a manageable learning curve to understand all the working features.

9. Integrations

Some of the best business plan software integrates with accounting software. This feature can be handy while transferring financial details into your business plan.

10. Step-by-step guides

These user guides and tutorials can help you easily outline and prepare the first draft of your business plan, so make sure you consider this as one of the factors while selecting a tool.

11. Support

You are new to business planning software and may need help using some of its features. A responsive support team can help you get back on the right track.

Think of these factors as a checklist while researching the right business plan software. Once you have checked off all the boxes, you will have the right business plan software by your side.

Pros and Cons of Using Business Plan Software

Undoubtedly, business plan software can be a worth-it investment for your business, but it surely has a few disadvantages too. Let’s get to that:

• Time Saving: business plan software can be a big time-saving investment.
• Step-by-step guidance: These guides make it easier to get started for beginners.
• Accurate reporting: Good business plan software guarantee the accountability and accuracy of the reports generated.
• Customizations: Business plan tools also offer options to personalize your reports.
• Generic templates: These planning tools often provide generic templates that may not suit your requirements.
• Limited flexibility: In terms of formatting, content, design, and layout.
• Learning curve: Using these tools requires a learning curve to navigate the software.

There have to be a few disadvantages, but they are negligible when you look at the positive side of having a business plan software onboard.

And this section leads us to our conclusion!

That was the article for today with some of the best business plan software. Now over to you. Revisit the top business planning software on the list, do your research, and select the one that best suits your requirements.

Got any more burning questions in mind? The FAQ section starts right after we wrap this article up, feel free to explore. Happy business planning! 

Other Business Plan Software Alternatives

• Best 8 Liveplan alternatives
• Top Bizplan alternatives & competitors
• 8 Growthink alternatives
• Best Ideabuddy Alternatives
• Best Enloop Alternatives

Say No to Expensive Business Planning Software!

Get Affordable and Feature-Packed Business Planning with Upmetrics

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best business plan software for startups.

We’ve already mentioned the best business plan software in the blog post earlier; you may choose one amongst those depending on your specific needs.

However, Upmetrics can be a go-to business planning software for startups as it only costs $9 per month to get started—which is worth it against the value you get.

Which tool is used as a one-page business plan?

There are many business plan software providing features to create one-page business plans like—Upmetrics and Ideabuddy. You can use Upmetrics’ canvas modeling feature to develop actionable and entrepreneur-focused one-page business plans.

Can I write a business plan myself?

Of course, you can. It’s easier than ever to write a business plan with the emerging use of tools like ChatGPT. Though you can write a business plan, you need assistance making it presentable for your investors.

And business plan software providers like Upmetrics can help you do that. With 200+ sample business plans, you can easily write the first draft of your business plan.

What is the best way to write a business plan?

There cannot be a standard answer to this question. There are various business planning processes, and all of them might not work for you. Still, considering the time-saving approach, using an industry-specific template and editing it as per your requirements can be an easy way to write a business plan.

Using ChatGPT for business plan writing can also be one of the best ways to write a business plan. As mentioned, there can’t be a specific answer to this question; find a way that best suits your needs.

Is there any free business plan software available?

It’s really challenging to find the perfect business plan software, that too, for free. IdeaBuddy from our list has a free plan, but it comes with very limited features, not so helpful for creating a business plan.

Business plan software like Upmetrics, Bizplan, and LivePlan also have free trials, so you may try their features before purchasing. Furthermore, you can get a 30% off on an Upmetrics subscription if you are a nonprofit or student.

How much does business plan software typically cost?

The cost of a business plan software can widely depend on the level of features and functionalities they provide. Still, the monthly subscription of a business plan tool can range anywhere between $5 to $300.

About the Author

Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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70 Small Business Ideas for Anyone Who Wants to Run Their Own Business

Published: March 19, 2024

A good business idea may seem hard to come by, but with some planning and preparation, you can easily launch a small business to supplement your income — or become your own full-time boss.

Maybe you already have an idea of the business you’d like to start. But while you might feel ready for a new venture and passionate about your idea, you might be looking for some direction.

To help get you started, here's a list of small business ideas separated into a few sections:

• What makes a good small business?

Best Small Business Ideas

Best businesses to start with little money, home business ideas.

• Online Businesses Ideas

Easy Businesses to Start

Business ideas for students, creative small business ideas, how to start a small business at home, starting a small business: faq.

The first step to becoming a successful entrepreneur is finding a business idea that works for you. In this article, you’ll find dozens of small business ideas you can start from home and scale up as your clientele grows. Let’s get started.

What makes a good small business idea?

Not all small business ideas are made equal: Some require more effort and funding than others, while some can be launched with few resources — or resources you already have. As a potential small business owner, you’ll want to save as much money as possible on training, rent, supplies, and other necessities.

Let’s go over what makes a good business idea:

• Requires little to no training . A good small business idea will ideally leverage your existing field of expertise and require little to no training. That will not only shorten your time-to-launch, but also lessen your expenses, since training courses can cost a significant amount of money. Plus, you’ll be more confident offering services that you feel prepared to deliver.
• Requires low setup costs. Your business should be cheap to start. Maybe you only need to purchase a website domain or buy a desk for your garage.
• Requires little hands-on inventory or supply management . A great business idea needs few supplies and little inventory management. If you want to sell physical goods, you can either try drop-shipping and manually make goods in small batches.
• Is based online . The best small business ideas are based online and can be carried out from your personal computer. This will automatically lower your commuting costs and give you greater flexibility over your personal and work life.
• Can sustainably be managed by few people . As a small business owner, you won’t have the funds to hire other people to help you run your business — at least not at first. A good business idea should give you the ability to run your business on your own.

Free Business Startup kit

9 templates to help you brainstorm a business name, develop your business plan, and pitch your idea to investors.

• Business Name Brainstorming Workbook
• Business Plan Template
• Business Startup Cost Calculator

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

Airbnb Co-founder, Brian Chesky, said, “If we tried to think of a good idea, we wouldn’t have been able to think of a good idea. You just have to find the solution for a problem in your own life.”

If you’re like Brian and you’ve already thought about a solution for a problem you encounter in your life — or you’re on the path to doing so — then starting a small business may be in your future. It may also be for you if you dream of clocking out of your nine-to-five job for the last time and becoming your own boss.

Below, we include the best ideas for you to start your small business — with resources and examples to help you get started.

1. Handyman

8. Life/Career Coach

If you have experience navigating career, personal, and social transitions successfully, put it to good use as a life or career coach. Many of us are looking for guidance in our careers — and finding someone with the time to mentor us can be tough.

Life/career coaches don’t come cheap, but they are able to offer clients the intense and hands-on training and advice they need to make serious moves in their personal and professional lives. After all, everyone needs some uplifting advice from time to time.

To start your life/career coaching business with confidence, you can look for a certification program (like the Life Coach School’s or Diane Hudson’s ), then apply your skills as you acquire new clients.

A resume writing business is economical, has few overhead costs, and has few educational requirements. We still recommend having an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree and a few resume samples on hand. If you still feel that you need to brush up on your resume writing skills, you can take a course like Coursera’s or LinkedIn Learning’s .

Once you’ve gotten resume writing down, you can expand your business to include cover letter writing and even offer career coaching services in conjunction with these services.

10. Freelance Writer

If you have writing skills , there’s someone out there willing to pay you for them. Write blog posts, magazine articles, and website copy galore — just make sure you have a body of work built up to share with potential clients. Even if you create a few sample pieces to have on hand, they’ll help exhibit your work and attract new business.

To become a freelance writer, it’s essential to choose a specialty. For instance, you might choose to only write for publications in the healthcare industry (maybe because you were previously a healthcare worker) or focus on lifestyle publications. Whatever the case, specializing will help you find your niche market and gain confidence as a new freelancer writer.

There are no educational requirements for freelance writing, but you do need strong writing skills. It also helps to enjoy writing. While certification may be beneficial, getting practice and writing every day is more important. Try these writing prompts to start.

11. Landscaper

Mowing, tree-trimming, and seasonal decor are all neighborhood needs. If you have or can acquire the equipment, a landscaping business can be a lucrative affair. It’s also a great choice if you enjoy doing it for your own home and have a good eye for landscape design.

The good news is that you can start small. For instance, you could offer your neighbors seasonal planting services and start with a few perennial plants, or simply offer mulching services.

To grow your landscaping business, you should consider taking some formal training. The following organizations offer courses:

• New York Botanical Gardens

After completing a course and getting enough experience, you can apply for a certificate from a landscaping organization. While a certificate isn’t necessary to work in the field, it can build your credentials and help you make industry connections to take your landscaping business to the next level. The Association of Professional Landscape Designers offers one potential certificate you could pursue.

Some states require licensure, especially if you’ll be using pesticides and fertilizers. Be sure to review the requirements for your state.

Learn some of the basics now with this video on landscape design from Lowe’s:

12. Videographer

Video production requires you to have invested in the equipment up front, which can be quite expensive. But that’s also what makes your services so valuable. Make sure you have a reel of your work to share or create a website with several selections of your work available for interested viewers.

There are no educational or licensure requirements for starting a video production business. As with writing and other creative arts, though, it pays to specialize. Real estate videos differ radically from wedding videos, and wedding videos differ radically from in-studio interviews and testimonials. By specializing, you target a highly specific customer who’ll benefit the most from your services, and you can also skill-up more effectively in one shooting style.

While you can find general classes on videography, you should consider taking a class in the type of videography you’d like to do. For instance, you could take The Complete Wedding Videography Course .

Hot tip: If you’re interested in specializing in video marketing, check out The Ultimate Guide to Video Marketing and download our starter pack below.

13. Photographer

Start by conducting photo shoots for your family and friends. As you build a body of work, ask for referrals and reviews. Photography businesses often grow by word of mouth, so create a Facebook page where you can tag recent clients. Photos where you tag those clients will show up in their friends’ newsfeeds, where they can view your work. You can also ask them to leave reviews on your Facebook business page.

Like with a video production small business, you’ll want to specialize. Will you do product shoots or portraits? How about wedding or fashion photo shoots? Once you specialize, you’ll be able to create a body of work that most accurately represents your strengths.

There are no educational or licensure requirements for starting a small photography business. Still, we recommend investing in a few photography courses, especially if you haven’t used your camera in a while. Some courses you might start with include:

• Cornell’s Digital Photography Certificate Program
• New York Institute of Photography’s Course

From there, seek courses that help you build skills in your chosen specialty.

If you’re not sure where to start with freelance photography, take a look at Erica Clayton’s journey into the business below. Her advice? Give yourself a firm deadline to turn a profit.

14. Bed and Breakfast Owner

Some consulting industries are more competitive than others, so be sure to complete your research before starting a small consulting business. One way to find out how competitive a consulting niche is by doing keyword search . If your target niche is highly searched or is already dominated by big companies, you may have a harder time breaking in. You can use keyword research tools to uncover keyword volume and local demand.

12. Event Planner

An event planning business is an excellent choice if you have great organizational and interpersonal skills, and it’s relatively cheap to start. You might choose to specialize in a specific type of event — like weddings or company meetings — or set yourself up as an event planner of all trades.

The good news is that event planners are always in demand. It’s not an easily automated job, so this small business idea is set to thrive regardless of the digital landscape. To start, you’ll want to look for a platform that will easily allow you to advertise your availability, such as event planner directories like Eventective and WeddingWire .

If you’re highly organized, detail-oriented, and have experience planning large events, it might be time for others to benefit from your skills.

13. Personal Assistant

Personal assistants help business owners and executives take care of administrative tasks. To launch a freelance personal assistant business, you should leverage networking opportunities on LinkedIn and attend small business events at local chambers of commerce. Most local business owners might not even know they need a personal assistant until you market your services to them.

If you’re an organized, highly-detailed person, the life of a personal assistant might be for you. Don’t want to be tied to one office or person all day, every day? Consider becoming a virtual assistant, which allows you a more flexible work environment.

To become an assistant, choose a niche — will you be helping women business owners specifically? Do you have a specific field of expertise, like bookkeeping? A website can also go a long way, and be sure to print business cards for you to hand out during networking events.

14. Consignment Shop Owner

If you have an eye for style but don’t want to invest in the inventory of a brand-new boutique, consider starting a consignment shop. It will allow you to curate a collection of clothing that matches your goals and aesthetic without the overhead of a boutique selling entirely new garments.

The beauty of a small consignment business is that you can now start one online. You can sign up on a platform such as Poshmark , Depop , and even Etsy , then easily start selling your own used fashion from home.

Once you’ve defined your niche — such as vintage clothing, unique locally made art, or colorful shoes — you can begin sourcing new products from your local stores and thrift shops.

15. Caterer

If the personal chef gig is too restrictive for your schedule, consider catering instead. Pick your projects, work on fewer but larger events, and hone in on your time management skills.

Becoming a caterer is a natural step for those who are used to cooking for large events — for instance, you may have already catered your friend’s wedding or brought a 20-person meal to a potluck (that counts, too!).

It’s essential that you have enough temperature-regulated storage for the meals prior to each event, and that you arrange for reliable, temperature-controlled transportation to and from your home kitchen. Alternatively, you can lower your costs by inviting customers to pick up their order at your home.

16. Gym Owner

Kickboxing gyms, yoga studios, CrossFit, oh my! Turn your passion for fitness into a community for others by creating your own gym — start one from the ground up, become an affiliate, or open a franchise location.

Available franchise opportunities include Anytime Fitness, Orangetheory Fitness, Pure Barre, Planet Fitness, Crunch Fitness, and more. Be prepared to take out a loan to finance your franchise — most agreements start with fees upward of $20,000. But the payoff can be tremendous due to brand recognition. You’ll have no trouble recruiting new members as long as you use local marketing strategies .

Alternatively, you can create a local studio, but ideally, it should be for a specific activity instead of general fitness. Yoga, pilates, bootcamp-style gyms, and martial arts perform well as independent fitness studios.

17. Boutique Agency Owner

What’s your specialty? Whether it’s marketing, social media, or PR, it might be time to start your own agency. Many other small businesses need this type of help but don’t have the resources or volume to necessitate a full-time position.

To start an agency, you would ideally have worked in your specialty for a number of years. You should also be prepared to interface directly with clients, fulfill their requirements, and temper their expectations (if they want results in an unreasonably short amount of time).

Consider building a small team and learn from other entrepreneurs who’ve successfully started their own agencies, like Duane Brown of Take Some Risk .

18. Coffee Shop Owner

Turn your caffeine addiction into something a little more lucrative. Opening a franchise or buying an existing shop are lower-risk entry points to the coffee game, but they usually require a little more cash upfront. Starting a shop from scratch requires more planning and work — but it also maximizes your earning potential in the future.

A coffee shop is an excellent fit if you already have a full-time remote job and wish to supplement your income with a small business. You can manage the coffee shop as you work at one of the tables, but be sure to have the budget to hire an experienced barista who can pick up the slack.

If you would like to open a coffee shop and run it full-time on your own, you’ll need to undertake barista training, understand worldwide coffee sources, and have excellent customer service skills.

19. Moving Company

A truck, moving equipment, manpower, and the correct permits and insurance are the building blocks of starting your own moving company . Before you buy your first fleet of trucks, however, start small with a moving van and keep your costs low.

Still sound like too much of an initial investment? Consider offering packing services only, which have a much lower financial barrier to entry. You can partner with moving companies and offer to do their packing, or have them refer clients to you.

You could even take a niche approach to the industry as Astro International has by offering international moving services.

2. Vending Machine Owner

Since 2015, the growth rate for vending machine businesses has increased 1.4%. Even as social distancing restrictions are still in place, this business can still be lucrative if you choose the right locations. High-traffic is key — places like hospitals, schools, and community centers are smart places to start placing your machines to generate enough revenue to cover cost and turn a profit.

3. Social Media Manager

Do you have a knack for social media? As a social media manager, you can use your skills to manage the social media accounts for companies and even individual people. Influencer marketing has become more common and many influencers rely on marketing agencies or employees to help them run their social channels.

Online Business Ideas

If you want a business idea that you can run entirely online, check out the ones below. These ideas are ideal for those looking for a passive income stream. In other words, you shouldn’t need to do too much manual work to launch these businesses from your home or preferred business location.

1. Become an online reseller.

To become an online reseller, all you need is some business savvy and some funds to invest in product stock from manufacturers — or, of course,the willingness to sell your own used items. Generally, this is a low-touch but high-performance way of creating a passive income online business.

Online resellers usually use a platform, such as Facebook Marketplace or Amazon Sellers, to sell either their own or manufacturers’ stock. The benefit of using Facebook Marketplace is that you can begin today with your own Facebook account, and simply list items that you already own.

Interested buyers typically drive directly to your home for pick-up — but if you’re not interested in human interaction, you can leave it outside and have the buyer pay via an online platform.

Blogging is one of the most accessible small businesses to start, and there are countless niches to choose from. That said, because there are many blogs online, you’ll need to learn blog SEO and keyword research to ensure your audience finds you. That way, you actually make money out of your blogging efforts.

The great news is that a small blogging business has a ridiculously low overhead. All you need is a custom domain and your time for writing blog posts.

5. Home-Baked Goods Seller

Warehouse-made, store-bought chocolate chip cookies will never compare to a batch made with love in someone’s home. Simple desserts can be easily baked and packaged to sell at local events or around your neighborhood. Use custom labels and watch the word spread about your goods!

You can begin a baked goods business easily by opening a Facebook and Instagram profile. Facebook and Instagram are both excellent platforms to market your goods, show pictures of your previous baked products, and even showcase happy clients.

Build a loyal following slowly, and save on costs by asking clients to drive to your home to pick up their order. Choosing a niche can be helpful here, or baking in a specific style that can’t be found at grocery store bakeries. The overhead can be especially low if you already have most essential baking supplies.

6. Ecommerce Store Owner

Do you create, collect, or curate anything special? Consider starting an ecommerce store and turning your hobby into a full-time job. Whether you need somewhere to sell all that pottery you’ve been making, or an excuse to search for the sports memorabilia you love tracking down, an ecommerce store can make it financially viable for you to pursue your passion.

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Starting an ecommerce store is simple and easy. You can set up a shop using an ecommerce website builder , all of which start at a minimal monthly subscription (some even start at free). Be sure to take good photos of your products and write descriptive product pages .

If you don’t have inventory, you can always own an ecommerce store by using dropshipping . Instead of creating and shipping your products yourself, you’ll instead partner with a dropshipping website and have them mail out the orders directly to your client.

7. House Cleaner

With a low barrier to entry, house cleaning can be a great way to start doing what you love — soon. Consider advertising to homes in your neighborhood and get more bang for your buck by earning a few small businesses as clients as well. They’ll usually bring in a higher paycheck for a similar amount of work.

To become a house cleaner, you should be prepared to invest in cleaning supplies and accessories, or be willing to use your own. If you plan to serve small businesses, you should buy industrial janitorial supplies so you can get work done more effectively.

Need some inspiration? This small business cleaning service grew virtually overnight on Instagram after their content went viral during the pandemic.

Learn more about choosing the right structure for your business from the Small Business Administration.

6. Create a business bank account.

Once you have a legally formed business and have been issued an Employer Identification Number (EIN), open a bank account specifically for your business. Having a business bank account is essential for keeping your personal and business finances separate which can help you gain an accurate picture of your business’s cash flow and financial health.

Additionally, keeping your personal and business finances separate makes bookkeeping and tax preparation easier.

Many banks offer business checking and savings accounts. Business checking accounts typically do not have a limit on the number of transactions that can take place, and issue a debit card that can be used for making business purchases. However, these checking accounts do not accrue interest.

Business savings accounts typically earn interest over time but have a limited number of transactions that can occur each month. When you’re just starting out, look for a business bank account that does not have a minimum balance requirement so you are not penalized for having low funds as you work to build your business.

7. Determine if your business idea works well from home.

Ask yourself whether your business idea will work well from home. Some businesses simply aren’t suited to be based from home. If you want to run a dog boarding center but live in an apartment without a backyard, you might want to consider a dog walking business instead.

8. Set up an office.

If your business idea is well-suited for being run from home, it’s still important you have a designated workspace. While a home office might not be possible, consider setting aside a corner in your living room or putting a desk in your bedroom for a space that inspires you and creates the conditions for success.

Need a more professional space? If you conduct client-facing work requiring you to be on video calls, no one wants to see your rumpled sheets in the background. Check out local coworking spaces for memberships that earn you access to conference rooms, desk space, and more.

9. Get to work!

You’ve put in the hard work, but I’ve got bad news — it’s only going to get harder. But most entrepreneurs will agree that the payoff of being your own boss, making your own hours, and working on projects that you’re passionate about will pay dividends for the rest of your life.

What are the types of small businesses?

The types of small business structures are sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies (LLCs), and corporations.

• Sole Proprietorship — The simplest type of business structure is a sole proprietorship, which is also the easiest to start. As a sole proprietor, you are personally responsible for the business's liabilities and profits, and you have complete control over your business. If you are a solopreneur, you are automatically considered a sole proprietor.
• Partnership — A partnership is a business model involving two or more individuals who agree to share the business‘s profits and liabilities. Each partner contributes to the business and shares the risks and rewards. It’s essential to have a partnership agreement that defines each partner's roles and responsibilities to ensure clarity and prevent potential misunderstandings.
• Limited Liability Company (LLC) — An LLC, or limited liability company, is a common option for small businesses because it protects its owners by separating personal assets from the company's liabilities. To form an LLC, the business owner must file the required paperwork with the state.
• Corporation — A corporation is an independent legal entity distinct from its owners. It provides limited liability protection to its shareholders, who are not held personally accountable for the company's debts. Corporations have formal requirements and often raise capital by issuing stocks or shares.

Which business type is best?

The best business type is a limited liability company (LLC). Operating as an LLC means that your personal assets are separate from your business assets. If your business goes bankrupt, your personal holdings won’t be affected. That said, it’s also one of the costlier types, requiring a fee paid to the state.

The easiest business type to start is a sole proprietorship. The main downside is that there’s no differentiation between you and your business.

It's crucial to seek advice from legal or accounting professionals to determine the best business structure based on your unique needs and objectives. Each structure has advantages, legal requirements, tax implications, and flexibility considerations.

How do I create a business idea?

To create a business idea, determine your skill set, work preferences, startup budget, and available resources. It’s important to strike the right balance between what you can feasibly offer and what you can feasibly afford in the short and long term.

We recommend starting with your skill set so that you can easily determine the niche in which you can effectively compete. For instance, if you have ample experience as a writer, you might consider starting a freelance writing business. But if you know you’d prefer to work with clients face-to-face, you might choose to start a ghostwriting business instead. That’s why it’s so important to take your work preferences into account, as well.

After that, take a look at your budget and determine the type of business you can start based on the resources at your disposal. For instance, you might not be able to afford a physical office or location, so a location-based business will likely not be a good fit. In that case, starting an online business is your best option.

What resources or tools can I use to refine and validate my business ideas during the brainstorming process?

Online market research tools like Google Trends, Keyword Planner, and SEMrush can provide insights into market demand, competition, and keyword trends related to your business niche. Industry reports and market analyses from reputable sources such as IBISWorld, Gartner, Statista, and industry-specific publications can offer valuable data and trends to inform your decision-making. Ensure you know the industry risk before embarking on your small business venture.

→ Download Now: Market Research Kit [Free Download]

Additionally, joining entrepreneurial communities, forums, and social media groups can provide opportunities to seek feedback, network with like-minded people, and gain insights from experienced entrepreneurs. Finally, consider conducting surveys or interviews with potential customers to gather feedback and validate your business concept before investing significant time and resources.

What are some of the most successful small businesses?

Every small business has the potential to be successful and profitable, provided it’s backed by a strong product-market fit and a robust business plan . These two elements are essential. Maybe postnatal services are one of the most successful small businesses to launch, but if you live in an area with declining population or a large elderly population, then that small business idea won’t yield a high return on investment.

Think carefully about the market where you’re launching your business, and you’ll be more than likely to see lasting success.

What are the top growing small businesses?

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Planning, Startups, Stories

Tim berry on business planning, starting and growing your business, and having a life in the meantime., top 10 tips for business planning.

5 Major tips for all business planning

• Form follows function . Like anything else in business, a business plan should be judged good or bad not in a vacuum but in its business context with its specific business objective. Most of the online discussion about business plans is focused on business plans related to seeking investment, and I’m going to make the assumption in this answer that you are asking about those. But in real life, the plan related to seeking investment is a subset, a special case. Most real business plans are about managing a business and need a lot less description and research than the business plan related to seeking investment. In most cases, a lean business plan fits the business purpose best.
• Projections are important not for their actual numbers as much as for their presentation of drivers, relationships between growth and spending, key spending priorities, sales aspirations, and assumptions related to cash flow. They have to be solid and integrated, but accuracy is much more a matter of transparent assumptions than accurately predicting the future.
• All business plans should establish strategy, tactics, milestones, tasks, assumptions, and essential numbers (projected sales, direct costs, expenses, and cash flow) .
• All business plans should develop accountability and tracking .
• All business plans should be reviewed and revised at least monthly . The review should include looking for changed assumptions and analyzing plan vs actual results with management of the difference.

10 Tips on business plans for seeking investment

• Investors invest in businesses, not plans . The business plan is a necessary but not sufficient condition for finding outside investors. The plan describes the business and what it might become, and that’s all. A beautifully written, edited, and formatted business plan will not make a less investible business more investible. The investment decision is about the content – the team, the market, the differentiators, the scalability, traction so far, validators, growth potential – not the presentation or formatting of the plan. The best use of business plans starts with founders using plans to establish strategy, tactics, milestones, and (especially important) essential projections of sales, spending, headcount, startup costs, capital needs; it’s for the founders to know, first, what they plan to do. Later, as the investment process proceeds (if it does), the latest regularly-revised plan will serve as a companion piece to the pitch and a key document for due diligence.
• You need both pitch and plan . The pitch is a summary of the plan, organized according to highlights for investors, ideally a way to present your business in a structured way. The business plan is the bones of the pitch, like the screenplay, setting strategy, tactics, milestones, market, and essential numbers.
• The normal flow is from introduction, to pitch, to business plan in detail. It’s trendy to say investors don’t read business plans, but what actually happens is they only read business plans of the businesses they are interested in. They reject businesses from intro and pitch, without reading the business plan. The business plan is an essential component of normal due diligence. Never do a pitch without having a plan, because if investors like the pitch they will ask questions that you can’t answer without a real plan. Things like: Could you grow faster with more money? What are your headcount assumptions? How much are you spending on marketing expenses? What are you assuming for payments and collections lags?
• Cover the bases . No need to elaborate here. There are tons of good outlines available, plus books, blogs. Down below I have some specific resources related to my work; but not now. There is no single best outline to use, but investors will want to know about the market, potential growth, competition, differentiation (or secret sauce) strategy, tactics, key milestones, important assumptions, the management team, and financial projections including use of funds, projected sales, income, balance, and cash flow. Use your common sense to put first things first and organize it all well.
• A good summary is essential . Many investors will read only the summary.
• Keep it short . Consider doing just a lean business plan with key info and using your pitch to supplement with more summary and description. Cover the key points and move on.
• It’s about business, not science, not technology . Don’t show off your knowledge. Cover the business essentials including marketing, distribution, pricing, channels, etc.. Leave the science and technology for supplemental documents.
• Forget discounted cash flow, net presented value, IRR, etc . Investors don’t care about uncertainty compounded on uncertainty. They want to know real assumptions that matter. They’ll use their own knowledge and experience to decide about future values.
• Don’t hide anything . It’s not hard to find the key points that investors want you to cover. What’s most important, what order, and how much detail depends on your specifics. Make essential information easy to find. Don’t leave anything obvious out.
• Keep it fresh . That’s why you don’t write a long treatise. A business plan’s shelf life is about a month. Don’t think you can write it once and then live with it for months.

6 Common mistakes to avoid with plans for investors

• Big profits prove nothing but that you don’t know the business . The most common mistake by far is on profits. Startups that grow don’t produce profits. Investors make money on valuation increases, not profits. Real businesses rarely produce more than single-digit profits. Big profit projections are sophomoric. Take all those profits and dump them into marketing expenses and you’ll be better off.
• Prepare to defend hockey-stick projections with believable assumptions and back-up info on how this is realistic. Unsupported huge growth projections are a crock and everybody knows it.
• Being the low-cost provider is very last millennium . Markets split. The low-cost providers are the big dinosaurs with huge capital bases.
• Don’t give all the founders C-level titles . Settle down. Execute, grow, meet milestones, and then up the titles if you haven’t had to bring in some new people.
• Plan to pay your key people . To be honest, some investors like to see founders living on ramen and losing their families. Most don’t. Most investors want you to pay the key people enough to preserve their lives and work ethics, less than true market value, but enough to live on decently.
• Respect normal sales cycles, marketing benchmarks, and cash flow patterns for your industry . For example, if you sell to enterprise it’s going to take a lot of structure, patience, and waiting. If you’re B-to-B then you’re going to need working capital to support receivables. And if you’re industry spends 35% of revenue on marketing, then so do you. Or more, because you want to grow.

It is amazing content. Please keep it up…Thanks

It’s very knowledgeable and useful for me. Thanks For it!

I have gone through this article and I really found it too interesting and useful for everyone. Thanks for sharing.

In my opinion, people who are planning to start a retail service must seek help from a business development service taht will be able to help them with various marketing strategies. Well, I agree with you that it would be a great idea to come up with a business plan first because this will help them see their service’s flow. It’s also a great thing that financial projection is very necessary.

Reading one of the best articles about tips for business planning. Thanks for sharing!

Great and helpful blog to everyone. Thanks a lot for sharing this amazing article. I agree with your idea that “Don’t hide anything. It’s not hard to find the key points that investors want you to cover. What’s most important, what order, and how much detail depends on your specifics. Make essential information easy to find. Don’t leave anything obvious out.”

Very well written article with full information. Thank you for sharing this great info. It’s nice to know and read about this stuff. I would definitely try to follow these suggestions.

Thanks for the information

I like the idea of covering the main points and then moving on. Keeping things short can really establish what kind of business you want to lead. And, if needs be, you can always revisit that plan. Thanks for the tips!

Thanks for sharing the article about 10 financial planning tips for startups success.If you need more information then please visit Lightbox.

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Top 10 Business Plan Software to Help with Your Business 2024

Edward simmons.

Updated by March 18,2024

Business Plan software is a one-stop solution for the entire business plan creation process. It will help you organize information for the business plan and allow you to choose between a traditional business plan or a more dynamic video presentation.

Most entrepreneurs have to rely on the best business software to draft business plans electronically. It works best when they need to show their plans to investors or consulting companies. When using the business plan software of your choice, you'll come across various templates that are basically samples of effective business plans to make your job a bit easy.

Many great business plan software providers focus on essential templates designed for different categories of businesses like service companies, the manufacturing industry, the health industry, the food industry, retail, banks, restaurant, sports and entertainment, education, and so on.

However, there are many business plan software options available to help you create a professional plan that can guide your business to success. With so many options available, it can be challenging to determine which software is best for your needs. So, this write-up will mention the top ten business plan software to help with your business in 2024, so let's begin with the first one.

• 10 Business Plan Software to Help Your Business   Show list  
• Business Sorter
• MAUS MasterPlan

Wrapping Up

1. liveplan.

First, in this list, we have LivePlan , which is effective for those looking for template-rich and affordable business plan software. With LivePlan, you get over 500 free and full-length sample business plans and step-by-step assistance to make a trouble-free start.

Coming to its features, you get to compare the industry benchmark, gain access to educational materials, a one-page business plan, and more.

As LivePlan is one of the most affordable options you can get, you need to pay as per its plans, and the price for them are:

• Pay-as-you-go Plan: $20/month (billed monthly)
• 6-month Plan: $18/month (billed every 6 months)
• Annual Plan: $15/month (billed annually)

According to some users, using LivePlan requires a learning curve, and they cannot customize the financial projection dates. Apart from that, you get limited third-party integration which can be a major drawback of this software.

When it comes to understanding the whole perspective of growing your business, Cuttles comes forward as the best business plan software . Its fully interactive and guided interface helps entrepreneurs to start businesses more efficiently than they could. In addition, Cuttles has features such as a freemium version to use, a one-page pitch section, proper financial forecasts, a team feature to showcase your team, a multilingual option, and multiple share & export options.

Regarding the prices, most users rely on its freemium plan with limited features, no guidance, and no share & export option. Other than that, you get three plans:

• Seed Plan - €8 (billed annually) - for startups and early-stage businesses with a one-page business plan template, financial forecasting tools, and investor readiness tools.
• Grow Plan - €16 (billed annually) - for small to medium-sized businesses with a five-year financial forecast, a pitch deck builder, and a business model canvas.
• Series Plan - €48 (billed annually) - for larger businesses seeking funding or planning to go public with a detailed financial model, advanced analytics, and a fundraising dashboard.

3. GoSmallBiz

GoSmallBiz was founded in 1996 by a famous name Fran Tarkenton. This business planning software works efficiently for small business consulting and running your business as you like. GoSmallBiz offers a step-by-step guide to go through every single aspect of the platform and comes with about 100 business templates. In addition, you get reports on your financial data, and you can integrate with social media platforms.

To use GoSmallBiz, the paid plans start at $15/month to $199/year . It is a great option for entrepreneurs who need several additional business tools and a wide range of templates. However, the interface of GoSmallBiz may feel outdated to some, and it can be a bit more costly than other options available.

BizPlan is specifically built for startups, and you can use it for customizable business pitches and planning options to attract investors. It has a modern, and easy-to-use user interface that startups may find highly beneficial. It also comes with a step-by-step business plan builder and multiple drag-and-drop tools to build templates. Coming to its pricing, there is no free trial, but there are three pricing plans to use BizPlan:

• Monthly Plan: $29 / month
• Annual Plan: $20.75 / month
• Lifetime Access Plan: $349

BizPlan provides a financial command center through which you can track all business financials in one place. It also offers a plethora of online courses and the option of unlimited account collaboration. However, BizPlan can be problematic for those looking for industry-based templates and mobile compatibility.

5. PlanBuildr

PlanBuildr is an excellent business planning software for entrepreneurs and small business owners that helps create comprehensive business plans. It comes with a user-friendly interface through which users can create professional-grade business plans without any prior experience in the same field.

One of the key features of PlanBuildr is its customizable business plan templates. Some pre-built templates are great for restaurants, retail stores, and service-based businesses. In addition, PlanBuildr also includes a financial forecasting tool that enables users to create detailed financial projections for their business.

PlanBuildr comes with a free trial and annual subscriptions as well. The annual subscription is available at $7.99 per month, and you must pay $47 to use PlanBuildr for 60 days.

6. Business Sorter

Business Sorter is a cloud-based business plan software that is focused on creating business plans in a more simplified manner. With the help of Business Sorter, you can create an effective business plan in hours and keep track of everything. The reason behind that is the novel 273 card sort system which speeds up the whole process.

You can keep your ideas and thoughts in one place and get effective tips for drafting the strategies. In addition, Business Sorter also provides educational resources for experienced users and multi-device access. Coming to its pricing, Business Sorter offers four different plans, and they are:

• Small Team Plan: $80/ year for only 3 users (billed annually)
• Medium Team Plan: $240/ year for only 10 users (billed annually)
• Large Team Plan: $640/ year for up to 30 users (billed annually)
• Enterprise Plan: Custom Pricing with unlimited users.

However, there are no video educational resources and limited options for financial planning.

Enloop is a web-based business plan software created to help entrepreneurs and small business owners create and manage business plans effectively. With the help of artificial intelligence and automated financial forecasting tools, you can easily analyze data and gain valuable insights regarding business growth.

Enloop guides users through the process of creating a comprehensive business plan by providing templates, financial modeling tools, and analysis of key performance indicators. Users can input financial data, market analysis, and operational plans, and Enloop will generate a customized business plan complete with financial projections and charts. In addition, Enloop offers business plan grading, industry benchmarking, and collaboration tools for teams.

Users have to pay $11/ month (billed annually) for the Detailed plan and $24/ month (billed annually) for the Performance plan. However, several users have claimed that the customer support of Enloop can be improved.

8. Upmetrics

If you're about to start a business and looking for the right business planning software, Upmetrics would be a good option. It provides almost everything, from planning processes to building growth strategies. You get more than 200 sample plans, step-by-step-step guidance, and financial forecasting options when using Upmetrics. Coming to its reliability, Upmetrics is used by more than 100k entrepreneurs worldwide to plan their businesses and create effective growth strategies.

To use Upmetrics, there's a free demo, and the paid plans include the following:

• Upmetrics Solo: $9 per month
• Upmetrics Team: $14 per month
• Upmetrics Premium: $48 per month

Despite all the useful features, you won't find real-time live tracking of the system when using Upmetrics. In addition, many users have claimed that it creates pretty generic business plan templates and provides financial forecasts for 5 years.

9. PlanGuru

PlanGuru is a business plan software known for financial planning and budgeting. You get 20+ forecasting methods, effective performance analyzing tools, and a rolling forecast. With PlanGuru, you also get a rolling forecast, and this tool enables you to assess the potential effects of your expenditures on your cash flow in advance. It helps you make informed decisions about spending and better understand the impact it may have. In addition, PlanGuru works with Quickbooks, Xero, and Excel.

Regarding the pricing, the Monthly plan is available at $99/month , but if you want additional users, it will cost $29/month . Also, the Annual plan is available at $899/year with additional users at $299/year.

However, you'll get no templates for basic plan drafting, and a user must have some prior financial knowledge to use the PlanGuru property.  

10. MAUS MasterPlan

MAUS MasterPlan is a strategic planning and business management software developed by MAUS Business Systems, an Australian-based company. It is highly effective in assisting business owners and managers when forming comprehensive business plans and strategies.

MAUS MasterPlan offers a range of features, including financial forecasting, goal setting, SWOT analysis, and risk assessment. With a myriad of templates and tools for creating business plans, marketing plans, and financial reports, MAUS MasterPlan surely becomes one of the best business planning software out there. The software keeps a structured and well-organized approach to planning and managing the finances, helping them to achieve their goals and grow their businesses.

Coming to its pricing, the Business planning & HR Pack is available at $97/month , the MasterPlan Lean plan at $299/year , and the Business Planning Pack at $499/year .

Overall, MAUS MasterPlan is a useful tool for businesses looking to create a detailed and well-structured strategic plan. It can help businesses to identify their strengths and weaknesses, set achievable goals, and develop a roadmap for success.

As you've now gone through the 10 best business plan software available in 2024, you can easily decide which one will fit well for your business needs. You can consider specific features, the pros and cons, and most importantly, your budget to determine the right option for you.

For future recommendations related to eCommerce and other marketing trends, continue reading the blogs available on DSers blog page .

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We're a Gen Z couple making $250,000 combined, but it doesn't feel like we're top 10% earners

• Sheldon and Camry are a couple earning $250,000, making their household among the  top 10% earners.
• Their monthly spending includes a $200 gym membership, date nights, and paying for a wedding.
• But the Gen Z pair doesn't feel like major earners thanks to New York rent and saving for a wedding.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with investment banker Sheldon, 26, and 25-year-old registered nurse Camry. They requested to use their first names only to maintain their privacy and protect their careers. Together, the New York City-based couple earns about $250,000 annually, with both making six-figure salaries. They have no children. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the highest 10% of earners in the US brought in at least $199,135 as a household in 2022. This article has been edited for length and clarity.

We're both less than five years into our careers, and while we're considered in the top 10% of earners , it doesn't feel like that at all.

Two major reasons for that: We live in New York City and are planning a wedding, so our $4,000 in rent and $3,000 in wedding expenses tend to eat up the majority of the monthly budget.

This wedding is a sacrifice we knew we wanted to make, but we'll be glad when it's over. The wedding will end up costing between $55,000 and $60,000 total.

We've basically been paying another rent payment on top of our other expenses. As soon as it's over, we can finally splurge the way we'd like. It's definitely going to feel like a pay rise.

Despite earning more than a lot of people, we both still have this kind of grinder mentality because our life isn't cheap, and times are tough. Our jobs in investment banking and nursing are pretty stressful, but they provide a certain lifestyle that we definitely want to attain.

Our finances won't be fully combined until after we're married, but we pay for things cooperatively. For now, we spend from separate accounts.

On budgeting

Sheldon: I've gone through the trouble of actually creating a budget using a template on Excel and all that. It looks nice and pretty, but adhering to it is a completely different ballgame.

Camry: I always have a number in my head of what I don't want my checking account to go below or my credit card limit to go above. Having something we're working toward is kind of like budgeting. We're on a wedding budget right now.

What they splurge on

Sheldon: Our special date nights do incur a lot of expenses because we're going to nice restaurants spending between $250 and $275 for the two of us. It definitely adds up.

I'm kind of big into fashion — brands like Kith or Aimé Leon Dore —so I'll buy a couple of pieces here and there when it makes sense. Wall Street is very "work hard, play hard," so sometimes you need to treat yourself with retail therapy.

Related stories

Camry: I pay for my student loans, rent, and my phone bill. Whatever I have left after wedding expenses, I consider my discretionary spending money.

We're privileged enough to eat out multiple times a week if we want, and if I want to go to Sephora and buy some things or have a monthly gym membership, I can do those things.

My $200 monthly unlimited membership at CorePower Yoga is a non-negotiable for me.

What they save on

Sheldon: I don't really spend extravagantly to begin with because of my schedule. I'm able to avoid a lot of expenses because I work so much.

My food and travel expenses are typically paid for when I'm working late into the evening, so it saves me a lot of charges.

But apart from eating out, we're not doing a lot of recreational stuff. Right now, our favorite activity is taking walks in Central Park, which is nice because it's free.

Camry: I do get a discount as a nurse on my gym membership. I try to look for those sorts of discounts to save money where I can.

I used to buy designer bags and shoes without a second thought, but now we have something to pay for as a couple.

Their financial advice to others

Sheldon: I advise my friends to sacrifice a little now so that you can live better later, to invest in the market and be patient, and to have an idea of the life you want and what it will cost and plan accordingly.

Camry: If I could do anything differently, I would've opened up a high-yield savings account when I first started my nursing job post-graduation.

Their future plans

Sheldon: Once the wedding is over, we'll be able to resume normal operations. I'll finally be able to start saving regularly again since this process has made me stop almost completely.

We definitely have very ambitious travel goals. There are no limitations of places we can think of. South Africa, Singapore, Paris, and Japan are on our dream travel list, for sure.

Watch: The 12 exclusive events packed with billionaires

• Main content

Public funds to incentivise manufacturing and clean energy projects, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says

Live Moment Public funds to incentivise manufacturing and clean energy projects, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia must stay in the "global race" for jobs, as he prepares to detail a taxpayer-funded incentive scheme for advanced manufacturing and clean energy projects.

The "Future Made in Australia Act" will seek to compete with US President Joe Biden's massive spending plans under the US Inflation Reduction Act.

Mr Albanese said it would consolidate existing efforts under one banner, including Hydrogen Headstart, Solar Sunshot and the government's $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund.

"We know during the pandemic, we learnt the risks of what happens if we're cut off from trade. We can't afford to not be able to stand on our own two feet," Mr Albanese told Channel Seven.

"And we saw manufacturing leave this country in the 70s and 80s. We want to bring it back."

The prime minister will make the case for the Future Made in Australia Act in a major speech on Thursday, setting out his agenda for the next year leading up to an election.

He will warn Australia's economy will suffer without greater government intervention, as other nations draw "an explicit link between economic security and national security".

Mr Biden's landmark Inflation Reduction Act includes hundreds of billions of dollars in tax breaks and subsidies over the next decade, aimed at boosting clean energy infrastructure and encouraging high-tech manufacturing.

"Obviously, Australia cannot go dollar for dollar with the United States' Inflation Reduction Act," speech notes provided by the prime minister's office state.

"But this is not an auction – it's a competition.

"And Australian can absolutely compete for international investment when it comes to our capacity to produce outcomes, the quality of our policies and the power of our incentives."

The federal government has been urged to do more to entice investment in renewable energy and critical industries, amid warnings the US could hoover up available international capital under its own plans.

The prime minister has frequently referred to his desire to see Australia step up in areas such as battery and solar panel manufacturing, harnessing the materials mined in Australia but currently exported overseas for processing.

Mr Albanese will reference efforts from the US, European Union, Japan, South Korea and Canada to strengthen their own critical industries.

"All these countries are investing in their industrial base, their manufacturing capability and their economic sovereignty," the prime minister is expected to say.

"This is not old-fashioned protectionism or isolationism – it is the new competition.

"These nations are not withdrawing from global trade or walking away from world markets or the rules-based order, and let me be clear, nor should Australia."

Live Moment

Look back at how ABC readers and other Australians responded to this live moment.

That concludes the PM's address

Thanks for joining us for the live moment.

We'll leave our live coverage here.

How will the new act impact the economy?

The PM has been asked:

How do you expect the plan you unveiled today to impact the economy at a time when inflation is approaching the RBA's target range?

Here's what Mr Albanese says:

"It is about encouraging private sector investment, it is about making sure as well that all of the measures that we have put in place, including all of our cost of living measures, have been aimed at areas that would not contribute to inflation."

The risk of increasing power prices

The PM has been asked whether there is a risk an energy transition would be costly and cause power prices to increase.

"That is what is driving the change," Albanese says. "In terms of where that new investment will go. So we want to create an environment whereby we provide support but we acknowledge the importance of market mechanisms and what that means is investment in renewables will lead to cheaper power because that is what every economist tells us."

Wondering what this is? Join us next time we're live and be part of the discussion.

Not the invisible hand, nor heavy-handed either, PM argues

In a pre-emptive strike against critics who would argue against taxpayer funds being spent, Mr Albanese will make the argument that Australia's partners are "moving to the beat of a new economic reality."

"None of this is merely being left to market forces or trusted to the invisible hand," he is expected to say.

"The heavy lifting of economic transition and industrial transformation is not being done by individuals, companies or communities on their own.

"It is being facilitated, enabled and empowered by national governments from every point on the political spectrum.

"Because this is not about ideology, it's about opportunity – and urgency."

The Future Made in Australia Act would focus on boosting investment in areas such as rare earths mining and processing, hydrogen and solar energy production.

"We recognise that for Australians to share fully in the rewards, government needs to be prepared to use its size and strength and strategic capacity to absorb some of the risk," the speech notes state.

"Only government has the resources to do that, only government can draw together the threads from across the economy and around our nation."

Casting forward to budget

Ahead of the federal budget on May 14, the prime minister will argue the policy complements other measures, such as revised income tax cuts, to improve productivity across the country.

"The first four years of this decade have tested the resilience of our economy and our society alike," he is expected to say.

"Alongside the devastation of floods and bushfires, Australia has endured a once-in-a-century global pandemic and the biggest international energy crisis in 50 years.

"Government needs to have this same capacity to respond and adapt, to anticipate change – and shape it – when it comes to building for the future."

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Trump, in Pennsylvania, Attacks Judge as First Criminal Trial Looms

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 13, 2024. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

By Jarrett Renshaw and Gram Slattery

SCHNECKSVILLE, Pennsylvania (Reuters) -Donald Trump again slammed the judge overseeing his first criminal trial during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, comments that portend a rough-and-tumble several weeks ahead as the former president gears up for court.

Trump is expected to be in Manhattan on Monday for the beginning of the trial, a case involving hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.

The former president has frequently attacked Justice Juan Merchan and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in the past, accusing both men of exhibiting political bias against him.

Merchan in late March issued a gag order preventing Trump from making public statements about witnesses concerning their potential testimony and about prosecutors, court staff and their family members, if those statements are meant to interfere with the case.

On April 1, Merchan extended that gag order to include members of his own family, after the former president disparaged his daughter, who runs a digital marketing agency that works with Democratic candidates and nonprofits. The order excluded Merchan himself.

"I have a crooked judge. This has never happened before, you do know that, right?" Trump told supporters on Saturday night in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Allentown.

"Fully gagged before a highly conflicted and corrupt judge, who suffers from TDS. Does anyone know what TDS is? Correct. Trump Derangement Syndrome."

During the speech, Trump briefly referenced Iran's recent drone and missile attack on Israel, saying that it would have never happened under his watch.

"They're under attack right now," Trump said. "That's, that's because we show great weakness. This would not happen, the weakness that we've shown, it's unbelievable, and it would not have happened if we were in office."

Trump's visit to Pennsylvania, which also included a fundraiser, will be closely followed by President Joe Biden, who will make three stops in the battleground state next week, speaking first in his hometown of Scranton about his push to reform the U.S. tax code.

With 19 electoral votes - one of the highest counts among all 50 states - and voters that swing between backing Democrats like Biden and Republicans like Trump, Pennsylvania is a top prize in the 2024 presidential election and is likely to see many more visits in coming months.

Biden won Pennsylvania in 2020 by less than 1.5%, or roughly 80,000 votes, after Trump beat Hillary Clinton there by less than 45,000 votes in 2016. State opinion polls taken in March swing from showing Biden with a 10-percentage-point lead to Trump up 4 points, election data site FiveThirtyEight shows.

Democrats are betting on a strong turnout in Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs, a region that accounts for 33% of all voting registrations, to offset losses throughout much of the rest of the state. Trump and Republicans are looking to run up huge margins in less populous, largely white counties to offset urban votes.

Biden, who has been to Pennsylvania four times so far this year, will also travel to the Pittsburgh area and Philadelphia over three days, the White House said on Friday.

Trump's Saturday rally at Schnecksville Fire Hall targeted the Lehigh Valley, a mix of Rust Belt cities, sprawling suburbs and rural towns. It includes Northampton County, one of two counties Biden flipped in 2020, which has long been a reliable bellwether of statewide success. 

"If you win Northampton County, you are likely to win the state. It's that important of a location," Chris Borick, a political science professor at Pennsylvania's Muhlenberg University, said of Trump's rally.

The former president attended a fundraiser before his rally in Bucks County, another bellwether region that Biden narrowly won in 2020. The event was hosted by Jim Worthington, a wealthy gym owner who has pressured Trump to stop criticizing mail-in voting.

TRUMP ENDORSES MCCORMICK

Pennsylvania is a sprawling, politically complex place where voters historically have often elevated consensus-minded statewide candidates, a history that could affect the closely watched U.S. Senate race.

Incumbent Bob Casey, a Democrat, will battle Republican Dave McCormick, a wealthy former hedge fund executive, one of just a handful of races in 2024 that will decide who controls the Senate.

During his rally on Saturday night, Trump offered his endorsement to McCormick, even though the two men have had a complex relationship at times in the past.

"He's given up a lot to do this, and I'll tell you what, he's the nominee of the Republican Party," Trump said.

Population shifts could affect the races here. Pennsylvania's population topped 13 million in 2021, but has declined in the two ensuing years, finishing at 12.96 million people last year. Declines since 2020 have come from counties that Biden won, according to an analysis by Franklin & Marshall College.

Democrats continue to lose their voting registration advantage in the state as they face defections from rural and blue-collar voters, who are joining Republicans or registering as unaffiliated, according to state voter data. 

In 2020, Democrats held a roughly 700,000-voter registration advantage, but that has narrowed to 400,000 this year as Democratic voters switched to unaffiliated. 

The defections are due to voters who supported Republican candidates but never bothered to change their party status until now, some political analysts believe.

(Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, and Gram Slattery in Washington; Editing by Heather Timmons and Jonathan Oatis)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

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The Sunday Read: ‘What I Saw Working at The National Enquirer During Donald Trump’s Rise’

Inside the notorious “catch and kill” campaign that now stands at the heart of the former president’s legal trial..

By Lachlan Cartwright

Read by David Linski

Produced by Jack D’Isidoro and Aaron Esposito

Narration produced by Anna Diamond

Edited by John Woo

Original music by Aaron Esposito

Engineered by Corey Schreppel and Steven Szczesniak

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify

At the center of the criminal case against former President Donald Trump in Manhattan is the accusation that Trump took part in a scheme to turn The National Enquirer and its sister publications into an arm of his 2016 presidential campaign. The documents detailed three “hush money” payments made to a series of individuals to guarantee their silence about potentially damaging stories in the months before the election. Because this was done with the goal of helping his election chances, the case implied, these payments amounted to a form of illegal, undisclosed campaign spending. And because Trump created paperwork to make the payments seem like regular legal expenses, that amounted to a criminal effort at a coverup, argued Alvin Bragg, the district attorney of Manhattan. Trump has denied the charges against him.

For Lachlan Cartwright, reading the indictment was like stepping through the looking glass, because it described a three-year period in his own professional life, one that he has come to deeply regret. Now, as a former president faces a criminal trial for the first time in American history, Cartwright is forced to grapple with what really happened at The Enquirer in those years — and whether and how he can ever set things right.

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