Business Planning Guide

Whether you’re an aspiring business owner or a seasoned entrepreneur—here is everything you’ll ever need to know about business planning.

Animated woman holding lightbulb ready to start business planning

What is a business plan?

Learn exactly what a business plan is, why you need one, when to write it, and the fundamental elements that make it a unique tool for business success.

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In this section

Why you need a plan
Scientific benefits of planning
When should you plan?
Length of your business plan
Business plan outline
Operational and strategic plans
Business plan vs business model

Types of business plans

Explore the different business plan formats available to you and determine which plan will best serve your needs.

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In this section

Growth plan
Internal plan
One-page plan
5-year business plan
Nonprofit business plan
Lean planning
What type of business plan?

How to write a business plan

Writing a business plan can be quick and simple. Follow this step-by-step guide to create a great business plan that you’ll actually use.

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In this section

Executive summary
Products and services
Market analysis
Competition
Marketing and sales
Operations
Milestones and metrics
Company and team
Financial plan
Appendix
Cover page

Tips to write your business plan

A curated selection of business plan writing tips and best practices from our experienced in-house planning experts.

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In this section

Before writing your plan
Qualities of a great plan
Craft a compelling message
Why business plans fail
Common planning mistakes
How to format your plan
Tools and resources
Ways to use your plan
Business planning myths
Write your plan in one day
Write a business plan month
Questions to ask a plan writer

Business plans for specific industries

Explore these industry-specific guides for additional tips and details to write your business plan.

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In this section

Wedding venue business plan
Home health care business plan
Amazon FBA business plan
Life coaching business plan
Etsy business plan
Agritourism business plan
Personal shopper business plan
Real estate business plan
Laundromat business plan
Trucking business plan
Online boutique clothing store business plan
Bakery business plan
Food truck business plan
Small restaurant business plan
Outpatient medical business plan
Agriculture
eCommerce business plan
Mobile app
Online fitness business plan
SaaS business plan
Subscription box business plan
Airbnb rental business plan
Artist business plan
Fix-n-flip business plan
Cannabis business plan
Clothing boutique business plan
Daycare center business plan
Services business plan
Hair and beauty salon
Franchise business plan

Business Plan Templates and Resources

Traditional business plan template

Download a free SBA-approved business plan template built for small businesses and startups.

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Write your plan faster with LivePlan

Try the business planning and growth tool trusted by over 1 million business owners.

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Sample plan library

Explore over 500 free real-world business plan examples from a wide variety of industries to inspire and guide your own plan.

Browse Sample Business Plans

Business planning ebook

Dive deep into everything you need to write a business plan in this free step-by-step guide.

Download ebook

Business planning FAQ

Business planning is the act of sitting down to establish goals, strategies, and actions you intend to take to successfully start, manage, and grow a business.