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5 Best Business Plan Software in 2022

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

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

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The 5 best business plan software options

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

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

How much do you need?

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

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

1. LivePlan

Best overall business plan software.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Limited integration options

Challenging to enter your own financial modeling projections

Can be difficult to learn

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

More than 500 business plan templates spanning various industries

Integration with Xero and QuickBooks Online

Real-time tracking of financial data with accounting integrations

Ability to export your business plan to Word or PDF

Expert advice and step-by-step instruction included

Performance dashboards for tracking against budgets and sales goals

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

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

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

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

2. GoSmallBiz

Best for multiple business management tools in one platform.

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

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

Unlimited business consultation and extensive library of online resources

Multiple business tools in one software

Website consultation analysis and business assessment

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

Expensive monthly cost compared to alternatives

Limited business plan features

Entire business plan can only be exported to Microsoft Word

Outdated interface

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

Ability to create financial statements and projections

Free website hosting and website builder

Customer relationship manager with integration with MailChimp

Digital marketing dashboard with social media and Google Analytics integrations

HR document builder

Corporate minutes writer

Business documents library

Business courses library

Unlimited business consultation

$39 per month, no contracts, free cancellation

Best for simple, fast business plan creation.

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

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

Simple and straightforward software, solely dedicated to business plan creation

Seven-day free trial

Automatic text generation available to streamline the writing process

Affordable plans with annual discount option

Limited additional educational resources

Only one template option

No integration options

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

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

Automatically generated financial statements

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

Real-time performance score to track your progress

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

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

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

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

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

Best for startups looking to acquire funding or find investors.

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

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

Subscription gives you access to all Startups.com tools

Lifetime access subscription option

User-friendly drag-and-drop business plan builder

Excellent educational resources

Connection to Fundable great for businesses looking for capital

No free trial

No templates based on industry

No mobile access

Drag-and-drop templates for business plan building

Financial command center to track all business financials in one place

Unlimited account collaborators

Ability to share business plan online with investors

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

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

Monthly plan: $29 per month

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

Lifetime access: $349 one-time fee

5. PlanGuru

Best for financial planning and budgeting.

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

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

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

Substantial library of resources

Cloud-based and desktop options

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

Expensive, especially for additional users

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

Difficult to use without prior financial knowledge

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

Works with QuickBooks Online, Xero, and Excel

Budgeting and forecasting for up to 10 years

Over 20 standard forecasting methods

Formula builder to create custom methods

Ratios and KPIs

Dashboard and reporting tools

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

14-day free trial

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

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

What to look for in business plan software

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

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

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

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

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

The bottom line

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

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

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

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

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

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The #1 Best Selling Online Business Plan Software for Mac

100% compatible with mac os and ios devices.

4.8/5 Google Reviews

All subscriptions come with a 35-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Some of our fans:

“ LivePlan earns the top spot on our list of best business plan software —and for good reason. LivePlan’s slick and interactive service provides a step-by-step business plan approach, a rich collection of cloud-based features, and online learning tools.”

Brooke Hayes

Software Reviewer at Business.org

Here’s how LivePlan makes it surprisingly simple to write a convincing business plan

You get a step-by-step process to follow

LivePlan asks you questions about your business, you plug in the answers. It’s as easy as that. You’ll get straight-forward instructions with examples on:

• Writing a pitch that grabs investors’ attention
• What to include in your marketing plan
• Every other essential piece of your business plan

“ LivePlan is incredibly simple and easy to use. The financial sales forecasting tool is very intuitive and makes writing a business plan more fun.”

Helga Douglas

Owner, Svala

All the financials are calculated for you

LivePlan tells you exactly what financial information you need to enter and then does all the calculations automatically using built-in formulas. So you end up with razor-accurate financial statements that include all the tables that a lender or investor expects to see.

“I have such a better clarity of thought because I can see the impact of marketing by using LivePlan versus just using a spreadsheet.”

Marc-Andre Seguin

JazzGuitarLessons.net

If you ever get stuck, we’ll help you out

Most LivePlan users are able to breeze through their first business plan. But if you ever have a question, there are 3 ways to get advice:

• Call a LivePlan expert at 1-888-498-6136.
• Chat with our advocacy team. Try it now.
• Browse 500+ sample plans & tutorial videos.

“It’s our road map, continually helping us stay on track. We wrote a business plan we can take to any investor , and it’s game on.”

Stacie Overman

Lavender Kisses Farm

LivePlan has helped over 1 million business owners build better businesses

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

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

Owner & Founder, Tailored Coffee

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

Joanna Stanford

Founder, Trots Dogs

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

Owner & Founder, Web Ninja

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

Enae Jackson-Atkins

Owner & Founder, Esquire Accounting

Entrepreneurs & business owners love LivePlan

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

Capterra Review

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

Shawnnell B

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

Shopper Approved Review

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

Rob Mackley

Xero App Store Review

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

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

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

Trust Radius Review

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

Gabriella B

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

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

Join over 1 million entrepreneurs who found success with LivePlan

35-day money back guarantee. Start planning for $20 per month.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Business plan software 101

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

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LivePlan: Best overall business plan software

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

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

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

LivePlan software pricing

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

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

BizPlanBuilder: Most user-friendly

Need something easy to use? BizPlanBuilder fits the bill.

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

BizPlanBuilder software pricing

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

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

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

Wise Business Plans: Best professional service

• Custom quote

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

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

Wise Business Plans service pricing

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

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

Business Sorter: Best for internal plans

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

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

Business Sorter software pricing

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

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

GoSmallBiz: Most extra features

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

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

GoSmallBiz software pricing

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

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

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

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

Honorable mention software pricing

PlanGuru: Best financial forecasting features

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

EnLoop: Cheapest tool for startups

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

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

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

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

Why you need a business plan

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

Still too vague? Then let’s get specific.

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

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

What to include in your business plan

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

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

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

How business plan software can help

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

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

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

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

Choosing business plan software

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related content

• 7 Steps to Build a Successful Project Management Sales Plan
• Best Project Management Software and Tools in 2023
• 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

| Written by

Writing a business plan is crucial for entrepreneurs to outline their vision and strategy. With so many options available, choosing the best business plan software for startups can be challenging. Our review compares top solutions for founders, evaluating features, usability, resources, integrations, and pricing to help you select the platform that fits your needs. We’ll explore how these tools can streamline the planning process and help you create a professional, investor-ready business plan to launch your startup successfully.

Our #1 Pick: Upmetrics

Upmetrics makes it easy and affordable to create a professional, investor-ready business plan with AI-powered tools and customizable templates.

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

Best Business Planning Tools

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

Best Business Plan Software for Startups 2024:

• Upmetrics – Best Overall
• LivePlan – Best Financial Forecasting
• Bizplan – Easiest to Use
• Enloop – Best Automation Features
• PlanGuru – Best Business Valuation Tool
• IdeaBuddy – Best for Idea Validation
• iPlanner – Best for Nonprofits

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

Try Upmetrics today or continue reading to explore your options!

Best Business Plan Software: Upmetrics

Access 400+ industry-specific templates and AI-driven tools to build a winning business plan.

1. Upmetrics – $7/month to $37/month

First up on our list is Upmetrics , an affordable and versatile business planning tool. The software is designed for small business owners, young entrepreneurs, and startups who need comprehensive business planning capabilities without the high cost. 

Upmetrics simplifies the entire planning process with its advanced AI capabilities, realistic financial forecasting, and user-friendly functionalities. The AI writing assistant auto-writes sections of your business plan, while the forecasting assistant provides financial forecasting stream suggestions.

What’s more, Upmetrics’ subscription model comes with strategic planning tools, collaborative features, and other business resources that help entrepreneurs plan and grow their businesses with ease.

• AI business plan generator to create business plans faster
• 400+ sample business plan templates
• AI pitch deck creator to generate impressive pitches
• Robust financial forecasting for up to 7-10 years
• QuickBooks and Xero integrations to import your data easily
• Business plan builder with drag-and-drop capabilities
• Real-time collaboration and easy-sharing options
• Reliable and easy-to use interface
• Extremely affordable pricing plans
• Multilingual support (9+ different languages)
• Effective strategic plan creation on-the-go
• 15-day money back guarantee (even change plans anytime)
• No long-term commitments
• Educational resources, free guides, and video tutorials for beginners
• Not suitable for larger enterprises
• No free trial

Insider Information

We learned that Upmetrics is popular for its detailed business planning and robust financial forecasting. It makes it a lot easier to craft professional and actionable business documents. 

Here’s what we learned:

• Upmetrics offers an extensive library of sample business plans across various industries and allows its users to tailor their plans.
• It’s widely adopted by many startups and small businesses to generate bank-ready financial statements and analyze different scenarios.
• The platform also integrates with QuickBooks and Xero, so that users can sync and compare their data more effectively.
• Upmetrics empowers new entrepreneurs to create business plans in less than an hour with its AI-powered business assistant.

Customer Reviews

Over 110,000 entrepreneurs have used Upmetrics for different purposes, from securing funding to launching their ventures. It received great customer reviews and earned 4.8 stars out of 5 on GetApp, making it a strong contender among business planning software.

2. LivePlan – $15/month to $30/month

While LivePlan  isn’t our top pick, it’s a strong contender for the best business plan software for startups, offering excellent value for money. This cloud-based solution enables entrepreneurs to craft professional business plans from any location, combining user-friendly features with comprehensive functionality.

Additionally, 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 the earlier tool by Palo Alto Software, Business Plan Pro, require some modifications to be used on LivePlan

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.

Learn more by reading our full LivePlan review .

3. 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 detailed 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 third-party app integrations

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.

Learn more by reading our full Bizplan review .

4. 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 users 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

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.

5. 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 options
• Additional cost per user can add up quickly

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

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

7. 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.

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.

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 a small business owner.
• 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 the best business plan software solution:

• Consider your skill level – Opt for software like a wizard-guided business plan 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.

Plan for Success With Upmetrics

Create a professional, investor-ready plan using AI-powered tools and industry-specific templates.

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, business plans can be crucial to attract investors, secure funding, and ensure that all stakeholders have a clear understanding of the business’s direction, objectives, and value proposition.

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 plan 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.

Further Reading

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

Topics to Explore

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

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Download Free Business Plan Examples

Download a free business plan in pdf or word doc format to make writing a plan fast and easy, find your sample plan.

Discover the sample plan that best fits your business. Search our gallery of over 550 sample business plans and find the one that's right for you.

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What You'll Get:

A complete business plan Unlike other blank templates, our business plan examples are complete business plans with all of the text and financial forecasts already filled out. Edit the text to make the plan your own and save hundreds of hours.

A professional business plan template All 550 of our business plans are in the SBA-approved format that’s proven to raise money from lenders and investors.

Instructions and help at every step Get help with clear, simple instructions for each section of the business plan. No business experience necessary.

A Word doc you can edit We don’t just have PDF documents that make editing a challenge. Each plan is available in Word format so you can start editing your business plan example right away.

Key Sections Included in our Example Business Plans:

Executive Summary : A quick overview of your plan and entices investors to read more of your plan.

Company : Describes the ownership and history of your business.

Products and Services : Reviews what you sell and what you’re offering your customers.

Market Analysis : Describes your customers and the size of your target market.

Strategy and Implementation : Provides the details of how you plan on building the business.

Management Team : An overview of the people behind the business and why they’re the right team to make the business a success.

Financial Plan : A complete set of forecasts including a Profit and Loss Statement, Cash Flow Statement, and Balance Sheet.

Looking for a sample business plan PDF? You can download a few PDF examples below:

• Accounting and Bookkeeping Sample Business Plan PDF
• Agriculture Farm Sample Business Plan PDF
• Cleaning Service Sample Business Plan PDF

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How To Write A Business Plan (2024 Guide)

Updated: Apr 17, 2024, 11:59am

Table of Contents

Brainstorm an executive summary, create a company description, brainstorm your business goals, describe your services or products, conduct market research, create financial plans, bottom line, frequently asked questions.

Every business starts with a vision, which is distilled and communicated through a business plan. In addition to your high-level hopes and dreams, a strong business plan outlines short-term and long-term goals, budget and whatever else you might need to get started. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to write a business plan that you can stick to and help guide your operations as you get started.

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Drafting the Summary

An executive summary is an extremely important first step in your business. You have to be able to put the basic facts of your business in an elevator pitch-style sentence to grab investors’ attention and keep their interest. This should communicate your business’s name, what the products or services you’re selling are and what marketplace you’re entering.

Ask for Help

When drafting the executive summary, you should have a few different options. Enlist a few thought partners to review your executive summary possibilities to determine which one is best.

After you have the executive summary in place, you can work on the company description, which contains more specific information. In the description, you’ll need to include your business’s registered name , your business address and any key employees involved in the business. 

The business description should also include the structure of your business, such as sole proprietorship , limited liability company (LLC) , partnership or corporation. This is the time to specify how much of an ownership stake everyone has in the company. Finally, include a section that outlines the history of the company and how it has evolved over time.

Wherever you are on the business journey, you return to your goals and assess where you are in meeting your in-progress targets and setting new goals to work toward.

Numbers-based Goals

Goals can cover a variety of sections of your business. Financial and profit goals are a given for when you’re establishing your business, but there are other goals to take into account as well with regard to brand awareness and growth. For example, you might want to hit a certain number of followers across social channels or raise your engagement rates.

Another goal could be to attract new investors or find grants if you’re a nonprofit business. If you’re looking to grow, you’ll want to set revenue targets to make that happen as well.

Intangible Goals

Goals unrelated to traceable numbers are important as well. These can include seeing your business’s advertisement reach the general public or receiving a terrific client review. These goals are important for the direction you take your business and the direction you want it to go in the future.

The business plan should have a section that explains the services or products that you’re offering. This is the part where you can also describe how they fit in the current market or are providing something necessary or entirely new. If you have any patents or trademarks, this is where you can include those too.

If you have any visual aids, they should be included here as well. This would also be a good place to include pricing strategy and explain your materials.

This is the part of the business plan where you can explain your expertise and different approach in greater depth. Show how what you’re offering is vital to the market and fills an important gap.

You can also situate your business in your industry and compare it to other ones and how you have a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Other than financial goals, you want to have a budget and set your planned weekly, monthly and annual spending. There are several different costs to consider, such as operational costs.

Business Operations Costs

Rent for your business is the first big cost to factor into your budget. If your business is remote, the cost that replaces rent will be the software that maintains your virtual operations.

Marketing and sales costs should be next on your list. Devoting money to making sure people know about your business is as important as making sure it functions.

Other Costs

Although you can’t anticipate disasters, there are likely to be unanticipated costs that come up at some point in your business’s existence. It’s important to factor these possible costs into your financial plans so you’re not caught totally unaware.

Business plans are important for businesses of all sizes so that you can define where your business is and where you want it to go. Growing your business requires a vision, and giving yourself a roadmap in the form of a business plan will set you up for success.

How do I write a simple business plan?

When you’re working on a business plan, make sure you have as much information as possible so that you can simplify it to the most relevant information. A simple business plan still needs all of the parts included in this article, but you can be very clear and direct.

What are some common mistakes in a business plan?

The most common mistakes in a business plan are common writing issues like grammar errors or misspellings. It’s important to be clear in your sentence structure and proofread your business plan before sending it to any investors or partners.

What basic items should be included in a business plan?

When writing out a business plan, you want to make sure that you cover everything related to your concept for the business,  an analysis of the industry―including potential customers and an overview of the market for your goods or services―how you plan to execute your vision for the business, how you plan to grow the business if it becomes successful and all financial data around the business, including current cash on hand, potential investors and budget plans for the next few years.

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Julia is a writer in New York and started covering tech and business during the pandemic. She also covers books and the publishing industry.

Powerful business plan templates

Plan for the future, no matter what your business plans are or the size of your business with these designs and templates. whether it's just one big project or an entire organization's worth of dreams, these templates will keep you and your company on track from ideation to completion..

Put your ideas to work with simple templates for every business plan

Every successful business took a lot of planning to get there, and these templates will be cornerstones of your future success. Whether you're looking to attract new business, pitch your services or reimagine your company, with these simple, customizable templates at your fingertips you can turn complexity into something tangible. These templates can become marketing assets or simply remain internal touchpoints for your team. And as your dreams change, you'll always have this template to refer to – it's easy to change what exists on paper. If you're a small business, focusing on your niche can help you dominate in your field, and you can forge a plan to figure out exactly what that niche might be and how to target your ideal customer . When it's time to share your vision with stakeholders, craft a presentation that outlines your plan succinctly and with style. Let these templates from Microsoft Designer be your partner in business strategy for years to come.

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Need a Business Plan Template? Here Is Apple's 1981 Plan for the Mac. If you want to write a business plan, Apple's plans for the Macintosh can help.

By Matthew McCreary Jun 11, 2018

Business plans are often composed of four parts. There is typically an executive summary, a marketing plan, a management team description and a breakdown of company finances. When Apple's Joanna Hoffman created the preliminary business plan for the original Macintosh in 1981 (available in full here ), she added one more part: open issues.

If you're looking for a business plan template you can use to outline your product or service, you probably can't find a better business to emulate than Apple. Here is a breakdown of what Apple covered in its 29-page document.

Related: How to Create a Marketing Plan

1. Apple Product Overview

The point of an executive summary is to succinctly describe a large amount of material without making people read too much. The quicker you can get others to understand your offering's value, the better off you'll be. Hoffman summarizes the Mac's unique value with just four charts and two paragraphs.

The Mac's premise was simple -- most companies sold computers in four price brackets:

• $500 or less
• $501 to $1,500
• $1,500 to $3,000
• $3,000 to $5,000 (or more)

However, the first two brackets were reserved for handheld or low-performing devices. With the Macintosh, Apple planned to create a computer in the second bracket while still maintaining high-quality hardware and software.

Here's what Hoffman wrote in the Mac's executive summary: "I currently know of no products being developed by competition for Band 2 (unfortunately this doesn't mean there arn't [sic] any!). One would expect serious business customers will move up to Band 4 and the job of Macintosh and VLC is to migrate the remaining Band 3 customers to Band 2, leaving Band 3 manufacturers out in the cold!!"

In other words, Hoffman was unaware of any high-functioning computers being sold in the second price bracket -- from $500 to $1,500 -- where Apple planned to position its Macintosh. Most brands sold computers instead for somewhere between $1,500 and $3,000, which Apple considered the third bracket. Its plan was to create an accessible, affordable computer for less than $1,500 (the Mac) and an ultra-powerful option for more than $3,000 (the LISA).

That way, users had their choice of computers and Apple avoided direct competition with other computers in the same price range.

Related: How to Write a Business Plan

2. Macintosh Markets and Software Ranking

Hoffman opened the second section of the Mac's business plan with a simple, but important, statement: "The advantage of a product line is that each individual product does not have to do everything."

The Macintosh did not need to have identical capabilities to its other offerings, like the powerful-but-expensive LISA, because those who preferred more functionality could simply buy the LISA instead.

That's why Apple played up the Mac's differences in its marketing plans. In mock posters, Apple labeled the Mac as "LISA's little brother."

You can see how Apple chose to emphasize Mac's differences from LISA in the famous 1984 Super Bowl commercial, three years after Apple created its preliminary business plan. In an interview with Bloomberg , Lee Clow (one of the creatives on the ad) explains how the ad was meant to show that computers were finally accessible to everyone, and not just for Big Brother or the elite.

In its business plan, Apple also broke down how the lower cost and accessibility could affect three marketplaces:

• For the office: "Every day, more managers rely on computers to help perform their functions effectively and efficiently. MAC makes it possible for any manager to experience the automated office with minimum investment of time and money. MAC will be a rewarding first computer experience."
• For education: "As Word Processors are replacing typewriters in the real world, students need to learn word processing, not just typing. MAC will help the students of the '80s learn the tools of the '80s and prepare Computer Literate students for colleges and employment."
• For the home: "The family Macintosh facilitates management of personal finances and records, makes it possible to take advantage of convenient services such as home banking and home shopping. MAC also provides Entertainment and Education for every member of the family."

Look at the language in these statements -- you see words like "any" and "every." You see that Apple means to help "the students of the '80s" -- not some students or most , but all of them. In each case, Apple positioned the Mac to be available to more people than ever before.

Related: Outline of a Sample Business Plan

3. Macintosh Organization, Staffing and Budget

Some companies choose to separate the Staffing and Budget sections, but Apple chose to combine them in its Mac business plan. In large part, this is because Apple's staffing decisions affected its budget so heavily.

In July of 1981, when Hoffman wrote and Steve Jobs approved the preliminary Mac business plan, there were 28 employees working on the project. By December, the company estimated there would be 63. As a result, a large portion of the Macintosh operating expenses were tied up in paychecks.

In this section of its business plan, Apple also broke down the cost of making a Macintosh ($397), how much it would cost to distribute the products, and the potential operating profit.

Apple broke down the operating profit for a variety of different price points, from offering the Macintosh for $995 all the way up to its projected price point of $1495. That way, it could understand how much it should sell the Macs for in order to make the maximum profit and stay in the black.

Related: Sample Business Plans

4. Open Issues

Apple's preliminary business plan hadn't solved every potential problem the Macintosh would face. However, in its final section, the company did lay out the major challenges ahead. They were:

• "Europe has not been given much consideration yet."
• "We are designing our packaging to accept a door-less disk drive only. ... Should we be taking this risk?"
• "Who will manufacture Macintosh?"
• "Is our schedule realistic?"
• "How do we get PCS to feel a 'part' of the Macintosh?"

Note the fourth issue in particular. Apple wondered whether its 1982 release date was overly optimistic. Given that the Macintosh was actually released two years later, in 1984, clearly there was cause for concern. But, Apple's business plan allowed for the company to foresee that and react accordingly.

Related: Use These 5 Steps to Create a Marketing Plan

The Apple Macintosh business plan template

Apple's early business plan helped organize its efforts for the Macintosh, and the Macintosh has helped revolutionize the computer industry.

That isn't to say everything went exactly according to plan. The first part of the Macintosh business plan was an overview of the product, or an executive summary. It explained how the Macintosh would be more affordable than any of its competitors. In the second part of the business plan, which explained the company's marketing plans, you can see how Apple planned to market the Macintosh as a computer for the people. This idea was then clearly executed in its 1984 Super Bowl ad.

However, due to the marketing costs, Apple ended up selling the Macintosh for $2,495 -- well over its intended price. The third section of the business plan broke down the company's organization, staffing plans and budget, placing Jobs at the top of the Macintosh's organization chart. However, just a year after the first Macintosh was released, Jobs resigned from Apple and started NeXT.

Those were massive setbacks, but life happens. Apple and Joanna Hoffman knew that when they put together the business plan, and that's why the fourth and final section asked questions that Macintosh needed to address before its launch.

When you're writing your own business plan, you don't have to do everything Apple did. You probably shouldn't, in fact. But, you can use this plan as a template to organize your thoughts. You can even use it as inspiration to admit you don't know everything. Clearly, not even Apple knew the future.

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Free Gantt Templates for Apple Numbers on Mac

Choose from our top Apple Numbers Gantt chart templates for planning and tracking projects. In addition to the 14 free, customizable templates below, you’ll also find info on how to create your own Gantt chart in Apple Numbers. 

Templates on this page include project management Gantt charts, a marketing plan Gantt template, a monthly project schedule template, and an event planning Gantt chart timeline.

By Diana Ramos | Updated January 29, 2021

Project Management Gantt Chart Template

Designed for project managers, this detailed Apple Numbers template includes four separate tabs: a Gantt chart showing the project schedule, a stakeholder tracking sheet, a simple budget spreadsheet, and a communication plan. Keep track of owners and status for each task, along with overall progress and add a project scope statement .

Download Numbers Template

Use Free Smartsheet Template

Multi-Project Gantt Chart Template

Manage multiple projects with a single Gantt chart template. For each project, the template displays a list of tasks, starting and ending dates, duration in days, priority, and cost. A Gantt chart enables you to easily visualize project schedules and track your progress. The Status column features a dropdown menu for marking tasks as complete, in progress, on hold, or in need of review. 

Gantt Chart with Dependencies

This advanced Gantt chart template enables you to track dependencies, milestones, and duration for tasks and subtasks. You’ll also find a work breakdown structure (WBS) and columns for listing task owners and percent completion for each task. The Gantt chart is broken down into 52 weeks, so you can use it for short- or long-term planning.

Free Smartsheet Templates

Smartsheet has hundreds of pre-built, customizable templates infused with best practices to help you save time creating solutions that will improve your work processes.

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Simple Project Plan Gantt Chart

This template provides a simple layout with an easy-to-read Gantt chart schedule. Add the project name and project manager, along with details about deliverables and project scope at the top of the template. Track activities, task owners, dates, and status in a spreadsheet, and view the project timeline in the Gantt chart. Use this template to easily track a project from initial planning stages to final launch.

Download Simple Project Plan Gantt Chart - Apple Numbers

Create Simple Project Plan Gantt Chart - Smartsheet

Marketing Plan Gantt Chart Template

Create a thorough marketing plan with a Gantt chart calendar for your next campaign. This template groups activities into phases and provides columns for tracking task progress, responsible parties, starting dates, and deadlines. Edit the list of example marketing tasks to suit a specific campaign. Phases include planning, creative development, promotion, testing, launch, and evaluation. Choose key metrics to track for evaluating and refining your marketing plan.

Download Marketing Plan Gantt Chart Template - Apple Numbers

Create Marketing Plan Gantt Chart Template - Smartsheet

Sales Activity Gantt Chart Template

Compare actual versus planned sales activity for multiple products or clients. Enter the sales representative, time period, and sales amounts for each product to create a basic Gantt chart tracking template. Use this sales data to inform goals and action plans to boost sales activity.

Download Sales Activity Gantt Chart Template - Apple Numbers

Create Sales Activity Gantt Chart Template - Smartsheet

Construction Gantt Chart Template

This template includes a sample construction schedule that you can use as an example of how the final Gantt chart will look. You’ll also find a blank construction Gantt chart to make data entry easy. When you add starting and ending dates for each task, the template automatically calculates the duration in days and creates the bar chart. This template is useful for planning construction projects and tracking progress to help ensure that work stays on schedule.

Download Construction Gantt Chart Template - Apple Numbers

Create Construction Gantt Chart Template - Smartsheet

Weekly Gantt Chart Template

Schedule your project plan in daily and weekly increments. Divided into phases, this template uses different colors in the Gantt chart to distinguish between sections. This layout provides a quick overview of the entire project schedule and of individual stages. The template also includes a WBS outline, example project tasks, and assigned owners. Avoid project delays by tracking progress in the Percent Complete column.

Download Weekly Gantt Chart Template - Apple Numbers

Monthly Project Schedule Template

This Gantt chart provides a quarterly, monthly, and weekly timeline. All 12 months are included for annual planning. Project phases are on the left, and you can label individual tasks on the bar chart. Visual markers show today’s date and the project end date to help you stay on top of task status and prioritize changes as they arise. This template can also serve double duty, enabling you to track business planning, assign tasks to team members, or set monthly and quarterly goals.

Download Monthly Project Schedule Template - Apple Numbers

Create Monthly Project Schedule Template - Smartsheet

Annual Calendar Gantt Chart Template

Create a yearly Gantt chart calendar for personal or business use. Use the color key at the bottom of the template to distinguish between types of events or to assign owners. Add task descriptions to the bars on the Gantt chart. The calendar shows days of the month along the top of the chart, and months are listed vertically on the left. This layout enables you to create monthly and annual plans in a straightforward, organized format.

Download Annual Calendar Gantt Chart Template - Apple Numbers

Three-Year Gantt Chart Template

The template enables you to manage three-year planning on multiple projects. Each year on the Gantt chart is separated into quarters and months for more detailed planning. Enter project names, task titles, and dates for each task. You can modify the template to add columns for listing task owners, status, priority or additional notes. Add a starting date at the top of the template to adjust the dates shown on the Gantt chart.

Download Three-Year Gantt Chart Template - Apple Numbers

Event Planning Gantt Chart Timeline

Develop an event planning schedule with days represented in a timeline view and tasks outlined in a Gantt chart. Edit the task bars to include titles, dates, and total duration. Utilize the milestone flags to add key dates and brief descriptions. Mark today’s date to see current and upcoming tasks. This visual template is ideal for presentations or meetings.

Download Event Planning Gantt Chart Timeline - Apple Numbers

Create Event Planning Gantt Chart Timeline - Smartsheet

Restaurant Marketing Gantt Chart Template

Whether you are planning a single event or want to organize ongoing marketing efforts for a restaurant, this template provides a tracking spreadsheet and a visual calendar. Plan marketing activities, add descriptions for each task, assign owners, and set dates. The Gantt chart schedule shows the planned duration for each task based on the dates you enter.

Download Restaurant Marketing Gantt Chart Template - Apple Numbers

School Assignment Gantt Chart Template

Use this template to keep multiple school courses, subjects, and assignments organized and help prevent students from feeling overwhelmed. This template offers a color-coded key for defining assignment types and adding them to the Gantt chart calendar based on due date. Track upcoming exams, papers, final projects, and presentations. Edit the assignment key to monitor other items, such as study groups, labs, or other responsibilities.

Download School Assignment Gantt Chart Template - Apple Numbers

Easily Create and Share a Gantt Chart in Smartsheet

Empower your people to go above and beyond with a flexible platform designed to match the needs of your team — and adapt as those needs change. 

The Smartsheet platform makes it easy to plan, capture, manage, and report on work from anywhere, helping your team be more effective and get more done. Report on key metrics and get real-time visibility into work as it happens with roll-up reports, dashboards, and automated workflows built to keep your team connected and informed. 

When teams have clarity into the work getting done, there’s no telling how much more they can accomplish in the same amount of time.  Try Smartsheet for free, today.

How to Create a Gantt Chart in Apple Numbers

When you use a template, you can save time and customize it to suit your project. To create your own Gantt chart from scratch, see our detailed guide to creating Gantt charts in Apple Numbers . You’ll get step-by-step instructions on how to create and customize your own chart.

Discover why over 90% of Fortune 100 companies trust Smartsheet to get work done.

Business Templates for Pages 4+

And for keynote & numbers, till-eugen koenitzer.

• 4.6 • 356 Ratings

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105 BUSINESS-ORIENTED TEMPLATES Business Templates (for Pages, Keynote & Numbers) is a valuable add-on for Apple's Pages, Keynote and Numbers apps. It provides 100 professional business-oriented templates, in a coherent design. 63 TEMPLATES FOR PAGES - Address Label - Annual Report - Application for Employment - Articles of Incorporation - Bill of Sale - Blank Page (US Legal) - Board Meeting Agenda - Board Meeting Minutes - Brochure - 3x Business Cards - Business Hours - Business Plan - Case Study - Cash Advance Request Form - Client Information Form - Clothing Tag - Consignment Agreement - Consulting Contract - Contractor Proposal Bid Form - Coupons - Cover Letter - Creative Brief - Customer Satisfaction Survey - Emergency Contact List - Employment Contract - Envelope - Fax Cover Sheet - Flyer - Freelance Contract - Graph Paper - Indemnity Agreement - Index Cards - Installation of Goods Contract - Job Description - Joint Venture Agreement - Letter - Loan Agreement - Loyalty Card - Meeting Agenda - Meeting Minutes - Menu - Name Tags - Newsletter - Non Disclosure Agreement - Non-Compete Agreement - Offer of Employment - Operating Agreement for LLC - Partnership Agreement - Power of Attorney - Project Proposal - Promissory Note - Quitclaim Deed - Receipt - Reference Letter - Residential Lease - Resume - Ruled Paper - S.M.A.R.T. Goals Worksheet - Simple Contract - To Do List - Will 41 TEMPLATES FOR NUMBERS - Accounts Receivable/Payable - Balance Sheet - Break-Even Analysis - Calendar-Monthly - Calendar-Yearly - Cash Flows - Cost Benefit Analysis - Customer List - Depreciation Calculator - Employee Performance Review - Employee Warning Notice - Income Statement - Inventory List - Invoice - Job Estimate - Loan Amortization - Loan Comparison - Mileage Log - Mortgage Calculator - Net Worth - Order Form - Packing Slip - Pay Stub - Payroll - Price Quote - Product Price List - Profit and Loss - Project Cost - Project Proposal - Project Timeline - Purchase Order - Registration Form - Return on Investment - Tax Checklist - Taxable Income - Time Cards - Travel Expense Report - Travel Itinerary - Vehicle Inspection Report - Vehicle Maintenance Log - Weekly Schedule 1 TEMPLATE FOR KEYNOTE - Pitch Deck Presentation DIFFERENT PAPER SIZES All Pages and Numbers templates are available in US Letter and A4, except the envelope (6 common envelope sizes). The Keynote template is available in Standard and Wide format. EASILY CUSTOMIZABLE Once opened in Pages, Keynote or Numbers you can apply your own content, colors, fonts, pictures, etc. REQUEST TEMPLATES Let us know what templates you would like to see in the next update. UNIVERSAL APP This app works on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Therefore, do not forget to download this app onto your other devices - for free! - provided you purchased the app once. IMPORTANT: PAGES, KEYNOTE & NUMBERS REQUIRED! We recommend having Pages (Apple’s word processor), Keynote (Apple’s presentation app) and Numbers (Apple’s spreadsheet app) installed on your device. For example, the resume requires Pages, while the invoice required Numbers. You can download Pages, Keynote and Numbers from the App Store. DISCLAIMER Prior to using these forms, please consult with an attorney or other expert knowledgeable in the laws of the applicable jurisdiction and the specific intended use of those forms. All forms available are general in nature; are not based on the laws of any specific state or other jurisdiction but rather general principles of law and should only be used after first consulting with an attorney or other expert knowledgeable in the laws of the applicable jurisdiction and the specific intended use of those forms.

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5 NEW TEMPLATES Board Meeting Agenda, Board Meeting Minutes, Emergency Contact List, Product Price List and S.M.A.R.T. Goals Worksheet. NEW APP Address Labels by Nobody: Print address labels with ease. Thank you for all your feedback and requests. We love improving this app and hope you enjoy using it!

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Everything you need at your fingertips. Huge time saver. Wish it was a bit more searchable, but I'm not picky because!

Developer Response ,

Hi ContractorGirl72. Thank you for taking the time to write a review! We are glad to hear you find our templates useful. We will definitely look into integrating search in the next update.

Legal Begal to the Rescue!

When you find yourself seeking Professional Documents That will hold up in the “ Court of Law” This app by Nobody, Who is now Somebody to me, Is well worth spending $ 4.99 for! Ty for going above and beyond the “ Call of Duty “ to help us out with making this App available during our family’s Darkest hours! As always, Have a Gr-8 Day!

If you already know what you need, glad to see the interface update

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Plan Templates

Business plan template for mac – 8+ free sample, example, format download.

You need to have a solid principle at this internet. The principle should be “ never try to create something that you can get for free online”. What is the point of creating a Business Plan Template for Mac when you can get that from a single click on your computer screen? With different sample layouts available, of course in the best format for download, you can be sure never to miss a better option from the many Sales Business Plan templates that are available online.

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• Disaster recovery planning and management

Example disaster recovery plan for small businesses

Small businesses make significant investments in it infrastructure. they must protect those investments from unplanned and potentially destructive events with a dr plan..

• Paul Kirvan

Technology disaster recovery plans are necessary for businesses of every size. A small business disaster recovery plan protects and recovers critical IT infrastructure assets after a disruptive event.

DR plans provide step-by-step procedures for recovering disrupted systems and networks, helping them return to normal operations. The goal of these processes is to minimize any negative impacts to company operations. DR plans are essential for ensuring that a business can continue to deliver its products and services in the aftermath of a crisis.

The scale and details of a small-to-medium business ( SMB ) DR plan are typically less complex than those for a large enterprise but no less necessary. The key is to have the resources and procedures for recovering critical systems, networks and data the organization needs to function.

Included in this article is an example disaster recovery plan for small business. This template is a solid first step that can facilitate the initiation and completion of an IT DR plan. The structure of this article and the template is consistent with established national and international standards for IT disaster recovery .

Why create a DR plan specifically for small business?

Regardless of the type and size of the business, a DR plan provides a structured approach for responding to unplanned incidents that threaten an IT infrastructure. These can include threats to software, networks, processes and people.

Protecting an organization's investment in its technology infrastructure and its ability to conduct business are the key reasons for implementing an IT DR plan. Considering that businesses of any size depend on technology, DR plans should be on every CIO's short list. Support from senior management is the primary starting point for a small business DR plan, especially with funding and a project budget .

Get started with goals and analyses

Once management approval has been received to develop a DR plan, IT and DR teams should begin by completing a risk assessment to identify potential threats to the IT infrastructure. A risk assessment can also be used to identify potential vulnerabilities and single points of failure that could cause a disruption or outage.

The goal of a risk assessment is to determine which infrastructure elements are most at risk to the organization's business. For a small business with less than 100 employees, this could be any hardware in the data center, key applications the business uses, and networking resources. If the organization uses external cloud resources, the assessment should consider risks that might affect their ability to recover from an incident.

When an incident -- internal or external -- negatively affects the IT infrastructure, the business could be compromised, resulting in loss of business and reputational damage. Identifying risks and threats to the infrastructure is a key activity. For smaller organizations with fewer resources, attention to detail is critical.

It might be advisable to conduct a business impact analysis (BIA), which identifies the most important activities the organization performs. BIAs also correlate the key functions with the technologies needed to support them. This information, coupled with data from the risk assessment, results in a DR plan design that focuses on protecting the most essential systems and functions.

What do you need for a DR plan?

It is essential to have the right players during the planning process as well as a team ready to respond to system disruptions. Coordination with business unit leaders, particularly those who are responsible for the mission-critical functions, helps zero in on the technology requirements needed to sustain business operations. Senior leaders define recovery time objectives and recovery prioritization.

The DR planning process identifies critical IT systems and networks; links them to mission-critical business functions; prioritizes recovery times; and delineates the steps needed to restart, reconfigure, and recover operations.

A comprehensive IT DR plan also includes relevant supplier contacts and sources of expertise for recovering disrupted systems.

In today's business environment, both large and small businesses use cloud-based services to supplement existing IT resources. Data storage is a key use for cloud services, and many cloud vendors offer DR services of their own. The flexibility and relatively low cost of cloud DR make it a good option for small businesses.

In addition to securely protecting data, databases and applications, hardware devices must also be protected in a DR plan. Having one or two spare servers ready to use if an existing server fails is one way to minimize the consequences of a device failure. Backup power, such as uninterruptible power systems , is also essential.

Considering how much small business technology can be deployed today from hosted sources, one could make the argument that in-house DR is unnecessary for SMBs. Such a decision should be carefully made and in consultation with third-party resources to make sure they can support the technology needs of a business.

Limitations and benefits of a DR plan

Among the less tangible benefits of a DR plan is peace of mind. Aside from that, it is good to know how to manage disruptions to IT systems and return them to normal. In situations where the technology is on site, a DR plan -- even if it is only a few pages of who to call and what systems to fix first -- is far better than having no plan at all.

By contrast, SMBs using hosted systems for most of their infrastructure will still need to know who to call, what to say, and how to work on an interim basis while the third party fixes operations.

One of the key activities to perform with a DR plan is a periodic test . This will determine if the right systems are being addressed and the recovery steps have been validated. Periodic testing ensures that backup systems and data are accessible, and the organization has contact information for all necessary parties, within and outside the organization.

Regrettably, testing is perhaps the one activity most SMBs fail to perform, and it increases the risk of damage from a disruptive event.

Another challenge with DR plans is keeping them up to date. Changes in technology, installation of new patches, changes to storage devices, updates to key applications and other events should be added to DR plans but often are not.

Additional resources to develop an IT DR plan

In addition to the plan template attached to this article, the National Institute for Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-34, Contingency Planning for Information Technology Systems , is a helpful resource for building a DR plan.

This standard covers several areas of DR organizations can include in a plan. Helpful additions from this standard might include the following:

• Add a vulnerability assessment component to the risk assessment to identify and address any potential weak points.
• Identify preventive controls that reduce the effects of system disruptions and can increase system availability and reduce life cycle costs.
• Conduct plan testing, training and exercising to improve plan effectiveness and overall company preparedness.
• Consider the plan as a living document to be reviewed and updated regularly to remain current with system changes and business requirements.

SMB considerations

While this article addresses disaster recovery from a general perspective, the SMB template is designed to be flexible yet comprehensive enough to address the key business and technology issues an organization might face in a disaster. An SMB might decide that the focus is recovering critical system and network resources. As such, other sections of the template can be omitted.

Staffing can be a challenge in an SMB. In some organizations, there might be only one or two employees who can lead a recovery effort. Organizations with a one- or two-person IT department might be challenged to respond in an incident.

It might be necessary to consolidate DR plan data and procedures into a one- or two-page document. As long as emergency contacts are up to date for crisis communications , procedures are current, and backup resources are in place, SMBs can likely make it through all but the most devastating events.

How to use the template

The included template is designed to be flexible for most SMBs, and users can delete sections that don't apply to their business. Key sections to review include emergency contacts, recovery and restoration procedures, and any other activities needed to return the IT infrastructure to normal.

Following is a summary of the plan template and its sections:

• Information Technology Statement of Intent . This sets the stage and direction for the plan.
• Policy Statement. It is important to include an approved statement of the organization's policy regarding the provision of disaster recovery services.
• Objectives. These describe the main goals of the plan.
• Key Personnel Contact Information. Key contact data should be included early in the plan. It is the information most likely to be used right away and must be easy to locate.
• Plan Overview. This describes basic aspects of the plan.
• Emergency Response . This describes what needs to be done immediately following the onset of an incident.
• Disaster Recovery Team . This lists members and contact information of the DR team.
• Emergency Alert, Escalation and DR Plan Activation. These list steps to take through the early phase of the incident, leading to activation of the DR plan.
• Media. This includes tips for dealing with the media during and after a crisis.
• Insurance. This summarizes the insurance coverage associated with the IT environment and any other relevant policies.
• Financial and Legal Issues. This lists actions to take for dealing with financial and legal issues.
• DR Plan Exercising. This underscores the importance of DR plan exercising.
• Appendix A – Technology Disaster Recovery Plan Templates. This includes sample templates for a variety of technology recoveries. For some organizations, these templates might be sufficient by themselves as DR plans.
• Appendix B – Suggested Forms. These are ready-to-use forms that will facilitate the plan completion.

Paul Kirvan is an independent consultant, IT auditor, technical writer, editor and educator. He has more than 25 years of experience in business continuity, disaster recovery, security, enterprise risk management, telecom and IT auditing.

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Ford Pulls Back Its Electric Vehicle Push

The automaker said it would invest less in battery-powered cars and scrap a planned electric three-row sport utility vehicle.

By Neal E. Boudette

Ford Motor, which had once hoped to race ahead of other established automakers in electric vehicles, is again slowing the pace of its investments and new battery-powered models.

The automaker said on Wednesday that it would delay the introduction of a new large electric pickup truck by about 18 months, to 2027, and scrap a three-row electric sport utility vehicle .

The company is also reducing the amount of money it plans to spend on electric vehicles in an effort to stem multibillion-dollar losses on the technology, while adding plans to introduce a new electric delivery van in 2026. A new medium-size electric pickup is expected in 2027 as well, the company said.

“The competitive nature of the market is changing globally,” Ford’s chief financial officer, John Lawler, said in a conference call. “That means these vehicles need to be profitable, and if not, we will pivot and adjust and make those tough decisions.”

Mr. Lawler said investments in electric vehicles would now account for about 30 percent of the company’s capital budget, down from 40 percent. The company will take a charge of $400 million to account for the cost of manufacturing equipment it purchased for the production of the canceled electric S.U.V., and it may have up to $1.5 billion in additional expenses related to the project.

“This is certainly not great news in terms of Ford’s progress on E.V.s,” said Sam Abuelsamid, a principal research analyst at Guidehouse Insights, a research firm. “Clearly they have not yet come to grips with cost-reduced E.V.s and getting more affordable products on the market.”

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Once only the responsibility of sustainability managers, ESG performance and sustainability are today considered key areas of strategic focus for organizations, often reflected in Sustainability Action Plans developed by organizations.

Looming investor pressure, consumer awareness and the understanding that sustainability is an important tenet in risk management and corporate governance has seen responsibilities shift and awareness ripple across both departments and management levels. The tidal shift has been embraced by organizations as they champion decarbonization. It presents ever-growing opportunities for innovation and increased investments towards green technologies, which ultimately accelerate sustainability.

Much like operational plans are developed to future-proof an organization’s success, so too are Sustainability Action Plans in helping to achieve a low-carbon business fit for the future. In this article, we lay out practical guidance on how to create a Sustainability Action Plan along with recommended inclusions and structure. We also provide a free Sustainability Action Plan template for download to support your sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals.

What is a Sustainability Action Plan?

A Sustainability Action Plan is created by an organization to detail how it will achieve sustainability goals over time, particularly if ambitious targets have been set, such as achieving net zero by a specific time frame. It is usually a static document that details a two to five-year timeline of objectives, although this period is at the organization’s discretion.

Its purpose is to embed ESG and sustainability across an organization, within all business operations. The path to a Sustainability Action Plan typically starts with a vision at an executive level, with the Sustainability Action Plan serving as the detailed strategy of how the vision will be achieved.

To complement the Sustainability Action Plan, organizations often release annual Sustainability Reports that detail the organization’s progress against the objectives. Together, Sustainability Action Plans and Sustainability Reports function as an important communications tool for organizations to illustrate their sustainability journey to a wide audience of stakeholders.

Sustainability Action Plans are not mandatory, rather, they are an initiative of an organization who wishes to make a positive impact on their sustainability performance.

In addition to planning and internal reporting, many organizations disclose their sustainability performance via various ESG reporting frameworks. In some instances, the data collected for the production of a Sustainability Action Plan can be used to support the reporting requirements of frameworks such as GRI, GRESB and SASB.

And vice-versa, organizations reporting detailed information to ESG reporting frameworks may export some of those responses to their Sustainability Action Plans to illustrate how they are performing against their goals.

This task is made easy with Envizi’s ESG Reporting Frameworks module which allows organizations to collate responses for both external and internal reporting frameworks in one place. In addition to collating responses, the module includes functionality to extract responses for use in documentation such as a Sustainability Action Plan.

Who needs a Sustainability Action Plan?

Organizations of all sizes can make steps towards making their business operations more sustainable and positively contributing to their community and environment. Smaller organizations should consider the resource requirements of developing a comprehensive Sustainability Action Plan and achieving those objectives over time.

For larger organizations, a comprehensive Sustainability Action Plan is ideal for outlining the long-term vision and plans to satisfy investor requirements, to change consumer attitudes and to take advantage of opportunities. This is especially the case once pledges have been made, as the next stage in the process is to work out exactly how the organization will achieve those pledges.

How to create a Sustainability Action Plan

A Sustainability Action Plan requires dedicated commitment across all levels of an organization, and it can be transformational as it requires a top-down approach with cultural change, realignment of values and leadership endorsement. As a result, there are several considerations to take into account when developing a plan.

The consultation process and stakeholder engagement

Much like corporate annual reports require the input of an executive team, the Board, finance department and other internal departments, so too does the process of creating a Sustainability Action Plan.

It requires extensive consultation across the executive and leadership levels, committees and even the community (depending on the sector and type of organization) to establish targets and accountabilities. At the center of the consultation process is an organization’s Sustainability Manager. In many organizations, the person in this role is responsible for developing both the business cases and doing the work to support the implementation and management of programs within organizations to deliver on their objectives.

Whether the organization has a Sustainability Manager or not, they may also choose to use the services of a sustainability consulting firm to guide them on the process and support their objectives.

Other examples of stakeholders involved in the consultation and implementation process may include:

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Establishing benchmarks

The Sustainability Action Plan will involve setting outcomes, actions and targets. Therefore it’s important that an organization understands its current ESG performance with accurate data to inform future benchmarks. Using an ESG and sustainability reporting software platform such as Envizi can simplify emissions calculations and automate the collection of energy consumption data, which will be required when reporting on the progress of the plan.

What is included in a Sustainability Action Plan?

Inclusions in a Sustainability Action Plan can vary depending on the type of organization, its size, and the sector it operates in. For example, a start-up or an independent education center such as a school may choose to focus on smaller initiatives to start implementing changes at the business.

Examples of achievable initiatives at this level could include:

• Using water tanks
• Gardening, such as a vegetable garden
• Recycling system
• Turning off lights when not in use
• Using energy-saving bulbs
• Implementing a printing policy

Larger organizations with ambitious goals and extensive resources could include initiatives such as:

Councils and municipalities

• Reducing Scope 3 emissions from suppliers
• Implementing a mass tree planting scheme
• Providing a community shuttle bus
• Introducing cycle routes
• Installing LED lighting

Property developers and organizations

• Optimizing HVAC equipment performance
• Using local labor and materials
• Incorporating water and waste reuse strategies
• Ensuring sustainability is part of client consultation and scoping
• Incentivizing staff remote-work opportunities

Manufacturing

• Reducing GHG emissions in the upstream supply chain
• Reducing power usage in data centers
• Investing in renewable energy sources
• Electrifying the transport fleet
• Upgrading energy-intensive equipment

Commercial real estate

• Developing a demand-side energy management strategy
• Minimizing waste
• Implementing renewable energy
• Improving  GRESB score
• Implementing end-of-trip facilities

Structure of a Sustainability Action Plan

Whilst the structure, inclusions and scale of a Sustainability Action Plan are at the organization’s discretion and stem from the initial consultation process, there are a few inclusions we recommend to ensure a Sustainability Action Plan which reflects an organization’s commitment to sustainability:

Sustainability values

Background on the organization’s view of sustainability and its core values which motivate the development of the Sustainability Action Plan.

Executive message

Endorsement at the C-Level usually from the CEO, outlining the organization’s commitment to sustainability.

Mandatory frameworks

If the organization operates within a sector which legislates reporting to a framework, this section would outline the requirements of that legislation or policy to provide stakeholders with context around the motivations for the Sustainability Action Plan.

Consultation process

Outlines how stakeholders participated in the development of the Sustainability Action Plan (such as workshops and forums), and which stakeholders were involved.

Methodology and review process

Outlines how the targets will be measured and progress monitored, which could include how regularly a Steering Committee or other key stakeholders will be updated. A Sustainability Report could be one of the vehicles for communicating this progress.

These are broad outcomes that steer the detailed actions and targets in the Sustainability Action Plan. Examples of outcomes could be “Decrease energy usage by 2025” or “Educate stakeholders.”

• Secondary outcomes These could be complementary outcomes which help to group actions within the broader outcome. Examples of secondary outcomes could be “Transport” or “Energy and emissions.”
• Action The tangible actions that will be undertaken to achieve a specific target within that secondary outcome, and broader outcome. Examples of actions could be “Replace inefficient HVAC systems” or “Develop recycling policy.”
• Target Specific KPIs placed against the actions to ensure progress is made. Examples of targets could be “100% of older HVAC systems replaced” or “75% increase in electronics diverted to e-waste programs.”
• Responsibility Assigning champions to action the targets could include listing departments or position titles.
• Timeframe Assigning specific months or quarterly timeframes ensures that targets can be realistically achieved.

The structure of a Sustainability Action Plan varies widely, and care should be taken to ensure that the inclusions of the plan, including the targets, are achievable for the organization.

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