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Blog Business

7 Best Business Plan Software for 2024

By Krystle Wong , Jan 01, 2024

7 Best Business Plan Software

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

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

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

Click to jump ahead:

What is a business plan software?

  • 7 Best business plan software for 2024

Factors to consider when choosing a business plan software

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

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

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

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

7 Best business plan software for 2024 

1. venngage.

Venngage

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

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

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

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

Pricing options:

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

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

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

Can I export my business plan to different file formats?

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

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

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

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

2. LivePlan

LivePlan

Source: Screenshot from LivePlan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. BizPlan by Startups.com

BizPlan by Startups.com

Source: Screenshot from BizPlan

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

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

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

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

Pricing plan options:

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

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

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

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

Enloop

Source: Screenshot from Enloop

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5. PlanGuru

PlanGuru

Source: Screenshot from PlanGuru

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What other apps does PlanGuru integrate with?

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

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

6. Business Sorter

Business Sorter

Source: Screenshot from Business Sorter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7. AchieveIt

AchieveIt

Source: Screenshot from AchieveIt

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

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

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

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

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

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

Can AchieveIt integrate with existing systems?

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

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

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

best business planning tools

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

Ease of use

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

Features and business plan templates

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

best business planning tools

Financial modeling tools

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

Collaboration and sharing

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

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

Security and data protection

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

Exporting and sharing options

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

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

best business planning tools

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

Step 1: Executive summary

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

best business planning tools

Step 2: Company description

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

best business planning tools

Step 3: Market analysis

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

Step 4: Products and Services

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

best business planning tools

Step 5: Marketing and sales strategy

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

Step 6: Financial projections

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

Step 7: Implementation plan

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

best business planning tools

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

Is my business data safe with business plan software?

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

What are the benefits of using business planning tools?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Home > Business > Business Startup

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

4.5 out of 5 stars

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

Chloe Goodshore

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

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

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

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

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

Business plan software 101

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

best business planning tools

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LivePlan: Best overall business plan software

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

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

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

LivePlan software pricing

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

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

BizPlanBuilder: Most user-friendly

Need something easy to use? BizPlanBuilder fits the bill.

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

BizPlanBuilder software pricing

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

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

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

Wise Business Plans: Best professional service

  • Custom quote

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

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

Wise Business Plans service pricing

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

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

Business Sorter: Best for internal plans

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

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

Business Sorter software pricing

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

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

GoSmallBiz: Most extra features

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

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

GoSmallBiz software pricing

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

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

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

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

Honorable mention software pricing

Planguru: best financial forecasting features.

Plan Guru

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

EnLoop: Cheapest tool for startups

enloop logo

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

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

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

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

Why you need a business plan

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

Still too vague? Then let’s get specific.

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

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

What to include in your business plan

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

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

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

How business plan software can help

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

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

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

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

Choosing business plan software

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  • 4 Cost Management Techniques for Small Businesses

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Methodology

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

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

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

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7 Best Business Plan Software for Startups in 2024

Businessman and businesswoman next to a graphic that says "Top 7 Planning Software Tools".

  • Resources for Planning a Business
  • Best Business Plan Software

Last Updated: January 23, 2024 By TRUiC Team

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

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

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

Best Business Plan Software for Startups: LivePlan

Top Business Plan Software Solutions

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

Best Business Plan Software for Startups 2024:

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

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

Try LivePlan today or continue reading to explore your options!

Best Business Plan Software: LivePlan

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

Visit LivePlan

1. LivePlan - $15/month to $30/month

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

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

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

Insider Information

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

Here's what we learned:

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

Customer Reviews

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

Image of the company logo.

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

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

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

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

Here's what else we learned:

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

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

Image of the company logo.

3. Enloop - Free to $39.95/month

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

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

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

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

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

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

Image of the company logo.

4. PlanGuru - $99/month to $299/month

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

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

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

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

Some financial data projection methods include:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Image of the company logo.

5. IdeaBuddy - Free to $35/month

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

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

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

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

Image of the company logo.

6. iPlanner - Starts at $55/year

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

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

iPlanner's Business Planning Software

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

Image of the company logo.

7. Wise Business Plans - Pricing by Request

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

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

Image of the company logo.

Business Plan Software Pros and Cons

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

How to Choose the Right Business Plan Software

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

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

Which Is the Best Business Plan Software?

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

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

What is the purpose of a business plan?

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

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

What does business plan software do?

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

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

How do you write a business plan?

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

How long should a business plan be?

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

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

Are there business plan templates on Word?

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

What is Palo Alto Software?

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

Individual Business Plan Reviews

Featured articles.

https://startupsavant.comTwo business people planning on a whiteboard.

What Is a Business Plan?

https://startupsavant.comBusinesswoman writing notes at her computer.

Lean Startup Business Plan Guide

https://startupsavant.comBusinesswoman at computer.

How to Write a Business Plan

Best business plan software of 2024

For planning your business finance

  • The best business plan software in full

Best overall

Best budget, best established, best for speed, other business plan software to consider.

  • How we test

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

The best business plan software of 2024 in full 1. Best overall 2. Best budget 3. Best basic 4. Best established 5. Best for speed 6. Other business plan software to consider 7. FAQs 8. How we test

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

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

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

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

You can also look at our featured best free software for small business .

The best business plan software in full:

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

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

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

2. PlanGuru

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

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

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

Our expert review:

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

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

Read our full Enloop business plan software review .

4. LivePlan

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

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

5. Business Sorter

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

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

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

Read our full Business Sorter review .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Which business plan software is best for you?

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

How we tested the best business plan software

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

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

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Jonas P. DeMuro

Jonas P. DeMuro is a freelance reviewer covering wireless networking hardware.

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Starting a Business | Buyer's Guide

6 Best Business Plan Software

Published June 10, 2020

Published Jun 10, 2020

Blake Stockton

WRITTEN BY: Blake Stockton

This article is part of a larger series on Starting a Business .

Business plan software gives you the tools to create financial projection tables, charts, and other documents you need to plan your business. Software is often better than using a free template because it gives you step-by-step directions and educational materials to help you complete a clear business plan. We review the best business plan software below so you can determine which software is right for your business.

The six best business plan software for 2020 are:

  • LivePlan : Best overall business plan software for small and medium sized businesses
  • BizPlan : Best for tech startups that need a business plan that appeals to investors
  • Enloop : Best for entrepreneurs short on time and need recommended biz plan content
  • GoSmallBiz.com : Best for a new small business that also needs marketing and operation tools
  • Business Sorter : Best for visual thinkers who want to try an innovative approach to creating a plan
  • PlanGuru : Best for businesses that need to create in-depth financial projections

How We Evaluated Business Plan Software

To evaluate the various business plan software, we reviewed factors we believe are essential no matter what type of business plan you’re creating. Primarily, we reviewed pricing and the availability of a trial or money-back guarantee. We also researched the business plan software overall quality and ease of use. Additionally, we reviewed customer service availability, additional services offered, and the quality of educational materials.

LivePlan: Best Overall Business Plan Software for Small Businesses

liveplan logo

LivePlan is a well-designed software for business owners looking to create either a one-page plan or a lender-ready plan. What separates LivePlan from competitors is the extended money-back guarantee and quality of educational materials. The software has financial projections that are easy to complete and looks great as a finished product.

Visit LivePlan

LivePlan Pricing

  • Pay As You Go : $20 per month
  • Six-month Plan : $108 every six months
  • 12-month Plan : $180 every 12 months

LivePlan Features

  • One-page business plan: If you’d like to create a simple plan, LivePlan provides a fill-in-the-blank template to get your ideas down quickly.
  • Educational materials: LivePlan walks users step-by-step through the business planning process with several video tutorials and examples.
  • Financial data: As you answer financial questions, LivePlan populates easy-to-read financial charts and graphs.
  • Customer service: Phone, email, and online chat support is available for customers Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time.

Why We Like LivePlan

LivePlan provides the necessary tools to get your biz plan created. If you’re creating your first business plan, the educational materials serve as a mini online course to help you complete your plan. LivePlan leads in its 60-day money-back guarantee—most guarantees are one to two weeks. Additionally, if you find that you cannot finish your business plan, LivePlan has a network of writers who can assist.

Bizplan: Best Business Plan Software for Tech Startups

bizplan logo

BizPlan is a software aimed for high-growth startups. Typically, these types of businesses are looking to raise funding from an investor, not a bank. BizPlan provides several unique features including a drag-and-drop builder, startup educational materials, and access to a fundraising platform.

Visit Bizplan

Bizplan Pricing

  • Monthly : $29 per month
  • Annual : $20.75 per month ($249 per year)
  • Lifetime Access : $349 one-time

Bizplan Features

  • Drag-and-drop user interface: Create a business plan with the elements needed for your type of business.
  • Online fundraising platform: Included with the business plan software is access to Fundable.com, an online fundraising platform that connects you to potential investors.
  • Lifetime pricing: Bizplan is the only company that provides lifetime access for a one-time $349 fee.
  • Startup courses: In addition to the biz plan software, receive access to over 650 videos and 1,000 how-to guides for creating a successful high-growth startup.
  • Customer service : Phone, chat, and email availability Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern time.

Why We Like Bizplan

BizPlan is perfect for the business looking to raise funds from an investor. One unique feature it provides is the “pitch” document. This doc outlines the most important aspects of your business. It’s easy to share with investors who want a snapshot of your business. We also like the positive online reviews regarding Bizplan’s customer service: fast response, and pleasant to work with.

Enloop: Best for Completing a Business Plan Fast

enloop logo

Enloop is an easy-to-navigate business plan software that focuses on helping customers get their plan completed quickly. It does this through its automated text and performance score that acts as a digital mentor. For an additional monthly fee, Enloop provides an analysis of your financial ratios, which help determine your company’s potential financial health.

Visit Enloop

Enloop Pricing

  • Seven-day free trial (no credit card required)
  • Detailed plan : $19.95 per month or $11 per month with annual payment
  • Performance plan : $39.95 per month or $24 per month with annual payment

Enloop Features

  • Automated text: The plan comes with standard business plan text that you can customize and any financial text gets updated automatically from the financial data.
  • Financial ratios: Enloop does a great job explaining 16 different financial ratios that indicate the financial health of your business.
  • Performance score: As you complete your business plan and enter your financial information, Enloop calculates a completion score from 0-100, which serves as motivation to complete the plan.
  • Customer service: Enloop’s service is limited to messages and a help database.

Why We Like Enloop

Enloop provides several features that makes it an appealing business plan software. Users can complete their business plan quickly with their templated text. Enloop also saves time by having financial numbers discussed in the text updated automatically when changed in the financial data and tables section. We also like the one-week free trial that requires no credit card information to start.

GoSmallBiz.com: Best for Additional Small Business Tools

GoSmallBiz Logo

GoSmallBiz.com provides a comprehensive toolkit that those starting a new business will find helpful. In addition to the biz plan software, it provides a website, customer relationship management (CRM), text-based business consultations, and legal business documents. No other biz plan software offers this suite of tools—all for one cost.

Visit GoSmallBiz.com

GoSmallBiz.com Pricing

  • Suite of business products : $39 per month

GoSmallBiz.com Features

  • Business plan: Save time by choosing a business plan template specifically for your industry and then use a step-by-step wizard to complete it.
  • Educational materials: As you create your business plan, you’ll find video tutorials teaching you about different sections of a biz plan.
  • Unlimited business consultations: Submit your specific business questions to knowledgeable business consultants and receive an answer within two days.
  • Other tools: In addition to the business plan, use GoSmallBiz.com’s software to do additional tasks such as building a website, tracking basic accounting, writing corporate minutes, and creating legal documents.
  • Customer service : Available by phone Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time.

Why We Like GoSmallBiz.com

GoSmallBiz.com is perfect for the new small business owner looking to save on software needed for their business. We particularly like the ability to get answers specific to your business questions from business consultants. GoSmallBiz.com also has high-quality videos and educational materials throughout. For those new to entrepreneurship, learn best-practices through its downloadable app, videos, and blog.

Business Sorter: Best Business Plan For Visual Learners

business sorter logo

Business Sorter uses an innovative card sorting system to help users determine what information needs to go in their business plan. If you’d like the plan to be a team effort, you can assign certain sections to individual employees. Business Sorter provides a test drive with a 14-day free trial with no credit card required to start.

Visit Business Sorter

Business Sorter Pricing

  • Small Team : $10 per month or $80 per year (three users)
  • Medium Team : $30 per month or $240 per year (10 users)
  • Large Team : $80 per month or $640 per year (30 users)
  • Enterprise : Customer (unlimited users)

Business Sorter Features

  • Card sorter planning system: When first starting the business plan, you’ll be presented with 273 digital cards to sort through and prioritize what’s essential in your plan.
  • Team-oriented: Assign certain portions of the business plan to specific employees via email.
  • Multiple plans: Create up to 40 plans for your business or other businesses you own at no additional cost.
  • Guidance: Business Sorter provides advice every step of the way so you can complete the fundamentals of your business plan in under two hours.
  • Customer service : No phone support, but it does have email support, frequently asked questions, and a detailed biz plan guide.

Why We Like Business Sorter

We really like the innovative biz plan creation process behind Business Sorter. Instead of you trying to determine the most critical aspects of your business on your own, Business Sorter walks you through specifics for each section in 273 different digital cards. The desired cards— which indicate sections—then get added to your plan. We also like the overall ease of use and modern design of the software.

PlanGuru: Best for In-depth Financial Forecasting

planguru logo

PlanGuru is a software specially designed for financial analysis and forecasting. You may want to use this software if financial projections and budgeting is essential to your business philosophy and your type of business. With PlanGuru you can use over 20 different forecasting methods to better understand how your business may perform financially in the future.

Visit PlanGuru

PlanGuru Pricing

  • Monthly : $99 per month
  • Annual : $299 per year
  • PlanGuru Launch : $250 an hour

PlanGuru Features

  • Detailed financial analysis: Integrate the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement into one comprehensive financial model.
  • PlanGuru Launch: Hire PlanGuru to formulate a financial plan for your business and then learn from its experts about how to track and manage the plan.
  • PlanGuru Analyst: This product is when PlanGuru sets up your financial plan, then tracks it for you, and sends updates—for a fixed monthly fee.
  • PlanGuru University: This is a seven hour online class that teaches you how to understand and track the finances in your business.
  • Customer service: A ticket submission service is available for customers.

Why We Like PlanGuru

For the financially-minded small business owner, PlanGuru has all the tools to implement and track your financial plan. The projections are typically the most challenging part of any business plan. Still, if you will ever need funding for your business, you must have the projections. Use PlanGuru University to learn more about your financials, and then “wow” investors with a detailed financial forecasting model.

Bottom Line

Now that you’ve read through the best business plan software available in 2020, it’s time to decide: which plan is best for you? For the typical small business, LivePlan will provide all the tools they need to write a funding-ready plan. A tech startup may want to consider BizPlan. If you want to write your plan quickly, choose Enloop. PlanGuru is best to complete detailed financial projections. Whichever software you choose, remember, business planning is an exercise to chart your business’s bright and exciting future!

About the Author

Blake Stockton

Find Blake On LinkedIn Twitter

Blake Stockton

Blake Stockton is a staff writer at Fit Small Business focusing on how to start brick-and-mortar and online businesses. He is a frequent guest lecturer at several undergraduate business and MBA classes at University of North Florida . Prior to joining Fit Small Business, Blake consulted with over 700 small biz owners and assisted with starting and growing their businesses.

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  • Building Your Business
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14 Exceptionally Useful Tools for Writing a Business Plan

Alyssa Gregory is an entrepreneur, writer, and marketer with 20 years of experience in the business world. She is the founder of the Small Business Bonfire, a community for entrepreneurs, and has authored more than 2,500 articles for The Balance and other popular small business websites.

best business planning tools

Writing a business plan is a necessary part of starting a business, yet many small business owners struggle with the process. Not only can it be time-consuming and stressful to conduct the necessary research and gather the required materials, but it can also be difficult to know exactly what format your business plan should be in and what information it should include.

To help you streamline the process, here are 14 tools you can use to get started with your business plan.

Online Tools

This set of online tools walks you through each section of a traditional business plan in a step-by-step format.

  • SBA's Build Your Business Plan Tool - The SBA's Business Plan Tool is a step-by-step guide that allows you to save your progress and come back to it for up to six months.
  • Enloop - With this tool, you add in your information, and Enloop automatically writes your plan based on your details.
  • LivePlan - LivePlan is an online service that simplifies the business planning process while providing assistance with budgeting, forecasting, and performance tracking.
  • RocketLawyer - Business owners can create a customized, printable business plan with RocketLawyer by following an online step-by-step interview process.
  • StratPad - StratPad's step-by-step approach and cloud-based business planning software help small business owners create a plan in less than a day.

Business Plan Tutorials

These five business planning how-to documents will help you get your business plan started.

  • How to Write a Simple Business Plan - An easy 8-step business plan tutorial that results in a streamlined and brief business plan that you can use as-is or as a starting point for a more traditional business plan.
  • SBA's Video Business Planning Tutorial - This series of video tutorials includes nine videos that are about 2-10 minutes each. You can pick and choose where to start or run through them in the original order.
  • Entrepreneur's Elements of a Business Plan - An in-depth review of the seven essential sections of a business plan: what you should include, what you shouldn't include, how to work the numbers and additional resources you can turn to for help.
  • Comprehensive Business Plan Outline - A business plan outline that walks you through each section of a basic business plan, including an overview of what should be included, examples and tips for writing each section of your business plan effectively.
  • Shopify's Ultimate Guide to Business Plans - This comprehensive 9-chapter business plan guide covers every important aspect of writing a business plan.

Business Plan Templates

If you prefer more of a "fill-in-the-blank" format to get your business plan started, one of these templates may be exactly what you need.

  • SCORE Business Planning Templates - A collection of business planning templates that are for both new and established businesses.
  • BPlans' Business Plan Template - A downloadable template that gives you a clear idea of what a traditional business plan should look like. (Free sign-up is required to download.)
  • The $100 Startup One-Page Business Plan - Download and fill in the blanks with this one-page business plan template.
  • Office Depot's Business Plan Templates - These templates include the most important elements of a business plan that demonstrate how the nature of a business and the target audience for the plan impact the content.

Keep in mind that the best business plans are those that are updated and regularly used as a way to keep your business on track. Whichever tool you use, make it a goal to create a plan that you can use as an action document and can grow with your business over time.

Upmetrics AI Assistant: Simplifying Business Planning through AI-Powered Insights. Learn How

Upmetrics

Business Planning

  • Financial Forecasting

AI Assistance

See how upmetrics works  →, strategic planning, entrepreneurs & small business, accelerators & incubators, business consultants & advisors, educators & business schools, students & scholars.

  • Sample Plans

Business Plan Course

Small business tools.

  • Strategic Canvas Templates

E-books, Guides & More

  • WHY UPMETRICS?

Customers Success Stories

  • Business Plan Builder
  • Canvas Modeling
  • Product Tour
  • Business Consultants and Advisors
  • Entrepreneurs And Small Businesses
  • Accelerators & Incubators
  • Educators & Business Schools
  • Students & Scholars
  • Sample Business Plans
  • business plan course
  • E-Books, Guides & More
  • Success Stories

10 Best Business Plan Software and Tools in 2023

best business plan software tools

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 plan 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.

business plan affordable tools

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

AI Business Plan Generator

Plans starting from $7/month

best business planning tools

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Imad Ahmed

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 comparison

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

ideabuddy vs liveplan

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

best business planning tools

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

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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

Ajay                                                         Jagtap

Ajay Jagtap

Ajay is a SaaS writer and a personal finance blogger. He loves to write about topics related to startups, businesses, money-making, and personal finances. If not writing, he’s probably having a power nap. Read more

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The Best 10 Business Planning Tools for Startups

Business planning is one of the significant strategic approaches that startup companies use to showcase their core objectives and programs to achieve organizations goals. Young businesses also prefer to make solid business plans to attract investors.

Therefore, the use of authoritative business planning tools is crucial for startups. That is why this article shares one of the top business planning tools with all necessary features and pricing models.

  • 1 Top 10 Business Planning Tools for Startups
  • 2.1 Features
  • 2.2 Pricing
  • 3.1 Features
  • 3.2 Pricing
  • 4.1 Features
  • 4.2 Pricing
  • 5.1 Features
  • 5.2 Pricing
  • 6.1 Features
  • 6.2 Pricing
  • 7.1 Features
  • 7.2 Pricing
  • 8.1 Features
  • 8.2 Pricing
  • 9.1 Features
  • 9.2 Pricing
  • 10.1 Features
  • 10.2 Pricing
  • 11.1 Features
  • 11.2 Pricing
  • 12 Conclusion
  • 14 What is Business Planning?
  • 15 Why business planning is important?
  • 16 What are ten of the best business planning tools?

Top 10 Business Planning Tools for Startups

Here are ten of the best tools that will help you writing a business plan.

Business Planning Tools For Startups

Enloop is a cloud-based business planning tool that 323,180 entrepreneurs, students and businesses have used. It can create around 16 financial ratios and real-time performance reports.

Financial Forecast —  Businesses can automatically anticipate their financial reports with this tool.

Currency Support —  It supports around 100 currencies, so people from different countries can smoothly use this app for business planning.

Real-Time Score —  Enloop permits the startups to watch their real-time score to improve performance.

Its Free plan enables the businesses to get a 7-day free trial. But the monthly cost of its Detailed plan is $19.95.

2. LivePlan

LivePlan could be a reliable option for startups to nail down a solid business plan. Moreover, it also claims to build business plans 30% faster than the rivals. Luckily, 1 million small businesses, enterprises and entrepreneurs have shown trust in this tool.

Sample Plans —  It is the perfect business tool for new teams because they can get guidance from 500+ already available sample plans.

Professional Documents —  LivePlan also enables the startups to design an engaging business plan and other documents to convince investors.

LivePlan comes with two plans Standard and Premium, and its monthly charges start from $20.

3. IdeaBuddy

If you are finding an ingenious business planning tool, then you shouldn’t ignore IdeaBuddy. With planning, development and real-time evaluation, its financial projection properties are also appealing.

One-Page Plan —  Startups can build a business plan within 30 minutes, and yes, it could consist of a single page for ease of understanding.

Financial Properties —  Financial calculators, profit and loss statements, and forecasts benefit from using IdeaBuddy.

The yearly cost of its Dreamer plan is $65, but only 1 collaborator is eligible for it. However, for 3 and 30 collaborators, you can also consider its Founder and Team plans. The yearly charges of these plans commence from $115.

Cuttles is one of the most straightforward business planning tools that 20,000+ startups are using. It could surely be a great option when it comes to building startup plans.

Canvas —  This property aids the young companies to smoothly architect and corroborate their business idea.

Suitable for Teams —  It also allows the startups to easily include the teams’ ideas while making a business plan.

Its Free plan is applicable for 1 member and offers restricted features. On the other hand, you can consider its Seed, Grow and Series plans with more advanced characteristics. Its Seed plan bills €8/month to users.

5. Vizologi

Vizologi is an AI-backed business planning tool that is the foremost choice of students, strategists, managers, entrepreneurs and consultants. The availability of free business models also differentiates it from rivals.

Business Intelligence —  Companies can make wise decisions using premium analytics and data reports.

Business Plan —  Its business plan includes a mash-up method, canvas, SWOT & PEST analysis.

Although Vizologi confers a free trial, but its monthly charges commence from $9.

6. TheBizPlanner

TheBizPlanner is also a unique business planning tool. This end-to-end business planning software comes with four significant properties: profile, connect, plan and collaborate.

Dashboard —  The single screen dashboard provides all reports to businesses.

Campus Edition —  It has also released an exclusive edition for educators.

Fortunately, TheBizPlanner Pro is free for startups now. Howbeit, you can talk with the sales team to get the pricing of its Competition plan.

7. AchieveIt

AchieveIt is a purpose-built Georgia-based strategic business planning solution that was founded in 2010. This is an ideal business planning platform for all sectors, including credit unions, commercial, healthcare, federal and local governments.

Integrated Tool —  It provides data uniformity and great accountability for execution.

PowerPoint Digestibility —  This tool could be easily connected with PowerPoint.

This platform bills $70 per user and month under its Core plan.

8. PlanGuru

PlanGuru is also a considerable business planning, forecasting and budgeting software that startups should use. Furthermore, it is more suitable for accountants, small businesses and nonprofit organizations than big enterprises.

Forecasting —  PlanGuru provides 20 powerful forecasting tools to businesses.

Analysis in Minutes —  Users can get all historical data analysis within minutes.

The monthly cost of its cloud and desktop version starts from $99.

Jedox is a unified business planning and forecasting solution that 2500+ companies use worldwide. The major brands that are practicing Jedox are ManpowerGroup, McDonald’s and Bosch.

Timely Insights —  Time-intensive planning has become essential for startups, and it is only possible with timely insights.

Predictive Forecasting —  It is packed with artificial intelligence-based predictive forecasting and planning features.

Jedox comes with four major plans Essential, Business, Professional and Performance. However, you will have to click the ‘Get A Quote’ tab to explore the pricing.

If you want business planning software for VC funded companies, growth and accounting firms, then Jirav is the best option for you. This is a smart and all-in-one budgeting, planning and forecasting tool.

Automatic Imports —  Jirav could automatically integrate all of your business data. Companies can also connect it with accounting and workforce software like Gusto, Xero and QuickBooks.

Reports & Dashboards —  It provides both commercial and non-financial information.

Starter and Pro are core plans of Jirav that monthly cost $250 and $850, respectively.

Business planning is critical for startups and founders to execute a business idea successfully. The use of smart and interactive business planning software and solutions definitely help the new businesses in convincing VCs to fund them. In this regard, entrepreneurs can utilize the above best performing business planning tools.

To discover more startups tools, please refer to the article Top Startup Tools .

What is Business Planning?

Business planning typically applies to organizing ideas in a formal business plan that summarizes the business’s current state.

Why business planning is important?

– Steer the business – Define milestones – Help with funding

What are ten of the best business planning tools?

– Enloop – Live Plan – IdeasBuddy – Cuttles – Vizologi – TheBizPlanner – AchieveIt – PlanGuru – Jedox – Jirav

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Strategic Planning Tools for 2024

What is strategic planning, what are the benefits of strategic planning, types of strategic planning tools, which strategic planning method is right for your business, charting your course.

Ever feel like your small business is navigating a never-ending maze of decisions, deadlines, and daily demands? You're not alone. Small and midsize businesses (SMBs) struggle with many issues, like being short-staffed, having limited resources, and more. In this environment, making the right decisions and keeping things running can seem like monumental tasks.

But they don't have to be. Strategic planning can help you conquer this chaos. It's not a magic wand, but it's a structured step-by-step process that enables you to define your vision, set achievable goals, and chart a course for growth.

Strategic planning is the process of laying out a clear path for your business. It's about defining what you want to achieve, how you'll get there, and what steps you need to take along the way. Think of it as a map that guides you from where you are now to where you want to be.

SMBs often grapple with many challenges, including limited resources and fierce competition. Strategic planning is the antidote to these challenges. It's not just a theoretical exercise but a practical solution that allows you to identify, prioritize, and tackle the hurdles obstructing your path to success.

Strategic planning can unlock tangible benefits for your business by removing the obstacle of uncertainty and opening up a path to smoother, more efficient growth . Here are just a few of the benefits:

Sharper focus and increased clarity : By defining your core values, long-term goals, and target audience, you give everyone in your organization a shared understanding of where you're heading.

Improved decision-making: Strategic planning facilitates important big-picture conversations among leadership about capabilities, market forces, and scenarios. This aligns everyone on where they should be heading in the future.

Increased productivity: Strategic planning provides a roadmap for action, streamlining your workflow and maximizing your team's potential.

Better motivation and improved morale: By creating a shared vision and purpose, you give your team a reason to feel invested in the business's success, leading to a more engaged and productive workforce .

Greater adaptability: Strategic planning equips you with the tools to anticipate change and adapt quickly. By identifying potential risks and opportunities early on, you can develop contingency plans and adjust your course as needed.

There are many tools for strategic planning, each offering a unique perspective and approach. These tools serve as the strategic gears that set your business in motion toward its envisioned future.

According to Gartner, “CIOs should use strategic principles to provide a framework that ensures all decisions made when creating and executing strategy are aligned with the enterprise's objectives, goals, and strategies.” [1]

Strategic principles come first, and they guide how you use strategic planning frameworks. Here are some common strategic planning tools, along with strategic plan examples.

SWOT analysis

In SWOT analysis, strategic planning teams brainstorm to come up with several strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for their business and list those items in four quadrants.

SWOT analysis helps teams visualize strengths, opportunities, and threats to their business

Teams identify connections between the quadrants—especially connections between strengths and opportunities—to inform their strategy. The thing about SWOT analysis is that you can use it for annual strategic planning or everyday decision-making. Adapt SWOT analysis to a rapidly evolving market by using it at the individual project level.

For example, say your office cleaning service is considering expanding. Using SWOT, you could come up with the following assessment:

Strength: Efficient, established cleaning teams

Weakness: Limited client base

Opportunity: Expand services to home cleaning

Threat: Market is nearly saturated with existing home cleaning services

In this case, the business could match its strength to the opportunity to expand and leverage its experienced teams to make headway in an already competitive market.

OKRs work by establishing a clearly defined goal (the objective ) along with a handful of key results —that is, measurable checkpoints that are designed to achieve the target goal. Here is how it works:

Define your objective: Articulate a clear and inspiring goal that captures your team's aspirations.

Identify key results: Establish three to five measurable outcomes that, when achieved, will demonstrate meaningful progress toward your objective.

Track and adapt: Regularly assess your progress for each key result, typically on a quarterly or monthly basis.

The key to OKRs is their adaptability. They empower you to respond to shifts in market conditions, seize emerging opportunities, and pivot strategies when needed. An example is adapting to the Great Resignation:

Original objective: Achieve a 95% employee retention rate

By adjusting key results, the company can tackle the challenges of the Great Resignation head-on, fostering a more engaged and resilient workforce.

PEST analysis

With PEST (political, economic, socio-cultural, and technological) analysis, strategic planning teams weigh socioeconomic factors into their business forecasting . PEST analysis can also include legal and environmental factors (PESTLE analysis). For PEST analysis to be used effectively, it helps to have representatives on the strategic planning team with a working knowledge of the component factors.

PEST analysis is somewhat complex due to the breadth and depth of the factors it accounts for. On one hand, this necessitates an experienced strategic planning team to use PEST analysis effectively. On the other hand, this makes PEST adaptable to changing conditions. Think of each of the factors that make up PEST as levers. When the market changes, you may have to pull one or more of those levers to adjust your planning.

Here is an example of PESTLE analysis on the rise of electric vehicles:

Political: Government incentives for EV adoption

Economic: Fluctuations in oil prices

Social: Growing awareness of climate change

Technological: Advancements in battery technology

Legal: Intellectual property rights for battery technology

Environmental: Impact of lithium mining on natural resources

Balanced scorecard

Balanced scorecard is a strategic planning model designed to incorporate both financial and non-financial (customer, internal, innovation) measures.

To use the balanced scorecard, strategic planning teams seek to answer the following four questions:

How do customers see us?

What must we excel at?

Can we continue to improve and create value?

How do we look to shareholders?

Teams should answer those questions in four quadrants, linking them together where possible (similar to SWOT analysis), then translate those answers into operational strategy , individual performance goals , and business planning.

Here is an example of balancing financial goals with non-financial measures using this model for a small independent bookstore:

Customer perspective: Achieve a 95% positive rating on online review platforms.

Internal process perspective: Train staff on hosting author talks and literary workshops to create engaging experiences.

Growth and learning perspective: Invest in staff development by sponsoring book club memberships and industry conferences.

Financial perspective: Increase revenue year-over-year by 5% through diversified income streams from events and merchandise.

Hoshin planning

Hoshin planning guides your organization toward long-term goals through a collaborative, step-by-step process. Its core lies in a top-down vision, where leadership sets ambitious company-wide objectives. These goals then cascade down through the organization, transforming them into smaller, achievable objectives customized for each department and team.

Through open dialogue and feedback, every level of the organization participates, fostering understanding, buy-in, and a shared sense of ownership. Visual management tools, like strategic boards, become the canvas upon which progress is tracked, keeping everyone on the same page and celebrating victories along the way.

Here's an example of Hoshin planning in a manufacturing company that wants to increase production by 20%:

This vision cascades down to departments and goals like reducing setup time by 10% and minimizing waste by 5%, which become part of it.

Each department then creates action plans to achieve its objectives.

Regular meetings facilitate communication, address roadblocks, and ensure alignment.

Progress is visualized on Hoshin boards, motivating teams and celebrating success.

Throughout the process, the company learns from setbacks and adapts its strategies for continuous improvement.

Selecting the ideal strategic planning techniques requires considering your unique needs and goals. While each tool offers valuable insights, its strengths and complexities cater to different business types. Here's a quick guide to finding the best match:

Common mistakes to avoid during strategic planning

Once you choose a strategic planning method, make sure to steer clear of these pitfalls:

Going solo: Strategic planning thrives on collaboration , with perspectives from different levels of the organization. According to Gartner, CIOs should work with key stakeholders to develop strategic principles to provide a shared view of business goals. [1]

Vagueness: Set clear, measurable goals with concrete timelines and actionable steps.

Data blindness: Back up your decisions with data and insights to avoid guesswork and ensure evidence-based planning.

Ignoring reality: Be realistic about your resources, capabilities, and market conditions. Don't set yourself up for failure with unrealistic goals.

Static vision: The world is constantly changing. Be flexible and adaptable, revisiting and adjusting your plan as needed.

Navigating the ever-changing business landscape doesn't have to be a guessing game. By exploring the diverse world of strategic planning processes, you can identify the perfect map for your specific journey. From the adaptable flexibility of OKRs to the comprehensive foresight of PESTLE analysis, there's a tool perfectly suited to help you achieve your vision.

Now it's your turn to:

Evaluate your business context and goals to identify the tool that best fits your size, stage, and industry context.

Involve key stakeholders , gather diverse perspectives, and leverage the collective intelligence of your team.

Regularly revisit and adapt your strategic approach and embrace the mindset of continuous improvement.

In the meantime, here are some resources that will help you plan your business's future:

Strategic Planning Software

How to Balance Short-Term Execution and Long-Term Strategy

How To Track Project Progress Effectively in 4 Easy Steps

Use Strategic Principles to Provide Direction for Strategic Planning and Execution , Gartner

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10 Best Strategic Planning Software Tools in 2024

Senior Content Marketing Manager

February 14, 2024

Building a strategy takes a huge amount of effort and time. You need to build your vision for the business, set your goals accordingly, and outline how you’ll get there. The number of variables and uncertainties involved, along with the long planning horizon, can quickly turn the creation of that strategic plan into a headache.

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be. With the right strategic planning software, capturing and tracking key metrics makes it easier for teams to prioritize the right work.

What is Strategic Planning?

What should you look for in strategy software, 2. achieveit, 4. charthop, 5. lucidspark, 9. clearpoint strategy, 10. peoplebox.

A strategic planning process involves outlining the vision for your organization’s future along with the direction everyone needs to take to get there. The ultimate goal is a formal strategic plan that lets everyone know exactly what they’re working toward.

Every industry and organization approaches planning and progress tracking in different ways. But strategic planning always includes a few core components.

To start, you need a future vision. That’s exactly where leadership sees your organization end up in the future, and it helps stakeholders visualize progress over time.

Then you need to identify the more specific goals that the organization needs to accomplish on the way to fulfilling the vision. They’re still high-level, overarching goals that everyone uses to prioritize their work , track performance, and daily tasks.

Finally, you need a plan of action, the approach you’ll take to accomplish your strategic plan. This final step can become complex as it reaches into the day-to-day tactical plans of every organizational unit.

When going through our list of the best strategic planning software below, you’ll quickly notice just how different they are in their attempts to help you plan more effectively and strategically. Every complete solution you research, however, should include at least a few core strategic planning features on one centralized dashboard:

  • Organization: Data visualization capabilities and tools to organize complex timelines, using tools such as Gantt charts or flowcharts
  • Flexibility: More free-flowing dashboards and interfaces, such as whiteboard templates, that enable brainstorming and creative thought early in the process
  • Customization: Customizable features that allow you to make the software work for your strategic planning process and track progress
  • Agility: The ability to adjust on the fly is necessary, keeping potential contingency plans in mind
  • Team-focused: Collaboration tools that allow more than one user to contribute to the project, especially in virtual environments where the strategy planning team may be distributed remotely
  • Integration: Integration options with other tools, including those you use for project execution or secondary plans, such as product roadmaps ; this sets the stage for a complete product management solution
  • Reporting: Customized performance reports to help monitor key performance indicators and optimize resource management throughout all of your strategic initiatives

Not every tool you find will be equally strong in these features and benefits. The key, then, is finding strategic planning software that matches your specific business game plan, situation, and environment.

The 10 Best Strategic Planning Software Tools to Use in 2024

It’s tough to make an argument for anything other than strategic planning to be the most important process in your organization. Tactics without the strategy behind them likely won’t succeed. These tools can simplify creating that strategy and streamline the process for everyone involved.

ClickUp is the perfect strategic planning software for any organization. It provides a comprehensive suite of tools to help teams organize plans, prioritize tasks, and manage projects. Plus, its visual strategic planning templates give project managers a jumpstart in the creation process.

And if you’re looking for a complete product management solution, ClickUp integrates with thousands of other work apps to streamline portfolio management into one central hub!

ClickUp best features

  • A huge library of templates, including Gantt charts, visual timelines, whiteboards, board views, and ClickUp’s Strategic Roadmap Template !
  • ClickUp Goals feature that allows you to turn your organizational vision into measurable and intuitive goals you can track and work on directly in the software
  • Interactive Dashboards that allow key users to view organizational analytics and adjust their strategic plans
  • A visual and user-friendly interface that works largely on dropdowns and drag-and-drop, enabling anyone involved in the planning to contribute
  • Integrated document management that can house the outcome of the strategic planning process—the written plan—in a centralized and easily accessible space
  • Communication tools that enable multiple members of the organization to collaborate on the planning process from beginning to end

ClickUp limitations

  • The comprehensive nature of the software and its many features can make for a longer learning curve for new users
  • This is a desktop-first strategic planning software; while there are some mobile capabilities and a mobile app, its functionality will always be most effective on desktop devices
  • The pre-built automation can sometimes be limiting, causing some users to request more customized automation opportunities

ClickUp pricing plans

  • Free Forever: A free service for users
  • Unlimited: $7/month per user
  • Business Plus: $19/month per user
  • Enterprise: Contact for pricing

ClickUp ratings and reviews

  • G2: 4.7/5 (2,000+ reviews)
  • Capterra: 4.7/5 (2,000+ reviews)

ClickUp Strategic Roadmap Template

The first dedicated strategic planning tool on our list, AchieveIt focuses on automating and digitizing the planning process. That includes not just creating plans but also monitoring them across the organization and toward long-term success.

The planning process becomes more visible and transparent across the organization. With the intuitive dashboard, everyone remains on the same page regarding the goals, what they’ve achieved, and what they still need to do.

AchieveIt best features

  • Planning templates optimized for industries, including healthcare, government, education, banking, manufacturing, and more
  • A visual dashboard for users to keep track of both the planning and execution process across the organization
  • A scorecard system to measure ongoing progress toward particular strategic goals
  • An extensive knowledgebase complete with both video and written content to simplify onboarding and starting your planning process
  • Close vendor-client relationships that lead to strong customer support and a higher chance of using the software successfully

AchieveIt limitations

  • Limited ability to customize some fields in the templates and dashboards depending on the customization needed
  • Fewer integrations than some leading software solution tools on this list, making it more difficult to plan and track outside the platform
  • The pre-built reporting functions can be somewhat limiting, requiring time spent on custom reports in many industries

AchieveIt pricing plans

  • Core: Contact for pricing
  • Plus: Contact for pricing
  • Pro: Contact for pricing

AchieveIt ratings and reviews

  • G2: 4.5/5 (45 reviews)
  • Capterra: 4.7/5 (21 reviews)

Elate strategic planning software

Built by former strategic organizational leaders, Elate helps others streamline their strategy sessions and planning. Like most of the best strategic planning tools, it focuses on three stages: planning, execution, and success tracking.

Each stage focuses on ongoing cross-unit alignment and optimization to keep your business on track.

Elate best features

  • Set objectives and strategic goals in the platform, then communicate them to your larger teams via integrations, such as Slack and Microsoft Teams
  • Create a unified dashboard view of your strategic plan that users and everyone else in the organization can easily see and reference
  • Monitor the status of the plan’s execution through real-time success and progress reports in the platform
  • Use the intuitive interface for easy planning without getting off target

Elate limitations

  • The intentional simplicity of the product can sometimes be a limitation for more complex planning processes
  • External data can be difficult to import into the software, which doesn’t always read typical file types
  • There is currently no integration with project management tools, such as ClickUp, Asana, or Monday, that could lead to more complex execution projects

Elate pricing plans

  • Contact for pricing

Elate ratings and reviews

  • G2: 4.9/5 (11 reviews)
  • Capterra: No reviews recorded

ChartHop people management tool

As a people management tool, ChartHop offers a digital solution for effectively tracking, analyzing, and understanding your workforce. It centralizes data such as employee information, roles, skills, and performance metrics, providing a holistic view of your organization.

By having access to this comprehensive dataset, you can gain valuable insights into your workforce and make informed decisions regarding resource allocation, talent development, and organizational strategy.

ChartHop best features

  • A comprehensive employee and people management tool that provides all the depth and insights you need for strategic planning
  • Integration abilities into other websites, such as your organization’s intranet
  • A great mix of user experience and customizability to create an easy tool for all employees and leadership alike

ChartHop limitations

  • There are so many features that it can be easy to lose the overview of what matters most in managing your people and plans
  • The search function within the platform has some bugs and doesn’t always return comprehensive results
  • Reports could use more segmentation abilities to analyze individual employees and data groups in greater detail

ChartHop pricing plans

  • ChartHop Basic: Free for up to 150 employees
  • ChartHop Standard: $8/month per employee
  • ChartHop Premium: Contact for pricing

ChartHop ratings and reviews

  • G2: 4.2/5 (98 reviews)
  • Capterra: 4.6/5 (65 reviews)

Lucidspark project management tools

Strategic planning almost always has to start with creative brainstorming and ideation. That’s where a tool like Lucidspark, which thrives on its virtual whiteboarding features, truly shines. Companies, including Google, General Electric, and NBC Universal, use it in the strategic planning process.

Lucidspark best features

  • Strong desktop and mobile capabilities that make whiteboarding and collaboration simple in any situation
  • An integrated chat function that allows multiple users working on the same whiteboard to stay in real-time contact
  • Templates from decision trees to roadmaps that make getting started in the planning process simple

Lucidspark limitations

  • Somewhat limited features and templates for any multi-layered planning process
  • Pricing is not listed publicly, and some reviews have called it out as more expensive than other whiteboarding tools

Lucidspark pricing plans

Lucidspark ratings and reviews.

  • G2: 4.5/5 (2,000+ reviews)
  • Capterra: 4.7/5 (350+ reviews)

Empiraa objective dashboard for strategic planning

Designed specifically for small businesses, Empiraa employs an established strategic framework that’s easy to integrate your organization and plan into. Simplicity is front and center for all users involved, whether you’re creating a vision or collaborating toward achieving that vision.

Empiraa best features

  • Simplicity is intentional throughout, and this makes Empiraa one of the easiest tools available to start your planning process
  • Streamlined functionality for switching directions or changing alignments to account for shifting business environments
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) integrations that use industry trends and data to suggest both business goals and strategies help achieve these goals

Empiraa limitations

  • Simplicity is its downfall in scenarios where more complex tools and integrations, such as basic task management or calendar functionality, become necessary
  • Lacks a clone function to quickly duplicate content, features, or set-up items when creating more complex or multiple plans and reports

Empiraa pricing plans

  • Empiraa Starter: $4.90/month per user
  • Empiraa Pro: $13.90/month per user
  • Empiraa Max: $23.90/month per user

Empiraa ratings and reviews

  • G2: 5/5 (1 review)
  • Capterra: 5/5 (1 review)

Hive project management software

Similar to ClickUp, Hive integrates strategic planning with more task-oriented project management. It has goal and milestone features, visualization tools, and an easy ability to move directly from the more overarching goals and strategy into managing individual projects connected with them. Meanwhile, Hive Pages is a dashboard specifically designed for strategic tracking.

Hive best features

  • Robust templates that come with full customizability, allowing you to build repeatable processes that help the planning process
  • Centralized and automated reporting and tracking of your goals to keep everyone who needs to stay in the loop involved
  • Automated notifications for every aspect of the strategic planning process, maximizing visibility when building or adjusting the plan

Hive limitations

  • The chat function is a great collaboration tool in theory, but some users report lost messages that make it less reliable than other collaboration tools
  • The mobile app exists largely for checking tasks and notifications and doesn’t have the same functionality as the website and desktop app

Hive pricing plans

  • Free: A free service for users
  • Teams: $12/month per user

Hive ratings and reviews

  • G2: 4.6/5 (400+ reviews)
  • Capterra: 4.5/5 (150+ reviews)

Envisio is designed to manage complexities. What makes it especially unique is its focus on planning transparency when it comes to external stakeholders, who take on a more significant role in these industries compared to most others.

Envisio best features

  • A customizable plan structure that allows every organization to account for its nuances and complications in the process
  • The ability to build multiple plans on a single account, enabling especially complex healthcare and nonprofit organizations to better manage their strategic planning infrastructure
  • Fully customizable public dashboards that can generate automated reports to email lists and sign-ups who are interested in the execution of the plans

Envisio limitations

  • The platform is still evolving, which means new features or layout changes can pop up unexpectedly for users
  • A single plan with custom pricing makes it difficult to plan exactly how much you’ll need to spend on this software without in-depth engagement

Envisio pricing plans

Enivisio ratings and reviews.

  • G2: 4.6/5 (10 reviews)
  • Capterra: 4.7/5 (26 reviews)

ClearPoint Strategy software for strategy execution

ClearPoint Strategy builds its business model on AI automation, and its strategic planning solution is no different. An AI assistant helps organizations with any type of strategic planning, including balanced scorecards, GTSM planning mechanisms, and beyond. The software also automates the execution of that planning process through automated tasks, notifications, reporting, and more.

ClearPoint Strategy best features

  • An AI-enabled budget forecasting that adds a tangible component to the strategic planning process without any calculations needed
  • A fully customizable dashboard that helps all levels of management in both the planning and execution of the plan
  • Plenty of customization possibilities, including custom fields and reports, that allow for a more personalized planning process

ClearPoint Strategy limitations

  • A relatively long learning curve, thanks in part to features, such as AI, that aren’t always intuitive to set up at the beginning compared to other strategic planning solutions
  • Relatively rigid time frames with a standard monthly cadence that is difficult to change in the software

ClearPoint Strategy pricing plans

Clearpoint strategy ratings and reviews.

  • G2: 4.7/5 (100+ reviews)
  • Capterra: 4.9/5 (38 reviews)

Peoplebox performance management platform

How does your people strategy connect to your business strategy? Find out with Peoplebox. It’s a performance management platform that combines traditional strategic planning tools with those that improve employee engagement and performance management.

Peoplebox best features

  • Performance management tools that allow you to see where and how your teams are performing, which you can connect to your strategic forecasting efforts
  • Objectives and Key Results (OKR)-focused software that’s especially beneficial for organizations using the OKR approach to strategic planning
  • Automated notifications for any red flags that may impede business progress or employee performance

Peoplebox limitations

  • User roles are not always well-defined, with all users being able to create company-wide goals that can confuse the reporting
  • Integrations are still in development, currently limiting the software to a relatively self-contained planning platform

Peoplebox pricing plans

  • Professional: $7/month per user
  • Premium: $15/month per user

Peoplebox ratings and reviews

  • G2: 4.5/5 (250+ reviews)
  • Capterra: 4.7/5 (120+ reviews)

Ready to Start Mastering Your Business Strategy?

ClickUp offers features such as collaboration tools, goal tracking, and real-time data analysis. This allows you to monitor progress and make adjustments as needed. You can also invite stakeholders and assign tasks to ensure everyone is working towards the same end goal. With ClickUp’s help, your team will reach its objectives faster than before.

Start with a free ClickUp Workspace and leverage strategic planning features for your next project!

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JUST RELEASED: View the 2024 Franchise 500 Ranking

Here Are the Essential Tools Every Entrepreneur Needs to Succeed in 2024 Boost your business in the upcoming year with these valuable tools.

By Roy Dekel • Dec 19, 2023

Key Takeaways

  • Essential tools ranging from project management, marketing automation, analytics, SEO, scheduling, freelancing, communication and design to help your business succeed in 2024

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

In the fast-paced and ever-evolving world of entrepreneurship , leveraging the right tools is crucial for efficiency, collaboration and growth. As we navigate through 2024, entrepreneurs have at their disposal an array of powerful tools that can streamline operations, enhance marketing efforts and foster seamless communication.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore essential tools every entrepreneur should know about, spanning project management, marketing automation, analytics, SEO, scheduling, freelancing, communication and design.

Related: 17 Essential Tools for Entrepreneurs

1. Project management

Trello and Asana: Trello and Asana stand out as indispensable project management tools , helping entrepreneurs organize tasks, track progress and foster collaboration among team members. Trello's intuitive card-based system allows for easy project tracking, while Asana provides robust features for project planning, task assignment and team communication. Both platforms offer flexibility and scalability to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes.

2. Marketing automation

Mailchimp: For entrepreneurs looking to streamline their email marketing efforts, Mailchimp is a go-to tool. With features like email campaigns, audience segmentation and analytics, Mailchimp simplifies the process of creating and managing effective email campaigns. Its user-friendly interface makes it accessible to entrepreneurs with varying levels of marketing expertise.

3. Analytics

Google Analytics: Understanding user behavior and website performance is integral to business success. This robust analytics platform provides comprehensive insights into website performance, user behavior and the effectiveness of online marketing efforts. Entrepreneurs can track key metrics such as website traffic, audience demographics and conversion rates, enabling them to understand what resonates with their audience and refine their strategies accordingly.

With the ability to analyze the success of marketing campaigns, identify high-performing content and uncover areas for improvement, Google Analytics empowers entrepreneurs to make data-driven decisions, optimize their digital presence and ultimately drive business growth in an increasingly competitive online landscape.

SEO tools (e.g., SEMrush or Ahrefs): Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is paramount for online visibility, and tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs offer comprehensive solutions. Such tools empower entrepreneurs to conduct in-depth keyword research, analyze competitor strategies and optimize their website content for search engines. By understanding the intricacies of search engine algorithms and trends, entrepreneurs can tailor their online presence to rank higher in search results , attract organic traffic and stay ahead of competitors.

This not only amplifies brand visibility but also increases the likelihood of attracting qualified leads and customers. In essence, an SEO tool is an indispensable ally for entrepreneurs aiming to strengthen their digital footprint, improve website performance and foster sustainable growth in the highly competitive online marketplace.

5. Scheduling

Calendly: Efficient scheduling is crucial for entrepreneurs juggling multiple tasks. Calendly simplifies the appointment and meeting scheduling process by allowing entrepreneurs to share their availability and let others book time slots that suit both parties. This eliminates the back-and-forth of scheduling emails, saving valuable time.

Related: 20 Time-Saving Tech Tools for Solopreneurs that Boost Efficiency, Productivity and Business Growth

6. Freelancing

Upwork: Entrepreneurs often need specialized skills for specific projects, and Upwork connects them with a global pool of freelancers. From graphic design to programming, entrepreneurs can find qualified professionals to meet their project requirements. Upwork streamlines the hiring process, ensuring entrepreneurs can quickly assemble the right team for their needs.

7. Communication

Slack: Effective communication is the backbone of any successful business, and Slack facilitates seamless team collaboration. With features like channels, direct messages and integrations with other tools, Slack provides a centralized hub for communication. Entrepreneurs can create channels for different projects or teams, keeping conversations organized and accessible.

8. Marketing design

Canva: Entrepreneurs often find themselves in need of visually engaging content for marketing materials, social media or presentations. Canva simplifies the design process with its user-friendly interface and a vast library of templates. Entrepreneurs can create professional-looking graphics without the need for extensive design skills.

9. Online advertising

Google AdWords: For entrepreneurs looking to expand their online reach through paid advertising and drive targeted traffic to their websites, Google AdWords is a game-changer. As a powerful online advertising platform, Google AdWords enables entrepreneurs to create targeted and highly customizable ads that appear in Google search results. By strategically bidding on relevant keywords, entrepreneurs can ensure their advertisements are presented to users actively searching for products or services they offer. This not only enhances visibility but also allows for precise targeting, maximizing the return on investment.

With detailed analytics and performance metrics, entrepreneurs can refine and optimize their ad campaigns in real time, ensuring their marketing budget is effectively utilized to attract potential customers. Google AdWords is a pivotal tool for entrepreneurs seeking immediate and measurable results in the competitive world of online advertising.

Related: 10 Free Marketing Tools Every Entrepreneur Can Use

In the dynamic landscape of entrepreneurship, staying ahead requires not only vision and dedication but also the right set of tools. Trello, Asana, Mailchimp, Google Analytics, SEO tools, Calendly, Upwork, Slack, Canva and Google AdWords represent a curated selection of tools that cater to various aspects of running and growing a business . Whether managing projects, optimizing online presence or fostering team collaboration, entrepreneurs can harness the power of these tools to navigate challenges and propel their ventures toward success in 2024 and beyond. As technology continues to evolve, entrepreneurs should stay vigilant for emerging tools that can further enhance their operations and contribute to their business growth.

Entrepreneur Leadership Network® Contributor

CEO of SetSchedule

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

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Best Business Plan Software: Our Top Picks for 2024

best business planning tools

Written By Julija A.

Updated: February 6, 2024

To choose the best business plan software for your needs, you must consider several factors. Not all products and businesses are created equal, and some need more detailed financial projections than others.

Thankfully, there are various software solutions on the market you can choose from to assist you with your business planning. But where should you start?

To help you with that, we have researched and compiled a list of the top-rated programs that can make it easier to get your business off the ground and ensure its long-term success.

Show more...

LivePlan

  • Unlimited plans
  • 35-day money-back guarantee
  • Insightful tutorials

Jump to Review

PlanGuru

  • 30-day free trial
  • Valuation tool

Enloop

  • 7-day free trial
  • Several free business plans
  • Competitive prices

Bizplan

  • Business process monitoring
  • Revenue projection tool

IdeaBuddy

  • 15-day free trial
  • Business guide
  • Flexible pricing options

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Business Plan Software Pros and Cons

 Business Plan Software Pros and Cons

Now, let’s review some key advantages and potential disadvantages of these programs.

  • They are cost-effective and efficient, providing excellent long-term value.
  • Business planning tools help you set reasonable goals and track your progress.
  • They allow you to work on the business plan with multiple people and easily share data with mentors and investors.
  • Many have video tutorials, extensive knowledge libraries, and even forums, while others have help centers with short but useful guides, at the very least.
  • Specific platforms have limited free-trial options. So, check what features your favorite business plan program offers as part of a free trial.
  • Some software doesn’t provide live chat, phone, or quick-support options. So, getting in contact with customer service representatives may be a problem if you need urgent assistance.

Although business planning software offers a wide selection of useful features, choosing the one that’s ideal for your needs comes down to evaluating several factors.

Everyone’s requirements are different, so take your time choosing the right software for you. Once you’ve made your decision, all you need to do is put the program to work, define your business plan and operating budget , and get you’ll be able to get the project off the ground in no time!

Choosing Business Plan Software: Things To Consider

Deciding on the best business plan software for your needs can seem daunting – there are so many options available, and it can be difficult to know where to start. However, in our business plan software reviews, we pointed out a few key factors you should keep in mind to narrow down your options.

Both free and paid options are available, so you’ll need to decide what’s right for you. We did not mention any free business planning software in this review, but if you’re on a limited budget and are looking for free software, pay attention to the number of features it allows you to use and how many collaborators you can have onboard.

When using software to devise a business plan, the features offered by the tool are a top priority. Not all of them will be relevant for every business, so it’s important to take into account which features are more important for the type of business you’re running.

Number of Co-Workers

Another important thing to consider is the number of collaborators that you will need to include in the making of your business plan. You won’t need software with unlimited collaborators if you only need to share your project with a few people, but at the same time, the software has to support the number of coworkers you need working with you.

Educational Resources and Tutorials

Next, consider whether you’ll need access to educational resources. Some software options come with templates and tutorials that can help you get started, as well as help you optimize your business plan for the long term.

When it comes to business planning software, user experience is extremely important. The user interface should be intuitive and easy to use, as the last thing you need when devising a business plan is to deal with a clunky interface. That said, you should always thoroughly test out a platform before committing to it for the long term.

Integrations

Last but not least, check out how many integration options your shortlisted platform has and what those are. Programs such as QuickBooks, Xero, and Microsoft Excel are all highly useful and commonly used tools, so having them integrated with your business planning software can make your life easier.

Top 5 Picks: Business Plan Software

Top 5 Picks: Business Plan Software

1.LivePlan Review

LivePlan

  • Pricing: Standard plan: $15/$20 per month, Business plan: $30/$40 per month
  • Number of plans: Unlimited
  • Free trial: Yes (35-day money-back guarantee)

LivePlan offers high functionality at an affordable price. It boasts an intuitive, user-friendly interface with plenty of useful features, making it easy for users to write detailed business plans . So, if you’re looking for sophisticated, modern business plan software, LivePlan should be among your shortlisted options.

You’ll find there are many things you can use Liveplan software for. Some business plan features it offers are:

  • Over 500 sample plans.
  • Easy export to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
  • One-page pitch builder, which creates an infographic version of your business plan.
  • Automatic financials – the program creates charts, tables, and reports for you.
  • Financial performance tracking, which also helps you plan a budget and offers seamless integration with financial tools.
  • Step-by-step guidance: You receive instructions with prompts, definitions, and tutorials as soon as you log in.

The premium package adds performance indicators, a milestone planner, benchmark data for metrics comparisons, and more.

Who Is It For?

LivePlan is among the finest business plan software solutions for businesses and entrepreneurs who need:

  • An affordable business planning tool with a variety of useful features.
  • To create many reports, as the software lets you create as many as you wish or need.
  • Help with creating a report, since the platform has a comprehensive step-by-step guide and tutorials.
  • To access their plans for extended periods, as the program saves data for more than a year, even after cancellation.

On the other hand, LivePlan itself is an advanced tool, so there is a learning curve for beginners.

LivePlan has two plans catering to startups, small and large businesses, and long-time investors. The subscription can be paid either monthly or annually.

If you choose the former option, the Standard package will cost you $20 a month, while the monthly price of the Premium plan is $40.

If you opt for the annual subscription, you’ll only have to pay $15 per month for the Standard and $30 per month on the Premium plan. This generous discount makes LivePlan arguably the best business plan software for individuals and businesses willing to commit to a subscription for a longer period.

Key Features

2.PlanGuru Review

PlanGuru

  • Pricing: Plan Guru App: $99 per month or $899 per year, Plan Guru Desktop: $99 per month or $899 per year
  • Free trial: Yes (30 days)

PlanGuru is a good choice if you want robust software that offers a variety of features. The most notable one is the valuation tool, which is only available on the desktop version of the software at the time of writing.

In short, PlanGuru is a business planning software solution committed to helping businesses with their financial planning, providing the tools they need to create reports, budgets, forecasts, and more.

PlanGuru offers two types of plans: Advisor and Business/Non-profit. These are largely the same, with a few slight differences, and the company lets you choose between a cloud-based app and a desktop application.

Whichever option you choose, you gain access to an unlimited number of scenarios per company and can import up to five years of actual results. Furthermore, each plan entitles you to a pre-built three-way forecasting structure and lets you benefit from over 20 standard forecasting methods.

That said, PlanGuru is more of a financial planning tool than business plan writing software.

The desktop application has some additional features. For example, the valuation tool is currently available on the desktop version only. Also, some other features that are only available on the desktop version are the payroll utility, the breakeven tool, and an unlimited number of consolidated projections.

PlanGuru would make an excellent business plan tool for those who:

  • Appreciate a comprehensive resources library.
  • Wish to compare their finances to the performance of a given industry.
  • Are used to importing files using QuickBooks Online, Xero, Excel, or QuickBooks Desktop.
  • Need business valuation calculations (PlanGuru is one of the best business planning software solutions with this feature).

On the other hand, you may wish to look elsewhere if you:

  • Need a tool focusing on basic business plan writing.
  • Have a limited budget. PlanGuru is expensive, especially if you need to include additional users.

Pricing is on the high side with PlanGuru. A subscription will set you back $99 per month or $899 per year, and on top of that, adding additional users costs an extra $29 per month or $299 per year. So, ensure you can get the most out of this software to make writing your business plan worth the time, effort, and cost.

3.Enloop Review

Enloop

  • Pricing: Detailed plan: $11/$19.95 per month, Performance plan: $24/$39.95 per month
  • Number of plans: 3
  • Free trial: Yes (7 days)

If you’re looking for simple software to create a business plan, Enloop is an excellent option. Dedicated to business plan creation, it offers features such as automated text writing, financial forecast comparisons, and auto-generated financial reports.

Enloop is one of the best business plan software options available on the market if accessibility and ease of use are your priority. It features a simple interface and it’s suitable for users who don’t need more than a few business plans, although more plans can be unlocked for an additional monthly cost.

Both of Enloop’s pricing plans share most of the program’s feature set, such as automated text writing, colored charts, real-time performance score, data and text synchronization, and country currency formatting with over a hundred currency symbols and formats.

The main differences between the two plans come down to the number of team members who can be included in the project, and the number of financial ratios that the app can analyze.

You should consider Enloop if you only need up to three business plans, which is the account limit. However, you might want to keep it shortlisted even if you need more, since it’s possible to unlock additional business plans for an extra $9.95 per month.

Furthermore, you’d likely find this business plan creator software appealing if you intend to have multiple people working on a business plan. The Detailed plan allows two shared users, while the Performance package allows five.

You’ll also find Enloop helpful if you:

  • Have a limited budget.
  • Value text, tables, and image formatting.
  • Wish to have access to helpful written and video tutorials.

On the flip side, Enloop might not be a good fit if you need:

  • QuickBooks or Xero integration options.
  • More than five co-workers working on your business plan.
  • Responsive customer support, as it can only be reached via a contact form.

Enloop offers both monthly and annual subscription options, and the latter allows you to save about 50% if you wish to commit for the long term.

So, if you opt for the Enloop business plan software, the price is as follows:

  • $19.95 per month for the Detailed plan
  • $39.95 per month for the Premium package

If you choose the annual subscription, the prices are:

  • $11 per month for the Detailed package
  • $24 per month for the Premium plan

4.Bizplan Review

Bizplan

  • Pricing: Monthly plan: $29 per month, Annual plan: $20.75 per month, Lifetime plan: $349
  • Free trial: No

Bizplan is yet another tool popular among many businesses due to a variety of benefits it offers. You can include as many collaborators as you wish and create an unlimited number of business plans, have access to a range of useful tools, and use the company’s extensive educational resources, and more.

Bizplan is among the top business plan software options with a number of helpful features that young businesses can benefit from. For example, you can:

  • Set your business goals and monitor the progress from a single dashboard.
  • Ask for advice or detailed guidance from acclaimed mentors your dedicated advisor connects you to.
  • Access courses that can help you scale your business, including customer acquisition and business planning.

Moreover, Bizplan boasts an extensive library of interviews and guides you can use, and you can join the Startup Therapy Podcast for insights on how to deal with issues that every new business experiences.

Among other features, this business planning software also has:

  • Revenue-projection tool
  • Equity fundraising platform
  • Automatic financial projections
  • Easy-to-use templates for reports generation
  • Extensive library of educational content
  • Unlimited business plans, tables, and sections
  • Exemplary customer support you can contact via email, live chat, and phone

Bizplan is one of the business plan software providers that grants users access to all of its features with a single plan, with no limitations on the number of plans or collaborators. It caters to startups and seasoned business people, offering ample resources, business plan creation opportunities, and convenient monitoring.

One of the few downsides of this software is the lack of a free trial, which means you’ll have to subscribe if you wish to try the program out.

There are three subscription options with Bizplan:

  • Monthly, which costs $29 per month
  • Annual, which costs $20.75 per month ($249 per year)
  • Lifetime, which costs $349 for lifetime access

Given that no other provider among our shortlisted options offers a lifetime plan, it’s safe to say that Bizplan is the best business plan software for users who wish to commit to a high flat cost rather than worry about subscription costs in the long-term.

5.IdeaBuddy Review

IdeaBuddy

  • Pricing: Dreamer plan: starting from $6 per month, Founder plan: starting from $9 per month, Enterprise plan: custom pricing
  • Number of plans: Unspecified
  • Free trial: Yes (15 days)

IdeaBuddy is a handy tool that can help you with many things, including testing your business ideas, financial planning, and more. It is particularly useful if you have a business idea but aren’t sure how to implement it. The software can accommodate a variety of people and companies, including entrepreneurs, managers, startups, and business schools.

IdeaBuddy is an excellent small business planning software that has five main features:

  • Idea validation
  • Financial plan
  • Business plan

The idea plan feature allows you to map and structure your idea easily and efficiently on a single page without much effort. The process is simple, resembling a website building tool, and it provides you with an overview of the business model upon completion.

As its name suggests, the idea validation feature provides insights into how likely your idea is to become a thriving business.

The business guide gives you valuable insights into how to start your business. It can help you assess how big your target market is, perform competition analysis, allow you to better understand who your prospective customers are, and evaluate the idea’s overall market potential.

The financial plan helps you evaluate your income on monthly, quarterly, and annual bases, complete with long-term cash flow projections and detailed financial reports.

Finally, the business plan feature helps you create a shareable plan that you can edit and export to Word or PDF.

IdeaBuddy is business plan maker software especially suitable for individuals and startups that need guidance when it comes to implementing their business ideas. It is also useful for people with limited budgets. Furthermore, nonprofits and schools benefit from IdeaBuddy’s 30% off policy.

On the other hand, you might not find the platform to your liking if you:

  • Wish to test all the features before committing, since the free trial has a very limited feature set.
  • Need responsive customer support assistance, since you can contact them only via a contact form.

IdeaBuddy has flexible pricing options, making it one of the best business plan software solutions if money is an issue. You can see some of them in the tables below:

DREAMER PLAN

FOUNDER PLAN

As for the cost and details of the Enterprise plan, you need to contact IdeaBuddy directly via the contact form.

What is the best free business plan software?

Various business plan template software solutions offer a free basic version or a free trial. However, free business planning software usually lacks essential features that a growing business might need.

Which business plan software is the best?

It depends on your professional needs. For example, those who need a valuation tool would find PlanGuru the most convenient, while others might prefer LivePlan if they’re prioritizing flexibility and value.

What is the best business plan software for startups?

LivePlan, Bizplan, and IdeaBuddy are among the finest business planning software for startups. LivePlan provides high functionality for the price, Bizplan has extensive educational resources, while IdeaBuddy guides startups through different planning and implementation stages.

Yes, we all have too many meetings...so let's at least stay organized! → Discover ZipDo

The 10 Best Business Meeting Planning Software Tools

Jannik Lindner

  • Last Updated: February 19, 2024

The 10 best business meeting planning software tools offer functionalities like scheduling, agenda setting, participant management, collaborative tools and analytics for efficient and productive meetings.

A Business Meeting Planning Software can be a vital tool for anyone coordinating and managing meetings within a professional environment. It streamlines the planning process by making it possible to schedule meetings, manage invitations, track responses, and structure agendas all from one centralized platform. Furthermore, it can assist in resource allocation by helping arrange meeting spaces, equipment, and catering. The software can also facilitate communication and improve collaboration among team members with built-in messaging and file sharing capabilities. By systematizing and simplifying these tasks, a Business Meeting Planning Software not only saves valuable time and resources, but also reduces the likelihood of oversights or errors, leading to more effective and productive meetings.

Key Features

A paramount feature of any business meeting planning software is its comprehensive scheduling capabilities. Beyond merely setting a date and time, these systems facilitate the coordination of multiple calendars, ensuring optimal timing for all participants, regardless of their time zones or prior commitments. This centralized scheduling platform is designed to reduce the tedious back-and-forth typically associated with finding a suitable meeting time, streamlining the process with automatic suggestions. Furthermore, these solutions often integrate with popular digital calendars, providing users with a seamless transition between their personal schedules and meeting commitments, ultimately enhancing productivity and ensuring participation.

Another critical aspect of business meeting planning software is its robust agenda-setting and document sharing features. These tools allow organizers to outline the meeting’s objectives and share necessary materials with participants in advance, fostering a structured and efficient discussion. Attendees can access agendas, reports, and other relevant documents in one convenient location, promoting thorough preparation and engagement. Additionally, the best systems offer real-time collaboration capabilities, enabling participants to annotate documents and contribute to agendas directly within the platform. This interactive approach not only maximizes meeting productivity but also ensures that all attendees are aligned with the meeting’s goals and expectations, leading to more effective and actionable outcomes.

Business Meeting Planning Software: Our Recommendations

Meeting decisions, hypercontext, lucid meetings, meetingbooster, meetingking, pick #1: our software.

best business planning tools

ZipDo, an advanced Business Meeting Planning Software hosted in the cloud, redefines team synergy by innovatively altering how meeting notes are created, sorted, and distributed. Its instant note-taking, cooperative editing, and synchronization with popular scheduling and efficiency tools render it crucial for groups of all magnitudes.

A distinguished feature is ZipDo’s instant note-taking, which guarantees that all participants stay synchronized during meetings, thus removing the need for traditional note exchange. After the meeting, team members can conveniently modify and contribute to the notes for continual updates.

ZipDo shines in the organization of notes by facilitating easy segregation into channels or folders. Its capacity for note searches boosts performance, allowing immediate pinpointing of particular details without the need for lengthy scrolling or manual searches.

Thanks to the detailed access control of ZipDo, note sharing provides secure distribution of information to fellow team members, clients, or partners. Its integration with calendars automates collaborative note creation for each assembly, eradicating manual input.

In conclusion, ZipDo is an intuitive platform offering an all-inclusive set of features for boosting team efficiency, cooperation, and project coordination. With its live note-taking, collaborative editing, organization, easy search options, safe sharing, and seamless integrations, ZipDo is invaluable in simplifying meeting management and enhancing project productivity.

best business planning tools

Fellow.app is an innovative business meeting planning software designed to streamline and optimize collaborative efforts within an organization. It functions as a digital meeting space allowing users to dynamically plan, run, and track meetings efficiently. With its comprehensive features including agenda-setting, action items recording, and feedback sharing, it encourages productive, seamless and interactive engagements amongst team members. Additionally, Fellow.app promotes accountabilities in tasks and goals, enabling a remote-first environment that fosters effective teamwork and communication across diverse geographies and timezones.

best business planning tools

Adam.ai is an advanced business meeting planning software which integrates different collaborative tools and technologies to manage meetings effectively. It is designed to simplify the meeting process by providing a central platform for setting the meeting agenda, sharing minutes, managing tasks, and tracking deliverables. The platform also allows for real-time collaboration, enabling team members to contribute and update their progress. Leveraging AI, it improves productivity by automating tasks such as scheduling, reminders, and follow-ups. It supports integration with other tools such as project management software, calendars, and communication channels, providing a holistic meeting management solution.

best business planning tools

Meetingdecisions.com is a comprehensive Business Meeting Planning Software designed to streamline meeting procedures within an organization. It assists organizations in effectively planning, conducting, and following up on meetings. The platform enables users to create and distribute meeting agendas, share minutes, track action items and decisions, while also leveraging collaborative features such as real-time collaboration and document sharing. Integrated with the prominent tools like Microsoft Outlook and Teams, it enhances efficiency and effectiveness in work communication and team cooperation, reducing time wasted on unnecessary meetings and fostering productivity in the business environment.

best business planning tools

Hypercontext.com is a powerful business meeting planning software platform designed to streamline and optimize meetings within organizations by automating various aspects of scheduling, planning, agenda setting, and follow-ups. The platform allows for actionable meeting management, ensuring that every meeting has clear objectives, agenda items, and concise minutes, thereby increasing productivity within the team. It integrates with other commonly used platforms like Google, Outlook, and Slack, offering flexibility for various work environments. Its people-centric design encourages participation and accountability, thus enhancing overall team collaboration and communication.

best business planning tools

Lucidmeetings.com is a comprehensive business meeting planning software that is developed to facilitate seamless online meetings, workshops and collaborative events in organizations. This platform offers extensive features, including agenda planning, note taking, task assignments, real-time dialogue translation, and meeting records storage. Designed to make remote collaboration more efficient, it helps in promoting effective communication, improvement of team’s decision-making capabilities, and ensuring every team member stays on task. Lucid Meetings also enables integration with various business tools, enhancing its adaptability in different professional environments.

best business planning tools

Beenote.io is a comprehensive business meeting planning software that streamlines the process of preparing and conducting meetings in corporate settings. It helps users create and share meeting agendas, track action items, document meeting minutes, and organize related documents efficiently. In addition, it offers features such as time tracking, task management, and a shared calendar, which aid in improving accountability, collaboration, and productivity within the team. Its user-friendly interface, along with integration capabilities with other popular business tools, makes Beenote.io an effective solution for managing business meetings.

best business planning tools

MeetingBooster.com is a specialized software designed to facilitate and streamline the entire business meeting planning process. It serves as an advanced planning tool, enabling professionals to conveniently schedule meetings, set and track agendas, assign tasks, and effectively share and manage minutes of the meeting. This platform caters to efficiency and productivity by reducing time spent on administrative tasks related to meetings while increasing focus on decision-making and task execution. It also supports collaboration and ensures accountability among team members. Overall, MeetingBooster.com boosts business productivity by enhancing the organization and transparency of corporate meetings.

best business planning tools

MeetingKing.com is a robust business meeting planning software designed to streamline the process of scheduling, managing, and documenting business meetings. It enables businesses to create structured agendas, assign tasks, track progress, and foster interactive communication, effectively improving productivity and decision-making. Its comprehensive features allow for efficient management of participants’ information, generation of professional meeting minutes, and archival of both past and future meetings for quick reference. This intuitive platform also promotes team collaboration by integrating with popular tools like Outlook, Google Calendar, and iCalendar, making it a versatile and comprehensive solution for businesses of all sizes.

best business planning tools

Apollo.ai is an innovative Business Meeting Planning Software designed to streamline and optimize the process of organizing and conducting meetings in professional environments. It leverages advanced artificial intelligence to facilitate meeting scheduling, manage agendas, and track action items, ensuring an efficient workflow. The platform allows users to collaborate in real-time, providing tools for taking notes, assigning tasks, sharing documents, and communicating effectively. With a keen focus on enhancing productivity and cutting down on unnecessary meetings, Apollo.ai serves as a comprehensive solution for businesses looking to improve their meeting culture.

Buying Criteria

Choosing the right business meeting planning software necessitates a thorough understanding of your specific needs and goals. Consider the size of your organization, the complexity of your meetings, and any unique requirements you may have, such as multi-language support or advanced security features. Look for a solution that is scalable and can grow with your business, ensuring that it allows for a varying number of participants and integrates seamlessly with your existing tech stack. Ease of use is crucial, too; the software should be intuitive for both organizers and participants to minimize the learning curve and ensure widespread adoption across your team.

Furthermore, analyze the collaboration and engagement features of the software. The ability to share documents, conduct polls, and facilitate breakout rooms can significantly enhance the productivity of your meetings. Equally important is the reliability of the platform; it should provide consistent uptime and robust customer support to address any issues swiftly. By focusing on these key aspects, you can select a business meeting planning software that not only meets your immediate needs but is also a valuable tool for fostering effective communication and collaboration within your organization.

Investing in a business meeting planning software makes sense when an organization regularly schedules meetings with multiple participants, both internal and external. This scenario often involves complex logistics, such as coordinating different time zones, finding available meeting rooms, or managing virtual meeting links. Additionally, companies that host events or large-scale meetings can benefit greatly from the streamlined organization, automated reminders, and efficiency that meeting planning software offers. The software becomes crucial for businesses aiming to enhance productivity, minimize scheduling conflicts, and ensure a professional approach to meeting management.

Conversely, it does not make sense to invest in a business meeting planning software for small businesses or startups that have a limited number of team members, where meetings can be easily scheduled with basic calendar applications or via direct communication. Additionally, organizations with a tight budget may find the cost of sophisticated meeting planning software unjustifiable, especially when their meeting frequency and complexity don’t demand advanced features. In such cases, the return on investment might be minimal, rendering the expense unnecessary. Simplicity and cost-effectiveness become priorities, with basic tools sufficing for their meeting planning needs.

Business Meeting Planning Software is a tool that helps businesses and corporations plan, organize, and conduct meetings more efficiently. It can schedule dates and times, provide reminders, keep track of attendance, facilitate the sharing of meeting resources, and enable integration with other work or project management tools.

This software can simplify the process of scheduling and organizing meetings, avoid double bookings, ensure all participants are informed in a timely manner, and keep track of all details and minutes. This saves time, reduces miscommunication, and enhances productivity.

Yes, most meeting planning software solutions can seamlessly integrate with other software such as email and calendar applications, customer relationship management (CRM) tools, project management software, and communication platforms. This ensures a smooth workflow and better coordination.

No, businesses of all sizes can benefit from Business Meeting Planning Software. It is a valuable tool for any organization that conducts meetings frequently, regardless of its size. For small businesses, it can even replace the need for a dedicated meeting planner or scheduler.

Typically, such software is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive. Most platforms provide tutorials, guides, or customer support to assist new users. However, like any new tool, there may be a learning curve initially. Over time with regular usage, it becomes easier to navigate and understand the full functionality of the software.

best business planning tools

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Best fleet management software in 2024

Alison Kilian

Sierra Campbell

Sierra Campbell

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Published 7:56 a.m. UTC Feb. 14, 2024

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Whether you’re in construction, logistics or delivery services, if you work in an industry that requires you to oversee a fleet of vehicles and drivers, you know how challenging it can be. Fleet management software simplifies the job, helping with tasks like tracking driver hours and planning vehicle routes.

This results in more streamlined, simpler fleet management that spares you stress and may even save you money. For example, integrated routing tools can help delivery vehicle drivers find faster routes, cutting fuel expenses.

Our research team surveyed some of the top fleet management tools in the market, considering everything from customer service to dashcam capabilities. Below, we round up the best fleet management software in 2024.

Best fleet management

  • Motive : Best for comprehensive fleet management.
  • Azuga : Excellent driver management features.
  • Linxup : Great vehicle diagnostics benefits.
  • Rhino Fleet Tracking : Outstanding routing features.
  • Samsara : Best for real-time monitoring.
  • Intellishift : Outstanding customer service.
  • AUTOsist : Outstanding financial management features.
  • Whip Around : Most affordable.
  • Fleetio : Excellent for fuel tracking.
  • Holman Fleet Management : Best for toll-heavy fleets.

Why trust our small business experts

Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of business products and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best product for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.

  • 19 companies reviewed.
  • 15 hours of product testing.
  • 775 data points analyzed.

Best for comprehensive fleet management

Motive

Starting monthly fee

Electronic logging device compliance tools, gps tracking, what you should know.

Motive boasts more than 120,000 customers, including Fortune 500 companies. The comprehensive software includes all the basics you could want in a fleet management system, like an electronic logging device (ELD) to verify driver hours, real-time vehicle tracking and vehicle maintenance alerts.

This software also has useful add-ons like an artificial intelligence (AI) dashcam and fuel expense tracking. It can be adapted to all kinds of industries, from trucking and logistics to construction and, of course, delivery services. The broad range of features and the software’s versatility makes it our favorite comprehensive fleet management tool.

Pros and cons

  • Wide range of features and add-ons.
  • Adaptable for different industries.
  • Cutting-edge add-ons like an AI dashcam.
  • No transparent pricing data on its website (you have to request a quote).
  • No support for tolls.

Excellent driver management features

Azuga

Azuga ticks important boxes like ELD and GPS tracking. Advanced plans enjoy added perks, like maintenance management. The software particularly stands out for its user-friendly app, which makes tracking drivers fast and easy. The Driver Scoring tool helps managers determine which workers are performing their best.

Additionally, gamification features help less successful drivers improve, while rewards programs acknowledge those who are already top performers. Fleet dashcams add a layer of accountability that can further improve safety. With its prominent focus on drivers, Azuga is our top pick for businesses interested in optimizing driver performance.

  • Gamification and reward programs for drivers.
  • Dual-facing AI dashcam.
  • Comprehensive driver safety scores.
  • No live chat customer service option.
  • Maintenance management for advanced plans only.
  • Vehicle diagnostics for advanced plans only.

Great vehicle diagnostics benefits

Linxup

Linxup advertises itself as a GPS tracking system first and foremost, but the software also features functions like EDL and maintenance notifications. Its multi-asset tracking GPS trackers can be used for vehicles as well as towable assets like trailers. It even works with industrial machines, construction equipment and marine vessels.

Linxup offers detailed maintenance reports for vehicles, covering details like oil changes, tire rotations and mileage. You can also set reminders for license renewals, state inspections and registration renewals. This holistic approach, covering both practical and legal aspects, makes this a good choice for managers worried about upkeep.

  • Detailed maintenance monitoring.
  • GPS tracking available for diverse types of vessels/vehicles.
  • “Mini tracker” available for tracking smaller items like toolboxes.
  • Mileage tracking at additional cost only.
  • Fuel tracking available at additional cost only.
  • Live chat and phone support only available during limited hours.

Outstanding routing features

Rhino fleet tracking.

Rhino Fleet Tracking

Routing isn’t a must for every fleet manager. While construction crews may not need this function, for instance, delivery services professionals can definitely benefit from it. Rhino Fleet Tracking’s Garmin fleet tracking and routing system is designed to give drivers the most efficient routes and even provides estimated arrival times.

Additionally, if a new stop needs to be added to a route, managers can view their entire fleet at once and then dispatch the nearest vehicle to the new destination. Rhino Fleet Tracking also offers other basic functions, like ELD and maintenance management. However, its route management is where it really shines.

  • Efficiency-boosting route management tool.
  • Live customer service.
  • Equipment and asset tracking.
  • Requires an activation fee (not all providers do).
  • No safety reporting.
  • Vehicle diagnostics available for an added cost only.

Best for real-time monitoring

Samsara

Samsara is all about saving, whether it’s a question of saving time or saving fuel. The software prioritizes real-time visibility, offering immediate insights into vehicle location (through GPS), fuel and maintenance statistics and equipment status.

Further, the reporting tools allow managers to compile insights into valuable data that can then be used to streamline workflows in the future. For any fleet manager interested in harnessing the power of real-time monitoring, Samsara is a strong choice. Of course, the software also includes other fleet management basics, like ELD tools and AI-driven cameras for safety.

  • Extensive real-time insights into vehicles and fuel use.
  • Comprehensive reporting capabilities.
  • AI-driven safety tools.
  • No transparent pricing online (customers need to request a quote).
  • Limited customer support options, with no phone or chat function.
  • Toll fee management available through plug-in only.

Outstanding customer service

Intellishift.

Intellishift

Intellishift is a cutting-edge fleet management solution covering everything from driver safety to fuel management and fleet equipment health. The software provider suggests that its tool offers an immediate return on investment (ROI), such as a 35% decrease in fleet maintenance costs and a 50% decrease in fuel costs.

For the less tech-savvy user, knowing that you have a reliable customer service team to fall back on can be a big relief. Intellishift delivers with its 24/7 US-based customer support. There is also a far-reaching knowledge base that you can consult to solve queries yourself.

  • Excellent customer service.
  • Detailed fleet analytics.
  • AI-driven dashcams to promote safety.
  • Limited reporting options.
  • Nontransparent pricing (you have to request a quote).
  • No toll management support.

Outstanding financial management features

AUTOsist

AUTOsist ticks most of the basic boxes any fleet manager will want, from preventative maintenance alerts (included for all plans) to GPS tracking (for an added cost). The tool also has a fuel card integration for tracking gas expenses and safety dash cameras.

The technology’s reporting features can be especially useful for fleet managers hoping to cut costs. You can check how much you’re spending on maintenance and vehicle services every month, for example, and also track details like fuel costs. For managers interested in financial reporting, this is a solid choice.

  • Excellent financial reporting tools.
  • Transparent pricing.
  • Maintenance management included.
  • GPS tracking available for higher-tier plans only.
  • No ELD compliance tools.
  • Driver safety scorecards only for an added cost.

Most affordable

Whip around.

Whip Around

If you want to try a fleet management tool with zero risk, the free version of Whip Around is a good starting point. Although it only covers one vehicle, it’s a good way to test out the features, including defect management, fuel tracking and inspection alerts. The paid plans cover more vehicles and offer additional features, like time and cost tracking.

Overall, Whip Around is more limited compared to some other software on this list. There’s no GPS tracking, for example, and ELD compliance is available through plug-in only. Still, for people toying with the idea of a fleet management tool, the freebie version can be a good way to test the waters.

  • Free version.
  • Live chat and phone customer service available.
  • Fuel tracking function.
  • No GPS tracking.
  • ELD compliance through plug-in only.
  • No safety reports.

Excellent for fuel tracking

Fleetio

Gas can be a major expense if you’re managing a large fleet of vehicles. Fleetio is our favorite pick for helping to keep those costs low. You can gather data from integrated fuel cards to monitor fuel costs. Multiple brands of fuel cards are supported, and you can even suggest fuel card integrations.

Fleetio’s user-friendly dashboard makes it easy to review not only fuel expenses but also data like vehicle status, inspection summaries and repair priorities. The reporting tools allow you to assess costs accurately and find ways to optimize operations and reduce spending.

  • Excellent fuel card integrations.
  • Comprehensive reporting tools.
  • User-friendly dashboard.
  • Limited customer service hours.
  • ELD for higher-priced plan and through plug-in only.
  • Dashcam option through plug-in only.

Best for toll-heavy fleets

Holman fleet management.

Holman Fleet Management

Holman boasts almost 100 years of experience in automotive services and has used this experience to create a fleet management tool that works for diverse fields, from landscaping to railroads, food delivery and beyond. This tool can provide information on driver safety, vehicle performance and maintenance costs.

One area where Holman stands out is tracking tolls, which helps ensure legal compliance and avoid violations that could result in vehicle registrations being blocked or similar nuisances. Holman also collects data about violations like speeding and illegal parking. For managers concerned with compliance, it’s a savvy choice.

  • Excellent compliance features.
  • Toll management support.
  • Reporting capabilities.
  • Limited customer support.
  • No route planning option.

Best fleet management software comparison

Methodology

We extensively research the key competitors within an industry to determine the best products and services for your business. Our experts identify the factors that matter most to business owners, including pricing, features and customer support, to ensure that our recommendations offer well-rounded products that will meet the needs of various small businesses.

We collect extensive data to narrow our best list to reputable, easy-to-use products with stand-out features at a reasonable price point. And we look at user reviews to ensure that business owners like you are satisfied with our top picks’ services. We use the same rubric to assess companies within a particular space so you can confidently follow our blueprint to the best fleet management software of 2024.

The best fleet management software should have ELD compliance tools, live GPS tracking, maintenance management tracking features and incident reporting tools. It should also have driver safety scorecards, mileage tracking tools, cost reports on the platform, secure document management storage and tolls and violations support.

This software should also offer asset monitoring features, a mobile app, a VIN lookup feature, tire pressure and temperature monitoring and a dashcam.

What is fleet management software and how does it work?

Fleet management software is designed to help oversee and organize vehicles and drivers and can be useful in fields like delivery services, construction, oil and gas, trucking and logistics. 

Depending on the software, managers can use the tool for tasks like monitoring driver hours, checking vehicle mileage and tracking vehicle locations in real time. Some tools also have extras like driver safety reports and integrated dashcams. By consolidating such tasks in a single tool, fleet management becomes streamlined.

Benefits of fleet management software

Although there are some free tools, most fleet management software requires you to pay a monthly or annual fee, often on a per-vehicle basis. You may be wondering if it’s worth the investment.

Here are some of the benefits you can expect if you pay for a comprehensive fleet management tool:

  • Simplify driver management: Many fleet management tools track driver hours. For hourly workers, this can simplify payroll. Time tracking also helps ensure drivers aren’t driving for longer than is safe (or legally permitted).
  • Enhance safety: Some fleet management tools include incident reports so that the fleet manager can keep track of issues like accidents. Depending on the tool, it may also be possible to create safety scorecards for individual drivers.
  • Improve efficiency: A route management tool can help plan faster routes for delivery drivers, taking into account details like road closures and traffic jams. This can improve overall efficiency.
  • Cut costs: Route management can also help cut fuel costs. When drivers are given the most efficient path from A to B, they are able to avoid traffic jams and other nuisances that can use up gas needlessly.
  • Reduce hassle: Keeping track of multiple drivers, vehicles and routes can be confusing, especially if you have a larger fleet. Fleet management software puts essential data in one place, giving you improved oversight of your team.

How to choose the best fleet management software

There are many fleet management software options to choose from, and knowing which one is right for you isn’t always easy. Below, we reveal which essential functions to look for in fleet management software. We also highlight some optional features you may want to consider.

Key features to look for

While you may not need all the bells and whistles of the most high-end fleet management tools, there are some basic functions worth looking for. When shopping around for a tool, check for these features:

  • Electronic logging device compliance tools: ELD compliance tools measure driver hours. This time-tracking can be useful for payroll as well as for compliance purposes since there are legal limits on how much time drivers can spend behind the wheel daily.
  • GPS tracking: With real-time location tracking, fleet managers know exactly where their drivers/vehicles are at all times. This can improve transparency and bring peace of mind.
  • Violation support and incident reporting: What happens if a driver speeds or gets in a crash? Violation support and incident reporting keep fleet managers in the know so they can make sure their teams are safe.
  • Mileage tracking: Vehicles require maintenance, like oil changes, after a certain number of miles are driven. Mileage tracking helps managers know when it’s time to get a car in for a tune-up.
  • Vehicle diagnostics and maintenance management tracking: Some providers offer sensor-driven plug-ins that connect to each vehicle, providing alerts when maintenance is required.

Add-ons and extras

While the following extras aren’t a “must-have” for fleet management software, they can be beneficial add-ons. Depending on your needs, you may want to look for tools with these functions (or pay extra for higher-tier plans that include them):

  • Route planning tool: A route planning function charts out delivery or trucking stops in an optimal order, which can enhance route efficiency.
  • Fuel management software: Fuel management tracking can help control fuel consumption, which can help maintain or even cut gas costs.
  • Tolls support: Drivers can get help with toll road payments, while managers can track toll expenses for their fleets as a whole.
  • Dashcam: Dashcams can be valuable in case of a car accident or similar unexpected incident, providing footage for legal or insurance purposes.

How much does fleet management software cost?

The costs of fleet management software vary widely, from as little as $0 per month to upward of $25 per vehicle per month. In general, the more comprehensive a technology is in terms of coverage and features, the more it will cost. For example, Whip Around has a Basic plan that’s free but covers only one vehicle.

You may be able to save on your fleet management software costs by signing up for an annual plan instead of paying month by month. Longer contract terms may also result in lower monthly rates. Note that not all of the providers we surveyed provide transparent pricing information on their websites; some require you to request a quote.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

The best fleet management software will meet your operational needs without adding unmanageable expenses to your business. Key traits to look for include:

  • ELD compliance functionality.
  • GPS tracking.
  • Maintenance management oversight.
  • Incident/safety reporting.
  • Mileage tracking.

Beyond this, you may seek additional features depending on your requirements, such as fuel tracking or integrated dashcams.

There is free fleet management software, which is the cheapest option you’ll find. However, free tools generally lack the comprehensive functionality of more expensive technologies. In general, you can expect fleet management software to cost at least $25 per month. Some providers offer discounts for long-term contracts or annual pricing plans.

Fleet management can be made easier by tracking details like driver hours, vehicle routes and fuel expenditures. Fleet management software simplifies this kind of data tracking, gathering all the relevant information from each vehicle and driver and compiling it in one platform. For example, a fleet management tool can provide alerts when vehicles require maintenance, ensuring a safe and well-kept fleet of vehicles.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Alison Kilian

Alison Kilian has been working as a journalist and ghostwriter for over ten years. She has written for internationally recognized publications and brands, including Forbes Books, ABC News, U.S. News & World Report, and Axel Springer Media.

Sierra Campbell is a small business editor for USA Today Blueprint. She specializes in writing, editing and fact-checking content centered around helping businesses. She has worked as a digital content and show producer for several local TV stations, an editor for U.S. News & World Report and a freelance writer and editor for many companies. Sierra prides herself in delivering accurate and up-to-date information to readers. Her expertise includes credit card processing companies, e-commerce platforms, payroll software, accounting software and virtual private networks (VPNs). She also owns Editing by Sierra, where she offers editing services to writers of all backgrounds, including self-published and traditionally published authors.

How to start a small business: A step-by-step guide

How to start a small business: A step-by-step guide

Business Eric Rosenberg

IMAGES

  1. The Best 10 Business Planning Tools for Startups

    best business planning tools

  2. The 3 best strategic planning tools for business [+ results]

    best business planning tools

  3. The 3 best strategic planning tools for business [+ results]

    best business planning tools

  4. 11 Best Business Plan Software and Tools of 2021 (Reviewed)

    best business planning tools

  5. 10 Best Business Planning Software Right Now

    best business planning tools

  6. The 6 Best Business Plan Tools and How to Decide

    best business planning tools

VIDEO

  1. Business planning

  2. how to show business plan

  3. New Business Plan

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  5. How to can I make business planning easier?

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COMMENTS

  1. 10 Best Business Plan Software In 2024

    The Best Business Plan Software of 2024. Wrike: Best overall. Smartsheet: Best for goal management. LivePlan: Best for financial forecasting. Aha!: Best for roadmapping. Bizplan: Best for ...

  2. 5 Best Business Plan Software in 2022

    1. LivePlan Best overall business plan software. If you want template-rich, modern-feeling business plan software, then LivePlan may be the right pick for you. LivePlan excels with...

  3. The Best Business Plan Software

    Tarkenton GoSmallBiz Jump To Details Visit Site at Tarkenton See It EquityNet Jump To Details 199.00 Starting Price at EquityNet See It PlanGuru Jump To Details Available at PlanGuru Check Price...

  4. 7 Best Business Plan Software for 2024

    1. Venngage Venngage specializes in transforming traditional business plans into captivating visual stories. Visuals can communicate complex information effectively, ensuring your ideas stand out and resonate with your audience. When it comes to business planning, conveying your ideas with impact is just as important as the content itself.

  5. 5 Best Business Plan Software and Tools 2023

    5 Best Business Plan Software and Tools 2023 | Business.org Security Systems E-commerce Website Builders Cheapest Website Builders General Liability Insurance Benefits Administration How to Get a Business Loan Business Loan Requirements Business Credit Card Guide Commercial Loan Guide Funding by Topic Loans Credit Cards Banking Building Credit

  6. Best Business Plan Software

    Why we chose it: IdeaBuddy is an affordable business plan software with many features to support idea generation and evaluation, including one-page plan summaries and a whiteboard for simplified collaboration. IdeaBuddy is a good entry point into the world of business planning software. It's free to begin using and has scalable plan options ranging from $5 for the Dreamer package to $22 per ...

  7. 7 Best Business Plan Software for Startups in 2024

    1. LivePlan - $15/month to $30/month We love LivePlan overall because it offers great value at an affordable cost. The software lets you quickly create a business plan from anywhere in the world using what is arguably the best business plan software available on the market. It does everything better than its competition and costs way less.

  8. Best business plan software of 2024

    Software & Services Best business plan software of 2024 Best By Jonas P. DeMuro last updated 26 September 2023 For planning your business finance Jump to: The best business plan...

  9. Best Business Plan Software in 2024: Compare Reviews on 20+ Products

    Overview Free Resources Home ERP Software Business Plan Software Best Business Plan Software Business plan software is used to create, manage, and share business plans for new companies or investments. This type of software helps users identify goals, strategies, and financial needs required to start a new business or launch a major project.

  10. 6 Best Business Plan Software

    Blake Stockton This article is part of a larger series on Starting a Business. Business plan software gives you the tools to create financial projection tables, charts, and other documents you need to plan your business.

  11. 14 Useful Tools for Writing a Business Plan

    Enloop - With this tool, you add in your information, and Enloop automatically writes your plan based on your details. LivePlan - LivePlan is an online service that simplifies the business planning process while providing assistance with budgeting, forecasting, and performance tracking.

  12. Best Business Plan Software

    Wrike. Wrike is a cloud-based project management platform for teams of 20+ that is suitable for both large enterprises and SMBs. It supports remote work for various teams. This solution comes with Gantt charts, calendars, workload view f... Read more. 4.3 ( 2585 reviews) Compare.

  13. Best Business Planning Software (January 2024)

    Simple, easy-to-use tools. No industry-specific templates. Enloop's biggest draw is its seven-day free trial that allows you to set up a full business plan for one business, albeit without a ton of options. If all you need to do is generate one business plan, Enloop is obviously an outstanding choice for this reason.

  14. Create the Perfect Business Plan Using These 9 Tools

    It is better to write it in the end. #2. Describe the Company. In this section, you should mention the basic info about your company, such as its registered name, location, key people, and their expertise. Also, include business structure, company history, and ownership percentage. #3.

  15. 10 Best Business Plan Software and Tools in 2024

    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.

  16. 9 Best Business Budgeting Software Tools of 2024

    The best business budgeting software picks include QuickBooks, Xero, Zoho Books, PlanGuru, Float, Centage Planning Maestro, Futrli and others. 9 Best Business Budgeting Software Tools of 2024 ...

  17. The Best 10 Business Planning Tools for Startups

    10. Jirav. If you want business planning software for VC funded companies, growth and accounting firms, then Jirav is the best option for you. This is a smart and all-in-one budgeting, planning and forecasting tool. Features. Automatic Imports — Jirav could automatically integrate all of your business data.

  18. 5 Ways to Use Strategic Planning Tools to Achieve Your Business Goals

    Better motivation and improved morale: By creating a shared vision and purpose, you give your team a reason to feel invested in the business's success, leading to a more engaged and productive workforce. Greater adaptability: Strategic planning equips you with the tools to anticipate change and adapt quickly.

  19. 10 Best Strategic Planning Software Tools in 2024

    The key, then, is finding strategic planning software that matches your specific business game plan, situation, and environment. The 10 Best Strategic Planning Software Tools to Use in 2024 It's tough to make an argument for anything other than strategic planning to be the most important process in your organization.

  20. How to Find the Best Business Planning Tools

    Finding the best business planning tools to ensure the success of your new venture involves careful consideration of your specific needs, goals, and preferences. Here's a step-by-step guide to ...

  21. Essential Tools Every Entrepreneur Needs to Succeed in 2024

    Essential tools ranging from project management, marketing automation, analytics, SEO, scheduling, freelancing, communication and design to help your business succeed in 2024

  22. 30 Emerging Technologies That Will Guide Your Business Decisions

    This theme focuses on making the right business and ethical choices in the adoption of AI and using AI design principles that will benefit people and society.. Human-centered AI (HCAI) is a common AI design principle that calls for AI to continuously benefit from human input. Behavioral analytics refers to session-tracking capabilities that monitor user interactions with a protected service to ...

  23. Jira Review 2024: Is it the Best Agile Project Planning Tool

    Jira, the prominent project management tool that it is, has garnered impressive scores of 4.3/5 on G2 and 4.4/5 on Software Advice, reflecting its strong reputation among users. When looking into customer reviews from various platforms, we find a blend of praises and critiques that shape our understanding of Jira's performance beyond our ...

  24. Best Business Plan Software: Our Top Picks for 2024

    10+ Best Virtual Assistant Companies to Help You Get Things Done in 2024. 11 Top Survey Software Applications for Business. To choose the best business plan software for your needs, you must consider several factors. Not all products and businesses are created equal, and some need more detailed financial projections than others.

  25. The 10 Best Business Meeting Planning Software Tools

    Beenote. Beenote.io is a comprehensive business meeting planning software that streamlines the process of preparing and conducting meetings in corporate settings. It helps users create and share meeting agendas, track action items, document meeting minutes, and organize related documents efficiently. In addition, it offers features such as time ...

  26. The 48 Best Marketing Tools for Every Business (2024)

    48 best marketing tools for every business and budget. You might need tools from one or all of these categories—it really depends on what your goals are and what your overall digital marketing strategy is. For tools that don't have a free option, many offer seven- or 14-day free trials, where you can test out the marketing platform before ...

  27. What Is Employee Training? Definition, Types & Best Practices

    Katherine Haan, MBA is a former financial advisor-turned-writer and business coach. For over a decade, she's helped small business owners make money online.

  28. Best Fleet Management Software in 2024

    Motive boasts more than 120,000 customers, including Fortune 500 companies. The comprehensive software includes all the basics you could want in a fleet management system, like an electronic ...