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13 Best Companies That Offer Business Plan Writing Services

Do you want to hire a business plan writer? If YES, here are 50 best companies that offer professional business plan writing services at an affordable rate.

A business plan writing service is a team of business experts that take the ideas of an entrepreneur, combine it with their own properly conducted research and deductions, and come out with a professional, well-formatted business plan. Entrepreneurs that want the best chances at getting funding usually turn to business plan writing companies to help them craft a winning business plan.

Despite the fact that business plan writing services generally cost higher than business plan creation software or phone apps, but that does not prevent them from getting the number of clients they need because entrepreneurs are aware of the importance of the services they render.

Whether you’re building a startup from the ground up and seeking your first investment round, or you have a mature company and need a plan in place to garner new insights, having a professional to help conduct research and outline the model is imperative.

While you may have settled with your mind to hire the services of a business plan writer, but you must know that not all business plan services can offer you a professionally written work that can give you the best chances towards getting that funding. This is the reason why we have decided to bring you some of the popular and best business plan writing companies in the united states and the cost their services go for.

13 Best Companies That Offer Professional Business Plan Writing Services and How Much They Charge Clients

• Wise Business Plans
• Cost – $1,650

Wise Business Plans is a business plan writing service that is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company writes business plans for businesses seeking venture capital and angel investors as well as businesses interested in applying for SBA loans , E2 visas and L1 visas.

Wise Business Plans are in the business of producing high quality business plans, and their plans contain market and industry research that are drawn from a wide range of sources. Its turnaround times have been known to be above average. Wise Business Plans works with many Fortune 500 companies as well as UPS. It has also partnered with the popular business plan software LivePlan to provide a business writing service to its customers.

When working with Wise Business Plans, you can expect to find a thorough analysis of your business’s industry, including growth trends. The business plan will also look at your business’s market, which includes demographic data about current and potential customers as well as macro and microsegmentation, giving potential investors a complete idea of your business’s potential.

Cost estimates of their business plans are based on estimates for a brick-and-mortar business’s plan. At $1,650, the cost is only slightly higher than the average of $1,500. Again, the cost can vary depending on how complex the plan is. A business plan for a startup looking for venture capital can be more expensive than a plan for a business looking for an SBA loan.

• Go Business Plans
• Cost – $2,000 to $10,000

Based in Los Angeles, California, Go Business Plans writes business plans that serve a variety of business’s needs, ranging from SBA loans and visa applications to plans seeking venture capital funding. Go Business Plans rated well in terms of the quality of its business plans and its comprehensive feature set.

Go Business Plans are reputed to contain a thorough market and industry analysis, a complete set of financial forecasts, marketing plans as well as a competitive analysis. The company also prides itself on the quality of it plans. The writing service does not offer a separate service to review existing business plans, instead reserving that for clients that already use or have agreed to use its other services.

This means that while you can’t have Go Business Plans review your current plan without signing up for another service, if you take advantage of any other offering available from this company, you can have your business plan reviewed for an extra cost.

Depending on your business plan, this can cost between $150 and $300. Go Business Plans cost varies based on the kind of business plan you need. But generally their business plan writing service costs between $2,000 to $10,000.

• The Plan Writers
• Cost – $1,200 to $5,000

The Plan Writers is a Beverly Hills, California-based business plan service that offers a variety of consulting services in addition to business plan writing. Their business plans are available for businesses and entrepreneurs interested in applying for visas or SBA loans, or those looking for venture capital or angel investor financing. The Plan Writers is also experienced with helping companies go public as well as creating feasibility plans.

When you engage the services of The Plan Writers, you’ll begin the process with a free 30-minute consultation. During this consultation, you’ll discuss your business and industry with the sales rep. If you want to speak longer, you’ll need to pay $200 for another hour. This fee is added to the final cost of your business plan.

Once you’ve commissioned The Plan Writers to create a business plan for you, it usually takes between nine to 10 days to receive the first draft. After you receive your plan, you have two weeks to submit any revisions. This is shorter than other services, but The Plan Writers gets revisions done quick, usually in about one to two days.

As with all business plan services, the costs vary depending on the complexity of your plan. Those plans usually cost around $1,200 to $1,500. Plans for startups or companies seeking larger amounts of capital can cost upwards of $5,000.

• Capital West Advisors
• Cost – $100 to $120 per hour

Capital West Advisors is business advisor company that also provides business plan writing services. They are headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, and their mission is to provide high quality business plan writing and capital introduction services at the most competitive prices in the industry.

Capital West Advisors was launched in 2006 and since then they have been providing business planning and capital introduction services to several hundred clients across the U.S. and around the world in a wide array of industries. CWA prices its business plans based on a rate of $100 to $120 per hour at a highly efficient rate. Most firms charge $125-$200 per hour at a less efficient rate.

• Cost – Not disclosed

OGScapital is a team of experienced experts that help entrepreneurs produces a well written business plan as well as provide other services. The company was founded by a team of 8 senior business experts in 2006. From the start, their main goal as professional business plan writers has been to support startups and medium-sized enterprises as they move to the next level, helping them achieve their objectives and become market leaders.

Their expert business plan writers have helped business owners raise debt and equity financing critical to operational startup and growth. The OGScapital team of Online business plan writers does not stop working until the client is 100% satisfied.

The company produce business plans in fields such as accounting, marketing, legal, IT, design and other business services. As of now, their team includes 60 highly experienced consultants. With their business model and offices in the US, Canada, Australia, and the uk, OGScapital is able to help entrepreneurs worldwide.

Once you contact them, you will receive your business plan with within 10-15 days. OGScapital did not disclose their charges, but they disclosed that the client would pay a 50% prepayment before the job commences, with the remaining balance paid upon completion (only when you are 100% satisfied).

• Deutsch & Thomas
• Cost: $425 USD

Deutsch & Thomas, Inc. is a business plan writing service that offer professional business plan preparation for startups and small businesses. Registered as Deutsch and Thomas, Inc., their experience building business plans will help you when approaching investors, bankers, and potential clients.

The company has the ability to create financial projections, management and mission statements, and expenditure estimates. Their service also includes electronic presentation preparation. All their business plans are completed within 5 to 6 business days of contact.

Deutsch & Thomas was founded in 2005 by Matthew Deutsch. The business has been in operation for over fourteen years, and was run as a partnership prior to its incorporation. Since its inception, the company has helped small and medium sized businesses raise more than $585,000,000 through plans developed by their team.

• Pro Business Plans

Pro Business Plans is a leading group of individuals offering business plan consulting and writing services to organizations and individuals. The team is driven by passion, quality and expertise, and they aim to create an accurate road map on various topics to help customers attain achievable targets in minimal time.

Founded in 1999, Pro Business Plans works with international companies from Startups to Fortune 500 across a diverse range of industries to prepare stunning business plans, pitch decks, and investment materials. Pro Business Plans delivers investment banking quality with the attention and care of an in-house consultant.

Its business plan samples reflect its meticulous attention to detail and reflect the of their clients’ company. The financials are accurate and based on the most widely respected market research groups on the United States.

The company has assisted startups, early stage ventures, nonprofits, and existing companies to launch and expand their operation. The company did not disclose its costs.

• Optimal Thinking
• Cost – $5,000

Optimal thinking is a marketing and writing service that began in 1985. The company has writing specialists that consult with their clients to help them achieve the objectives of their business. With 27 years of experience, the company serves as organizations’ trusted writing and editorial department.

The optimal thinking professional business plan writers have more than 250 years of combined experience writing successful business plans. They can help you provide a professionally optimized operational plan, feasibility plan, expansion plan, annual plan, internal plan or a new product plan. But their charges can be quite hefty as it can get up to $5,000.

Optimal thinking works with companies from start-ups, small businesses and large organizations including Warner Bros., Johnson & Johnson, U.S. Treasury, National Australia Bank, Air New Zealand, Young Presidents’ Organization and Red Bull.

• Bargain business plans
• Cost – $1399 to $2499

Bargain Business Plan is a business plan writing service that has served over 10,000 entrepreneurs and small business owners since 2008. The company has garnered experience in nearly every industry and market available.

Bargain Business Plan writers take the time to get to know their clients, so that they can effectively develop a custom business plan which will meet their needs. Whether you’re in the conception stage of your business or expanding your brand to a new market, their team of business plan writers and consultants will work to ensure you’re in position to succeed.

This is the reason why they are always mentioned when it comes to leading business plan writing companies in the United States.

Their team of dedicated business plan writers, consultants, and financial analysts all work together to ensure that their business plans are always up to standard. Their the cost of writing business plans in the company can range anywhere from $1399 to $2499.

• Cayenne Consulting

Cayenne has been around for a long time and is another good provider of business plan writing and consulting service in the United States. They have a good senior management team that has a lot of case experience which can be helpful to startup and growth stage companies of all kinds. They also can prepare additional investment related materials such as private placements and more.

Founder of the Cayenne Consulting, Akira Hirai, started the business in March 2001, because venture capitalists kept telling him that the business plans and financial forecasts he had prepared for his own companies were among the best they had seen.

In addition to business plan writing, the company also conducts strategy development, market research and analysis, competitor research and analysis, business plan preparation, financial analysis and forecasting, presentation materials, and developing a capital formation strategy.

This frees you up to focus on building something that investors might actually be interested in: a company in a large market with a compelling value proposition, strong competitive advantages, excellent growth potential, and a team that can make it happen.

Their team is located across the nation and have industry expertise in many high-growth markets, including green technologies, life science, software, Internet, telecommunications, and financial services. Their services can range from a few thousand dollars to several tens of thousands of dollars.

• Newton Group Marketing
• Cost: $1,900 – 3,900

Newton Group Marketing specializes in writing powerful and compelling proposals and business plans to obtain needed financing from major banks and investment firms.

The company collaborates with highly specialized and reputable individuals to help create exceptional quality websites, proposals and other marketing pieces. Collectively, the Newton Group Marketing team brings decades of experience and specialized expertise in their respective fields, to bring remarkable quality and bottom-line results to clients.

Although originally based in Vancouver, BC, the company teamed up with professional business plan writers in Toronto and throughout Canada, and offers marketing services sessions to multiple locations in the world. They work with most clients freelance through software such as Skype, email and phone consultation to maximize both time and efficiency for customers.

Their clients can choose from 3 different business plan packages to best meet their funding needs. All plans include Executive Summary, Complete Market Analysis, Competitive Analysis, Financials (Income Statement, Cash Flow Statements, Balance Sheet), and they are usually between 15-35 pages in length depending on plan type.

• Cost – not disclosed

Growthink is one of the world’s leading business plan development firm. Founded in 1999, the company has helped more than 1,600 clients – including entrepreneurs, small businesses, middle-market companies, Fortune 500 corporations and non-profit organizations – develop world-class business plans. As evidence of the quality of their work, Growthink clients have raised more than $1 billion in growth capital.

Growthink does not have pre-set pricing tiers for their consulting work. Each and every Growthink business plan is 100% customized based on the client’s specific needs and objectives. As a result of their in-depth consultative business planning process, Growthink consultants typically invest 4 to 6 weeks to fully develop and finalize a business plan.

In 1999, Growthink co-founders and Dave Lavinsky and Jay Turo graduated with their MBAs from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. They conceived Growthink from their deep and abiding passion and curiosity for business. Growthink has worked with many companies and assist in not only business plans, but also business consulting in many aspects.

They also provide many other services such as business analytics, banking, products, and other services geared towards helping business owners.

• Master Plans
• Cost – $1,900 to $7,500

Masterplans, based in Portland, Oregon, writes business plans for SBA loans, visa applications as well as for businesses seeking venture capital or angel investors. In addition to business plan writing, Masterplans can also review your existing business plan and give you feedback and suggestions for improvement. The plans offered by this service are high quality, and rate well in terms of cost and turnaround times.

Masterplans assigns a team of experts to help with your business plan, and a manager works to organize and update you on the project as it progresses. Each expert works individually on the market analysis, financial forecasts and business narrative. By dividing the plan up, Masterplans can complete your plan faster.

It usually takes between seven to 10 days before you receive the first draft of your business plan. If you need your plan quickly, you can get a rush job for an additional fee. Business plans through Masterplans range from $1,900 to $7,500, depending on the type of plan you need.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Business plan writing services and consulting for hire, will you review my plan and make changes.

Our review-only service just includes feedback, but if you decide you'd like to engage in our full professional business plan writing services after participating in a review, we'll give you a discount.

What if I already started writing my plan?

If you have a partially completed plan, we can work with that. In fact, it helps the plan writing process go faster because we'll have to ask fewer questions, but you'll want to choose the full business plan writing service.

Do you do market research? What does that include?

Yes, we do market research. We have access to industry reports for most industries and our business plan writers will use them to lend more credibility to your plan and validate the assumptions we are making in your financials.

What is included with the full business plan writing service?

When it's all said and done, you'll have a full, lender or investor ready business plan, a one page pitch, and a free year of LivePlan so you can make changes to your plan as well as use our cash flow and business management tools to stay on track.

Can you guarantee that my business will get funded?

There are a lot of factors that go into the decision making process for lending that are beyond our control, like your personal credit. What we can say is that it is very difficult to get funding without a solid business plan and we make solid plans with our professional business plan writing services.

Will you share my information?

We take your privacy very seriously and will not share your information.

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The average business plan completes in 3-6 weeks, depending on your responsiveness to your writer and our work load. We offer expedited business plan writing services if you are in a rush.

Yes, we can deliver an expedited plan in as little as two weeks for an additional $1,000.

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What formats do you deliver in.

We deliver in PDF format, Word and we also give you access to edit your plan in a free LivePlan account.

How many pages is the average business plan?

We subscribe to the lean business planning method so we try to keep your plan short and to the point. Depending on the complexity of your business, your finished plan can end up being anywhere from 25-50 pages.

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How much does this business plan writing service cost.

The cost of our full professional business plan writing services can vary depending on your needs. Book a call with us to request a quote. We also offer a lower cost business plan review service and a forecasting service.

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We offer a review service (feedback only, no edits), forecast only service or full business plan writing service. If you have a partially completed plan, we can work with that, but you'll want to choose the full professional business plan writing service.

Do you offer a review service?

Yes. One of our business planning experts can review your plan and financials line by line and give you critical and constructive feedback to help improve your plan and increase your confidence when it comes time to deliver.

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What if i don't like my plan.

You'll have the opportunity to review and leave feedback after each draft. We recommend taking the time to be thorough and thoughtful in your feedback as that is your chance to help mold your plan into something that really resonates with you.

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Who writes my business plan.

You will be paired with one dedicated individual from our small team of highly trained and experienced business planning professionals. Each one is a uniquely qualified business planning expert who can translate your ideas into a business plan that will appeal to your audience.

Is my business plan writer an expert in my industry?

Our business plan writers are experts specifically in business plan writing. We've worked with every industry imaginable so the likelihood that they have some familiarity with your industry is high, but if you are looking for a business consultant this may not be a good fit.

What kind of background will my business plan writer have? Are they outsourced from other countries? Have they been writing business plans for very long?

We are a small team of well educated business planning experts. Each writer's background varies but they all have financial or business education as well as years, small business management or consulting and business plan writing experience. They are all well vetted and really good at what they do, which is write plans that help you get funded.

Small Business Definitions

What is a business plan.

In its simplest form, a business plan is a guide —a roadmap for your business that outlines goals and details how you plan to achieve those goals. At its heart, a business plan is just a plan for how your business is going to work, and how you're going to make it succeed.

What is in a business plan?

To write a detailed business plan you need to include the following sections:

The executive summary is an overview of your business and your plans. It comes first in your plan and is ideally only one to two pages. Most people write it last, though.

The opportunity section answers these questions: What are you actually selling and how are you solving a problem (or "need") for your market? Who is your target market and competition?

In the execution chapter of your business plan, you'll answer the question: how are you going to take your opportunity and turn it into a business? This section will cover your marketing and sales plan, operations, and your milestones and metrics for success.

Investors look for great teams in addition to great ideas. Use the company and management chapter to describe your current team and who you need to hire. You will also provide a quick overview of your legal structure, location, and history if you're already up and running.

Your business plan isn't complete without a financial forecast . We'll tell you what to include in your financial plan, but you'll definitely want to start with a sales forecast, cash flow statement, income statement (also called profit and loss), and your balance sheet.

If you need more space for product images or additional information, use the appendix for those details.

Why is a business plan important?

There are many reasons why it is important to have a business plan . A business plan is essential if you're seeking a loan or investment, can help you make big spending decisions with confidence and is a solid foundation for ongoing strategic planning and prioritization.

What is a business plan writer/consultant?

A business plan writer/consultant is a business and financial expert who can help guide you through the process of creating a business plan and do much of the labor involved in creating it. They will work with you to understand your business model, do market research, create financial projections and offer guidance as all of those pieces are brought together in a full business plan document.

How to pick a business plan writer/consultant?

Picking a business plan writer or business plan consultant is an important decision — you'll want to find someone dedicated to your success, with experience in your industry or field and that is in it for the long haul.

Why should you pay someone to write your business plan?

You don't have time. Starting a business is time consuming. Oftentimes people have to juggle a regular 9-5 job while working on starting their business. That doesn't leave a lot of time for a big writing project. Hiring a professional business plan writer can help you give you time to focus on the tasks that are critical to getting your business off the ground.

You want to make sure it is done right, the first time. You only get one chance to make a first impression. Hiring a professional to write your business plan for you can give you the peace of mind that your plan is the best it can be when you present it to potential lenders or investors.

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Stephen Kelly

With 20 years of experience working with family offices, institutional and entrepreneurial private equity funds, and consulting Big Four accounting firms, Stephen brings unique insights into the variety of investor mindsets. He freelances to help startups and established investors determine ideal investment, asset management, and fundraising strategies. As a senior executive, he has advised on multi-billion mergers, equity raises exceeding $2 billion, and transactions totaling over $5 billion.

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Tanya is a finance expert serving investors and entrepreneurs in M&A, fundraising, buy and build, growth strategies, creating financial transparency, and defining business optimization potentials. She's executed €50 million in debt, equity, and M&A transactions in PE/VC and headed finance at a shared mobility startup, preparing the company for the financing round. Tanya enjoys freelancing due to the opportunities to create value and get to know exciting people and businesses.

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Nick is a CFA with a 28-year track record spanning 40+ countries in M&A, finance, strategy, and policy. He's supported executive decisions in 60 high-stake projects, including M&A transactions ($46 billion), radio-spectrum auctions and trades ($3.5 billion), public policy advocacy, government contract bids (worth $1 billion), go-to-market strategies, and raises for small caps and tech startups. Independent since 2001, Nick has enjoyed working in diverse markets, sectors, and cultures.

Dhruv Tandan

Dhruv has worked on successful finance and consulting projects worth over $1 billion, focusing on tech, energy, and life science companies across the US, Asia, and Africa. He currently serves as a fractional CFO for multiple startups, is a partner at AND Business Consulting, and has more than 15 years of experience in FP&A, fundraising, startup consulting, M&A, and project finance. With an MBA in finance, Dhruv enjoys the exposure and sheer variety of assignments that come with freelancing.

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David is an M&A expert who has worked with the owners of 100+ businesses to raise capital, exit their investments at premium valuations, or execute successful acquisitions and IPOs. With 15+ years of experience, including six years at PwC, he has worked in many industries and extensively in the TMT and renewable energy sectors. David joined Toptal to advise clients on complex M&A and capital-raising transactions across the world.

Sandeep Mathur

Sandeep has analyzed 1,000+ corporates and closed debt, equity, and M&A transactions of over $15 billion as a finance professional. After working for 20+ years in top-tier banks like Barclays, HSBC, and Standard Chartered, he now advises growth companies, leveraging his expertise in modeling, fundamental analysis valuation, and fundraising. As a seasoned problem solver, Sandeep has worked as a fractional CFO for startups, advised on early-stage funding rounds, and designed pricing models.

Julio C. Ortiz

Julio has diversified experience as a finance VP for multinationals based in the US and Latin America in the financing, pharmaceutical, luxury goods, and personal care sectors and distribution channels, such as retail, wholesale, and travel retail. Julio's expertise includes financial planning and modeling, investment banking, commercial real estate, fundraising, business plan development, logistics, company valuation, and strategic and visionary leadership based on innovation and creativity.

Carlo Palmieri

A Wharton MBA graduate, Carlo has led transactions on $10 billion worth of LBO and growth capital deals. He's worked in investment banking, M&A (Deutsche Bank), management consulting (Bain & Company, Oliver Wyman), and corporate development (Lehman Brothers). Carlo leverages his skills in corporate finance, business strategy, and international business development to help companies scale and deliver value for their investors.

Wen helped a French multimillion-euro food startup build its equity story and manage potential acquirers (Danone). She has project experience with private equity funds, venture capital, and industrial groups in France, Belgium, China, Africa, and the US. She is skilled in financial analysis and modeling, investor deck, and market research. Wen freelances to help advise startups and corporates on business strategy, investor relations, and fundraising projects.

Bertrand Deleuse

Bertrand is a 25-year finance veteran with a true 360 experience, honed as an investment banker, venture advisor, project developer, CFO, and expert witness consultant in international arbitrations. He has advised and partnered on over 100 transactions and investment initiatives totaling over $16 billion. Bertrand is a seasoned problem solver and decision-maker with expert facilitation skills. Bertrand advises on M&A, corporate development, venture growth, project development, and financing.

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Once you select your Business Plan Writer, you’ll have a no-risk trial period to ensure they’re the perfect fit. Our matching process has a 98% trial-to-hire rate, so you can rest assured that you’re getting the best fit every time.

How do I hire a Business Plan Writer?

To hire the right Business Plan Writer, it’s important to evaluate a candidate’s experience, technical skills, and communication skills. You’ll also want to consider the fit with your particular industry, company, and project. Toptal’s rigorous screening process ensures that every member of our network has excellent experience and skills, and our team will match you with the perfect Business Plan Writers for your project.

How are Toptal Business Plan Writers different?

At Toptal, we thoroughly screen our Business Plan Writers to ensure we only match you with the highest caliber of talent. Of the more than 200,000 people who apply to join the Toptal network each year, fewer than 3% make the cut.

In addition to screening for industry-leading expertise, we also assess candidates’ language and interpersonal skills to ensure that you have a smooth working relationship.

When you hire with Toptal, you’ll always work with world-class, custom-matched Business Plan Writers ready to help you achieve your goals.

Can you hire Business Plan Writers on an hourly basis or for project-based tasks?

You can hire Business Plan Writers on an hourly, part-time, or full-time basis. Toptal can also manage the entire project from end-to-end with our Managed Delivery offering. Whether you hire an expert for a full- or part-time position, you’ll have the control and flexibility to scale your team up or down as your needs evolve. Our Business Plan Writers can fully integrate into your existing team for a seamless working experience.

What is the no-risk trial period for Toptal Business Plan Writers?

We make sure that each engagement between you and your Business Plan Writer begins with a trial period of up to two weeks. This means that you have time to confirm the engagement will be successful. If you’re completely satisfied with the results, we’ll bill you for the time and continue the engagement for as long as you’d like. If you’re not completely satisfied, you won’t be billed. From there, we can either part ways, or we can provide you with another expert who may be a better fit and with whom we will begin a second, no-risk trial.

Tap Into World-Class Talent

Trusted experts only.

All of our talent are seasoned experts who ramp up quickly, readily contribute as core team members, and work with you to minimize onboarding time.

The Right Fit

We have a knack for matching you with the right fit. Start working with your new hire on a no-risk trial period, paying only if satisfied.

Scale as Needed

Hire talent within 48 hours and scale your team up or down as needed, no strings attached.

Seamless Hiring

We handle all aspects of billing, payments, and NDA’s. Let us take care of the overhead while you focus on building great products.

Flexible Engagements

Choose the engagement type that suits your needs — hourly, part-time, or full-time — with the ability to change anytime.

Expert Talent Matching

Focus on your project and enjoy support from your dedicated account executive and expert talent matcher.

Featured Toptal Business Plan Writing Publications

Creating a Narrative from Numbers

The Undeniable Importance of a Business Plan

Building the Next Big Thing: A Guide to Business Idea Development

Top Business Plan Writers Are in High Demand.

Top 7 Business Plan Writers

• March 21, 2024

Most entrepreneurs consider hiring a business plan writer the easiest way to prepare a business plan. Even though it’s one of the easiest ways, finding the right service provider for your needs can be a pain.

Need help finding top business plan writers in the U.S .? We’ll help out.

We’ve curated a list of top business plan writing and consulting firms in the United States with their reviews, key service offering details, experience, and other critical information. Let’s head straight to our list of top 7 business plan writers in the United States.

Hire From Top 7 Business Plan Writers

Upmetrics Business Plan Writers

Upmetrics, primarily known for its business planning tools, offers a range of business planning services. With 5+ years of experience in the market, Upmetrics has helped over 110K entrepreneurs across 195 countries create investor-ready plans.

Our goal is to give you a plan that’s clear, practical, and ready to present to investors. With Upmetrics, you get a reliable partner focused on helping you build and grow your business.

• Business plan writing
• Immigration business plans
• Financial forecasting
• Pitch decks
• Plan consulting
• Business Plan Review

Plan Writers

Plan Writers is a team of 8 expert business plan consultants. With 10+ years of experience in the market, they have written over 5K business plans helping clients raise over $1B in capital.

As the 2011 “Best Business Plan Writer” award winner, they can help you communicate your vision, research your industry, create a marketing plan, model a financial projection, and design amazing presentations, so you can focus on your business instead of making actionable plans.

• Investor and bank plans
• Business plan consulting

Go Business Plans

Go Business Plans is a team of top-rated business plan writers and consultants. With 100% client satisfaction, they’ve helped clients raise over $3B in funding. Their team is committed to assisting you in producing the customized business plans required to prevail in today’s fiercely competitive business world.

From business plan advice and website building to internet marketing and debt finance, their specialists can help you with anything you need to launch or expand your firm.

• Investor presentations
• Business consulting
• Business plan review

Wise Business Plans

Wise Business Plans is a team of MBA business plan writers founded in 2010. With over a decade in the industry, they’ve done over 100K consultations and written over 15K plans for their clients, helping them raise over $1B in capital investment.

With a good overall rating, reputed strategic partners like SBA and IBISWorld, and 14+ years of experience, Wise Business Plans are one of the pioneers in the industry.

• Business licensing
• Business credit
• Business formations

Cayenne Consulting

Cayenne Consulting is one of the most trusted and longest-serving business plan consulting firms. They can serve as an impartial partner to help you save time by assisting with tasks like developing a strategy, conducting market and competitive research, creating a plan, creating presentation materials, and creating a capital formation strategy.

With more than two decades in business plan consulting, they’ve helped clients raise over $4.3B in capital investment.

• Business plan preparation
• Pitch deck design
• Financial forecasts
• Business plan makeovers
• Business valuations

Pro Business Plans

Pro Business Plans is a team of professional business plan writers and consultants. They have helped 1,000+ businesses to raise $4+ billion across 30+ countries. Their team has expertise in providing strategic advisory to grow businesses from a certain level.

• Strategic advisory
• Pitch deck designing
• Feasibility studies
• Legal services

Bargain Business Plans

Bargain Business Plan is a team of MBA business plan writers, financial analysts, and consultants dedicated to helping you with business and financial planning. Their team of consultants and writers strives to guarantee you’re in a position to succeed, whether you’re starting a new business or bringing your brand to a new market.

The company established in 2008 has worked in 900+ industries with 500+ business partners, helping thousands of entrepreneurs build their business plans.

• Pitch deck creation
• Custom logo
• Non-profit & immigration business plans

Where do I Find Freelance Business Plan Writers?

Many platforms are available where you can find freelancers and on such platforms only you will find top business plan writers, such as

You will find a variety of business plan writers on Upwork as it is one of the best-known freelance marketplaces. You can hire one of the top business plan writers after knowing their fees, expertise, business plan samples, etc.

2. Freelancer

Freelancer is also the place where you can find freelance business plan writers. You can post a project there, request proposals, and go through the ratings of the writers & their portfolios.

You can select an expert plan writer on Fiverr depending on your niche. Browse through different profiles and pricing structures and then pitch directly.

4. Referrals and recommendations

You can also seek suggestions and referrals from coworkers, contacts in the sector, or business advisers who might know of independent business plan writers with the required knowledge and abilities.

How much will it cost to hire a business plan writer?

The cost of hiring a business plan writer can depend on various factors like experience, expertise, the field and complexity of the business plan, etc.

However, some writers charge per hour and some charge per project for writing the business plan. We have listed some average costs of writing a business plan as follows:

• Basic business plan – $500 to $2500
• Comprehensive business plan – $2500 to $10,000
• Industry-specific business plan – $5000 to $20,000
• Hourly basis – $20 to $50

These costs are based on the current average charges of various freelance business plan writers.

 Need help writing business plan and getting funded?

Get a free business planning consultation

Choosing the Right Business Plan Writer

Since you’re going to spend so much on business plan writing services, it’s crucial to consider a few factors like the range of services they provide, the method you use, and how much they charge.

Here are a few tips to help you choose the right business plan writer:

1. Writing services and previous work

If considering hiring a writer or consulting firm, consider asking for examples of their previous work. When reviewing the sample, make sure the writing is clear and concise and that the document is free of any significant errors or typos.

Since investors will primarily focus on the executive summary and financial model, be sure to give them a careful reading.

2. Price is not everything

Do not, however, make the error of judging a plan writer just on the price they offer; instead, search around for your plan to grasp the pricing possibilities accessible.

While it is safe to assume that the least expensive option will produce a product and service of lower quality, the opposite is not always true, i.e., that the most expensive option will produce a product and service of the highest quality.

3. Be clear if you want business plan writing or editing

A plan lays out a company’s strategy and how it will operate over the next five to ten years. The document outlines the company’s current situation as well as the objectives it plans to aim to meet on an operational and financial level.

The document is very personal to the business owner. However, the writer won’t be able to read the business owner’s mind.

A business plan writer can easily offer an objective look at the company, highlighting areas someone close to the company may miss.

The owner must first choose whether he prefers a writer to draft the plan or an editor to polish it after the owner has prepared a draft.

4. Understand their process

It is necessary to understand the procedure of the writer or business consultant before you hire them. Each contractor has their procedure, for instance, some might give you a questionnaire to fill & some will have an interview round to learn more about your business.

Therefore, it is essential to understand the process and to know how will they communicate more with you for business information.

Pros and Cons of Hiring a Business Plan Writer

Hiring a business plan writer has its pros and cons, here is why you should or shouldn’t hire a business plan writer:

• Writing business plans is their area of expertise, so they can provide insightful advice based on their extensive experience.
• Working with a writer gives you more time to concentrate on other areas of your company.
• You may leave a lasting impression on lenders or investors by writing a strong business plan.
• Working with a business plan writer can be pricey, particularly for new or tiny companies.
• Working with a writer entails a certain amount of control surrendering over the writing process and final output.
• Sometimes, business plan writers might not fully understand the vision & goals of your business.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Hiring a Business Plan Writer

Business plan writing is something you do for your business on your terms, so if you think you are ready to hire a business plan writer, then answer these questions to make your decision more firm.

• Who will write your business plan?
• How will you share all the information with your writer?
• Will the writer do thorough market research before writing the plan?
• How many revisions will they do?
• In which format will be the plan delivered?

If you want to write your business plan by yourself, then with the help of a business plan software & its step-by-step guidance you can.

In conclusion, hiring a business plan writer might be a wise investment if you’re looking to construct a professional business plan that can help you get finance, draw investors, or direct your business strategy.

Still confused about choosing the right business plan writing service provider? Consider hiring Upmetrics’ plan writing services. 

With years of industry expertise, successful clientele, and positive customer reviews, Upmetrics is one of the most trusted service providers. Get on a free consultation call to learn more about business planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is a business plan writer.

Business plan writers are specialists who help owners or entrepreneurs create thorough and efficient business plans by conducting market research, competitive research preparing financial projections, & analyzing other business operations.

They build a business plan that is specifically suited to the needs and objectives of the particular business using the current information.

Why is a business plan important?

A business plan is the most critical business document that outlines your business goals, strategies for achieving them, and potential challenges you may encounter. Having a detailed business plan is crucial for securing funding, leading your business to growth, and ensuring your strategies are inclined toward success.

What are the key elements of a comprehensive business plan?

Some of the key elements of a comprehensive business plan include:

• Executive Summary —A brief overview of the entire business plan
• Business Overview —Includes details like name, business type, location, history, legal structure, etc.
• Market Analysis —Includes target market, competitive analysis, market trends, etc.
• Products & Services —Details about your products and services, a product description, pricing, etc.
• Sales & Marketing Strategies —A detailed description of your sales and marketing strategies
• Operations Plan —Includes operational process, staffing & hiring of your company, and more.
• Management Team —Includes all the key executives and managers of your firm.
• Financial Plan —financial forecasting for the first few years of your company.
• Appendix – Other details important to your business plan, such as the resumes of important employees, marketing materials, etc.

Why should you hire business plan writers?

Writing a comprehensive business plan requires business knowledge, market analysis, financial planning experience, and writing skills. If you’re writing a business plan and don’t have enough time to spend working on it, you should consider hiring a writer.

It can save you time, provide expert insights and market analysis, ensure financial projections are realistic, and craft a professional document that improves your chances of securing funding or investment.

Can I write a business plan myself?

Yes, you can surely write your business plan yourself. You can easily create an investment-ready business plan using an AI business plan generator like Upmetrics. It has all the features required to draft a detailed plan.

• Development
• IT Services
• Business Services
• Pricing & Packages
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Top Business Plan Writing Services

420 Companies

15 Leaders 15 Contenders

List of the Top Business Plan Content Writers

Clutch leaders matrix.

Rollover to see company insights or click a company below for more details.

• 2 Reilly Connect
• 4 SOCIALFUEL
• 6 Upword Media Services
• 7 Khepri Digital
• 8 Legacy Business Plans LLC
• 9 Seal Media
• 10 Lincoln Writes
• 11 VDVOKH Digital Agency
• 12 TeeCube Solutions LTD
• 13 Mammar Content Creation
• 14 Full Stop Edit
• 15 Bread and Circuses Inc.

How the Leaders Matrix Works

A Clutch Leaders Matrix provides a broad view of the top-performing companies in a particular service or location. Each company featured in a Leaders Matrix is evaluated based on Focus and Ability to Deliver. The size of each circle indicates that company’s size. Learn More

Focus (x-axis)

Focus accounts for a company’s specialization within a certain service.

Ability to Deliver (y-axis)

Ability to Deliver considers three criteria:

• Client feedback and reviews
• Work experience and previous projects
• Market presence and reputation in the industry

List of the Top 15 Business Plan Content Writers

• Min. project size " > $5,000+
• Avg. hourly rate " > $100 - $149 / hr
• Employees " > 50 - 249
• Location " > Nashville, TN

Ability to deliver considers client feedback and reviews, work experience and previous projects, and market presence and reputation in the industry. Learn more " > Ability to deliver

• 10 Clients & Experience
• 8.6 Market Presence

Allocation of expertise by % " > Service focus

• 31% Business Plan Writing

Reilly Connect

• Min. project size " > $25,000+
• Avg. hourly rate " > $200 - $300 / hr
• Employees " > 2 - 9
• Location " > Chicago, IL
• 9.8 Clients & Experience
• 6.8 Market Presence
• 50% Business Plan Writing
• Min. project size " > $1,000+
• Avg. hourly rate " > $150 - $199 / hr
• Employees " > 10 - 49
• Location " > Miami, FL
• 17.2 Reviews
• 5.3 Market Presence
• 20% Business Plan Writing
• Location " > Melbourne, Australia
• 16.4 Reviews
• 8.6 Clients & Experience
• 6 Market Presence
• Avg. hourly rate " > Undisclosed
• Location " > Fayetteville, AR
• 8.3 Clients & Experience
• 5.2 Market Presence

Upword Media Services

• Avg. hourly rate " > $25 - $49 / hr
• Location " > Bengaluru, India
• 16.6 Reviews
• 3 Clients & Experience
• 5.4 Market Presence
• 100% Business Plan Writing

Khepri Digital

• Location " > Singapura, Singapore
• 2.3 Clients & Experience
• 6.5 Market Presence

Legacy Business Plans LLC

• Location " > North Bay Village, FL
• 16.2 Reviews
• 4.3 Clients & Experience
• 4 Market Presence
• Location " > Costa Mesa, CA
• 8.1 Clients & Experience
• 6.9 Market Presence
• 13% Business Plan Writing

Lincoln Writes

• Avg. hourly rate " > $50 - $99 / hr
• Location " > Dallas, TX
• 1.8 Clients & Experience
• 5.5 Market Presence
• 23% Business Plan Writing

VDVOKH Digital Agency

• Location " > Kyiv, Ukraine
• 16.8 Reviews
• 7 Clients & Experience
• 4.6 Market Presence
• 33% Business Plan Writing

TeeCube Solutions LTD

• Location " >
• 8 Clients & Experience
• 17% Business Plan Writing

Mammar Content Creation

• Location " > Warszawa, Poland
• 4.9 Market Presence
• 10% Business Plan Writing

Full Stop Edit

• Min. project size " > Undisclosed
• Location " > Oklahoma City, OK
• 1.6 Clients & Experience
• 4.4 Market Presence

Bread and Circuses Inc.

• 17.6 Reviews
• 0 Clients & Experience

Contenders Breakdown

Link publishers.

• Location " > Fremont, CA
• 15.6 Reviews
• 2.7 Clients & Experience
• 14% Business Plan Writing

Re:word Content Co.

• Location " > Toronto, Canada
• 3.6 Clients & Experience
• 19% Business Plan Writing

Urbanacle Digital Marketers

• Location " > Nairobi, Kenya
• 6.1 Clients & Experience

Content Flip

• Avg. hourly rate " > < $25 / hr
• 15.4 Reviews
• 25% Business Plan Writing

Lincoln Creative Writers

• Employees " > 250 - 999
• 0.6 Clients & Experience
• 5.8 Market Presence

INSCAPERS Pvt Ltd

• Location " > London, England
• 17.4 Reviews
• 35% Business Plan Writing

Contaid Soft Solutions

• Location " > Chandigarh, India
• 3.5 Clients & Experience

AMZ Publishers Pro

• 5.6 Market Presence

New Era Business Innovation and Management Consulting

• 0.7 Clients & Experience
• 43% Business Plan Writing

Meredith Corning PR

• Min. project size " > $10,000+
• Location " > Eureka Springs, AR

Kyyte Pte. Ltd.

• Location " > Singapore, Singapore
• 1.4 Clients & Experience
• 5 Market Presence
• Location " > Indore, India
• 2.1 Clients & Experience
• 15% Business Plan Writing

Adroit Solutions

• 2.2 Clients & Experience

Digital Red Tech

Allocation of expertise by % " > Services provided

• 10% Content Writing Services
• 40% Web Design
• 30% Web Development Search Engine Optimization " > +1
• 20% Search Engine Optimization

Allocation of expertise by % " > Focus Areas

• 23% Case Study Writing
• 23% Speech writing Product Description Writing Editing and Proofreading Services " > +2
• 15% Product Description Writing
• 8% Editing and Proofreading Services

Web Design & Dev for Property Management Software Company

5.0 - UPQODE has designed and developed a website for a property management software company. The team has created the site map, worked on keyword research and optimization, and handled development and... Read more

• Reviews mention "communicative"
• Reviews mention "receptive"
• Reviewed 1 time in the past 6 months
• 4.9 out of 5.0 rating for cost
• 20% Content Writing Services
• 25% Translation
• 20% Search Engine Optimization Content Marketing Email Marketing Marketing Strategy " > +3
• 15% Content Marketing
• 10% Email Marketing
• 10% Marketing Strategy
• 40% Product Description Writing
• 20% Case Study Writing Resume Writing " > +1
• 20% Resume Writing

Content Writing for SEO Company

5.0 - Stablli helped an SEO company with content writing and blog support. The team wrote content based on an outline sent by the client.... Read more

• Reviews mention "professional"
• Reviews mention "easy to reach"
• Reviews mention "open to feedback"
• Reviews mention "timely"
• 10% E-Commerce Development
• 10% Logo Mobile & App Marketing Mobile App Development Search Engine Optimization Social Media Marketing Video Production Web Design Web Development " > +7
• 10% Mobile & App Marketing
• 10% Mobile App Development
• 10% Search Engine Optimization
• 10% Social Media Marketing
• 10% Video Production
• 10% Web Design
• 10% Web Development
• 17% Case Study Writing
• 17% Grant Writing Product Description Writing Speech writing SOP Writing " > +3
• 17% Product Description Writing
• 17% Speech writing
• 15% SOP Writing

Book Publishing, Content Writing & Web Dev for Accountant

5.0 - TeeCube has published a book and developed a website for an accountant. The team also writes blogs and puts news articles on the site, which includes information and pictures of the book and author.... Read more

• Reviews mention "results-oriented"
• Reviews mention "understands the needs of their clients"

Build a Project Brief in minutes

Answer a few guided questions so we can collect your project requirements. Then, you’ll receive a custom project brief you can send to multiple service providers for quotes.

• 30% Content Writing Services
• 25% Content Marketing
• 15% Business Consulting Public Relations Social Media Marketing Video Production " > +3
• 10% Public Relations
• 50% Product Description Writing

Reilly Connect is an award-winning 100 percent women-owned integrated communications agency with deep roots in public relations. We've been a different kind of agency since opening our doors. We... Read more

• Reviews mention "creative"
• Reviews mention "high-quality work"
• 5.0 out of 5.0 rating for cost
• 20% Branding
• 20% Web Design Conversion Optimization Search Engine Optimization Ecommerce Marketing Graphic Design " > +4
• 15% Conversion Optimization
• 15% Search Engine Optimization
• 10% Ecommerce Marketing
• 10% Graphic Design

Hello there! We're SOCIALFUEL, a creative Branding & Web Design Agency based in Melbourne, Australia. Our expert team has a combined experience of over 40+ years of marketing experience and in... Read more

• Reviews mention "unique expertise"
• Reviews mention "great project management"
• Reviews mention "passionate about their work"
• Reviews mention "exceeds expectations"
• 20% Call Center Services
• 20% Search Engine Optimization Graphic Design Pay Per Click Video Production Web Design " > +4
• 10% Pay Per Click

Growing Your Software Sales Can’t be Left to Chance Without the practical marketing skills you need to grow your business, it’s really going to cost you. As software sales decline, your... Read more

• Reviews mention "detail-oriented"
• 50% Content Writing Services
• 20% Search Engine Optimization Product Marketing " > +1
• 5% Product Marketing

We are the best content writing and marketing company in India for SaaS and Tech brands. Whether you are looking to scale traffic to your website or improve search engine rankings, you need quality... Read more

• 40% Search Engine Optimization
• 20% Conversion Optimization Pay Per Click " > +1
• 20% Pay Per Click

We are a Performance Digital Marketing Agency formed by entrepreneurs and data scientists.  We started as a boutique marketing agency with a results guarantee. Within our small circle, we test... Read more

• 1 review mentions Content Writing Services
• Reviews mention "transparent"
• Reviews mention "honest"
• 80% Content Writing Services
• 20% Business Consulting

Legacy Business Plans is an experienced Business Plans and Feasibility Studies provider in the Immigration and government-guaranteed lending space. At Legacy Business Plans we conduct a thorough... Read more

• Reviews mention "knowledgeable"
• 30% Video Production
• 20% Branding Content Marketing Search Engine Optimization Social Media Marketing " > +3
• 20% Content Marketing
• 13% Case Study Writing
• 13% Editing and Proofreading Services Grant Writing Resume Writing SOP Writing Speech writing Product Description Writing " > +5
• 13% Grant Writing
• 13% Resume Writing
• 13% SOP Writing
• 13% Speech writing
• 9% Product Description Writing

We believe in the power of storytelling to create meaningful connections between brands and their audience. By combining our expertise in production and storytelling, we help brands elevate their... Read more

• 4.6 out of 5.0 rating for cost
• 6 fixed price packages
• Reviews mention "well-organized projects"
• 50% Content Marketing
• 47% Editing and Proofreading Services
• 15% Case Study Writing Product Description Writing " > +1

Every great work of art was born out of inspiration, and we will give your book the enhancement it needs to turn into the work of art that it deserves to be. Lincoln Writes authors will perfectly... Read more

• Reviews mention "hard working"
• 30% Pay Per Click
• 30% Social Media Marketing Advertising Digital Strategy Sales Outsourcing " > +3
• 10% Advertising
• 10% Digital Strategy
• 10% Sales Outsourcing
• 33% Case Study Writing
• 33% Speech writing Product Description Writing " > +1
• 1% Product Description Writing

We are VDVOKH. Our mission is to help local businesses earn more and build strong brands. After all, a prominent and robust business means a big and strong VDVOKH agency. We have been developing... Read more

• 3 fixed price packages
• 30% Content Marketing
• 10% Branding Logo Video Marketing Blockchain Marketing Graphic Design Packaging Design Print Design Social Media Marketing Web Design " > +8
• 10% Video Marketing
• 5% Blockchain Marketing
• 5% Graphic Design
• 5% Packaging Design
• 5% Print Design
• 5% Social Media Marketing
• 5% Web Design
• 30% Product Description Writing
• 10% Case Study Writing Editing and Proofreading Services Grant Writing Resume Writing SOP Writing Speech writing " > +5
• 10% Editing and Proofreading Services
• 10% Grant Writing
• 10% Resume Writing
• 10% SOP Writing
• 10% Speech writing

Mammar Content Creation is a dynamic creative Content Creation agency based in Warsaw, Poland, dedicated to elevating your brand's digital presence. Our services encompass a diverse range of... Read more

• Reviews mention "reliable"
• 10% Content Marketing
• 10% Search Engine Optimization Advertising Direct Marketing Email Marketing Mobile & App Marketing Public Relations Social Media Marketing " > +6
• 5% Advertising
• 5% Direct Marketing
• 5% Email Marketing
• 5% Mobile & App Marketing
• 5% Public Relations
• 34% Editing and Proofreading Services

From websites to emails, newsletters to social media, content is how you communicate directly with your customers. Whether it's B2C or B2B, your messaging needs to be clear and compelling. The... Read more

• Reviews mention "easy to work with"
• 15% Digital Strategy Social Media Marketing " > +1
• 50% Editing and Proofreading Services

We believe that every company is a media company.   Bread and Circuses is a content strategy and production studio that leverages decades of experience in digital media to create content... Read more

• 3 reviews mention Content Writing Services
• 70% Content Marketing
• 16% Grant Writing
• 14% Case Study Writing Editing and Proofreading Services Product Description Writing Resume Writing Speech writing " > +4
• 14% Editing and Proofreading Services
• 14% Product Description Writing
• 14% Resume Writing
• 14% Speech writing

Link Publishers is the fastest growing Guest Post Marketplace which helps to build high-quality backlinks. Guest posting is the most challenging and result-driven off-page activity in SEO. What... Read more

• 4.5 out of 5.0 rating for cost
• 20% Content Marketing Email Marketing Search Engine Optimization Translation " > +3
• 10% Translation
• 19% Case Study Writing Product Description Writing Speech writing " > +2
• 6% Product Description Writing
• 6% Speech writing

In those make-or-break moments where your next word could be your last chance, give your ideal prospects reasons to buy in.  Pretty pictures and slick digital can’t do that.  Only your... Read more

• 4.8 out of 5.0 rating for cost
• Reviews mention "collaborative"
• 20% Media Planning & Buying
• 15% Search Engine Optimization Content Marketing Graphic Design Social Media Marketing Business Consulting Logo Pay Per Click Print Design Web Design " > +8
• 5% Business Consulting
• 5% Pay Per Click
• 44% Product Description Writing
• 30% Editing and Proofreading Services Case Study Writing " > +1

Urbanacle Digital Marketing company is a Kenyan agency that offers website content development, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Management, Branding and Web development services to SMEs... Read more

• 3.5 out of 5.0 rating for cost
• 75% Content Writing Services
• 5% Content Marketing
• 25% Editing and Proofreading Services

Content Flip offers quality SEO optimized blog writing services for only $299/month. With their monthly subscriptions, you get a 1,000 word blog delivered every week. Their hand-picked team of... Read more

• 10% Affiliate Marketing
• 10% E-Commerce Development Email Marketing Logo Pay Per Click Search Engine Optimization Social Media Marketing Web Design Web Development " > +7
• 33% Editing and Proofreading Services Product Description Writing " > +1

Redefining Creative Content Writing We, as a professional content writing company, believe in developing and delivering content that catches the eyes of your clients. The imaginative brilliance of... Read more

• 20% Web Development
• 10% AR/VR Development Graphic Design Mobile App Development Search Engine Optimization Social Media Marketing UX/UI Design Web Design " > +6
• 10% UX/UI Design
• 35% Resume Writing
• 30% Grant Writing

INSCAPERS Pvt Ltd is a Registered creative Digital Marketing Company in the United Kingdom. We are a group of Big thinkers, Great Creators, Wonderful Artists, Awesome Problem Solvers, Energetic Lead... Read more

• Reviews mention "accommodating"
• 30% Email Marketing
• 30% Search Engine Optimization Marketing Strategy " > +1
• 20% Marketing Strategy
• 25% Product Description Writing Case Study Writing SOP Writing Resume Writing " > +3
• 15% Case Study Writing
• 5% Resume Writing

Hello, Small and Medium Size Business Owners We get you, we totally get you We know how troubling it is to make every marketing effort count. You see other companies making full use of so-called... Read more

• Reviews mention "helpful"
• 25% Content Writing Services
• 50% Print Design
• 40% Editing and Proofreading Services
• 20% Resume Writing Case Study Writing Product Description Writing Speech writing " > +3
• 10% Case Study Writing
• 10% Product Description Writing

Discover AMZ Publishers Pro: Where Stories Thrive Your launchpad to literary greatness. We sculpt stories with care, embrace diverse voices, and ignite the passion behind each tale. Join us in... Read more

• 15% Content Writing Services
• 25% Graphic Design
• 10% Branding Business Consulting Corporate Training & Coaching Event Marketing Advertising Funding & Investment Print Design Video Production " > +7
• 10% Business Consulting
• 10% Corporate Training & Coaching
• 10% Event Marketing
• 5% Funding & Investment
• 5% Video Production
• 20% Case Study Writing
• 20% Editing and Proofreading Services Product Description Writing Speech writing " > +2
• 20% Product Description Writing
• 20% Speech writing

We're a presentation design agency that builds customized, professional, and on-brand presentations for all occasions. We’ve become the trusted presentation partner for respected global brands and... Read more

• 10% Corporate Training & Coaching Digital Strategy HR Consulting IT Strategy Consulting Marketing Strategy Public Relations Recruiting Social Media Marketing " > +7
• 10% HR Consulting
• 10% IT Strategy Consulting
• 10% Recruiting
• 36% Speech writing
• 14% Product Description Writing Editing and Proofreading Services " > +1
• 7% Editing and Proofreading Services

Unlock the full potential of your business with New Era Business Innovation Consulting. Our team of experienced consultants provides tailored solutions that drive growth and enhance profitability.... Read more

• 10% Audio Production Broadcast Video Corporate Photography Event Marketing Marketing Strategy Public Relations Social Media Marketing Video Production " > +7
• 10% Broadcast Video
• 10% Corporate Photography
• 17% Editing and Proofreading Services Product Description Writing Speech writing Resume Writing " > +3
• 15% Resume Writing

Founder of Meredith Corning PR, Meredith Corning has nearly twenty years experience in the public relations, events and entertainment sectors with a niche in the fashion, lifestyle, beauty, and... Read more

• Reviews mention "personable"
• Reviews mention "exceptional performance"
• 40% Content Marketing
• 20% Search Engine Optimization Email Marketing Other Digital Marketing " > +2
• 10% Other Digital Marketing
• 38% Case Study Writing
• 25% Editing and Proofreading Services Product Description Writing Grant Writing " > +2
• 13% Product Description Writing
• 11% Grant Writing

Kyyte is a copywriting and content marketing agency in Singapore, and our words have no borders. We have already proved ourselves by working with clients across the world in different... Read more

• 10% IT Staff Augmentation Mobile App Development Pay Per Click Search Engine Optimization Social Media Marketing UX/UI Design Web Design Web Development " > +7
• 23% Editing and Proofreading Services
• 17% Resume Writing Case Study Writing Product Description Writing Speech writing " > +3
• 15% Speech writing

At Aim2Tech, we offer a full suite of IT services to help your business thrive in the digital landscape. Our expert team specializes in website design and development, mobile app development, and... Read more

• Reviews mention "meets deadlines"
• 10% AR/VR Development
• 10% Branding E-Commerce Development Logo Mobile App Development Search Engine Optimization Social Media Marketing UX/UI Design Web Development " > +7
• 14% Case Study Writing Editing and Proofreading Services Product Description Writing Speech writing Resume Writing SOP Writing " > +5
• 7% Resume Writing
• 7% SOP Writing

We offer a comprehensive range of digital services that are tailored to meet your unique needs. Our team of experts uses the latest technologies and best practices to deliver high-quality work that... Read more

• 10% Application Management & Support
• 10% Digital Strategy Logo Marketing Strategy Pay Per Click Search Engine Optimization Social Media Marketing Video Production Web Development " > +7
• 16% Resume Writing
• 14% Case Study Writing Editing and Proofreading Services Product Description Writing Speech writing Grant Writing SOP Writing " > +5
• 7% Grant Writing

We are a specialized agency that provides online marketing services to businesses and organizations. They use various digital channels and platforms, including search engines, social media, email,... Read more

Propelr Agency

• Employees " > Freelancer
• 15% Digital Strategy
• 15% Email Marketing Search Engine Optimization Social Media Marketing Pay Per Click Sales Outsourcing Web Development " > +5
• 15% Social Media Marketing

Founded on the principals of relationships, responsiveness and results we launched in 2023, Propelr Agency is a premier full-service digital marketing agency based in the UK. The Propelr mission is... Read more

• Reviews mention "patient"

Prooffice Assist

• 20% Transcription Back Office Outsourcing Business Consulting Corporate Travel Management Customer Service Outsourcing " > +4
• 10% Back Office Outsourcing
• 10% Corporate Travel Management
• 10% Customer Service Outsourcing
• 30% Case Study Writing
• 30% Speech writing Editing and Proofreading Services " > +1
• 20% Editing and Proofreading Services

we specialize in providing comprehensive virtual administrative support to businesses of all sizes. Our team of experienced virtual assistants handles a wide range of tasks, including data entry,... Read more

• Reviews mention "great team"
• Location " > Savannah, GA
• 50% Branding
• 10% Advertising Content Marketing Marketing Strategy Public Relations " > +3
• 34% Product Description Writing

We help organizations unlock their purpose and translate it into stories that resonate deeply. Our original storytelling model guides you beyond the obvious (read: boring) organizational narrative,... Read more

Wiki Proficiency

Wiki Proficiency is an all-in-one platform for all your Wikipedia page creation, writing, editing, and monitoring services.... Read more

• 0.5 out of 5.0 rating for cost

Startup Writer

• Location " > Kochi, India
• 54% Business Plan Writing
• 46% Editing and Proofreading Services

Startup Writer is a writer's community and a content mediation platform that helps businesses in their content writing and strategy building.They’re a professional writers organization that has... Read more

Storytailors

Not yet reviewed

• Location " > Noida, India
• 30% Translation
• 25% Video Production Content Marketing " > +1
• 40% Case Study Writing
• 20% Editing and Proofreading Services Product Description Writing " > +1

𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘀 is a creative content agency that specialises in crafting tailor-made, impactful stories.  _ We work with leading media houses, such as... Read more

B Plan Writer

• Location " > Leander, TX
• 100% Content Writing Services

At B Plan Writer, we're more than just business plan writers. We're here to help you in various important areas of your business journey. Need money from banks or investors? We're experts at that.... Read more

Code Cube Millennials

• Location " > Lexington, KY
• 20% Graphic Design Social Media Marketing Web Development Content Marketing " > +3
• 20% Social Media Marketing
• 34% Resume Writing
• 33% Editing and Proofreading Services

Code Cube Millennials is one of the  top website development comanies specializing in a wide range of services to enhance your online presence. From expert website development and captivating... Read more

• Harper Ghostwriters
• 50% Search Engine Optimization
• 40% Business Plan Writing

Harper Ghostwriters is a premier ghostwriting service provider. We help authors, entrepreneurs, and professionals bring their stories and ideas to life with expertly crafted writing.... Read more

British Essay Writers

• 40% Public Relations
• 25% Content Marketing Event Management " > +1
• 10% Event Management
• 24% Resume Writing
• 23% Product Description Writing Speech writing Editing and Proofreading Services " > +2
• 23% Speech writing
• 15% Editing and Proofreading Services

British Essay Writers has unwavering belief that the writing team is the core strength in providing desirable and satisfied work. Our accomplishments are accredited to the writing team ever since... Read more

Ghost Writer Narrative

• 45% Content Writing Services
• 25% Other Marketing

Ghost writer Narrative Your premier destination for professional ghostwriting services. Let us bring your ideas to life with precision and creativity. Whether you're an author, business, or... Read more

Penguin Book Writers

• 40% Content Writing Services
• 20% Other Design
• 16% Editing and Proofreading Services
• 15% Case Study Writing Product Description Writing Speech writing Grant Writing Resume Writing SOP Writing " > +5
• 8% Grant Writing
• 8% Resume Writing
• 8% SOP Writing

Think your story is captivating enough to become a bestseller? Let our book writers handle the book writing process for you. At Penguin Book Writers, we have some of the finest writers on board who... Read more

Authors Breeze

• 17% Resume Writing Case Study Writing Editing and Proofreading Services Product Description Writing " > +3

Welcome to Authors Breeze, where we help turn your literary aspirations into a reality. We offer a wide range of services, including ghostwriting, proofreading, e-book writing, editing, and... Read more

Geeks Ghostwriting

• 10% Graphic Design Search Engine Optimization Social Media Marketing Video Production " > +3
• 27% Business Plan Writing
• 36% Editing and Proofreading Services
• 28% Resume Writing Speech writing " > +1
• 9% Speech writing

Step into the realm of Geeks Ghostwriting, where the ordinary transforms into extraordinary! Our team of eccentric word sorcerers thrives on the unusual, the futuristic, and the imaginative. From... Read more

Edot Digital

• Location " > Sandton, South Africa
• 15% E-Commerce Development
• 15% Search Engine Optimization Web Design Web Development CRM Consulting and SI Email Marketing Pay Per Click " > +5
• 15% Web Design
• 15% Web Development
• 10% CRM Consulting and SI

Established in 1999, edot Digital assists companies that want to upscale their business or eCommerce website and marketing strategy to achieve growth.We are an owner-managed Digital Marketing Agency... Read more

American Ghost Book Writing

• 60% Content Writing Services
• 29% Case Study Writing
• 29% Editing and Proofreading Services Product Description Writing Speech writing " > +2

As a renowned ghostwriting services provider, we believe in delivering clients the optimal outcome. Our professional and world-class ghostwriters aim to create a difference in the world of writing... Read more

• 10% Branding Content Marketing Product Marketing " > +2
• 10% Product Marketing
• 25% Product Description Writing

Artiboost is a leading content creation firm that excels in producing SEO-optimized articles to enhance your online visibility and drive traffic to your website. Our services include:- SEO... Read more

Harvard Ghostwriting

• Location " > Jersey City, NJ

Our ghost book writers are known to give words to your ideas. We offer a broad range of book writing and marketing services that will help you reach success in days. Harvard Ghost Writing... Read more

Deft Writers

• 31% Speech writing
• 22% Product Description Writing Editing and Proofreading Services Resume Writing " > +2

Deft Writers is a leading creative content writing agency that is committed to delivering high-quality content writing services to clients worldwide. With an experienced team of skilled writers,... Read more

Ghost Writing Partner

• 33% Speech writing

We are committed to assisting individuals, authors, professionals, and businesses in bringing their ideas to life by using a staff of highly competent and experienced ghostwriters. Our only goal is... Read more

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Comparing Business Plan Writing Experts on Clutch

Looking for a Content Writing Services provider who specializes in Business Plan Writing?

Clutch features a diverse selection of 404 companies that specialize in Business Plan Writing work within the Content Writing Services space. These companies have successfully served multiple clients, including industry giants like Nasa, Maa Ranjanadevi, Labellissimo and many more. They cater to Enterprise companies (7), Midmarket (32), and Small Businesses (118) across various industries, such as Business Services, Other Industries, and Advertising & Marketing. With over 150 reviews available for Business Plan Writing service providers, you can rest assured that you'll find the information you need to choose the right partner.

Check the drop downs below for summaries of:

• Most Popular
• Lowest Rated
• Not Yet Rated
• Industries Served
• Other Areas of Expertise
• Services Provided
• Budget Requirements
• Most Affordable Companies
• Company Locations
• Market Segments

Most Popular Content Writing Services Companies with Business Plan Writing Expertise

Best Rated Business Plan Writing Experts

Lowest Rated Business Plan Writing Companies

Not Yet Rated Business Plan Writing Companies

Industries Served by Business Plan Writing Experts

Common Business Plan Writing Services Available

Other Specialties Offered by Business Plan Writing Experts

Business Plan Writing Service Providers By Budget Level

Most Affordable Business Plan Writing Providers

Want to Find Business Plan Writing Companies by Location?

Market Segments & Clients Served

Business Plan Writing FAQs

Browse the most commonly asked questions when it comes to hiring business plan writing support.

What are business plan writing services? Business plan writing agencies are composed of writers, consultants, and industry experts who know how to research, plan, and formulate strategic business plans to guide companies. These professionals assess every detail of your ideas and articulate them into actionable business plans.

How much does it cost to hire a business plan writing agency hiring a business plan writing agency can cost you anywhere from as low as $50 to as high as $300 per hour. the figure will vary depending on several factors, including the scale of your business, the experience of the agency, and the complexity of your strategy. explore our writing services pricing guide ., where can i find an experienced and reliable business plan agency when looking for an experienced and reliable business plan writing agency, it can be helpful to search online reviews from previous clients and ask for referrals from people who have worked with the company. additionally, you can check out professional directories such as clutch or the manifest, which offer reviews on various business plan writing firms across the globe., what skills to look for when evaluating a business plan writing agency look for: research and analytical skills, solution and goal-oriented approaches, knowledge of marketing and business strategies, understanding of finances and key business funnel, and strong written and verbal communication skills..

Clutch features 404 Content Writing Services companies specializing in Business Plan Writing. These companies have been thoroughly reviewed and rated by verified clients, providing valuable insights for those seeking specific expertise.

Business Plan Writing-focused providers commonly offer services like Content Marketing , Search Engine Optimization , Social Media Marketing , Web Design , Web Development .

Apart from Business Plan Writing work, these providers also focus on areas such as Editing and Proofreading Services (269 companies), Product Description Writing (231 companies), and Case Study Writing (206 companies). Ratings for these companies vary, with some considered the best, having between 4.0 and 4.9 stars, or having 3.9 stars or less.

This company specializes in Business Plan Writing, maintains high ratings and substantial client reviews, and caters to diverse industries:

• UPQODE (4.9 stars)

The minimum spend requirement of the company above is generally $5,000.00. They specialize in industries like Dental, eCommerce, and Advertising & marketing, focusing on services like Business Plan Writing , Case Study Writing , Editing and Proofreading Services , Speech writing , and Product Description Writing .

The following ratings reflect exceptional customer satisfaction and the quality of their work. The top five Content Writing Services companies specializing in Business Plan Writing are:

• Stablli (5-stars and 8 reviews)
• Seal Media (5-stars and 6 reviews)
• Meredith Corning PR (5-stars and 5 reviews)
• Slingfly (5-stars and 4 reviews)
• Reilly Connect (5-stars and 4 reviews)

Some companies offering Business Plan Writing within the Content Writing Services category have lower ratings. It's essential to consider these ratings when making decisions. The lowest-rated but still high-performing providers are:

• Wiki Proficiency : (1 stars and 1 reviews)
• Content Flip : (4.7 stars and 7 reviews)
• Re:word Content Co. : (4.8 stars and 2 reviews)
• Link Publishers : (4.8 stars and 2 reviews)
• Rainmaker Content Marketing LLC : (4.8 stars and 3 reviews)

Clutch encourages users to provide reviews for companies to enhance the platform's information. Below are some Business Plan Writing Content Writing Services companies that are not yet rated:

• eBook Ghostwriting Services
• Creative ALÓ Media LLC
• USA Writings
• Creative Connect

For those with a lower budget, there are some Content Writing Services companies with Business Plan Writing expertise available. Companies like Prooffice Assist (5 stars), Contaid Soft Solutions with an average 5 star rating and Aim2Tech with an average 5 star rating have minimum spend levels under $5,000. Additionally, some providers offer competitive rates between $25 and $49 per hour.

The best rated Business Plan Writing providers with the lowest hourly rates are:

• Aim2Tech (5 stars, 1 reviews) - < $25/hr
• Contaid Soft Solutions (5 stars, 1 reviews) - < $25/hr
• Prooffice Assist (5 stars, 1 reviews) - < $25/hr

IMAEC, Intel, Labellissimo, Maa Ranjanadevi, Nasa are just some of the clients utilizing the Business Plan Writing firms on Clutch.

Business Plan Writing companies on Clutch offer their services in 55 languages besides English, including Arabic, Albanian, Awadhi, Azerbaijani, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Bulgarian, and more.

• Website Planet

9 Best Business Plan Writers for Hire: Growth & Success in 2024

• 9 Best Business Plan Writers for Hire

1. Green_lama – Affordable Business Plan Template

2. Olayinka E. – Grant and Business Plan Writer Extraordinaire

• 3. Osama M. Ashraf – Professional Investor-Ready Business Planning

4. Heena D. – Business Plan Writer and Finance Expert 

5. Aydin O. – Advisor and European Startup Expert

6. Saurav R. – Experienced Business Strategist and Operations Manager

• 7. Faizan Kahl: Expertise in Business Plans With a Marketing Edge

• 8. Kulzinder K. –  Versatile Business Plan Writer

• 9. Drsonyam: Popular Business Plan Template

• How To Hire a Business Plan Writer on Fiverr
• Head to Fiverr, and once you see the big search bar in the middle of the page, type in “business plan writer.”

• At this point, Fiverr will prompt you to create an account (if you don’t have one already). Continue with your email or connect via your Google, Apple, or Facebook account.
• If you need a business plan quickly or are on a strict budget, you can filter by budget and delivery time. To find the best freelancer for your needs, limit the results to sellers specializing in plans for specific business types – such as startups or nonprofits.

• When you find a promising gig, click on it to see more. Scroll beyond the quick introductory description to learn more about the freelancers and see examples of past business plans.

• Many business plan writers offer three-tiered gigs that give you some flexibility in terms of price and deliverables. Click the “ Compare Packages ” button to see which package suits you best.

• If you scroll further down, you’ll access the freelancer’s total review score and a couple of client comments about their skill, communication, and overall performance.

• On Fiverr, it’s common practice for clients to contact freelancers before placing an order. This is to ensure sellers understand the nature and scope of your project, which helps them deliver results without delay. Click the “ Contact Me ” button from the top of the profile page to open a chat window and discuss your business plan.
• When you’re sure about your choice, click “ Continue .” Add any extras (e.g., extra-fast delivery, pitch deck) and follow Fiverr’s instructions to complete your payment and set your project requirements.

• What To Look For in a Business Plan Writer
• Industry Expertise. A writer with specific knowledge of your industry can provide invaluable insights, tailor the plan accordingly, and foresee potential challenges or opportunities.
• Client Testimonials and Ratings. Reviews and ratings from past clients offer an unfiltered view into the writer’s capabilities, timeliness, and communication skills.
• Samples and Portfolio. Always check a freelancer’s previous work to get a better sense of their work process and depth of analysis.
• Cost and Turnaround Time. While quality is paramount, you must also consider your budget and timeframe. On Fiverr, it’s possible to get an affordable, high-quality, multi-year business plan delivered in less than 3 days.
• Adaptability. A good business plan writer should be able to adjust to new information, feedback, or changes in direction, ensuring that the final plan meets your evolving needs.
• Are You a Business Plan Writer Looking to Sell Your Services on Fiverr?
• Make it to Fiverr’s homepage. Click the “ Become a Seller” button on the navigation bar.

• Create a new account. You can sign up with your email or connect instantly via Google, Apple, or Facebook.
• Specify that you want to sell freelance services to bring up Fiverr’s quick setup guide. You’ll then choose an employment status (e.g., side hustler, solo freelancer, agency owner) and describe your freelancing experience. Click “ Finish ” to create your account.
• Follow Fiverr’s in-app guide to complete your profile. You’ll get some tips on how to succeed on the platform, and you’ll have to fill out yet another brief form. For more tips and tricks, check out our Fiverr seller guide .

• Set up your first gig when prompted. Make sure to include a captivating thumbnail, and don’t forget to include images of previous business plans you’ve worked on in the past. Hit “ Publish ” and wait for your first order!
• Fiverr and Upwork Are the Best for Hiring Business Plan Writers

How much does it cost to have someone write a business plan?

Who is the best person to write your business plan, how many hours does it take to write a business plan, what skills do business plan writers need.

• 1. Green_lama - Affordable Business Plan Template
• 2. Olayinka E. - Grant and Business Plan Writer Extraordinaire
• 4. Heena D. - Business Plan Writer and Finance Expert 
• 5. Aydin O. - Advisor and European Startup Expert
• 6. Saurav R. - Experienced Business Strategist and Operations Manager

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Find the perfect freelancer for your project

How to Find the Best Business Plan Writers

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Whether you are starting a new business or growing an existing one, you need a business plan. A well-written, professional business plan is essential for securing financing, tracking progress, and evaluating results. But not everyone has the time or skills to write a business plan themselves. That’s where a business plan writer comes in.  

7 Steps To Find The Best Business Plan Writers

Finding an experienced and qualified business plan writer is easy. Just follow these simple steps:  

1. Do your research.

There are many business plan writers and business plan writing services available, so it’s important to do your research before selecting one. Look for a writer who:

• can conduct market research and compile data
• has extensive business plan writing experience for businesses in your industry
• has a good track record of securing financing for businesses
• is knowledgeable about current trends and changes in your market

2. Ask for referrals.

The best way to find a good business plan writer is by asking for referrals from people you trust. Friends, family, and business associates can often recommend a good business plan writer they have used in the past.  

3. Check out online directories.

Online directories are a great resource for finding qualified business plan writers. These directories list qualified professionals who have met specific criteria, such as experience and education.  

4. Ask questions.

When you’re looking for a business plan writer, it’s important to ask a few questions to make sure you’re hiring the right person for the job. Here are a few key questions to ask:

• What is your experience writing business plans?
• What industries do you specialize in?
• What is your education and/or training in business planning?
• What is your writing style like?
• How do you conduct market research?
• What is your experience in creating financial projections?
• Are you available for consultation during the business planning process?
• Do you have references I can speak to?

By asking these questions, you can get a sense of the writer’s experience, qualifications, and style. This will help you make the best decision for your business.  

5. Review samples of the writer’s work.

Before hiring a business plan writer, be sure to review samples of their work. This will give you a good idea of the writer’s style and quality of work.  

6. Get a quote.

Once you’ve found a business plan writer you want to work with, get a quote for the services you need. This will help you budget for the project and make sure you’re getting good value for your money.  

7. Make a decision.

After reviewing the writers’ qualifications and speaking with them, you should be able to make a decision about who to work with. Trust your gut instinct and go with the writer you feel most comfortable with.

Hiring a business plan writer can be a great way to get your business off the ground. By following these simple steps, you can find a qualified writer who will help you create a business plan that is tailored to your specific needs.

Business Plan Writing FAQs

What is a business plan writer.

A business plan writer is a professional who helps business owners create a business plan. This document is essential for securing financing, tracking progress, and evaluating results. Business plan writers can create professional business plans for a variety of businesses in a wide range of industries. They are knowledgeable about business strategy, current market trends and changes in the market, competitive research as well as financial modeling -- all essential qualities of a good business plan.

What Do Business Plan Writers Do?

Business plan writers can do a variety of things, depending on their level of experience and specialization. Typical services offered by business plan writers include:

• conducting market research and compiling data
• writing the business plan narrative
• formatting, editing, and proofreading the business plan
• conducting financial research
• creating financial projections

What is the Difference Between a Business Plan Writer and a Business Plan Writing Service?

The main difference between a business plan writer and a business plan writing service is that a business plan writer is an individual who offers their services to help business owners create a business plan while a business plan writing service is often a business consulting firm that provides business plan writing and editing services to clients. Business plan writers may work for a business plan consulting firm, or they may offer their services independently.

Do I Need a Business Plan Writer?

If you don't have the time or skills to write a business plan yourself, then you may need to hire a business plan writer. This is especially true if you're seeking financing from a lender or investor. A good business plan writer can help you conduct market research, compile all the necessary information, write a professional business plan, and create financial projections that will impress potential investors.

How Much Does It Cost To Have Someone Write My Business Plan?

The cost of business plan writing services varies depending on the writer's experience and qualifications, as well as the length and complexity of the plan. Typically, the cost ranges from $5,000 to $50,000. However, it is important to remember that the cost of not having a business plan can be much greater.

While it is possible to write your own business plan, many business owners choose to work with a business plan writer to ensure that their plan is professional and tailored to their specific needs. Business plan writers have the experience and expertise to help business owners create a plan that will help them secure funding and achieve their goals.

When Should I Start Working With A Business Plan Writer?

It is never too early or too late to start working with a business plan writer. Some business owners choose to work with a writer when they are just starting out, while others wait until their business is in trouble. No matter what stage your business is in, it is important to have a business plan in place. A well-written business plan can help you secure financing, track progress, and make sound decisions for the future of your business.

Can I Write My Own Business Plan?

Yes, you can write your own business plan. However, having a professional business plan writer help you create your document can be a great way to ensure that it is tailored to your specific needs and meets all required criteria.

Can You Hire Someone To Write a Business Plan?

Yes, you can hire a business plan writer or a business plan consultant to help you create your document. This professional will work with you to understand your business and create a plan that meets your specific needs.

Who Can Write My Business Plan?

If you need someone to write your business plan, you can hire a business plan writer or a business plan consultant. These professionals have experience writing business plans for businesses in a variety of industries and are knowledgeable about current trends and changes in the market. They can help you create a plan that will help you achieve your business goals, secure funding such as venture capital, and track progress.

What Should I Expect When Working With A Business Plan Writer?

When working with a business plan writer, you can expect to provide them with detailed information about your business. The writer will then use this information to create a professional document that meets all required criteria. You should also expect regular communication with the writer so that they can keep you up to date on the progress of the plan.

1777 SW Chandler Ave. Suite 267 Bend, OR 97702

Business Plan Services Business Plan Writing Business Plan Consultants

• Financial Statements
• Market Analysis
• Free Financial Tools
• Free Business Research
• Partner Websites

Hire The Top Rated Business Plan Writer From $1,995

I need a custom Business Plan for: Select an option below Bank/SBA/Grant Business Plan Investor/Venture Capital Business Plan Visa (E2/EB5/L1)/Specialty Business Plan Other (Internal/Landlord/Franchise)

Business plans are complicated. We make it easy.

Stand out from the crowd. Precise, well-researched, and expertly forecasted business plan writing. Our Business Plan Consultants build Bank, SBA, Investor, Visa or Grant plans all benefit from the level of detail and insight we’ve gained from working with thousands of customers. Whether you’re looking for a bank loan, investment, or Visa approval, our business plan consultants will custom write a plan specifically to your needs. 

Our experience in crafting original business plans for everything from a food cart to a multinational manufacturer is put into every unique plan we write. Multiple design options and custom pitch decks will further set your plan apart. Give our Business Plan Consultant a call.

Custom Business Plan Writer

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SBA/Bank/Grant

Visa/Immigration (E2/EB5/L1)

Strategic/Internal/Partnership

Investor/Venture Capital

Non-Profit/Charity

Other (Franchise/Landlord/Gov Contract)

Request a Quote & Sample

• Full Business Plan: Bank/SBA Level 2
• Full Business Plan: Investor Level 3
• Specialty Plan: Visa/Internal/Other
• Financials Only: Bank/SBA Level 2
• Financials Only: Investor Level 3
• Unsure or Want More Information

Our Process

Tell our Business Plan Writers about your venture and needs. The more specific the better.

Now, we begin

After a 50% retainer is paid and both parties sign a non-disclosure agreement, our business plan consultants get to work.

Details, Details, Details

A thorough questionnaire ensures we have all your goals, business plans and specific requirements for the business plan consultants.

Make it pretty

Select from several free designs and color schemes to further customize your business plan writing.

A Business Plan Writer, Researcher and Financial Modeler build your business plan.

Polish to perfection

You get your plan (after the remaining 50% is paid) and have 30 days to request FREE changes to the document.

Hire The Top Rated Business Plan Writers

I need a custom Business Plan for: Select an option below Bank/SBA/Grant Business Plan Investor/Venture Capital Plan Visa(E2/EB5/L1)/Specialty Plan Other (Internal/Landlord/Franchise)

Tell us about your venture and needs. The more specific the better.

Contact a consultant at 1-800-984-7639

WHY CHOOSE OUR BUSINESS PLAN CONSULTANTS

16 Years in Business Butler Consultants has been building business plan for more than 16 years. All employees are U.S. based and we never outsource our business plan service overseas.

Best Financial Models in the Industry Butler Consultants offers top-quality business plans, but it’s our financial models that give us a huge advantage over the competition. Each financial model is custom-built in Excel by Butler Consultants’ founder and owner, Brian Butler.

12,000+ Business Plans Across The World Butler Consultants has worked on more than 12,000 custom business plans. You name it, we’ve done it. These plans range from a restaurant seeking $200,000 to a steel manufacturer seeking $500,000,000.

Free Design Upgrade Your business plan writing purchase will include a free design upgrade. Our plans include 20 different design choices from which to choose. There is no extra charge for this service.

Outstanding Reviews Online & BBB Butler Consultants has a perfect A+ rating with the BBB (Better Business Bureau). Read our overwhelmingly positive reviews and know you can purchase a plan from us with confidence.

Click to see: BBB Reviews Google Reviews Customer Testimonials

Custom – Quality – Best Prices Butler Consultants never uses pre-written templates or business plan writing software. Every plan is tailored to your needs, location and business idea. We only provide the best quality research and custom projections. We have competitive prices by keeping our business costs to a minimum and passing the savings to you.

3 Consultants on Every Business Plan Every plan is created by 3 consultants: a Financial Modeler, a Business Plan Writer and a Market Research Expert. The Market Researcher will do all the market research and industry analysis for you and the Business Plan Writer will write your entire plan!

Package Contents Word document – The business plan service comes in an unlocked Word document.

Excel spreadsheet – Your financial projections are built in Excel and linked to the Word document. You have full control over any edits to the financial model.

30 days of revisions – Because of the high quality of our work, we get the first draft so close to perfect that most customers only use 1 revision.

Contact a business plan consultant at 1-800-984-7639

Level 2 – Business Plans for SBA, Bank or Grant Funding

Our Level 2 is perfect for businesses seeking bank loans , Small Business Association-backed loans , and grants . Plans have 25-35 pages of custom content , done by our Business Plan Writer that is designed to exceed the requirements and expectations of banks and the SBA . Each Level 2 business plan writing service includes a FREE design upgrade, so it looks great and matches your style. Level 2 business plan service is delivered to you electronically, in about 5 business days and include a free revision period.

Level 2 business plan writing generally include these main sections:

Cover Page Mission Statement Table of Contents Executive Summary Objectives Keys to Success Company Summary Company Location Company Ownership Pre-Operating Source and Use of Funds Products and Services Market Analysis Demographics Summary Industry Summary Marketing Strategy/Implementation SWOT Analysis Management Summary Financial Summary Revenue Forecast Personnel Forecast Income Statement Statement of Cash Flow Balance Sheet Break-Even Analysis Best & Worse Case Appendix – Year 1 Financials

Read More: Level 2 Business Plan For SBA and Banks

Level 3 – Business Plans for Investors & Venture Capitalists

From start to finish, our Level 3 business plans are designed to impress. They include 30-45 pages of in-depth, custom-built content to present to Venture Capitalists , Angel Investors or high capital loans. Level 3 business plans are delivered to you electronically, in about 7 business days, and you can choose from 20 different diverse document design options at no extra charge. We can also upgrade your presentation with a custom pitch deck, done by our Business Plan Consultants, for a small fee.

Level 3 business plan writing generally include these main sections:

Cover Page Mission Statement Vision Statement Table of Contents Executive Summary Objectives Keys to Success Investor Return & Exit Strategy Financial Overview Company Summary Company Location Company Ownership Pre-Operating Source and Use of Funds Market Needs & Value Proposition Products and Services Market Analysis Market Segmentation Competitive Landscape Demographic Summary Industry Summary Industry Analysis Marketing Strategy/Implementation Web Summary SWOT Analysis Milestones Management Summary Management Gaps Financial Summary Revenue Forecast Personnel Forecast Income Statement Statement of Cash Flow Balance Sheet Break-Even Analysis Best & Worse Case Appendix – Year 1 Financials

Read More: Level 3 Business Plan For Investors

Specialty Business Plan Writing Options

Use our professional business plan writing services to improve your chances of success when applying for a loan or pitching to investors. An experienced business plan writer can get your message across in a compelling and engaging manner. Take the complexity out of the process by relying on our experts.

Benefit from custom business plan writer; picking a professional to create a draft for you that communicates your intentions to your target audience. Have an expert business plan writer write your business plan and improve your chances when you customize the design of the plan before submitting to potential lenders or investors.

A few examples of specialty plans are:

Not for Profit Organizations Internal Use Document Planning Landlord and Tenant Rentals Business Acquisition Strategic Alliance Partnerships E2/EB5/L1 Immigration Visa Corporate Franchise Application Corporate Affiliate Application And More

Read More: Specialty Business Plans

Use our professional writing services to improve your chances of success when applying for a loan or pitching to investors. An experienced business plan writer can get your message across in a compelling and engaging manner. Take the complexity out of the process by relying on our experts.

Benefit from custom business plan writing services, picking a professional to create a draft for you that communicates your intentions to your target audience. Have an expert business plan consultant write your business plan and improve your chances when you customize the design of the plan before submitting to potential lenders or investors.

Butler Consultants is your one-stop shop for custom business plan writers. We work with clients from different industries, which gives us the experience and expertise to create well-researched business plans for you. Our Business Plans Writers are some of the best in the industry. We will provide you with Custom Business Plan Writing Services. Hire the best business plan writer. 800-984-7639

A Few Industries We Have Written For

You name it, we have done it for .

Accounting, Tax Prep, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Adhesive Manufacturing Advertising Agencies Aerospace Product and Parts Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting Airport Operations Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing Ambulance Services Amusement and Theme Parks Amusement Arcades Animal Food Manufacturing Animal Production and Aquaculture Animal Slaughtering and Processing Appliance Repair and Maintenance Architectural and Structural Metals Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services Art Dealers Asphalt Paving, Roofing, and Saturated Materials Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly Automotive Body, Paint, Interior, and Glass Repair Automotive Oil Change and Lubrication Shops Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores Baked Goods Stores Bakeries and Tortilla Barber Shops Beauty Salons Bed & Breakfasts Bed-and-Breakfast Inns Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Book Stores Books Printing Bottled Water Bowling Centers Breweries Business and Secretarial Schools Business Associations Business Plan Consultants Business Plan Writers Cable and Other Subscription Programming Cafeterias, Grill Buffets, and Buffets Campground & RV Parks Cultivation Car Rental Car Washes Carpet and Rug Mills Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services Casinos Caterers Oil & Related Cement and Concrete Product Cemeteries and Crematories Charter Bus Industry Child and Youth Services Child Day Care Services Clothing Stores Coffee and Tea Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners Collection Agencies Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools Commercial and Institutional Building Construction Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Commercial Banking Commercial Printing Commercial Screen Printing Commodity Contracts Dealing Computer/Office Machine Repair and Maintenance Computer Systems Design and Related Services Concert & Event Promotion Concrete Foundation and Structure Consumer Lending Convenience Stores Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Stores Cosmetology and Barber Schools Couriers and Express Delivery Services Credit Bureaus Credit Card Issuing Credit Unions Crop Production Curtain and Linen Mills Cut and Sew Apparel Contractors Cutlery and Handtool Dairy Product Manufacturing Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services Day spa, cryotherapy, salt baths Dental Laboratories Department Stores Diagnostic Imaging Centers Diet and Weight Reducing Centers Direct Mail Advertising Dispensaries Distilleries Document Preparation Services Doll, Toy, and Game Domestic Airlines Drinking Places Drycleaning and Laundry Services Drywall and Insulation Contractors Electric Power Generation Electrical Contractors Electronic Auctions Electronic Shopping Electronics and Appliance Stores Elementary and Secondary Schools Employment Placement Agencies Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Executive Search Services Explosives Manufacturing Exterminating and Pest Control Services Fabric Mills Facilities Support Services Family Planning Centers Fertilizer Manufacturing

Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills Finish Carpentry Contractors Fish and Seafood Markets Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers Floor Covering Stores Flooring Contractors Florists Food Service Contractors Footwear Stores Forestry and Logging Forging and Stamping Foundation, Structure, and Building Contractors Foundries Framing Contractors Fruit and Vegetable Markets Fruit and Vegetable Preserving Fuel Dealers Full-Service Restaurants Funeral Homes and Funeral Services Furniture Stores Gasoline Stations General Automotive Repair General Freight Trucking General Medical and Surgical Hospitals General Rental Centers General Warehousing and Storage Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores Glass and Glazing Contractors Golf Courses and Country Clubs Grain and Oilseed Milling Grantmaking and Giving Services Graphic Design Services Greeting Cards & Other Publishing Grocery Stores Hair, Nail, and Skin Care Services Hardware Stores Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores Home and Garden Equipment Repair/Maintenance Home Centers Home Health Care Services Hosiery and Sock Mills Hotels and Motels Household Appliance Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers Industrial Building Construction Industrial Design Services Industrial Gas Industrial Machinery Insurance Agencies and Brokerages Insurance Carriers Interior Design Services Internet Publishing, Broadcasting and Web Search Investment Advice In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Janitorial Services Jewelry and Silverware Jewelry Stores Junior Colleges Land Subdivision Landscaping Services Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing Lessors of Real Estate Libraries and Archives Limited-Service Restaurants Limousine Service Linen and Uniform Supply Local Messengers and Local Delivery Locksmiths Machine Shops Mail-Order Houses Management Consulting Services Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers Marinas Masonry Contractors Meat Markets Medical Equipment and Supplies Medical Laboratories Medicinal and Botanical Millwork Mining Mobile Food Services Motion Picture and Video Industries Motor Vehicle Motor Vehicle Towing Motorcycle, Boat, and Other Motor Vehicle Dealers Museums Music Publishers Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores Nail Salons Natural Gas Distribution Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions New Car Dealers Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers Nonscheduled Air Transportation Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Stores Nursing Care Facilities Ocean Transportation Office Administrative Services Office Furniture Office Supplies and Stationery Stores Offices of Chiropractors Offices of Dentists Offices of Lawyers Offices of Notaries Offices of Optometrists Offices of Physicians Offices of Podiatrists Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers Offices of Real Estate Appraisers Oil and Gas Extraction

Oilseed farming Optical Goods Stores Other Building Finishing Contractors Other Building Material Dealers Other Food Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction Other Snack Food Outdoor Advertising Outdoor Power Equipment Stores Paint and Coating Paint and Wallpaper Stores Painting and Wall Covering Contractors Paper Mills Parking Lots and Garages Passenger Car Rental Pet and Pet Supplies Stores Pet Care Services Petrochemical Petroleum Refineries Pharmaceutical and Medicine Pharmaceutical Preparation Pharmacies and Drug Stores Photographic Services Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil Plastics and Rubber Products Plastics Product Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Portfolio Management Printing Ink Professional and Management Training Professional Organizations Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Events Public Relations Agencies Pulp Mills Racetracks Radio and Television Broadcasting Radio Broadcasting Rail Transportation Real Estate Credit Recreational Vehicle Dealers Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage Religious Organizations Residential Building Construction Residential Remodelers Resin and Synthetic Rubber Roasted Nuts and Peanut Butter Roofing Contractors Rubber Product RV Parks/Campgrounds Satellite Systems Sawmills Sawmills and Wood Preservation Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation Scheduled Air Transportation Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging Seasoning and Dressing Securities Brokerage Security Guards and Patrol Services Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities Ship and Boat Building Shoe Stores Siding Contractors Site Preparation Contractors Skiing Facilities Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars Soap and Cleaning Compound Social Media Website Soft Drink Software Publishers Sound Recording Studios Special Needs Transportation Specialized Freight Trucking Spice and Extract Sporting and Athletic Goods Sporting Goods Stores Sports and Recreation Instruction Sports Teams and Clubs Stocks & Commodities Trading Structural Steel and Precast Concrete Sugar and Confectionery Product Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry Taxi Service Technical and Trade Schools Telephone Answering Services Television Broadcasting Temporary Help Services Temporary Shelters Textile and Fabric Finishing Mills Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters Tile and Terrazzo Contractors Tire Dealers Tobacco Manufacturing Toilet Preparation Tour Operators Travel Agencies Urban Transit Systems Used Car Dealers Used Merchandise Stores Utility System Construction Vending Machine Operators Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Veterinary Services Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters Waste Collection Water Transportation Water, Sewage and Other Systems Wheat, Barley, & Sorghum Farming Wineries Wired Telecommunications Carriers Wireless Telecommunications Carriers Wood Kitchen Cabinet and Countertop Wood Kitchen Cabinet and Countertop Wood Window and Door Zoos and Botanical Gardens

Business Plan Consultants FAQ

Why you need a business plan writer.

Whether you are just starting out or looking to expand, you need to make sure you have a good business plan. Doing a business plan on your own takes a lot of time and knowledge, yet by hiring a business plan writer you can save time and money. Business plan consultants make sure all the necessary details are worked into your business plan and that you covered all the essential steps to ensure your business plan is complete and on topic.

It is important that you are not missing vital information in your business plan. While you may have a good understanding of your business, a professional business plan writer can help you flush out the details, ask the right questions and write a compelling, cohesive document that you alone may not be able to do. This can make all the difference when it comes to using that business plan to attain investment, loans, or SBA-backed funding.

Our business plan writers will have experience in many different industries. We have worked with over 10,000 customers around the world. You name it, our business plan consultants have worked on it before. Our writers are highly skilled at research, writing and building financial projections. Our business plan writers can take your ideas to the next level. When using Butler Consultants, you know you are receiving the best and most in-depth information possible and it allows you to work with writers who are more qualified and suited to do the job.

Average time it takes an entrepreneur to write a business plan

Are you considering writing a business plan? Do you want to create a great guide for your business that fully encapsulates your vision and motives, as well as your finances, marketing, and personnel plan? Creating a business plan is the first step for all business owners. Presenting a clear and concise picture of your business can make all the difference when it comes to creating a business and brand that is strong and lasting. You need to communicate what your objectives are, where you want to be and how you’ll get there. 

Unless you are a business plan writer, you probably don’t have all the skills and knowledge to get the job done quickly. Business plan consultants know which questions need to be asked and answered, what the critical points for your business are and how the business plan needs to be organized and written to be the most effective.

Business plan writers specialize in creating streamlined yet thorough documents. Our Business Plan Writers take your ideas and create a blueprint that banks and investors see as a viable plan and drastically increase your chance of success. Running a business is hard enough and writing a business plan can be just as much of a struggle. While no plan is the same and some are more difficult than others, even the easiest one can take months or (much) longer for a person to write their own plan – if they even finish it at all.

Time is best spent on other work. Business plan writing is difficult and specialized and therefore is likely best outsourced to experts business plan consultants.  So perhaps it’s time for you to let a business plan writer and business plan consultant take the burden off your shoulders.

When hiring a business plan writer, you get the best possible business plan without spending a lot of money. Our business plan writers have been doing this for years and have written plans for thousands of clients in hundreds of different industries. You can trust in our experience and expertise to help you achieve your goals faster and easier.  

Average length of a business plan

One of the many difficult aspects of writing a business plan is figuring out how long it should be. Maybe you’ve seen a couple examples on the internet or downloaded a template. A typical business plan (with all the relevant details) is between 25-40 pages. The Business Plan is a lot of writing and a lot of work. There are a lot the custom details you’ll want in your business plan and may spend months figuring out what to put in and what to leave out. 

A business plan needs to have a lot of details and many aspects of the business need to be discussed. The plan needs to be straightforward but make sure it includes the correct information for investors and banks. This is why business plan writing takes a long time and is a difficult, labor-intensive process. Writing a business plan tends to take longer for an existing business where the owner already has to focus on day-to-day responsibilities of running a business. Spending countless time researching and writing a business plan is a luxury most people don’t have. 

Hiring a business plan writer is something to consider if you are serious about getting a document written in a reasonable timeframe. You want to start or grow your business and create something that you can be proud of.  Outsourcing the business plan writing and financial projections allows you to focus on other business responsibilities.

Our business plan writers and business plan consultants specialize in creating high-quality business plans that outline your business goals, plans and financial projections. We make sure every plan is the appropriate length. We know which questions need to be answered and we know what questions to ask you to ensure the business plan writing process is expedited. Our business plan writers, after writing business plans for years, know exactly what goes in the plan and how long to make it.

So, if you want to stand out and have a business plan that not only looks professional, but is professional, then consider looking into us as business plan writers for hire. It’s a great way to get the job done quickly and effectively, while ensuring your plan contains the important information needed to best present your business to the world.  Stand out in a crowd, make a lasting impact on the market and excel within your industry by starting with a business plan that sets you up for long-term success.

Main sections of a business plan

When it comes to writing a business plan, there’s much to take into consideration than length. You need to be aware of several different parts and how they work together to create a plan that is coherent, clear and well designed. A business plan is more than just a document, it’s a blueprint for success and a plan to ensure your business grows quickly.  

Whether you are thinking about writing your own business plan or hiring a business plan writer, you need to be aware of the following main parts of a business plan. In general, this includes:

• Executive Summary
• Company Description
• Financial plan and projections
• Products and Services
• Market analysis
• Marketing Strategy and Implementation
• Organization and Management Team

• Sources of Business Finance
• Small Business Loans
• Small Business Grants
• Crowdfunding Sites
• How to Get a Business Loan
• Small Business Insurance Providers
• Best Factoring Companies
• Types of Bank Accounts
• Best Banks for Small Business
• Best Business Bank Accounts
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Bank Accounts for Small Businesses
• Free Business Checking Accounts
• Best Business Credit Cards
• Get a Business Credit Card
• Business Credit Cards for Bad Credit
• Build Business Credit Fast
• Business Loan Eligibility Criteria
• Small-Business Bookkeeping Basics
• How to Set Financial Goals
• Business Loan Calculators
• How to Calculate ROI
• Calculate Net Income
• Calculate Working Capital
• Calculate Operating Income
• Calculate Net Present Value (NPV)
• Calculate Payroll Tax

How to Write a Business Plan in 9 Steps (+ Template and Examples)

Every successful business has one thing in common, a good and well-executed business plan. A business plan is more than a document, it is a complete guide that outlines the goals your business wants to achieve, including its financial goals . It helps you analyze results, make strategic decisions, show your business operations and growth.

If you want to start a business or already have one and need to pitch it to investors for funding, writing a good business plan improves your chances of attracting financiers. As a startup, if you want to secure loans from financial institutions, part of the requirements involve submitting your business plan.

Writing a business plan does not have to be a complicated or time-consuming process. In this article, you will learn the step-by-step process for writing a successful business plan.

You will also learn what you need a business plan for, tips and strategies for writing a convincing business plan, business plan examples and templates that will save you tons of time, and the alternatives to the traditional business plan.

Let’s get started.

What Do You Need A Business Plan For?

Businesses create business plans for different purposes such as to secure funds, monitor business growth, measure your marketing strategies, and measure your business success.

1. Secure Funds

One of the primary reasons for writing a business plan is to secure funds, either from financial institutions/agencies or investors.

For you to effectively acquire funds, your business plan must contain the key elements of your business plan . For example, your business plan should include your growth plans, goals you want to achieve, and milestones you have recorded.

A business plan can also attract new business partners that are willing to contribute financially and intellectually. If you are writing a business plan to a bank, your project must show your traction , that is, the proof that you can pay back any loan borrowed.

Also, if you are writing to an investor, your plan must contain evidence that you can effectively utilize the funds you want them to invest in your business. Here, you are using your business plan to persuade a group or an individual that your business is a source of a good investment.

2. Monitor Business Growth

A business plan can help you track cash flows in your business. It steers your business to greater heights. A business plan capable of tracking business growth should contain:

• The business goals
• Methods to achieve the goals
• Time-frame for attaining those goals

A good business plan should guide you through every step in achieving your goals. It can also track the allocation of assets to every aspect of the business. You can tell when you are spending more than you should on a project.

You can compare a business plan to a written GPS. It helps you manage your business and hints at the right time to expand your business.

3. Measure Business Success

A business plan can help you measure your business success rate. Some small-scale businesses are thriving better than more prominent companies because of their track record of success.

Right from the onset of your business operation, set goals and work towards them. Write a plan to guide you through your procedures. Use your plan to measure how much you have achieved and how much is left to attain.

You can also weigh your success by monitoring the position of your brand relative to competitors. On the other hand, a business plan can also show you why you have not achieved a goal. It can tell if you have elapsed the time frame you set to attain a goal.

4. Document Your Marketing Strategies

You can use a business plan to document your marketing plans. Every business should have an effective marketing plan.

Competition mandates every business owner to go the extraordinary mile to remain relevant in the market. Your business plan should contain your marketing strategies that work. You can measure the success rate of your marketing plans.

In your business plan, your marketing strategy must answer the questions:

• How do you want to reach your target audience?
• How do you plan to retain your customers?
• What is/are your pricing plans?
• What is your budget for marketing?

How to Write a Business Plan Step-by-Step

1. create your executive summary.

The executive summary is a snapshot of your business or a high-level overview of your business purposes and plans . Although the executive summary is the first section in your business plan, most people write it last. The length of the executive summary is not more than two pages.

Generally, there are nine sections in a business plan, the executive summary should condense essential ideas from the other eight sections.

A good executive summary should do the following:

• A Snapshot of Growth Potential. Briefly inform the reader about your company and why it will be successful)
• Contain your Mission Statement which explains what the main objective or focus of your business is.
• Product Description and Differentiation. Brief description of your products or services and why it is different from other solutions in the market.
• The Team. Basic information about your company’s leadership team and employees
• Business Concept. A solid description of what your business does.
• Target Market. The customers you plan to sell to.
• Marketing Strategy. Your plans on reaching and selling to your customers
• Current Financial State. Brief information about what revenue your business currently generates.
• Projected Financial State. Brief information about what you foresee your business revenue to be in the future.

The executive summary is the make-or-break section of your business plan. If your summary cannot in less than two pages cannot clearly describe how your business will solve a particular problem of your target audience and make a profit, your business plan is set on a faulty foundation.

Avoid using the executive summary to hype your business, instead, focus on helping the reader understand the what and how of your plan.

View the executive summary as an opportunity to introduce your vision for your company. You know your executive summary is powerful when it can answer these key questions:

• Who is your target audience?
• What sector or industry are you in?
• What are your products and services?
• What is the future of your industry?
• Is your company scaleable?
• Who are the owners and leaders of your company? What are their backgrounds and experience levels?
• What is the motivation for starting your company?
• What are the next steps?

Writing the executive summary last although it is the most important section of your business plan is an excellent idea. The reason why is because it is a high-level overview of your business plan. It is the section that determines whether potential investors and lenders will read further or not.

The executive summary can be a stand-alone document that covers everything in your business plan. It is not uncommon for investors to request only the executive summary when evaluating your business. If the information in the executive summary impresses them, they will ask for the complete business plan.

If you are writing your business plan for your planning purposes, you do not need to write the executive summary.

2. Add Your Company Overview

The company overview or description is the next section in your business plan after the executive summary. It describes what your business does.

Adding your company overview can be tricky especially when your business is still in the planning stages. Existing businesses can easily summarize their current operations but may encounter difficulties trying to explain what they plan to become.

Your company overview should contain the following:

• What products and services you will provide
• Geographical markets and locations your company have a presence
• What you need to run your business
• Who your target audience or customers are
• Who will service your customers
• Your company’s purpose, mission, and vision
• Information about your company’s founders
• Who the founders are
• Notable achievements of your company so far

When creating a company overview, you have to focus on three basics: identifying your industry, identifying your customer, and explaining the problem you solve.

If you are stuck when creating your company overview, try to answer some of these questions that pertain to you.

• Who are you targeting? (The answer is not everyone)
• What pain point does your product or service solve for your customers that they will be willing to spend money on resolving?
• How does your product or service overcome that pain point?
• Where is the location of your business?
• What products, equipment, and services do you need to run your business?
• How is your company’s product or service different from your competition in the eyes of your customers?
• How many employees do you need and what skills do you require them to have?

After answering some or all of these questions, you will get more than enough information you need to write your company overview or description section. When writing this section, describe what your company does for your customers.

The company description or overview section contains three elements: mission statement, history, and objectives.

• Mission Statement

The mission statement refers to the reason why your business or company is existing. It goes beyond what you do or sell, it is about the ‘why’. A good mission statement should be emotional and inspirational.

Your mission statement should follow the KISS rule (Keep It Simple, Stupid). For example, Shopify’s mission statement is “Make commerce better for everyone.”

When describing your company’s history, make it simple and avoid the temptation of tying it to a defensive narrative. Write it in the manner you would a profile. Your company’s history should include the following information:

• Founding Date
• Major Milestones
• Location(s)
• Flagship Products or Services
• Number of Employees
• Executive Leadership Roles

When you fill in this information, you use it to write one or two paragraphs about your company’s history.

Business Objectives

Your business objective must be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound.) Failure to clearly identify your business objectives does not inspire confidence and makes it hard for your team members to work towards a common purpose.

3. Perform Market and Competitive Analyses to Proof a Big Enough Business Opportunity

The third step in writing a business plan is the market and competitive analysis section. Every business, no matter the size, needs to perform comprehensive market and competitive analyses before it enters into a market.

Performing market and competitive analyses are critical for the success of your business. It helps you avoid entering the right market with the wrong product, or vice versa. Anyone reading your business plans, especially financiers and financial institutions will want to see proof that there is a big enough business opportunity you are targeting.

This section is where you describe the market and industry you want to operate in and show the big opportunities in the market that your business can leverage to make a profit. If you noticed any unique trends when doing your research, show them in this section.

Market analysis alone is not enough, you have to add competitive analysis to strengthen this section. There are already businesses in the industry or market, how do you plan to take a share of the market from them?

You have to clearly illustrate the competitive landscape in your business plan. Are there areas your competitors are doing well? Are there areas where they are not doing so well? Show it.

Make it clear in this section why you are moving into the industry and what weaknesses are present there that you plan to explain. How are your competitors going to react to your market entry? How do you plan to get customers? Do you plan on taking your competitors' competitors, tap into other sources for customers, or both?

Illustrate the competitive landscape as well. What are your competitors doing well and not so well?

Answering these questions and thoughts will aid your market and competitive analysis of the opportunities in your space. Depending on how sophisticated your industry is, or the expectations of your financiers, you may need to carry out a more comprehensive market and competitive analysis to prove that big business opportunity.

Instead of looking at the market and competitive analyses as one entity, separating them will make the research even more comprehensive.

Market Analysis

Market analysis, boarding speaking, refers to research a business carried out on its industry, market, and competitors. It helps businesses gain a good understanding of their target market and the outlook of their industry. Before starting a company, it is vital to carry out market research to find out if the market is viable.

The market analysis section is a key part of the business plan. It is the section where you identify who your best clients or customers are. You cannot omit this section, without it your business plan is incomplete.

A good market analysis will tell your readers how you fit into the existing market and what makes you stand out. This section requires in-depth research, it will probably be the most time-consuming part of the business plan to write.

• Market Research

To create a compelling market analysis that will win over investors and financial institutions, you have to carry out thorough market research . Your market research should be targeted at your primary target market for your products or services. Here is what you want to find out about your target market.

• Your target market’s needs or pain points
• The existing solutions for their pain points
• Geographic Location
• Demographics

The purpose of carrying out a marketing analysis is to get all the information you need to show that you have a solid and thorough understanding of your target audience.

Only after you have fully understood the people you plan to sell your products or services to, can you evaluate correctly if your target market will be interested in your products or services.

You can easily convince interested parties to invest in your business if you can show them you thoroughly understand the market and show them that there is a market for your products or services.

How to Quantify Your Target Market

One of the goals of your marketing research is to understand who your ideal customers are and their purchasing power. To quantify your target market, you have to determine the following:

• Your Potential Customers: They are the people you plan to target. For example, if you sell accounting software for small businesses , then anyone who runs an enterprise or large business is unlikely to be your customers. Also, individuals who do not have a business will most likely not be interested in your product.
• Total Households: If you are selling household products such as heating and air conditioning systems, determining the number of total households is more important than finding out the total population in the area you want to sell to. The logic is simple, people buy the product but it is the household that uses it.
• Median Income: You need to know the median income of your target market. If you target a market that cannot afford to buy your products and services, your business will not last long.
• Income by Demographics: If your potential customers belong to a certain age group or gender, determining income levels by demographics is necessary. For example, if you sell men's clothes, your target audience is men.

What Does a Good Market Analysis Entail?

Your business does not exist on its own, it can only flourish within an industry and alongside competitors. Market analysis takes into consideration your industry, target market, and competitors. Understanding these three entities will drastically improve your company’s chances of success.

You can view your market analysis as an examination of the market you want to break into and an education on the emerging trends and themes in that market. Good market analyses include the following:

• Industry Description. You find out about the history of your industry, the current and future market size, and who the largest players/companies are in your industry.
• Overview of Target Market. You research your target market and its characteristics. Who are you targeting? Note, it cannot be everyone, it has to be a specific group. You also have to find out all information possible about your customers that can help you understand how and why they make buying decisions.
• Size of Target Market: You need to know the size of your target market, how frequently they buy, and the expected quantity they buy so you do not risk overproducing and having lots of bad inventory. Researching the size of your target market will help you determine if it is big enough for sustained business or not.
• Growth Potential: Before picking a target market, you want to be sure there are lots of potential for future growth. You want to avoid going for an industry that is declining slowly or rapidly with almost zero growth potential.
• Market Share Potential: Does your business stand a good chance of taking a good share of the market?
• Market Pricing and Promotional Strategies: Your market analysis should give you an idea of the price point you can expect to charge for your products and services. Researching your target market will also give you ideas of pricing strategies you can implement to break into the market or to enjoy maximum profits.
• Potential Barriers to Entry: One of the biggest benefits of conducting market analysis is that it shows you every potential barrier to entry your business will likely encounter. It is a good idea to discuss potential barriers to entry such as changing technology. It informs readers of your business plan that you understand the market.
• Research on Competitors: You need to know the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors and how you can exploit them for the benefit of your business. Find patterns and trends among your competitors that make them successful, discover what works and what doesn’t, and see what you can do better.

The market analysis section is not just for talking about your target market, industry, and competitors. You also have to explain how your company can fill the hole you have identified in the market.

Here are some questions you can answer that can help you position your product or service in a positive light to your readers.

• Is your product or service of superior quality?
• What additional features do you offer that your competitors do not offer?
• Are you targeting a ‘new’ market?

Basically, your market analysis should include an analysis of what already exists in the market and an explanation of how your company fits into the market.

Competitive Analysis

In the competitive analysis section, y ou have to understand who your direct and indirect competitions are, and how successful they are in the marketplace. It is the section where you assess the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors, the advantage(s) they possess in the market and show the unique features or qualities that make you different from your competitors.

Many businesses do market analysis and competitive analysis together. However, to fully understand what the competitive analysis entails, it is essential to separate it from the market analysis.

Competitive analysis for your business can also include analysis on how to overcome barriers to entry in your target market.

The primary goal of conducting a competitive analysis is to distinguish your business from your competitors. A strong competitive analysis is essential if you want to convince potential funding sources to invest in your business. You have to show potential investors and lenders that your business has what it takes to compete in the marketplace successfully.

Competitive analysis will s how you what the strengths of your competition are and what they are doing to maintain that advantage.

When doing your competitive research, you first have to identify your competitor and then get all the information you can about them. The idea of spending time to identify your competitor and learn everything about them may seem daunting but it is well worth it.

Find answers to the following questions after you have identified who your competitors are.

• What are your successful competitors doing?
• Why is what they are doing working?
• Can your business do it better?
• What are the weaknesses of your successful competitors?
• What are they not doing well?
• Can your business turn its weaknesses into strengths?
• How good is your competitors’ customer service?
• Where do your competitors invest in advertising?
• What sales and pricing strategies are they using?
• What marketing strategies are they using?
• What kind of press coverage do they get?
• What are their customers saying about your competitors (both the positive and negative)?

If your competitors have a website, it is a good idea to visit their websites for more competitors’ research. Check their “About Us” page for more information.

If you are presenting your business plan to investors, you need to clearly distinguish yourself from your competitors. Investors can easily tell when you have not properly researched your competitors.

Take time to think about what unique qualities or features set you apart from your competitors. If you do not have any direct competition offering your product to the market, it does not mean you leave out the competitor analysis section blank. Instead research on other companies that are providing a similar product, or whose product is solving the problem your product solves.

The next step is to create a table listing the top competitors you want to include in your business plan. Ensure you list your business as the last and on the right. What you just created is known as the competitor analysis table.

Direct vs Indirect Competition

You cannot know if your product or service will be a fit for your target market if you have not understood your business and the competitive landscape.

There is no market you want to target where you will not encounter competition, even if your product is innovative. Including competitive analysis in your business plan is essential.

If you are entering an established market, you need to explain how you plan to differentiate your products from the available options in the market. Also, include a list of few companies that you view as your direct competitors The competition you face in an established market is your direct competition.

In situations where you are entering a market with no direct competition, it does not mean there is no competition there. Consider your indirect competition that offers substitutes for the products or services you offer.

For example, if you sell an innovative SaaS product, let us say a project management software , a company offering time management software is your indirect competition.

There is an easy way to find out who your indirect competitors are in the absence of no direct competitors. You simply have to research how your potential customers are solving the problems that your product or service seeks to solve. That is your direct competition.

Factors that Differentiate Your Business from the Competition

There are three main factors that any business can use to differentiate itself from its competition. They are cost leadership, product differentiation, and market segmentation.

1. Cost Leadership

A strategy you can impose to maximize your profits and gain an edge over your competitors. It involves offering lower prices than what the majority of your competitors are offering.

A common practice among businesses looking to enter into a market where there are dominant players is to use free trials or pricing to attract as many customers as possible to their offer.

2. Product Differentiation

Your product or service should have a unique selling proposition (USP) that your competitors do not have or do not stress in their marketing.

Part of the marketing strategy should involve making your products unique and different from your competitors. It does not have to be different from your competitors, it can be the addition to a feature or benefit that your competitors do not currently have.

3. Market Segmentation

As a new business seeking to break into an industry, you will gain more success from focusing on a specific niche or target market, and not the whole industry.

If your competitors are focused on a general need or target market, you can differentiate yourself from them by having a small and hyper-targeted audience. For example, if your competitors are selling men’s clothes in their online stores , you can sell hoodies for men.

4. Define Your Business and Management Structure

The next step in your business plan is your business and management structure. It is the section where you describe the legal structure of your business and the team running it.

Your business is only as good as the management team that runs it, while the management team can only strive when there is a proper business and management structure in place.

If your company is a sole proprietor or a limited liability company (LLC), a general or limited partnership, or a C or an S corporation, state it clearly in this section.

Use an organizational chart to show the management structure in your business. Clearly show who is in charge of what area in your company. It is where you show how each key manager or team leader’s unique experience can contribute immensely to the success of your company. You can also opt to add the resumes and CVs of the key players in your company.

The business and management structure section should show who the owner is, and other owners of the businesses (if the business has other owners). For businesses or companies with multiple owners, include the percent ownership of the various owners and clearly show the extent of each others’ involvement in the company.

Investors want to know who is behind the company and the team running it to determine if it has the right management to achieve its set goals.

Management Team

The management team section is where you show that you have the right team in place to successfully execute the business operations and ideas. Take time to create the management structure for your business. Think about all the important roles and responsibilities that you need managers for to grow your business.

Include brief bios of each key team member and ensure you highlight only the relevant information that is needed. If your team members have background industry experience or have held top positions for other companies and achieved success while filling that role, highlight it in this section.

A common mistake that many startups make is assigning C-level titles such as (CMO and CEO) to everyone on their team. It is unrealistic for a small business to have those titles. While it may look good on paper for the ego of your team members, it can prevent investors from investing in your business.

Instead of building an unrealistic management structure that does not fit your business reality, it is best to allow business titles to grow as the business grows. Starting everyone at the top leaves no room for future change or growth, which is bad for productivity.

Your management team does not have to be complete before you start writing your business plan. You can have a complete business plan even when there are managerial positions that are empty and need filling.

If you have management gaps in your team, simply show the gaps and indicate you are searching for the right candidates for the role(s). Investors do not expect you to have a full management team when you are just starting your business.

Key Questions to Answer When Structuring Your Management Team

• Who are the key leaders?
• What experiences, skills, and educational backgrounds do you expect your key leaders to have?
• Do your key leaders have industry experience?
• What positions will they fill and what duties will they perform in those positions?
• What level of authority do the key leaders have and what are their responsibilities?
• What is the salary for the various management positions that will attract the ideal candidates?

Additional Tips for Writing the Management Structure Section

1. Avoid Adding ‘Ghost’ Names to Your Management Team

There is always that temptation to include a ‘ghost’ name to your management team to attract and influence investors to invest in your business. Although the presence of these celebrity management team members may attract the attention of investors, it can cause your business to lose any credibility if you get found out.

Seasoned investors will investigate further the members of your management team before committing fully to your business If they find out that the celebrity name used does not play any actual role in your business, they will not invest and may write you off as dishonest.

2. Focus on Credentials But Pay Extra Attention to the Roles

Investors want to know the experience that your key team members have to determine if they can successfully reach the company’s growth and financial goals.

While it is an excellent boost for your key management team to have the right credentials, you also want to pay extra attention to the roles they will play in your company.

Organizational Chart

Adding an organizational chart in this section of your business plan is not necessary, you can do it in your business plan’s appendix.

If you are exploring funding options, it is not uncommon to get asked for your organizational chart. The function of an organizational chart goes beyond raising money, you can also use it as a useful planning tool for your business.

An organizational chart can help you identify how best to structure your management team for maximum productivity and point you towards key roles you need to fill in the future.

You can use the organizational chart to show your company’s internal management structure such as the roles and responsibilities of your management team, and relationships that exist between them.

5. Describe Your Product and Service Offering

In your business plan, you have to describe what you sell or the service you plan to offer. It is the next step after defining your business and management structure. The products and services section is where you sell the benefits of your business.

Here you have to explain how your product or service will benefit your customers and describe your product lifecycle. It is also the section where you write down your plans for intellectual property like patent filings and copyrighting.

The research and development that you are undertaking for your product or service need to be explained in detail in this section. However, do not get too technical, sell the general idea and its benefits.

If you have any diagrams or intricate designs of your product or service, do not include them in the products and services section. Instead, leave them for the addendum page. Also, if you are leaving out diagrams or designs for the addendum, ensure you add this phrase “For more detail, visit the addendum Page #.”

Your product and service section in your business plan should include the following:

• A detailed explanation that clearly shows how your product or service works.
• The pricing model for your product or service.
• Your business’ sales and distribution strategy.
• The ideal customers that want your product or service.
• The benefits of your products and services.
• Reason(s) why your product or service is a better alternative to what your competitors are currently offering in the market.
• Plans for filling the orders you receive
• If you have current or pending patents, copyrights, and trademarks for your product or service, you can also discuss them in this section.

What to Focus On When Describing the Benefits, Lifecycle, and Production Process of Your Products or Services

In the products and services section, you have to distill the benefits, lifecycle, and production process of your products and services.

When describing the benefits of your products or services, here are some key factors to focus on.

• Unique features
• Translating the unique features into benefits
• The emotional, psychological, and practical payoffs to attract customers
• Intellectual property rights or any patents

When describing the product life cycle of your products or services, here are some key factors to focus on.

• Upsells, cross-sells, and down-sells
• Time between purchases
• Plans for research and development.

When describing the production process for your products or services, you need to think about the following:

• The creation of new or existing products and services.
• The sources for the raw materials or components you need for production.
• Assembling the products
• Maintaining quality control
• Supply-chain logistics (receiving the raw materials and delivering the finished products)
• The day-to-day management of the production processes, bookkeeping, and inventory.

Tips for Writing the Products or Services Section of Your Business Plan

1. Avoid Technical Descriptions and Industry Buzzwords

The products and services section of your business plan should clearly describe the products and services that your company provides. However, it is not a section to include technical jargons that anyone outside your industry will not understand.

A good practice is to remove highly detailed or technical descriptions in favor of simple terms. Industry buzzwords are not necessary, if there are simpler terms you can use, then use them. If you plan to use your business plan to source funds, making the product or service section so technical will do you no favors.

2. Describe How Your Products or Services Differ from Your Competitors

When potential investors look at your business plan, they want to know how the products and services you are offering differ from that of your competition. Differentiating your products or services from your competition in a way that makes your solution more attractive is critical.

If you are going the innovative path and there is no market currently for your product or service, you need to describe in this section why the market needs your product or service.

For example, overnight delivery was a niche business that only a few companies were participating in. Federal Express (FedEx) had to show in its business plan that there was a large opportunity for that service and they justified why the market needed that service.

3. Long or Short Products or Services Section

Should your products or services section be short? Does the long products or services section attract more investors?

There are no straightforward answers to these questions. Whether your products or services section should be long or relatively short depends on the nature of your business.

If your business is product-focused, then automatically you need to use more space to describe the details of your products. However, if the product your business sells is a commodity item that relies on competitive pricing or other pricing strategies, you do not have to use up so much space to provide significant details about the product.

Likewise, if you are selling a commodity that is available in numerous outlets, then you do not have to spend time on writing a long products or services section.

The key to the success of your business is most likely the effectiveness of your marketing strategies compared to your competitors. Use more space to address that section.

If you are creating a new product or service that the market does not know about, your products or services section can be lengthy. The reason why is because you need to explain everything about the product or service such as the nature of the product, its use case, and values.

A short products or services section for an innovative product or service will not give the readers enough information to properly evaluate your business.

4. Describe Your Relationships with Vendors or Suppliers

Your business will rely on vendors or suppliers to supply raw materials or the components needed to make your products. In your products and services section, describe your relationships with your vendors and suppliers fully.

Avoid the mistake of relying on only one supplier or vendor. If that supplier or vendor fails to supply or goes out of business, you can easily face supply problems and struggle to meet your demands. Plan to set up multiple vendor or supplier relationships for better business stability.

5. Your Primary Goal Is to Convince Your Readers

The primary goal of your business plan is to convince your readers that your business is viable and to create a guide for your business to follow. It applies to the products and services section.

When drafting this section, think like the reader. See your reader as someone who has no idea about your products and services. You are using the products and services section to provide the needed information to help your reader understand your products and services. As a result, you have to be clear and to the point.

While you want to educate your readers about your products or services, you also do not want to bore them with lots of technical details. Show your products and services and not your fancy choice of words.

Your products and services section should provide the answer to the “what” question for your business. You and your management team may run the business, but it is your products and services that are the lifeblood of the business.

Key Questions to Answer When Writing your Products and Services Section

Answering these questions can help you write your products and services section quickly and in a way that will appeal to your readers.

• Are your products existing on the market or are they still in the development stage?
• What is your timeline for adding new products and services to the market?
• What are the positives that make your products and services different from your competitors?
• Do your products and services have any competitive advantage that your competitors’ products and services do not currently have?
• Do your products or services have any competitive disadvantages that you need to overcome to compete with your competitors? If your answer is yes, state how you plan to overcome them,
• How much does it cost to produce your products or services? How much do you plan to sell it for?
• What is the price for your products and services compared to your competitors? Is pricing an issue?
• What are your operating costs and will it be low enough for you to compete with your competitors and still take home a reasonable profit margin?
• What is your plan for acquiring your products? Are you involved in the production of your products or services?
• Are you the manufacturer and produce all the components you need to create your products? Do you assemble your products by using components supplied by other manufacturers? Do you purchase your products directly from suppliers or wholesalers?
• Do you have a steady supply of products that you need to start your business? (If your business is yet to kick-off)
• How do you plan to distribute your products or services to the market?

You can also hint at the marketing or promotion plans you have for your products or services such as how you plan to build awareness or retain customers. The next section is where you can go fully into details about your business’s marketing and sales plan.

6. Show and Explain Your Marketing and Sales Plan

Providing great products and services is wonderful, but it means nothing if you do not have a marketing and sales plan to inform your customers about them. Your marketing and sales plan is critical to the success of your business.

The sales and marketing section is where you show and offer a detailed explanation of your marketing and sales plan and how you plan to execute it. It covers your pricing plan, proposed advertising and promotion activities, activities and partnerships you need to make your business a success, and the benefits of your products and services.

There are several ways you can approach your marketing and sales strategy. Ideally, your marketing and sales strategy has to fit the unique needs of your business.

In this section, you describe how the plans your business has for attracting and retaining customers, and the exact process for making a sale happen. It is essential to thoroughly describe your complete marketing and sales plans because you are still going to reference this section when you are making financial projections for your business.

Outline Your Business’ Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

The sales and marketing section is where you outline your business’s unique selling proposition (USP). When you are developing your unique selling proposition, think about the strongest reasons why people should buy from you over your competition. That reason(s) is most likely a good fit to serve as your unique selling proposition (USP).

Target Market and Target Audience

Plans on how to get your products or services to your target market and how to get your target audience to buy them go into this section. You also highlight the strengths of your business here, particularly what sets them apart from your competition.

Before you start writing your marketing and sales plan, you need to have properly defined your target audience and fleshed out your buyer persona. If you do not first understand the individual you are marketing to, your marketing and sales plan will lack any substance and easily fall.

Creating a Smart Marketing and Sales Plan

Marketing your products and services is an investment that requires you to spend money. Like any other investment, you have to generate a good return on investment (ROI) to justify using that marketing and sales plan. Good marketing and sales plans bring in high sales and profits to your company.

Avoid spending money on unproductive marketing channels. Do your research and find out the best marketing and sales plan that works best for your company.

Your marketing and sales plan can be broken into different parts: your positioning statement, pricing, promotion, packaging, advertising, public relations, content marketing, social media, and strategic alliances.

Your Positioning Statement

Your positioning statement is the first part of your marketing and sales plan. It refers to the way you present your company to your customers.

Are you the premium solution, the low-price solution, or are you the intermediary between the two extremes in the market? What do you offer that your competitors do not that can give you leverage in the market?

Before you start writing your positioning statement, you need to spend some time evaluating the current market conditions. Here are some questions that can help you to evaluate the market

• What are the unique features or benefits that you offer that your competitors lack?
• What are your customers’ primary needs and wants?
• Why should a customer choose you over your competition? How do you plan to differentiate yourself from the competition?
• How does your company’s solution compare with other solutions in the market?

After answering these questions, then you can start writing your positioning statement. Your positioning statement does not have to be in-depth or too long.

All you need to explain with your positioning statement are two focus areas. The first is the position of your company within the competitive landscape. The other focus area is the core value proposition that sets your company apart from other alternatives that your ideal customer might consider.

Here is a simple template you can use to develop a positioning statement.

For [description of target market] who [need of target market], [product or service] [how it meets the need]. Unlike [top competition], it [most essential distinguishing feature].

For example, let’s create the positioning statement for fictional accounting software and QuickBooks alternative , TBooks.

“For small business owners who need accounting services, TBooks is an accounting software that helps small businesses handle their small business bookkeeping basics quickly and easily. Unlike Wave, TBooks gives small businesses access to live sessions with top accountants.”

You can edit this positioning statement sample and fill it with your business details.

After writing your positioning statement, the next step is the pricing of your offerings. The overall positioning strategy you set in your positioning statement will often determine how you price your products or services.

Pricing is a powerful tool that sends a strong message to your customers. Failure to get your pricing strategy right can make or mar your business. If you are targeting a low-income audience, setting a premium price can result in low sales.

You can use pricing to communicate your positioning to your customers. For example, if you are offering a product at a premium price, you are sending a message to your customers that the product belongs to the premium category.

Basic Rules to Follow When Pricing Your Offering

Setting a price for your offering involves more than just putting a price tag on it. Deciding on the right pricing for your offering requires following some basic rules. They include covering your costs, primary and secondary profit center pricing, and matching the market rate.

• Covering Your Costs: The price you set for your products or service should be more than it costs you to produce and deliver them. Every business has the same goal, to make a profit. Depending on the strategy you want to use, there are exceptions to this rule. However, the vast majority of businesses follow this rule.
• Primary and Secondary Profit Center Pricing: When a company sets its price above the cost of production, it is making that product its primary profit center. A company can also decide not to make its initial price its primary profit center by selling below or at even with its production cost. It rather depends on the support product or even maintenance that is associated with the initial purchase to make its profit. The initial price thus became its secondary profit center.
• Matching the Market Rate: A good rule to follow when pricing your products or services is to match your pricing with consumer demand and expectations. If you price your products or services beyond the price your customer perceives as the ideal price range, you may end up with no customers. Pricing your products too low below what your customer perceives as the ideal price range may lead to them undervaluing your offering.

Pricing Strategy

Your pricing strategy influences the price of your offering. There are several pricing strategies available for you to choose from when examining the right pricing strategy for your business. They include cost-plus pricing, market-based pricing, value pricing, and more.

• Cost-plus Pricing: This strategy is one of the simplest and oldest pricing strategies. Here you consider the cost of producing a unit of your product and then add a profit to it to arrive at your market price. It is an effective pricing strategy for manufacturers because it helps them cover their initial costs. Another name for the cost-plus pricing strategy is the markup pricing strategy.
• Market-based Pricing: This pricing strategy analyses the market including competitors’ pricing and then sets a price based on what the market is expecting. With this pricing strategy, you can either set your price at the low-end or high-end of the market.
• Value Pricing: This pricing strategy involves setting a price based on the value you are providing to your customer. When adopting a value-based pricing strategy, you have to set a price that your customers are willing to pay. Service-based businesses such as small business insurance providers , luxury goods sellers, and the fashion industry use this pricing strategy.

After carefully sorting out your positioning statement and pricing, the next item to look at is your promotional strategy. Your promotional strategy explains how you plan on communicating with your customers and prospects.

As a business, you must measure all your costs, including the cost of your promotions. You also want to measure how much sales your promotions bring for your business to determine its usefulness. Promotional strategies or programs that do not lead to profit need to be removed.

There are different types of promotional strategies you can adopt for your business, they include advertising, public relations, and content marketing.

Advertising

Your business plan should include your advertising plan which can be found in the marketing and sales plan section. You need to include an overview of your advertising plans such as the areas you plan to spend money on to advertise your business and offers.

Ensure that you make it clear in this section if your business will be advertising online or using the more traditional offline media, or the combination of both online and offline media. You can also include the advertising medium you want to use to raise awareness about your business and offers.

Some common online advertising mediums you can use include social media ads, landing pages, sales pages, SEO, Pay-Per-Click, emails, Google Ads, and others. Some common traditional and offline advertising mediums include word of mouth, radios, direct mail, televisions, flyers, billboards, posters, and others.

A key component of your advertising strategy is how you plan to measure the effectiveness and success of your advertising campaign. There is no point in sticking with an advertising plan or medium that does not produce results for your business in the long run.

Public Relations

A great way to reach your customers is to get the media to cover your business or product. Publicity, especially good ones, should be a part of your marketing and sales plan. In this section, show your plans for getting prominent reviews of your product from reputable publications and sources.

Your business needs that exposure to grow. If public relations is a crucial part of your promotional strategy, provide details about your public relations plan here.

Content Marketing

Content marketing is a popular promotional strategy used by businesses to inform and attract their customers. It is about teaching and educating your prospects on various topics of interest in your niche, it does not just involve informing them about the benefits and features of the products and services you have,

Businesses publish content usually for free where they provide useful information, tips, and advice so that their target market can be made aware of the importance of their products and services. Content marketing strategies seek to nurture prospects into buyers over time by simply providing value.

Your company can create a blog where it will be publishing content for its target market. You will need to use the best website builder such as Wix and Squarespace and the best web hosting services such as Bluehost, Hostinger, and other Bluehost alternatives to create a functional blog or website.

If content marketing is a crucial part of your promotional strategy (as it should be), detail your plans under promotions.

Including high-quality images of the packaging of your product in your business plan is a lovely idea. You can add the images of the packaging of that product in the marketing and sales plan section. If you are not selling a product, then you do not need to include any worry about the physical packaging of your product.

When organizing the packaging section of your business plan, you can answer the following questions to make maximum use of this section.

• Is your choice of packaging consistent with your positioning strategy?
• What key value proposition does your packaging communicate? (It should reflect the key value proposition of your business)
• How does your packaging compare to that of your competitors?

Social Media

Your 21st-century business needs to have a good social media presence. Not having one is leaving out opportunities for growth and reaching out to your prospect.

You do not have to join the thousands of social media platforms out there. What you need to do is join the ones that your customers are active on and be active there.

Businesses use social media to provide information about their products such as promotions, discounts, the benefits of their products, and content on their blogs.

Social media is also a platform for engaging with your customers and getting feedback about your products or services. Make no mistake, more and more of your prospects are using social media channels to find more information about companies.

You need to consider the social media channels you want to prioritize your business (prioritize the ones your customers are active in) and your branding plans in this section.

Strategic Alliances

If your company plans to work closely with other companies as part of your sales and marketing plan, include it in this section. Prove details about those partnerships in your business plan if you have already established them.

Strategic alliances can be beneficial for all parties involved including your company. Working closely with another company in the form of a partnership can provide access to a different target market segment for your company.

The company you are partnering with may also gain access to your target market or simply offer a new product or service (that of your company) to its customers.

Mutually beneficial partnerships can cover the weaknesses of one company with the strength of another. You should consider strategic alliances with companies that sell complimentary products to yours. For example, if you provide printers, you can partner with a company that produces ink since the customers that buy printers from you will also need inks for printing.

Steps Involved in Creating a Marketing and Sales Plan

1. Focus on Your Target Market

Identify who your customers are, the market you want to target. Then determine the best ways to get your products or services to your potential customers.

2. Evaluate Your Competition

One of the goals of having a marketing plan is to distinguish yourself from your competition. You cannot stand out from them without first knowing them in and out.

You can know your competitors by gathering information about their products, pricing, service, and advertising campaigns.

These questions can help you know your competition.

• What makes your competition successful?
• What are their weaknesses?
• What are customers saying about your competition?

3. Consider Your Brand

Customers' perception of your brand has a strong impact on your sales. Your marketing and sales plan should seek to bolster the image of your brand. Before you start marketing your business, think about the message you want to pass across about your business and your products and services.

4. Focus on Benefits

The majority of your customers do not view your product in terms of features, what they want to know is the benefits and solutions your product offers. Think about the problems your product solves and the benefits it delivers, and use it to create the right sales and marketing message.

Your marketing plan should focus on what you want your customer to get instead of what you provide. Identify those benefits in your marketing and sales plan.

5. Focus on Differentiation

Your marketing and sales plan should look for a unique angle they can take that differentiates your business from the competition, even if the products offered are similar. Some good areas of differentiation you can use are your benefits, pricing, and features.

Key Questions to Answer When Writing Your Marketing and Sales Plan

• What is your company’s budget for sales and marketing campaigns?
• What key metrics will you use to determine if your marketing plans are successful?
• What are your alternatives if your initial marketing efforts do not succeed?
• Who are the sales representatives you need to promote your products or services?
• What are the marketing and sales channels you plan to use? How do you plan to get your products in front of your ideal customers?
• Where will you sell your products?

You may want to include samples of marketing materials you plan to use such as print ads, website descriptions, and social media ads. While it is not compulsory to include these samples, it can help you better communicate your marketing and sales plan and objectives.

The purpose of the marketing and sales section is to answer this question “How will you reach your customers?” If you cannot convincingly provide an answer to this question, you need to rework your marketing and sales section.

7. Clearly Show Your Funding Request

If you are writing your business plan to ask for funding from investors or financial institutions, the funding request section is where you will outline your funding requirements. The funding request section should answer the question ‘How much money will your business need in the near future (3 to 5 years)?’

A good funding request section will clearly outline and explain the amount of funding your business needs over the next five years. You need to know the amount of money your business needs to make an accurate funding request.

Also, when writing your funding request, provide details of how the funds will be used over the period. Specify if you want to use the funds to buy raw materials or machinery, pay salaries, pay for advertisements, and cover specific bills such as rent and electricity.

In addition to explaining what you want to use the funds requested for, you need to clearly state the projected return on investment (ROI) . Investors and creditors want to know if your business can generate profit for them if they put funds into it.

Ensure you do not inflate the figures and stay as realistic as possible. Investors and financial institutions you are seeking funds from will do their research before investing money in your business.

If you are not sure of an exact number to request from, you can use some range of numbers as rough estimates. Add a best-case scenario and a work-case scenario to your funding request. Also, include a description of your strategic future financial plans such as selling your business or paying off debts.

Funding Request: Debt or Equity?

When making your funding request, specify the type of funding you want. Do you want debt or equity? Draw out the terms that will be applicable for the funding, and the length of time the funding request will cover.

Case for Equity

If your new business has not yet started generating profits, you are most likely preparing to sell equity in your business to raise capital at the early stage. Equity here refers to ownership. In this case, you are selling a portion of your company to raise capital.

Although this method of raising capital for your business does not put your business in debt, keep in mind that an equity owner may expect to play a key role in company decisions even if he does not hold a major stake in the company.

Most equity sales for startups are usually private transactions . If you are making a funding request by offering equity in exchange for funding, let the investor know that they will be paid a dividend (a share of the company’s profit). Also, let the investor know the process for selling their equity in your business.

Case for Debt

You may decide not to offer equity in exchange for funds, instead, you make a funding request with the promise to pay back the money borrowed at the agreed time frame.

When making a funding request with an agreement to pay back, note that you will have to repay your creditors both the principal amount borrowed and the interest on it. Financial institutions offer this type of funding for businesses.

Large companies combine both equity and debt in their capital structure. When drafting your business plan, decide if you want to offer both or one over the other.

Before you sell equity in exchange for funding in your business, consider if you are willing to accept not being in total control of your business. Also, before you seek loans in your funding request section, ensure that the terms of repayment are favorable.

You should set a clear timeline in your funding request so that potential investors and creditors can know what you are expecting. Some investors and creditors may agree to your funding request and then delay payment for longer than 30 days, meanwhile, your business needs an immediate cash injection to operate efficiently.

Additional Tips for Writing the Funding Request Section of your Business Plan

The funding request section is not necessary for every business, it is only needed by businesses who plan to use their business plan to secure funding.

If you are adding the funding request section to your business plan, provide an itemized summary of how you plan to use the funds requested. Hiring a lawyer, accountant, or other professionals may be necessary for the proper development of this section.

You should also gather and use financial statements that add credibility and support to your funding requests. Ensure that the financial statements you use should include your projected financial data such as projected cash flows, forecast statements, and expenditure budgets.

If you are an existing business, include all historical financial statements such as cash flow statements, balance sheets and income statements .

Provide monthly and quarterly financial statements for a year. If your business has records that date back beyond the one-year mark, add the yearly statements of those years. These documents are for the appendix section of your business plan.

8. Detail Your Financial Plan, Metrics, and Projections

If you used the funding request section in your business plan, supplement it with a financial plan, metrics, and projections. This section paints a picture of the past performance of your business and then goes ahead to make an informed projection about its future.

The goal of this section is to convince readers that your business is going to be a financial success. It outlines your business plan to generate enough profit to repay the loan (with interest if applicable) and to generate a decent return on investment for investors.

If you have an existing business already in operation, use this section to demonstrate stability through finance. This section should include your cash flow statements, balance sheets, and income statements covering the last three to five years. If your business has some acceptable collateral that you can use to acquire loans, list it in the financial plan, metrics, and projection section.

Apart from current financial statements, this section should also contain a prospective financial outlook that spans the next five years. Include forecasted income statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets, and capital expenditure budget.

If your business is new and is not yet generating profit, use clear and realistic projections to show the potentials of your business.

When drafting this section, research industry norms and the performance of comparable businesses. Your financial projections should cover at least five years. State the logic behind your financial projections. Remember you can always make adjustments to this section as the variables change.

The financial plan, metrics, and projection section create a baseline which your business can either exceed or fail to reach. If your business fails to reach your projections in this section, you need to understand why it failed.

Investors and loan managers spend a lot of time going through the financial plan, metrics, and projection section compared to other parts of the business plan. Ensure you spend time creating credible financial analyses for your business in this section.

Many entrepreneurs find this section daunting to write. You do not need a business degree to create a solid financial forecast for your business. Business finances, especially for startups, are not as complicated as they seem. There are several online tools and templates that make writing this section so much easier.

Use Graphs and Charts

The financial plan, metrics, and projection section is a great place to use graphs and charts to tell the financial story of your business. Charts and images make it easier to communicate your finances.

Accuracy in this section is key, ensure you carefully analyze your past financial statements properly before making financial projects.

Address the Risk Factors and Show Realistic Financial Projections

Keep your financial plan, metrics, and projection realistic. It is okay to be optimistic in your financial projection, however, you have to justify it.

You should also address the various risk factors associated with your business in this section. Investors want to know the potential risks involved, show them. You should also show your plans for mitigating those risks.

What You Should In The Financial Plan, Metrics, and Projection Section of Your Business Plan

The financial plan, metrics, and projection section of your business plan should have monthly sales and revenue forecasts for the first year. It should also include annual projections that cover 3 to 5 years.

A three-year projection is a basic requirement to have in your business plan. However, some investors may request a five-year forecast.

Your business plan should include the following financial statements: sales forecast, personnel plan, income statement, income statement, cash flow statement, balance sheet, and an exit strategy.

1. Sales Forecast

Sales forecast refers to your projections about the number of sales your business is going to record over the next few years. It is typically broken into several rows, with each row assigned to a core product or service that your business is offering.

One common mistake people make in their business plan is to break down the sales forecast section into long details. A sales forecast should forecast the high-level details.

For example, if you are forecasting sales for a payroll software provider, you could break down your forecast into target market segments or subscription categories.

Your sales forecast section should also have a corresponding row for each sales row to cover the direct cost or Cost of Goods Sold (COGS). The objective of these rows is to show the expenses that your business incurs in making and delivering your product or service.

Note that your Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) should only cover those direct costs incurred when making your products. Other indirect expenses such as insurance, salaries, payroll tax, and rent should not be included.

For example, the Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) for a restaurant is the cost of ingredients while for a consulting company it will be the cost of paper and other presentation materials.

2. Personnel Plan

The personnel plan section is where you provide details about the payment plan for your employees. For a small business, you can easily list every position in your company and how much you plan to pay in the personnel plan.

However, for larger businesses, you have to break the personnel plan into functional groups such as sales and marketing.

The personnel plan will also include the cost of an employee beyond salary, commonly referred to as the employee burden. These costs include insurance, payroll taxes , and other essential costs incurred monthly as a result of having employees on your payroll.

3. Income Statement

The income statement section shows if your business is making a profit or taking a loss. Another name for the income statement is the profit and loss (P&L). It takes data from your sales forecast and personnel plan and adds other ongoing expenses you incur while running your business.

Every business plan should have an income statement. It subtracts your business expenses from its earnings to show if your business is generating profit or incurring losses.

The income statement has the following items: sales, Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), gross margin, operating expenses, total operating expenses, operating income , total expenses, and net profit.

• Sales refer to the revenue your business generates from selling its products or services. Other names for sales are income or revenue.
• Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) refers to the total cost of selling your products. Other names for COGS are direct costs or cost of sales. Manufacturing businesses use the Costs of Goods Manufactured (COGM) .
• Gross Margin is the figure you get when you subtract your COGS from your sales. In your income statement, you can express it as a percentage of total sales (Gross margin / Sales = Gross Margin Percent).
• Operating Expenses refer to all the expenses you incur from running your business. It exempts the COGS because it stands alone as a core part of your income statement. You also have to exclude taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Your operating expenses include salaries, marketing expenses, research and development (R&D) expenses, and other expenses.
• Total Operating Expenses refers to the sum of all your operating expenses including those exemptions named above under operating expenses.
• Operating Income refers to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. It is simply known as the acronym EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization). Calculating your operating income is simple, all you need to do is to subtract your COGS and total operating expenses from your sales.
• Total Expenses refer to the sum of your operating expenses and your business’ interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.
• Net profit shows whether your business has made a profit or taken a loss during a given timeframe.

4. Cash Flow Statement

The cash flow statement tracks the money you have in the bank at any given point. It is often confused with the income statement or the profit and loss statement. They are both different types of financial statements. The income statement calculates your profits and losses while the cash flow statement shows you how much you have in the bank.

5. Balance Sheet

The balance sheet is a financial statement that provides an overview of the financial health of your business. It contains information about the assets and liabilities of your company, and owner’s or shareholders’ equity.

You can get the net worth of your company by subtracting your company’s liabilities from its assets.

6. Exit Strategy

The exit strategy refers to a probable plan for selling your business either to the public in an IPO or to another company. It is the last thing you include in the financial plan, metrics, and projection section.

You can choose to omit the exit strategy from your business plan if you plan to maintain full ownership of your business and do not plan on seeking angel investment or virtual capitalist (VC) funding.

Investors may want to know what your exit plan is. They invest in your business to get a good return on investment.

Your exit strategy does not have to include long and boring details. Ensure you identify some interested parties who may be interested in buying the company if it becomes a success.

Key Questions to Answer with Your Financial Plan, Metrics, and Projection

Your financial plan, metrics, and projection section helps investors, creditors, or your internal managers to understand what your expenses are, the amount of cash you need, and what it takes to make your company profitable. It also shows what you will be doing with any funding.

You do not need to show actual financial data if you do not have one. Adding forecasts and projections to your financial statements is added proof that your strategy is feasible and shows investors you have planned properly.

Here are some key questions to answer to help you develop this section.

• What is your sales forecast for the next year?
• When will your company achieve a positive cash flow?
• What are the core expenses you need to operate?
• How much money do you need upfront to operate or grow your company?
• How will you use the loans or investments?

9. Add an Appendix to Your Business Plan

Adding an appendix to your business plan is optional. It is a useful place to put any charts, tables, legal notes, definitions, permits, résumés, and other critical information that do not fit into other sections of your business plan.

The appendix section is where you would want to include details of a patent or patent-pending if you have one. You can always add illustrations or images of your products here. It is the last section of your business plan.

When writing your business plan, there are details you cut short or remove to prevent the entire section from becoming too lengthy. There are also details you want to include in the business plan but are not a good fit for any of the previous sections. You can add that additional information to the appendix section.

Businesses also use the appendix section to include supporting documents or other materials specially requested by investors or lenders.

You can include just about any information that supports the assumptions and statements you made in the business plan under the appendix. It is the one place in the business plan where unrelated data and information can coexist amicably.

If your appendix section is lengthy, try organizing it by adding a table of contents at the beginning of the appendix section. It is also advisable to group similar information to make it easier for the reader to access them.

A well-organized appendix section makes it easier to share your information clearly and concisely. Add footnotes throughout the rest of the business plan or make references in the plan to the documents in the appendix.

The appendix section is usually only necessary if you are seeking funding from investors or lenders, or hoping to attract partners.

People reading business plans do not want to spend time going through a heap of backup information, numbers, and charts. Keep these documents or information in the Appendix section in case the reader wants to dig deeper.

Common Items to Include in the Appendix Section of Your Business Plan

The appendix section includes documents that supplement or support the information or claims given in other sections of the business plans. Common items you can include in the appendix section include:

• Additional data about the process of manufacturing or creation
• Additional description of products or services such as product schematics
• Additional financial documents or projections
• Articles of incorporation and status
• Backup for market research or competitive analysis
• Bank statements
• Business registries
• Client testimonials (if your business is already running)
• Copies of insurances
• Credit histories (personal or/and business)
• Deeds and permits
• Equipment leases
• Examples of marketing and advertising collateral
• Industry associations and memberships
• Images of product
• Intellectual property
• Key customer contracts
• Legal documents and other contracts
• Letters of reference
• Links to references
• Market research data
• Organizational charts
• Photographs of potential facilities
• Professional licenses pertaining to your legal structure or type of business
• Purchase orders
• Resumes of the founder(s) and key managers
• State and federal identification numbers or codes
• Trademarks or patents’ registrations

Avoid using the appendix section as a place to dump any document or information you feel like adding. Only add documents or information that you support or increase the credibility of your business plan.

Tips and Strategies for Writing a Convincing Business Plan

To achieve a perfect business plan, you need to consider some key tips and strategies. These tips will raise the efficiency of your business plan above average.

1. Know Your Audience

When writing a business plan, you need to know your audience . Business owners write business plans for different reasons. Your business plan has to be specific. For example, you can write business plans to potential investors, banks, and even fellow board members of the company.

The audience you are writing to determines the structure of the business plan. As a business owner, you have to know your audience. Not everyone will be your audience. Knowing your audience will help you to narrow the scope of your business plan.

Consider what your audience wants to see in your projects, the likely questions they might ask, and what interests them.

• A business plan used to address a company's board members will center on its employment schemes, internal affairs, projects, stakeholders, etc.
• A business plan for financial institutions will talk about the size of your market and the chances for you to pay back any loans you demand.
• A business plan for investors will show proof that you can return the investment capital within a specific time. In addition, it discusses your financial projections, tractions, and market size.

2. Get Inspiration from People

Writing a business plan from scratch as an entrepreneur can be daunting. That is why you need the right inspiration to push you to write one. You can gain inspiration from the successful business plans of other businesses. Look at their business plans, the style they use, the structure of the project, etc.

To make your business plan easier to create, search companies related to your business to get an exact copy of what you need to create an effective business plan. You can also make references while citing examples in your business plans.

When drafting your business plan, get as much help from others as you possibly can. By getting inspiration from people, you can create something better than what they have.

3. Avoid Being Over Optimistic

Many business owners make use of strong adjectives to qualify their content. One of the big mistakes entrepreneurs make when preparing a business plan is promising too much.

The use of superlatives and over-optimistic claims can prepare the audience for more than you can offer. In the end, you disappoint the confidence they have in you.

In most cases, the best option is to be realistic with your claims and statistics. Most of the investors can sense a bit of incompetency from the overuse of superlatives. As a new entrepreneur, do not be tempted to over-promise to get the interests of investors.

The concept of entrepreneurship centers on risks, nothing is certain when you make future analyses. What separates the best is the ability to do careful research and work towards achieving that, not promising more than you can achieve.

To make an excellent first impression as an entrepreneur, replace superlatives with compelling data-driven content. In this way, you are more specific than someone promising a huge ROI from an investment.

4. Keep it Simple and Short

When writing business plans, ensure you keep them simple throughout. Irrespective of the purpose of the business plan, your goal is to convince the audience.

One way to achieve this goal is to make them understand your proposal. Therefore, it would be best if you avoid the use of complex grammar to express yourself. It would be a huge turn-off if the people you want to convince are not familiar with your use of words.

Another thing to note is the length of your business plan. It would be best if you made it as brief as possible.

You hardly see investors or agencies that read through an extremely long document. In that case, if your first few pages can’t convince them, then you have lost it. The more pages you write, the higher the chances of you derailing from the essential contents.

To ensure your business plan has a high conversion rate, you need to dispose of every unnecessary information. For example, if you have a strategy that you are not sure of, it would be best to leave it out of the plan.

5. Make an Outline and Follow Through

A perfect business plan must have touched every part needed to convince the audience. Business owners get easily tempted to concentrate more on their products than on other sections. Doing this can be detrimental to the efficiency of the business plan.

For example, imagine you talking about a product but omitting or providing very little information about the target audience. You will leave your clients confused.

To ensure that your business plan communicates your full business model to readers, you have to input all the necessary information in it. One of the best ways to achieve this is to design a structure and stick to it.

This structure is what guides you throughout the writing. To make your work easier, you can assign an estimated word count or page limit to every section to avoid making it too bulky for easy reading. As a guide, the necessary things your business plan must contain are:

• Table of contents
• Introduction
• Product or service description
• Target audience
• Market size
• Competition analysis
• Financial projections

Some specific businesses can include some other essential sections, but these are the key sections that must be in every business plan.

6. Ask a Professional to Proofread

When writing a business plan, you must tie all loose ends to get a perfect result. When you are done with writing, call a professional to go through the document for you. You are bound to make mistakes, and the way to correct them is to get external help.

You should get a professional in your field who can relate to every section of your business plan. It would be easier for the professional to notice the inner flaws in the document than an editor with no knowledge of your business.

In addition to getting a professional to proofread, get an editor to proofread and edit your document. The editor will help you identify grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and inappropriate writing styles.

Writing a business plan can be daunting, but you can surmount that obstacle and get the best out of it with these tips.

Business Plan Examples and Templates That’ll Save You Tons of Time

1. hubspot's one-page business plan.

The one-page business plan template by HubSpot is the perfect guide for businesses of any size, irrespective of their business strategy. Although the template is condensed into a page, your final business plan should not be a page long! The template is designed to ask helpful questions that can help you develop your business plan.

Hubspot’s one-page business plan template is divided into nine fields:

• Business opportunity
• Company description
• Industry analysis
• Target market
• Implementation timeline
• Marketing plan
• Financial summary
• Funding required

2. Bplan’s Free Business Plan Template

Bplans' free business plan template is investor-approved. It is a rich template used by prestigious educational institutions such as Babson College and Princeton University to teach entrepreneurs how to create a business plan.

The template has six sections: the executive summary, opportunity, execution, company, financial plan, and appendix. There is a step-by-step guide for writing every little detail in the business plan. Follow the instructions each step of the way and you will create a business plan that impresses investors or lenders easily.

3. HubSpot's Downloadable Business Plan Template

HubSpot’s downloadable business plan template is a more comprehensive option compared to the one-page business template by HubSpot. This free and downloadable business plan template is designed for entrepreneurs.

The template is a comprehensive guide and checklist for business owners just starting their businesses. It tells you everything you need to fill in each section of the business plan and how to do it.

There are nine sections in this business plan template: an executive summary, company and business description, product and services line, market analysis, marketing plan, sales plan, legal notes, financial considerations, and appendix.

4. Business Plan by My Own Business Institute

My Own Business Institute (MOBI) which is a part of Santa Clara University's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers a free business plan template. You can either copy the free business template from the link provided above or download it as a Word document.

The comprehensive template consists of a whopping 15 sections.

• The Business Profile
• The Vision and the People
• Home-Based Business and Freelance Business Opportunities
• Organization
• Licenses and Permits
• Business Insurance
• Communication Tools
• Acquisitions
• Location and Leasing
• Accounting and Cash Flow
• Opening and Marketing
• Managing Employees
• Expanding and Handling Problems

There are lots of helpful tips on how to fill each section in the free business plan template by MOBI.

5. Score's Business Plan Template for Startups

Score is an American nonprofit organization that helps entrepreneurs build successful companies. This business plan template for startups by Score is available for free download. The business plan template asks a whooping 150 generic questions that help entrepreneurs from different fields to set up the perfect business plan.

The business plan template for startups contains clear instructions and worksheets, all you have to do is answer the questions and fill the worksheets.

There are nine sections in the business plan template: executive summary, company description, products and services, marketing plan, operational plan, management and organization, startup expenses and capitalization, financial plan, and appendices.

The ‘refining the plan’ resource contains instructions that help you modify your business plan to suit your specific needs, industry, and target audience. After you have completed Score’s business plan template, you can work with a SCORE mentor for expert advice in business planning.

6. Minimalist Architecture Business Plan Template by Venngage

The minimalist architecture business plan template is a simple template by Venngage that you can customize to suit your business needs .

There are five sections in the template: an executive summary, statement of problem, approach and methodology, qualifications, and schedule and benchmark. The business plan template has instructions that guide users on what to fill in each section.

7. Small Business Administration Free Business Plan Template

The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers two free business plan templates, filled with practical real-life examples that you can model to create your business plan. Both free business plan templates are written by fictional business owners: Rebecca who owns a consulting firm, and Andrew who owns a toy company.

There are five sections in the two SBA’s free business plan templates.

• Executive Summary
• Company Description
• Service Line
• Marketing and Sales

8. The $100 Startup's One-Page Business Plan

The one-page business plan by the $100 startup is a simple business plan template for entrepreneurs who do not want to create a long and complicated plan . You can include more details in the appendices for funders who want more information beyond what you can put in the one-page business plan.

There are five sections in the one-page business plan such as overview, ka-ching, hustling, success, and obstacles or challenges or open questions. You can answer all the questions using one or two sentences.

9. PandaDoc’s Free Business Plan Template

The free business plan template by PandaDoc is a comprehensive 15-page document that describes the information you should include in every section.

There are 11 sections in PandaDoc’s free business plan template.

• Executive summary
• Business description
• Products and services
• Operations plan
• Management organization
• Financial plan
• Conclusion / Call to action
• Confidentiality statement

You have to sign up for its 14-day free trial to access the template. You will find different business plan templates on PandaDoc once you sign up (including templates for general businesses and specific businesses such as bakeries, startups, restaurants, salons, hotels, and coffee shops)

PandaDoc allows you to customize its business plan templates to fit the needs of your business. After editing the template, you can send it to interested parties and track opens and views through PandaDoc.

10. Invoiceberry Templates for Word, Open Office, Excel, or PPT

InvoiceBerry is a U.K based online invoicing and tracking platform that offers free business plan templates in .docx, .odt, .xlsx, and .pptx formats for freelancers and small businesses.

Before you can download the free business plan template, it will ask you to give it your email address. After you complete the little task, it will send the download link to your inbox for you to download. It also provides a business plan checklist in .xlsx file format that ensures you add the right information to the business plan.

Alternatives to the Traditional Business Plan

A business plan is very important in mapping out how one expects their business to grow over a set number of years, particularly when they need external investment in their business. However, many investors do not have the time to watch you present your business plan. It is a long and boring read.

Luckily, there are three alternatives to the traditional business plan (the Business Model Canvas, Lean Canvas, and Startup Pitch Deck). These alternatives are less laborious and easier and quicker to present to investors.

Business Model Canvas (BMC)

The business model canvas is a business tool used to present all the important components of setting up a business, such as customers, route to market, value proposition, and finance in a single sheet. It provides a very focused blueprint that defines your business initially which you can later expand on if needed.

The sheet is divided mainly into company, industry, and consumer models that are interconnected in how they find problems and proffer solutions.

Segments of the Business Model Canvas

The business model canvas was developed by founder Alexander Osterwalder to answer important business questions. It contains nine segments.

• Key Partners: Who will be occupying important executive positions in your business? What do they bring to the table? Will there be a third party involved with the company?
• Key Activities: What important activities will production entail? What activities will be carried out to ensure the smooth running of the company?
• The Product’s Value Propositions: What does your product do? How will it be different from other products?
• Customer Segments: What demography of consumers are you targeting? What are the habits of these consumers? Who are the MVPs of your target consumers?
• Customer Relationships: How will the team support and work with its customer base? How do you intend to build and maintain trust with the customer?
• Key Resources: What type of personnel and tools will be needed? What size of the budget will they need access to?
• Channels: How do you plan to create awareness of your products? How do you intend to transport your product to the customer?
• Cost Structure: What is the estimated cost of production? How much will distribution cost?
• Revenue Streams: For what value are customers willing to pay? How do they prefer to pay for the product? Are there any external revenues attached apart from the main source? How do the revenue streams contribute to the overall revenue?

Lean Canvas

The lean canvas is a problem-oriented alternative to the standard business model canvas. It was proposed by Ash Maurya, creator of Lean Stack as a development of the business model generation. It uses a more problem-focused approach and it majorly targets entrepreneurs and startup businesses.

Lean Canvas uses the same 9 blocks concept as the business model canvas, however, they have been modified slightly to suit the needs and purpose of a small startup. The key partners, key activities, customer relationships, and key resources are replaced by new segments which are:

• Problem: Simple and straightforward number of problems you have identified, ideally three.
• Solution: The solutions to each problem.
• Unfair Advantage: Something you possess that can't be easily bought or replicated.
• Key Metrics: Important numbers that will tell how your business is doing.

Startup Pitch Deck

While the business model canvas compresses into a factual sheet, startup pitch decks expand flamboyantly.

Pitch decks, through slides, convey your business plan, often through graphs and images used to emphasize estimations and observations in your presentation. Entrepreneurs often use pitch decks to fully convince their target audience of their plans before discussing funding arrangements.

Considering the likelihood of it being used in a small time frame, a good startup pitch deck should ideally contain 20 slides or less to have enough time to answer questions from the audience.

Unlike the standard and lean business model canvases, a pitch deck doesn't have a set template on how to present your business plan but there are still important components to it. These components often mirror those of the business model canvas except that they are in slide form and contain more details.

Using Airbnb (one of the most successful start-ups in recent history) for reference, the important components of a good slide are listed below.

• Cover/Introduction Slide: Here, you should include your company's name and mission statement. Your mission statement should be a very catchy tagline. Also, include personal information and contact details to provide an easy link for potential investors.
• Problem Slide: This slide requires you to create a connection with the audience or the investor that you are pitching. For example in their pitch, Airbnb summarized the most important problems it would solve in three brief points – pricing of hotels, disconnection from city culture, and connection problems for local bookings.
• Solution Slide: This slide includes your core value proposition. List simple and direct solutions to the problems you have mentioned
• Customer Analysis: Here you will provide information on the customers you will be offering your service to. The identity of your customers plays an important part in fundraising as well as the long-run viability of the business.
• Market Validation: Use competitive analysis to show numbers that prove the presence of a market for your product, industry behavior in the present and the long run, as well as the percentage of the market you aim to attract. It shows that you understand your competitors and customers and convinces investors of the opportunities presented in the market.
• Business Model: Your business model is the hook of your presentation. It may vary in complexity but it should generally include a pricing system informed by your market analysis. The goal of the slide is to confirm your business model is easy to implement.
• Marketing Strategy: This slide should summarize a few customer acquisition methods that you plan to use to grow the business.
• Competitive Advantage: What this slide will do is provide information on what will set you apart and make you a more attractive option to customers. It could be the possession of technology that is not widely known in the market.
• Team Slide: Here you will give a brief description of your team. Include your key management personnel here and their specific roles in the company. Include their educational background, job history, and skillsets. Also, talk about their accomplishments in their careers so far to build investors' confidence in members of your team.
• Traction Slide: This validates the company’s business model by showing growth through early sales and support. The slide aims to reduce any lingering fears in potential investors by showing realistic periodic milestones and profit margins. It can include current sales, growth, valuable customers, pre-orders, or data from surveys outlining current consumer interest.
• Funding Slide: This slide is popularly referred to as ‘the ask'. Here you will include important details like how much is needed to get your business off the ground and how the funding will be spent to help the company reach its goals.
• Appendix Slides: Your pitch deck appendix should always be included alongside a standard pitch presentation. It consists of additional slides you could not show in the pitch deck but you need to complement your presentation.

It is important to support your calculations with pictorial renditions. Infographics, such as pie charts or bar graphs, will be more effective in presenting the information than just listing numbers. For example, a six-month graph that shows rising profit margins will easily look more impressive than merely writing it.

Lastly, since a pitch deck is primarily used to secure meetings and you may be sharing your pitch with several investors, it is advisable to keep a separate public version that doesn't include financials. Only disclose the one with projections once you have secured a link with an investor.

Advantages of the Business Model Canvas, Lean Canvas, and Startup Pitch Deck over the Traditional Business Plan

• Time-Saving: Writing a detailed traditional business plan could take weeks or months. On the other hand, all three alternatives can be done in a few days or even one night of brainstorming if you have a comprehensive understanding of your business.
• Easier to Understand: Since the information presented is almost entirely factual, it puts focus on what is most important in running the business. They cut away the excess pages of fillers in a traditional business plan and allow investors to see what is driving the business and what is getting in the way.
• Easy to Update: Businesses typically present their business plans to many potential investors before they secure funding. What this means is that you may regularly have to amend your presentation to update statistics or adjust to audience-specific needs. For a traditional business plan, this could mean rewriting a whole section of your plan. For the three alternatives, updating is much easier because they are not voluminous.
• Guide for a More In-depth Business Plan: All three alternatives have the added benefit of being able to double as a sketch of your business plan if the need to create one arises in the future.

Business Plan FAQ

Business plans are important for any entrepreneur who is looking for a framework to run their company over some time or seeking external support. Although they are essential for new businesses, every company should ideally have a business plan to track their growth from time to time.  They can be used by startups seeking investments or loans to convey their business ideas or an employee to convince his boss of the feasibility of starting a new project. They can also be used by companies seeking to recruit high-profile employee targets into key positions or trying to secure partnerships with other firms.

Business plans often vary depending on your target audience, the scope, and the goals for the plan. Startup plans are the most common among the different types of business plans.  A start-up plan is used by a new business to present all the necessary information to help get the business up and running. They are usually used by entrepreneurs who are seeking funding from investors or bank loans. The established company alternative to a start-up plan is a feasibility plan. A feasibility plan is often used by an established company looking for new business opportunities. They are used to show the upsides of creating a new product for a consumer base. Because the audience is usually company people, it requires less company analysis. The third type of business plan is the lean business plan. A lean business plan is a brief, straight-to-the-point breakdown of your ideas and analysis for your business. It does not contain details of your proposal and can be written on one page. Finally, you have the what-if plan. As it implies, a what-if plan is a preparation for the worst-case scenario. You must always be prepared for the possibility of your original plan being rejected. A good what-if plan will serve as a good plan B to the original.

A good business plan has 10 key components. They include an executive plan, product analysis, desired customer base, company analysis, industry analysis, marketing strategy, sales strategy, financial projection, funding, and appendix. Executive Plan Your business should begin with your executive plan. An executive plan will provide early insight into what you are planning to achieve with your business. It should include your mission statement and highlight some of the important points which you will explain later. Product Analysis The next component of your business plan is your product analysis. A key part of this section is explaining the type of item or service you are going to offer as well as the market problems your product will solve. Desired Consumer Base Your product analysis should be supplemented with a detailed breakdown of your desired consumer base. Investors are always interested in knowing the economic power of your market as well as potential MVP customers. Company Analysis The next component of your business plan is your company analysis. Here, you explain how you want to run your business. It will include your operational strategy, an insight into the workforce needed to keep the company running, and important executive positions. It will also provide a calculation of expected operational costs.  Industry Analysis A good business plan should also contain well laid out industry analysis. It is important to convince potential investors you know the companies you will be competing with, as well as your plans to gain an edge on the competition. Marketing Strategy Your business plan should also include your marketing strategy. This is how you intend to spread awareness of your product. It should include a detailed explanation of the company brand as well as your advertising methods. Sales Strategy Your sales strategy comes after the market strategy. Here you give an overview of your company's pricing strategy and how you aim to maximize profits. You can also explain how your prices will adapt to market behaviors. Financial Projection The financial projection is the next component of your business plan. It explains your company's expected running cost and revenue earned during the tenure of the business plan. Financial projection gives a clear idea of how your company will develop in the future. Funding The next component of your business plan is funding. You have to detail how much external investment you need to get your business idea off the ground here. Appendix The last component of your plan is the appendix. This is where you put licenses, graphs, or key information that does not fit in any of the other components.

The business model canvas is a business management tool used to quickly define your business idea and model. It is often used when investors need you to pitch your business idea during a brief window.

A pitch deck is similar to a business model canvas except that it makes use of slides in its presentation. A pitch is not primarily used to secure funding, rather its main purpose is to entice potential investors by selling a very optimistic outlook on the business.

Business plan competitions help you evaluate the strength of your business plan. By participating in business plan competitions, you are improving your experience. The experience provides you with a degree of validation while practicing important skills. The main motivation for entering into the competitions is often to secure funding by finishing in podium positions. There is also the chance that you may catch the eye of a casual observer outside of the competition. These competitions also provide good networking opportunities. You could meet mentors who will take a keen interest in guiding you in your business journey. You also have the opportunity to meet other entrepreneurs whose ideas can complement yours.

Exlore Further

• 12 Key Elements of a Business Plan (Top Components Explained)
• 13 Sources of Business Finance For Companies & Sole Traders
• 5 Common Types of Business Structures (+ Pros & Cons)
• How to Buy a Business in 8 Steps (+ Due Diligence Checklist)

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Martin luenendonk.

Martin loves entrepreneurship and has helped dozens of entrepreneurs by validating the business idea, finding scalable customer acquisition channels, and building a data-driven organization. During his time working in investment banking, tech startups, and industry-leading companies he gained extensive knowledge in using different software tools to optimize business processes.

This insights and his love for researching SaaS products enables him to provide in-depth, fact-based software reviews to enable software buyers make better decisions.

How Much Do Business Plan Writers Cost?

When you’re starting or growing a business, it’s important to have a clear plan in place. Writing a business plan can help you outline your goals and sales strategies, and it can be a valuable tool when seeking funding from potential investors such as venture capitalists or a bank loan. 

If you don’t have time to write your own business plan, or if you need help getting started, professional business plan writing services can be a great option. But, how much do these services cost? And is it worth the investment? Let’s take a closer look.

How Much Should I Pay For a Business Plan Writing Service?

Professional business plan writers and consultants generally charge between $2,000 and $25,000. However, the cost largely depends on the required quality of your plan, the complexity of your business plan, and the length of the document. Professional business plans for very small companies may only require a few thousand dollars to be written, while more complex business plans for larger, growing companies can easily cost over ten thousand dollars.

There are also private consultants who will write or edit your business plan on an hourly fee basis. Fees can range from $50 to $300 per hour or more, depending on the consultant and the complexity of your business plan.

Whoever you choose to get started with your business plan, be sure to consider what’s included in your service. At the very least, you should expect:

• Comprehensive business plan including an executive summary, market analysis, marketing plan, financial plan with 3-5 years of financial projections, and other essential components required by potential investors
• Customization based on your business model and specific to your business needs
• Well-researched business plan based on relevant industry information and a thorough competitive analysis

There are several companies out there that offer complete business plan writing services. However, the quality of their work can vary dramatically. If you’re considering hiring outside help to write your business plan, choose carefully.

It’s important to remember that you get what you pay for when it comes to these types of services. If you go with a cheap plan writer, you run the risk of ending up with a low-quality business plan. If your business plan isn’t strong and professional-looking, it may be harder for you to get funding or attract investors.

Looking for a Business Plan Writer?

You’ve come to the right place!  Since Growthink was founded in 1999, we have provided business plan writing services for thousands of clients including startups, small business owners, nonprofit organizations and mid to large-sized companies. 

We understand that writing a business plan can be a time-consuming process for many entrepreneurs.  Hiring a business plan writer will allow you to quickly and expertly create a custom business plan.

 Expert Team of Business Plan Writers

 Fully Customized Business Plans

 Market & Competitor Research

 Complete Financial Projections

 Strategic Consulting For Growth & Funding

Get Started Now!

Call us at (800) 216-3710 or complete the form below and one of our business plan writers will reach out to you to schedule a time to speak about your business plan needs.

You can learn more about our business plan consulting services here

What Factors Impact Business Plan Pricing?

Some things that impact business planning services pricing include:

• Length – Longer, more complex business plans will cost more than shorter business plans.
• Company Size – A business plan for a large or complicated company can be more expensive to write.
• Level of Expertise – Smaller companies may opt to hire less experienced writers who charge lower prices, while larger, well-established companies choose to work with high-quality professionals who charge higher rates. You can’t expect a less experienced writer to help you achieve your goals (funding, growth) for your business plan.
• Turnaround Time – Generally, shorter turnaround times mean increased prices. Typically it will take 3-4 weeks to write a quality business plan.
• Additional Services – Some companies offer additional services, such as business plan presentation and pitch deck editing and support. These can cost extra.

To really get your business off the ground, it’s important to have a business plan in place that has been written by someone with the expertise to put together a successful business plan. A professional business plan consultant is an excellent investment for increasing your chances of securing the funds you need to start and/or grow your business. However, it’s important to do your research and choose carefully when you’re ready to hire.

Who Can I Hire To Write My Business Plan?

When choosing a business plan writer or consulting firm, it’s important to look for a company with significant business experience and proven expertise in business plan development. Look for companies that have been around for at least five years and do business plan writing on a regular basis. They should also be able to provide references from other companies that they’ve worked with.

A Business Plan Writing Company or Consultant

When hiring a business plan writing service , you’ll have two primary options. You can opt to work with a single writer or a dedicated team of experts who will be responsible for the entire project. The price of the service may vary depending on which option you choose.

A business plan writer typically costs less than an entire team, but it’s important to keep in mind that you may have less control over the outcome. The upside is that your business plan will be written by an expert with a deep understanding of the writing process.

When choosing this route, you should ask for references and examples of previous work. Before hiring any business plan writer, be sure they have the proper credentials and experience to meet your needs. You should also ask about any fees associated with revisions or updates.

Many businesses choose to work with a business plan consulting firm that offers a collaborative team of experts. This type of company will give you the best of both worlds. You’ll be able to utilize the knowledge and expertise of all the experts involved in the project, while still retaining control over the direction and vision of your business plan.

If you’re trying to determine how much it will cost to work with a business plan writing service, take some time to explore all of your options before making a final decision. You should consider both pricing models as well as the qualifications offered by the various service providers in your area. Doing so will ensure you find the most qualified choice for your business planning needs.

You Can Write It Yourself

If you are a newer entrepreneur or business owner or you are trying to save money, there are several free resources available online to help you write your business plan. The Small Business Administration (SBA) and your local Chamber of Commerce offer business plan services, workshops, or courses that can help you get started. Using a business plan template is a great way to quickly and easily complete your plan, especially if you are unfamiliar with the business planning process.

Some business owners are comfortable writing business plans without any outside help. This option offers you complete control over the process, but it typically takes more time than you have to spare. For that reason, not writing your own plan is usually recommended for experienced business owners, even those with plenty of business plan writing experience.

In most cases, experienced business owners who write their own business plans will have a better idea of what elements are needed and how they should be presented. However, it can still take considerable time to compile all the necessary information into a cohesive business plan that meets your audience’s needs. And it’s one thing to write a business plan; it’s another to write a business plan that gets investors or lenders to write you a large funding check.

A Combination of Business Planning Services

If your budget doesn’t allow you to hire a comprehensive business plan service, combining outside services with writing your own business plan may be the best option. This approach gives you complete control over the process, while still allowing you to benefit from an expert business plan writer’s advice. It is also a great option for entrepreneurs who don’t have time to write their plan but aren’t quite ready to hire someone else to do it either.

Other business services that could help you include:

• Market Research – Conducting thorough market research can help you determine which business opportunities are viable. Experienced consultants can help you identify your target customer so you can design the right marketing strategy to reach them.
• Copywriting Assistance – Many entrepreneurs have a great product or idea, but lack the writing skills needed to effectively advertise it in their business plans or online marketing materials. A business plan copywriter can help you create a compelling marketing message that resonates with your target audience.
• Startup / Growth Opportunities – If you’re thinking about starting a business or expanding your established business, it’s important to consider all of the potential opportunities before diving into something that may not be feasible for your current situation. A business plan consultant can help you identify what makes your business idea unique and how you can capitalize on those opportunities.
• Business Plan Review – Once you’ve completed your business plan, it’s important to have it reviewed by an expert. They can identify any gaps or mistakes in logic that could affect how potential lenders or investors perceive your business idea.

As with any decision affecting your company’s future, you should take the time to explore all of your options before committing to a specific service provider. The goal is not only to find the best fit for your budget and needs but also to find a business plan consulting service that can meet your expectations and deliver quality content on time and within budget.

Is It Worth It To Use a Professional Business Plan Writing Service?

As with anything else, you’ll get what you pay for. If you are short on time or don’t have the writing skills required to write a business plan, it may be worth considering a professional writing service. These services can help you complete the necessary research and planning to get a comprehensive business plan written for your company.

How Growthink Can Help Your Business

Since 1999, Growthink has developed thousands of business plans for entrepreneurs and business owners to start and/or grow their businesses. From small business owners to Fortune 500 companies, we have provided a variety of business plan services to meet the needs of each client.

Our business planning services include:

• Business Plan Consultants – Our experienced business plan consulting team has helped numerous businesses from small businesses to multi-million dollar corporations identify new opportunities and develop their business plans using existing information where possible, or by conducting new research as needed.
• Business Plan Writing Services – Our business plan writers are experienced professionals who are committed to providing you with a business plan that delivers results. Depending on your needs, our business writers can either help you complete the research and writing process, or write your business plan for you from start to finish.
• Done For You Market Research – Our market research team can conduct independent market research for your business through access to several market research databases. Utilize this research to help you write a business plan that is more in-depth and gives you a distinct advantage over competitors in your industry.
• Private Placement Memorandums – Growthink’s experienced business consultants can help you prepare a private placement memorandum (PPM) that is tailored to the unique needs of your business. PPMs are used to help businesses raise capital from accredited investors.
• Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template – Our simple business plan template is available in MS Word and when completed can be sent to investors and lenders in Adobe PDF format. Use this business plan template to help you focus your business concept on the information that is most relevant for lenders and investors, while also providing a flexible foundation for future growth.
• Business Plan Writing Help Center – We have a wide variety of free resources for business planning on our website. Use our selection of 200+ business plan examples to help you write a business plan specific to your industry or learn more from our selection of business planning and funding articles.

No matter what product or service you choose, we wish you success in your business venture

How to Write a Business Plan for a Small Business

Noah Parsons

24 min. read

Updated September 2, 2024

Writing a business plan doesn’t have to be complicated. 

In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to write a business plan that’s detailed enough to impress bankers and potential investors, while giving you the tools to start, run, and grow a successful business.

• The basics of writing a business plan

If you’re reading this guide, then you already know why you need a business plan . 

You understand that writing a business plan helps you: 

• Raise money
• Grow strategically
• Keep your business on the right track 

As you start to write your business plan, it’s useful to zoom out and remember what a business plan is .

At its core, a business plan is an overview of the products and services you sell, and the customers that you sell to. It explains your business strategy: how you’re going to build and grow your business, what your marketing strategy is, and who your competitors are.

Most business plans also include financial forecasts for the future. These set sales goals, budget for expenses, and predict profits and cash flow. 

A good business plan is much more than just a document that you write once and forget about. It’s also a guide that helps you outline and achieve your goals. 

After writing your business plan, you can use it as a management tool to track your progress toward your goals. Updating and adjusting your forecasts and budgets as you go is one of the most important steps you can take to run a healthier, smarter business. 

We’ll dive into how to use your plan later in this article.

There are many different types of plans , but we’ll go over the most common type here, which includes everything you need for an investor-ready plan. However, if you’re just starting out and are looking for something simpler—I recommend starting with a one-page business plan . It’s faster and easier to create. 

It’s also the perfect place to start if you’re just figuring out your idea, or need a simple strategic plan to use inside your business.

Dig deeper : How to write a one-page business plan

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• What to include in your business plan

Executive summary

The executive summary is an overview of your business and your plans. It comes first in your plan and is ideally just one to two pages. Most people write it last because it’s a summary of the complete business plan.

Ideally, the executive summary can act as a stand-alone document that covers the highlights of your detailed plan. 

In fact, it’s common for investors to ask only for the executive summary when evaluating your business. If they like what they see in the executive summary, they’ll often follow up with a request for a complete plan, a pitch presentation , or more in-depth financial forecasts .

Your executive summary should include:

• A summary of the problem you are solving
• A description of your product or service
• An overview of your target market
• A brief description of your team
• A summary of your financials
• Your funding requirements (if you are raising money)

Dig Deeper: How to write an effective executive summary

Products and services description

When writing a business plan, the produces and services section is where you describe exactly what you’re selling, and how it solves a problem for your target market. The best way to organize this part of your plan is to start by describing the problem that exists for your customers. After that, you can describe how you plan to solve that problem with your product or service. 

This is usually called a problem and solution statement .

To truly showcase the value of your products and services, you need to craft a compelling narrative around your offerings. How will your product or service transform your customers’ lives or jobs? A strong narrative will draw in your readers.

This is also the part of the business plan to discuss any competitive advantages you may have, like specific intellectual property or patents that protect your product. If you have any initial sales, contracts, or other evidence that your product or service is likely to sell, include that information as well. It will show that your idea has traction , which can help convince readers that your plan has a high chance of success.

Market analysis

Your target market is a description of the type of people that you plan to sell to. You might even have multiple target markets, depending on your business. 

A market analysis is the part of your plan where you bring together all of the information you know about your target market. Basically, it’s a thorough description of who your customers are and why they need what you’re selling. You’ll also include information about the growth of your market and your industry .

Try to be as specific as possible when you describe your market. 

Include information such as age, income level, and location—these are what’s called “demographics.” If you can, also describe your market’s interests and habits as they relate to your business—these are “psychographics.” 

Related: Target market examples

Essentially, you want to include any knowledge you have about your customers that is relevant to how your product or service is right for them. With a solid target market, it will be easier to create a sales and marketing plan that will reach your customers. That’s because you know who they are, what they like to do, and the best ways to reach them.

Next, provide any additional information you have about your market. 

What is the size of your market ? Is the market growing or shrinking? Ideally, you’ll want to demonstrate that your market is growing over time, and also explain how your business is positioned to take advantage of any expected changes in your industry.

Dig Deeper: Learn how to write a market analysis

Competitive analysis

Part of defining your business opportunity is determining what your competitive advantage is. To do this effectively, you need to know as much about your competitors as your target customers. 

Every business has some form of competition. If you don’t think you have competitors, then explore what alternatives there are in the market for your product or service. 

For example: In the early years of cars, their main competition was horses. For social media, the early competition was reading books, watching TV, and talking on the phone.

A good competitive analysis fully lays out the competitive landscape and then explains how your business is different. Maybe your products are better made, or cheaper, or your customer service is superior. Maybe your competitive advantage is your location – a wide variety of factors can ultimately give you an advantage.

Dig Deeper: How to write a competitive analysis for your business plan

Marketing and sales plan

The marketing and sales plan covers how you will position your product or service in the market, the marketing channels and messaging you will use, and your sales tactics. 

The best place to start with a marketing plan is with a positioning statement . 

This explains how your business fits into the overall market, and how you will explain the advantages of your product or service to customers. You’ll use the information from your competitive analysis to help you with your positioning. 

For example: You might position your company as the premium, most expensive but the highest quality option in the market. Or your positioning might focus on being locally owned and that shoppers support the local economy by buying your products.

Once you understand your positioning, you’ll bring this together with the information about your target market to create your marketing strategy . 

This is how you plan to communicate your message to potential customers. Depending on who your customers are and how they purchase products like yours, you might use many different strategies, from social media advertising to creating a podcast. Your marketing plan is all about how your customers discover who you are and why they should consider your products and services. 

While your marketing plan is about reaching your customers—your sales plan will describe the actual sales process once a customer has decided that they’re interested in what you have to offer. 

If your business requires salespeople and a long sales process, describe that in this section. If your customers can “self-serve” and just make purchases quickly on your website, describe that process. 

A good sales plan picks up where your marketing plan leaves off. The marketing plan brings customers in the door and the sales plan is how you close the deal.

Together, these specific plans paint a picture of how you will connect with your target audience, and how you will turn them into paying customers.

Dig deeper: What to include in your sales and marketing plan

Business operations

When writing a business plan, the operations section describes the necessary requirements for your business to run smoothly. It’s where you talk about how your business works and what day-to-day operations look like. 

Depending on how your business is structured, your operations plan may include elements of the business like:

• Supply chain management
• Manufacturing processes
• Equipment and technology
• Distribution

Some businesses distribute their products and reach their customers through large retailers like Amazon.com, Walmart, Target, and grocery store chains. 

These businesses should review how this part of their business works. The plan should discuss the logistics and costs of getting products onto store shelves and any potential hurdles the business may have to overcome.

If your business is much simpler than this, that’s OK. This section of your business plan can be either extremely short or more detailed, depending on the type of business you are building.

For businesses selling services, such as physical therapy or online software, you can use this section to describe the technology you’ll leverage, what goes into your service, and who you will partner with to deliver your services.

Dig Deeper: Learn how to write the operations chapter of your plan

Key milestones and metrics

Although it’s not required to complete your business plan, mapping out key business milestones and the metrics can be incredibly useful for measuring your success.

Good milestones clearly lay out the parameters of the task and set expectations for their execution. You’ll want to include:

• A description of each task
• The proposed due date
• Who is responsible for each task

If you have a budget, you can include projected costs to hit each milestone. You don’t need extensive project planning in this section—just list key milestones you want to hit and when you plan to hit them. This is your overall business roadmap. 

Possible milestones might be:

• Website launch date
• Store or office opening date
• First significant sales
• Break even date
• Business licenses and approvals

You should also discuss the key numbers you will track to determine your success. Some common metrics worth tracking include:

• Conversion rates
• Customer acquisition costs
• Profit per customer
• Repeat purchases

It’s perfectly fine to start with just a few metrics and grow the number you are tracking over time. You also may find that some metrics simply aren’t relevant to your business and can narrow down what you’re tracking.

Dig Deeper: How to use milestones in your business plan

Organization and management team

Investors don’t just look for great ideas—they want to find great teams. Use this chapter to describe your current team and who you need to hire . You should also provide a quick overview of your location and history if you’re already up and running.

Briefly highlight the relevant experiences of each key team member in the company. It’s important to make the case for why yours is the right team to turn an idea into a reality. 

Do they have the right industry experience and background? Have members of the team had entrepreneurial successes before? 

If you still need to hire key team members, that’s OK. Just note those gaps in this section.

Your company overview should also include a summary of your company’s current business structure . The most common business structures include:

• Sole proprietor
• Partnership

Be sure to provide an overview of how the business is owned as well. Does each business partner own an equal portion of the business? How is ownership divided? 

Potential lenders and investors will want to know the structure of the business before they will consider a loan or investment.

Dig Deeper: How to write about your company structure and team

Financial plan

The last section of your business plan is your financial plan and forecasts. 

Entrepreneurs often find this section the most daunting. But, business financials for most startups are less complicated than you think, and a business degree is certainly not required to build a solid financial forecast. 

A typical financial forecast in a business plan includes the following:

• Sales forecast : An estimate of the sales expected over a given period. You’ll break down your forecast into the key revenue streams that you expect to have.
• Expense budget : Your planned spending such as personnel costs , marketing expenses, and taxes.
• Profit & Loss : Brings together your sales and expenses and helps you calculate planned profits.
• Cash Flow : Shows how cash moves into and out of your business. It can predict how much cash you’ll have on hand at any given point in the future.
• Balance Sheet : A list of the assets, liabilities, and equity in your company. In short, it provides an overview of the financial health of your business. 

A strong business plan will include a description of assumptions about the future, and potential risks that could impact the financial plan. Including those will be especially important if you’re writing a business plan to pursue a loan or other investment.

Dig Deeper: How to create financial forecasts and budgets

This is the place for additional data, charts, or other information that supports your plan.

Including an appendix can significantly enhance the credibility of your plan by showing readers that you’ve thoroughly considered the details of your business idea, and are backing your ideas up with solid data.

Just remember that the information in the appendix is meant to be supplementary. Your business plan should stand on its own, even if the reader skips this section.

Dig Deeper : What to include in your business plan appendix

Optional: Business plan cover page

Adding a business plan cover page can make your plan, and by extension your business, seem more professional in the eyes of potential investors, lenders, and partners. It serves as the introduction to your document and provides necessary contact information for stakeholders to reference.

Your cover page should be simple and include:

• Company logo
• Business name
• Value proposition (optional)
• Business plan title
• Completion and/or update date
• Address and contact information
• Confidentiality statement

Just remember, the cover page is optional. If you decide to include it, keep it very simple and only spend a short amount of time putting it together.

Dig Deeper: How to create a business plan cover page

How to use AI to help write your business plan

Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT can speed up the business plan writing process and help you think through concepts like market segmentation and competition. These tools are especially useful for taking ideas that you provide and converting them into polished text for your business plan.

The best way to use AI to write a business plan is to leverage it as a collaborator , not a replacement for human creative thinking and ingenuity. 

AI can come up with lots of ideas and act as a brainstorming partner. It’s up to you to filter through those ideas and figure out which ones are realistic enough to resonate with your customers. 

There are pros and cons of using AI to help with your business plan . So, spend some time understanding how it can be most helpful before just outsourcing the job to AI.

Learn more: 10 AI prompts you need to write a business plan

• Writing tips and strategies

To help streamline the business plan writing process, here are a few tips and key questions to answer to make sure you get the most out of your plan and avoid common mistakes .  

Determine why you are writing a business plan

Knowing why you are writing a business plan will determine your approach to your planning project. 

For example: If you are writing a business plan for yourself, or just to use inside your own business , you can probably skip the section about your team and organizational structure. 

If you’re raising money, you’ll want to spend more time explaining why you’re looking to raise the funds and exactly how you will use them.

Regardless of how you intend to use your business plan , think about why you are writing and what you’re trying to get out of the process before you begin.

Keep things concise

Probably the most important tip is to keep your business plan short and simple. There are no prizes for long business plans . The longer your plan is, the less likely people are to read it. 

So focus on trimming things down to the essentials your readers need to know. Skip the extended, wordy descriptions and instead focus on creating a plan that is easy to read —using bullets and short sentences whenever possible.

Have someone review your business plan

Writing a business plan in a vacuum is never a good idea. Sometimes it’s helpful to zoom out and check if your plan makes sense to someone else. You also want to make sure that it’s easy to read and understand.

Don’t wait until your plan is “done” to get a second look. Start sharing your plan early, and find out from readers what questions your plan leaves unanswered. This early review cycle will help you spot shortcomings in your plan and address them quickly, rather than finding out about them right before you present your plan to a lender or investor.

If you need a more detailed review, you may want to explore hiring a professional plan writer to thoroughly examine it.

Use a free business plan template and business plan examples to get started

Knowing what information to include in a business plan is sometimes not quite enough. If you’re struggling to get started or need additional guidance, it may be worth using a business plan template. 

There are plenty of great options available (we’ve rounded up our 8 favorites to streamline your search).

But, if you’re looking for a free downloadable business plan template , you can get one right now; download the template used by more than 1 million businesses. 

Or, if you just want to see what a completed business plan looks like, check out our library of over 550 free business plan examples . 

We even have a growing list of industry business planning guides with tips for what to focus on depending on your business type.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

It’s easy to make mistakes when you’re writing your business plan. Some entrepreneurs get sucked into the writing and research process, and don’t focus enough on actually getting their business started. 

Here are a few common mistakes and how to avoid them:

Not talking to your customers : This is one of the most common mistakes. It’s easy to assume that your product or service is something that people want. Before you invest too much in your business and too much in the planning process, make sure you talk to your prospective customers and have a good understanding of their needs.

• Overly optimistic sales and profit forecasts: By nature, entrepreneurs are optimistic about the future. But it’s good to temper that optimism a little when you’re planning, and make sure your forecasts are grounded in reality. 
• Spending too much time planning: Yes, planning is crucial. But you also need to get out and talk to customers, build prototypes of your product and figure out if there’s a market for your idea. Make sure to balance planning with building.
• Not revising the plan: Planning is useful, but nothing ever goes exactly as planned. As you learn more about what’s working and what’s not—revise your plan, your budgets, and your revenue forecast. Doing so will provide a more realistic picture of where your business is going, and what your financial needs will be moving forward.
• Not using the plan to manage your business: A good business plan is a management tool. Don’t just write it and put it on the shelf to collect dust – use it to track your progress and help you reach your goals.
• Presenting your business plan

The planning process forces you to think through every aspect of your business and answer questions that you may not have thought of. That’s the real benefit of writing a business plan – the knowledge you gain about your business that you may not have been able to discover otherwise.

With all of this knowledge, you’re well prepared to convert your business plan into a pitch presentation to present your ideas. 

A pitch presentation is a summary of your plan, just hitting the highlights and key points. It’s the best way to present your business plan to investors and team members.

Dig Deeper: Learn what key slides should be included in your pitch deck

Use your business plan to manage your business

One of the biggest benefits of planning is that it gives you a tool to manage your business better. With a revenue forecast, expense budget, and projected cash flow, you know your targets and where you are headed.

And yet, nothing ever goes exactly as planned – it’s the nature of business.

That’s where using your plan as a management tool comes in. The key to leveraging it for your business is to review it periodically and compare your forecasts and projections to your actual results.

Start by setting up a regular time to review the plan – a monthly review is a good starting point. During this review, answer questions like:

• Did you meet your sales goals?
• Is spending following your budget?
• Has anything gone differently than what you expected?

Now that you see whether you’re meeting your goals or are off track, you can make adjustments and set new targets. 

Maybe you’re exceeding your sales goals and should set new, more aggressive goals. In that case, maybe you should also explore more spending or hiring more employees. 

Or maybe expenses are rising faster than you projected. If that’s the case, you would need to look at where you can cut costs.

A plan, and a method for comparing your plan to your actual results , is the tool you need to steer your business toward success.

Learn More: How to run a regular plan review

How to write a business plan FAQ

What is a business plan?

A document that describes your business , the products and services you sell, and the customers that you sell to. It explains your business strategy, how you’re going to build and grow your business, what your marketing strategy is, and who your competitors are.

What are the benefits of writing a business plan?

A business plan helps you understand where you want to go with your business and what it will take to get there. It reduces your overall risk, helps you uncover your business’s potential, attracts investors, and identifies areas for growth.

Writing a business plan ultimately makes you more confident as a business owner and more likely to succeed for a longer period of time.

What are the 7 steps of writing a business plan?

The seven steps to writing a business plan include:

• Write a brief executive summary
• Describe your products and services.
• Conduct market research and compile data into a cohesive market analysis.
• Describe your marketing and sales strategy.
• Outline your organizational structure and management team.
• Develop financial projections for sales, revenue, and cash flow.
• Add any additional documents to your appendix.

What are the 5 most common business plan mistakes?

There are plenty of mistakes that can be made when writing a business plan. However, these are the 5 most common that you should do your best to avoid:

• 1. Not taking the planning process seriously.
• Having unrealistic financial projections or incomplete financial information.
• Inconsistent information or simple mistakes.
• Failing to establish a sound business model.
• Not having a defined purpose for your business plan.

What questions should be answered in a business plan?

Writing a business plan is all about asking yourself questions about your business and being able to answer them through the planning process. You’ll likely be asking dozens and dozens of questions for each section of your plan.

However, these are the key questions you should ask and answer with your business plan:

• How will your business make money?
• Is there a need for your product or service?
• Who are your customers?
• How are you different from the competition?
• How will you reach your customers?
• How will you measure success?

How long should a business plan be?

The length of your business plan fully depends on what you intend to do with it. From the SBA and traditional lender point of view, a business plan needs to be whatever length necessary to fully explain your business. This means that you prove the viability of your business, show that you understand the market, and have a detailed strategy in place.

If you intend to use your business plan for internal management purposes, you don’t necessarily need a full 25-50 page business plan. Instead, you can start with a one-page plan to get all of the necessary information in place.

What are the different types of business plans?

While all business plans cover similar categories, the style and function fully depend on how you intend to use your plan. Here are a few common business plan types worth considering.

Traditional business plan: The tried-and-true traditional business plan is a formal document meant to be used when applying for funding or pitching to investors. This type of business plan follows the outline above and can be anywhere from 10-50 pages depending on the amount of detail included, the complexity of your business, and what you include in your appendix.

Business model canvas: The business model canvas is a one-page template designed to demystify the business planning process. It removes the need for a traditional, copy-heavy business plan, in favor of a single-page outline that can help you and outside parties better explore your business idea.

One-page business plan: This format is a simplified version of the traditional plan that focuses on the core aspects of your business. You’ll typically stick with bullet points and single sentences. It’s most useful for those exploring ideas, needing to validate their business model, or who need an internal plan to help them run and manage their business.

Lean Plan: The Lean Plan is less of a specific document type and more of a methodology. It takes the simplicity and styling of the one-page business plan and turns it into a process for you to continuously plan, test, review, refine, and take action based on performance. It’s faster, keeps your plan concise, and ensures that your plan is always up-to-date.

What’s the difference between a business plan and a strategic plan?

A business plan covers the “who” and “what” of your business. It explains what your business is doing right now and how it functions. The strategic plan explores long-term goals and explains “how” the business will get there. It encourages you to look more intently toward the future and how you will achieve your vision.

However, when approached correctly, your business plan can actually function as a strategic plan as well. If kept lean, you can define your business, outline strategic steps, and track ongoing operations all with a single plan.

Noah is the COO at Palo Alto Software, makers of the online business plan app LivePlan. He started his career at Yahoo! and then helped start the user review site Epinions.com. From there he started a software distribution business in the UK before coming to Palo Alto Software to run the marketing and product teams.

Table of Contents

• Use AI to help write your plan
• Common planning mistakes
• Manage with your business plan

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How To Write a Business Proposal for a Small Business

September 3, 2024.

A great business proposal is like having an ace salesperson who never sleeps. It works around the clock, convincing clients why they should choose you over the competition.

A business proposal outlines your plan to solve a client’s problem or meet their needs. It explains what you can do, how you’ll do it, and why you’re the best choice.

Here’s how to write a business proposal that works. Learn everything from understanding your client’s needs to presenting your solution clearly—and creating proposals that turn potential clients into paying customers.

RELATED ARTICLE — What Is Customer Relations? Everything You Need To Know for Your Business

What Is a Business Proposal?

A business proposal is a written proposal that explains how you can solve a problem or meet a need for another company or person. It’s a powerful tool companies use to win new clients and projects. Think of it as a mix between a sales pitch and a project plan.

Because it focuses on a specific business opportunity, learning how to write a solid business proposal is very different from learning how to write a grant proposal for a small business. It’s also different from learning how to write a business proposal for funding—more commonly referred to as a business plan—which is a broader document aimed at securing investment in your company.

In a business proposal, you lay out all the details of what you’re offering. This includes what you’ll do, how you’ll do it, when you’ll get it done, and how much it’ll cost. But it’s more than just a list of facts and figures. A good proposal tells a story about why your solution is the best one out there.

RELATED ARTICLE — How To Write a Business Plan: A Step-By-Step Guide

Types of Business Proposals

Business proposals come in different shapes and sizes. Some are short and sweet, while others are long and detailed. The length and style often depend on what you’re proposing and who it’s for. But no matter the size, the goal is always the same: to convince the reader that your company is the right choice for the job.

Let’s look at the main types of business proposals you may write:

• Solicited Proposals . These are proposals a client asks for. It’s like when a teacher gives you an assignment. They tell you exactly what they want, which makes it easier to follow.
• Unsolicited Proposals . These are proposals you send without being asked. You’re putting out the feelers to see if the client is interested in working with you.
• Formal Proposals . These are detailed professional documents. You need to follow specific rules and include lots of information.
• Informal Proposals . These are shorter and more casual. Think of them like a quick email to a friend explaining an idea. 

RELATED ARTICLE — Communication Methods Within a Business and How To Improve Your Skills

What Should Your Business Proposal Outline Include?

A great business proposal is like a well-organized toolbox. Each part has its place and purpose, working together to get the job done. Let’s look at the key sections you should include in your proposal to make it clear, convincing, and complete:

• Title Page and Table of Contents . Start with a professional-looking front page and a list of what’s inside.
• Proposal Snapshot . Give a quick overview of your main ideas and why they’re a great fit for the client’s needs.
• Client’s Challenge . Show you understand the problem the prospective client needs to solve.
• Your Game Plan . Explain how you’ll fix the client’s problem step by step.
• Cost Breakdown . Be clear about pricing and how payment works.
• Why Choose You . Share your (or your team’s) skills and past successes.
• Next Steps and Wrap-up . Tell the client what to do next and remind them why your idea is the best.

RELATED ARTICLE — How To Register a Business in the US: A Comprehensive Guide

10 Steps To Writing a Business Proposal

Crafting a winning business proposal requires following some key steps to build a solid foundation. Here’s a guide to help you write a proposal that stands out and gets results:

• Pick an Eye-Catching Name . Choose a title that clearly explains your proposal and grabs attention.
• Make a Roadmap . Create a table of contents to help readers find information.
• Write a Summary . Briefly explain your main ideas and why they’ll work.
• Describe the Challenge . Show you understand the client’s problem in detail.
• Offer Your Solutions . Explain how you’ll solve the problem, being specific about your approach.
• Highlight Your Strengths . Show off your company’s skills and past successes.
• Plan the Project Timeline . Develop a realistic schedule for completing the work.
• Explain the Costs . Be clear about prices and what’s included in different options.
• Set the Ground Rules . Outline important terms and conditions to prevent misunderstandings.
• Prepare for the Answer . Explain what happens next and how the client can move forward.

FROM ONE OF OUR PARTNERS — 5 Small Business Groups Advocating for You

A Business Proposal Example

The best way to learn is by seeing real examples. Here’s one for a small landscaping company. It’ll show you how to put all the pieces together in a way that works. You can also use it as a business proposal template for your own proposals.

Landscaping Company Proposal

“Green Thumb Landscaping: Transforming Your Backyard into a Personal Oasis”

Prepared for: The Johnson Family

Date: July 1, 2024

By: Green Thumb Landscaping

Table of Contents

Executive summary, your landscaping needs, our proposed solution, project timeline, cost breakdown, about green thumb, terms and conditions, next steps and closing remarks.

Green Thumb Landscaping will turn your ordinary backyard into a stunning outdoor living space. Our plan includes a custom patio, flower gardens, and a water feature, all designed to fit your family’s lifestyle and budget. With our expertise and your vision, we’ll create a backyard oasis for you to enjoy for years to come.

The Johnson family has a large but unused backyard. They want a beautiful outdoor space for relaxing and entertaining, but they’re not sure how to make the most of the area. The current space lacks visual appeal, functional areas for gathering, and proper landscaping to provide privacy and shade.

• Design a 500 sq ft patio using eco-friendly materials
• Create colorful flower beds along the property line
• Install a small pond with a fountain as a centerpiece
• Plant shade trees for privacy and comfort
• Set up an efficient irrigation system

Week 1–2 : Design finalization and material ordering

Week 3–4 : Site preparation and patio installation

Week 5–6 : Landscaping and planting

Week 7 : Water feature installation

Week 8 : Irrigation system setup and final touches

Patio Installation : $8,000

Landscaping and Planting : $5,000

Water Feature : $3,000

Irrigation System : $2,000

_______________________

Total Project Cost : $18,000

Green Thumb has 15 years of experience creating award-winning landscapes. Our team includes certified horticulturists and eco-friendly design experts. We’ve completed over 500 projects, with a 98% customer satisfaction rate.

• 50% deposit required to begin work
• Balance due upon project completion
• Any changes to the agreed plan may result in additional costs
• Green Thumb provides a 1-year warranty on all plantings and installations

To transform your backyard, simply sign the attached agreement. We’ll schedule a final design meeting within a week and can start work within 14 days.

FROM ONE OF OUR PARTNERS — 10 Ways To Grow Your Small Business With Networking

5 Tips for Writing a Great Professional Business Proposal

Now that you know the basics of writing a business proposal, let’s look at some tips to make yours stand out from the crowd. Remember, a good proposal isn’t just about what you say, but how you say it.

• Make It Look Good . Use a clean, professional design with plenty of white space. Choose easy-to-read fonts and use colors that match your brand. This is extra important for unsolicited proposals because a document that looks great is more likely to get read.
• Keep It Short and Sweet . Aim for clear, simple language that gets to the point quickly. Break up long paragraphs into shorter ones.
• Show, Don’t Tell . If possible, include charts, graphs, or images to make your points clearer. For example, if you’re talking about saving money, show a graph of how much the client will save compared to a competitor.
• Tailor It . Don’t use the same proposal for everyone. Show that you understand each client’s specific needs and how your solution fits them perfectly.
• Proofread (Then Proofread Again) . Spelling mistakes and typos can make you look careless. Read through your proposal several times, and consider asking someone else to look it over for you.

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Kamala harris’ focus on small business: her job creator plan.

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North Hampton, NH - September 4: U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala ... [+] Harris speaks during a campaign event at Throwback Brewery. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

On Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris announced her “Entrepreneurs & Innovators Policy Plan” that will support small businesses, entrepreneurs, innovation, and economic growth. As previously reported , over her career, the Vice President has long been committed to supporting small business and entrepreneurs.

Her campaign announcement during a speech in North Hampton, New Hampshire, at the Throwback Brewery , a women-owned business that has been in operation for more than a decade, gives us more insight into what her priorities for small business, entrepreneurs and innovators would look like. The Biden-Harris Administration has prioritized Main Streets across the country through legislation and executive orders. These efforts have led to 19 million in new recorded business applications since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, an unprecedented number . Small businesses have also created 70% of net new U.S. jobs since 2019.

Vice President Harris’ plan calls for building on this success by setting a goal of 25 million new small-business applications during her first term. Here are the policy proposals designed to achieve it:

Tax Deductions

It takes on average about $40,000 to launch a small business for items that include market surveys, advertisements, equipment, and salaries for workers in training. However, the tax deduction for start-up expenses is currently $5,000. Vice President Harris’ plan would push for expanding this deduction to $50,000 for new small businesses to cover more of these costs and provide more flexibility on when and how they can claim it. For example, if they wait until they are bringing in profits, the deduction may be more beneficial to businesses at that time.

In addition, she has proposed a series of standard deductions for small businesses in filing taxes. An estimated one in three small business owners spend over a week filing taxes, and two in three spend at least $1,000 each year to do so. A standard deduction in the tax code akin to one available to individual filers can save the smallest businesses time and money.

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024

Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024.

Expanding Contract Opportunities

Vice President Harris also pledged that in her first term, one-third of all federal contract dollars will go to small businesses by expanding contract opportunities for rural and other underserved small businesses. The Small Business Administration’s current goal is for 23% of prime government contract dollars to go to eligible small businesses so this would be a significant increase. This represents an increase of more than $20 billion in revenue to small firms.

Small Business Expansion Fund

One challenge facing underserved Main Streets and communities is difficulty to attract capital. This is compounded by the fact that a small business needs time to generate the revenue needed to make initial loan payments. Vice President Harris’ plan would aim to address this by launching a small business expansion fund where community banks and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to cover interest costs while small businesses are expanding. This fund will help small businesses who want to locate, innovate, and create jobs in communities across the United States have access to affordable capital. It also builds on the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) 2.0, which was part of the American Rescue Plan , which provides funding to states, territories, and eligible municipalities to expand existing or to create new state small business investment programs.

Less Burdensome Regulations

The Vice President has also proposed steps to reduce bureaucracy for small business owners through efforts that include making it easier to obtain occupational licenses for workers and businesses to operate across state lines. Additionally, her plan would also create incentives for states and local governments to reduce burdensome small business regulations, such as simplifying business licensing, zoning processes, and building, public way, and health permits.

Several of the policy proposals she has outlined have already been championed by Democrats and Republicans. With that in mind, it is refreshing to see that she is already laying out her plans for job creators across the country and significant to see a presidential candidate develop an intentional strategy in support of the small businesses that play a critical role in our economic growth.

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Exclusive: Intel CEO to pitch board on plans to shed assets, cut costs, source says

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• Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger and other executives to present plans to trim down company
• CEO will present ideas at mid-September meeting,
• Plans could include selling Altera programmable chip unit, sources say
• Capital spending cuts may include German factory expected to cost $32 billion, source says
• Intel has retained Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs to advise on asset sales

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Reporting by Max A. Cherney in San Francisco and Milana Vinn in New York; Editing by Kenneth Li, Anirban Sen, Paritosh Bansal, Deepa Babington and Mark Porter

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Milana Vinn reports on technology, media, and telecom (TMT) mergers and acquisitions. Her content usually appears in the markets and deals sections of the website. Milana previously worked at GLG and PE Hub, where she spent several years covering TMT deals in private equity. She graduated from CUNY Graduate School of Journalism with Masters in Business Journalism.

Indian state minister to meet Samsung officials in bid to resolve strike

The labour minister of India's southern state of Tamil Nadu is set to hold talks on Thursday with officials of Samsung Electronics , in a bid to resolve a strike that has disrupted its consumer electronics plant for four days.

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• The Debate Reviews Say Trump Lost, Harris Won: How It Happened

Fox News and MSNBC are united after the debate:  Donald Trump  lost and  Kamala Harris  won. Stretching well past the scheduled 90 minutes, the first and possibly only debate between the candidates, which aired on ABC, featured the Republican candidate almost immediately straying from his campaign’s playbook for the face-off, getting angry and increasingly personal — twice even hushing the first woman to serve as vice-president. If that weren’t enough, he repeated a bizarre lie about migrants eating pets in Ohio, among numerous other tangents. Democrats are ecstatic about Harris’s performance, while Republicans were left wincing at their man’s defensive posture and blaming the moderators for being too hard on him.

All our debate coverage

• Gabriel Debenedetti on the success of Kamala Harris’s debate strategy . • Nia Prater on whether there will be a second debate . • Jonathan Chait on how Trump was sabotaged by the online right . • Photos and anonymous overheard comments from the New York Young Republican Club’s debate watch party. • The Cut’s Laura Bassett on how Harris out-alphaed Trump . • Jonathan Chait on the contrast Harris was able to draw with her Trump-baiting. • Margaret Hartmann on Trump’s pet-eating tangent . • Ed Kilgore on Trump’s torrent of denials .

Below is a reverse chronological account of what happened as it happened, including commentary and analysis from the entire Intelligencer team.

How Harris flummoxed Trump

From my new report on how the Harris team’s debate strategy played out:

It took only a few minutes for Trump to grow flustered by Harris’s reference to a negative analysis of his economic plans by professors at Penn’s Wharton School, his alma mater. Minutes later, she directly quoted a tweet of his praising Chinese leader Xi Jinping over Beijing’s handling of COVID, and he once again spluttered. Soon after, he mixed up Virginia for West Virginia when he went on a tirade about Democrats and “after birth” abortion. He also praised the “genius and heart and strength” of the six conservative Supreme Court justices who overturned  Roe  v.  Wade —a historically unpopular move. As Trump refused to make eye contact with Harris and grimaced into his notes, I was reminded of what Celinda Lake, a senior Democratic pollster who works with the Harris campaign, told me a few hours earlier: Research shows that 70 percent of what voters take away from debates is the theater aspect, only 30 percent is the actual policy difference. Harris’s campaign relished the chance to throw Trump off his game after he won the first debate against Biden by simply letting his opponent expose himself as just too old for the job. This time, the Harris team ran an ad on Fox News and stationed billboards around the city taunting Trump about his smaller crowd sizes, an obsession of his that voters find childish. When Trump accused her of busing in paid crowds to her own events, Harris looked like she almost couldn’t believe he took the bait instead of responding to her claim that he doesn’t care about everyday voters. She laughed as Trump insisted that undocumented migrants were eating family pets in Ohio, a far-right conspiracy that took his focus far from his straightforward attempts to blame her for the migrant surge at the southern border. One top Democratic operative, who’d been basically comatose at that point early in the first debate, started texting me “YES” “YES” “YES” every few moments as Trump preached to the far-right corners of X more than persuadable voters in swing states.

You can read the rest here .

The pet-eating memes continue

A couple more indications of a Harris victory

To be clear, these results should be taken with a grain of salt, but:

And this isn’t a poll, but still interesting:

If there’s going to be another debate, it could only be on Fox News

Which begs the question:

Harris’s Trump-bait helped draw out an important contrast

As I argue in my review of the debate , Harris “baited Donald Trump into losing his temper, then used the visual contrast between them to establish herself as not only a plausible president but the only plausible president onstage.” Also:

The clearest success Harris registered was in performing the role of president. She repeatedly touted her economic plan, rebutting the charge she lacks ideas, which is intended to present her as a lightweight. She also did this by citing her foreign-policy experience, meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and organizing a NATO response to Russia’s invasion. The importance of these validators might be overlooked, but many Americans have old-fashioned views of presidential qualifications, associating it with masculinity. Most important, she established herself as presidential by appearing calm and confident, in vivid contrast to the bellowing lunatic on the stage beside her.

Trump’s big debate denialathon

From my new take on Trump’s bad night:

Trump has a devoted following of people who believe his revisionist take on reality, who don’t accept the experts or the statistics or logic or the evidence of their own eyes and ears. It’s hard to imagine, however, that many persuadable people watching this debate will find it so easy to accept that Trump is right about everything and everyone else is wrong. To the extent that Trump made his war on reality so sweeping and absolute and  furious  on the stage in Philadelphia, he lost not just the debate but his grip.

Read the rest here .

But will this matter to swing voters?

Doing your own stint in the spin room is rarely a good sign, and now taylor swift has endorsed kamala harris.

From her cat-featuring announcement post on Instagram following the debate, which Swift said she watched:

Recently I was made aware that AI of ‘me’ falsely endorsing Donald Trump’s presidential run was posted to his site. It really conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation. It brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter. The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth. I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election. I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them. I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos. I was so heartened and impressed by her selection of running mate @timwalz , who has been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades.

Lindsey Graham wants to fire … who, exactly?

Trump: ‘my best debate, ever’.

That’s what he claimed in a post-debate Truth Social message (while also attacking Harris and the moderators):

I thought that was my best Debate, EVER, especially since it was THREE ON ONE!

Post-debate on Fox News

Harris already wants a rematch

Minutes after the first presidential debate between Trump and Harris ended, Harris campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon issued a  statement claiming victory and extending an offer for a second matchup between the two candidates. “Vice President Harris is ready for a second debate. Is Donald Trump?” she wrote.

The  Washington  Post  reports that Trump’s team appears game, for now, with campaign adviser Chris LaCivita saying of the request, “Of course. They need clean up.”

Meanwhile, during those paid messages

Reports pooler Sara Cook on the second commercial break:

The second the stage hand said they were clear for a 4 minute break, Trump turned towards the exit, gave a big sigh through closed lips, and walked off stage without looking at Harris. From the time the moderators announced they were going to break, Harris began writing on her notepad. She wrote continuously for the entire first two minutes of the break, occasionally bringing one hand to her chin or brushing hair behind her ear. She then reviewed what she wrote for the next minute, making a few tweaks, before putting the pen down and looking out around the room with her hands folded in front of her. She took a sip of water from a glass placed under the lectern. Trump walked back onstage 30 seconds before the end of break. He did not look at Harris, she did not look at him. Harris made small adjustments to her collar. Both candidates looked straight ahead until the program restarted. Again, no words were spoken.

Their closing statements

As it was throughout the debate, a clear contrast:

What is a debate win worth?

Julia Ioffe notes wryly that Hillary Clinton won her debates against Donald Trump, too. It’s an important reminder that what liberals and media critics consider a successful performance is not necessarily going to be persuasive to the small segment of swing voters that need to be persuaded in this election.

On health care, Trump has “concepts of a plan”

Donald Trump has promised a big beautiful Obamacare replacement for almost a decade without ever really articulating what it would look like. (It was even unclear when Republicans came close to repealing the Affordable Care Act in 2017.) But never fear: He finally unveiled some specifics on Tuesday night:

Concepts of a plan??

“I have concepts of a plan,” won’t rescue Trump from a disastrous performance, but to my weary brain, it’s gold. Not only does it sound like the title of a forgotten shoegaze album; it’s emblematic of Trump himself. He has nothing, really, just bigotry and a handful of vague positions. He specializes in vibes, and bad ones at that. That line was one of his more honest moments. It’ll rattle around in my mind palace for weeks to come.

Harris owns a gun?

After Trump accused Democrats for wanting to take away everyone’s firearms, Harris said something surprising: She is a gun owner. It’s not news, however. In 2019, according to  CNN , her presidential campaign at the time said she purchased a handgun for personal protection and keeps it locked in a safe.

Trump doubles down on Harris race comments

When Trump was asked about his past comments on Harris’s race, he started out by saying that he doesn’t care at all about how she identifies. And then he doubled down.

“All I can say is I read where she was not Black, that she put out — I’ll say that. And then I read that she was Black and that’s okay,” he said of Harris, who is Black and Indian. “Either one was okay with me. That’s up to her.”

In response, Harris raised Trump’s past examples of racism, spending a significant amount of time on his treatment of the Central Park 5, who were heavily featured at the DNC last month. “It’s a tragedy that we have someone who wants to be president who has consistently used race to try to divide us,” she said.

Yusef Salaam, a New York City councilman and member of the Central Park 5, is expected to be in the spin room after the debate.

Trump is getting more mic time

And considering how he’s using that time, Harris is probably fine with that.

Harris uses Ukraine question to establish her bona fides

Kamala Harris’s response to Donald Trump on the Russia-Ukraine war is not focused on attacking Trump. Instead, she uses it to recount her foreign-policy work, meeting with Zelenskyy and NATO.

One of her most important obstacles to overcome is still that many voters question whether she, or any woman, is strong enough to serve as commander-in-chief.

Harris is looking at Trump, but he is not reciprocating

Harris is taking trump seriously.

I am surprised she’s not being more dismissive in her posture. What she is doing is effective, but I was anticipating her emphasizing, for instance, that the reason why she had to introduce herself to Trump at the start of the debate is because he skipped the inauguration, because he was a sore loser, etc. They are both taking each other extremely seriously in their exchanges.

Democratic reaction so far: PHEW

They know it’s not over and that there’s plenty to do, but the overriding feeling I’ve gotten from Democrats close to the Harris campaign over the debate’s first hour is immense relief. So many were scarred by the last debate and downplayed what Harris had to do tonight. But they’re unanimous now that her obvious strategy of getting under Trump’s skin has worked wonders.

One top Democrat who was catatonic during the last debate has just been texting me “YES” “YES” “YES” every few minutes, peaking as Trump rambled about pets being eaten and when Harris started laughing at him.

Their deeper feeling isn’t quite so gleeful. They know her most important audience tonight is undecided voters, not just people who hate Trump, and that this is almost certainly the largest audience she’ll get all campaign long. There’s a half-hour left, and Trump keeps hammering her on the border, one of her biggest weaknesses.

But they’re happy with how she got through the economics section, thrilled with her answers on abortion — her campaign adviser David Plouffe said on X that the campaign’s internal numbers showed a 40-point gap among undecided voters while they were talking — and they clearly see a path to success in letting him ramble incoherently while she tries to present herself as a chance to break beyond the messy, unproductive politics of the last decade. Harris’s campaign says that its live-testing of battleground-state undecided voters hit its lowest point when Trump was going on about insisting he won the 2020 race.

At this point during Trump-Biden debate, the president’s team was desperately hoping no one was watching. Right now, Harris’s is praying that everyone’s tuning in and that this is, like ABC keeps saying, the most consequential debate in history.

Trump says Biden hates Harris

In a comment that was even more startling than his description of her as a Marxist, Trump said of Harris that “Biden hates her.” Keep in mind that Biden hand-picked her as his vice-president, then made sure she rather than many other plausible Democrats was his successor when he withdrew from the 2024 race, and then spoke on her behalf at the convention and has been campaigning with her.

So who are you going to believe? Trump or your lying ears and eyes?

Unhappy Republican reactions are pouring in

Congressional Republicans have tuned into the Trump-Harris debate and, so far, they’re not liking what they’re seeing. Several conceded to reporters that Harris successfully forced Trump off his game:

Senator Lindsey Graham, an ally of Trump, took to social media to complain about the moderators who have heavily fact-checked the former president:

Another response:

Trump cites authoritarian Orban as his validator

After Kamala Harris taunted Trump with the contempt with which world leaders held the former president, Trump had one shining example of a foreign fan who is his validator: Hungarian authoritarian Viktor Orban! Aside from the fact that few viewers likely knew who he was talking about, the few who did were probably horrified. Whether you consider Orban a new Franco, or a new Perón, or a new Mussolini, he’s hardly a role model for American leadership.

The betting market says Harris is running away with it

For what it’s worth:

Trump says he had nothing to do with January 6

In an amazing turn of his extraordinarily frequent oscillations on what happened on January 6, Trump now says he had nothing to do with what happened at the Capitol. He just made a speech, and Nancy Pelosi (!) was responsible for what happened. He’s not acknowledging all the steps he took that led up to January 6 or — as David Muir tried to remind him, that he, not Pelosi, not Harris, not Biden — was president that day.

And he tried to answer January 6 question with … immigration

Trump also mentioned the shooting of Ashli Babbitt, a Capitol rioter — then pivoted immediately to immigration yet again. “She is the border czar,” he said falsely of Harris. “What about those people?” he asked. “When are they going to be prosecuted?” He then repeated a line from earlier, saying that crime rates are going down in other countries because criminals are crossing the border. (Violent crime in the United States is down, I should note.) Trump has nothing of substance to say; his only real attack point is immigration, immigration, immigration. He won’t take responsibility for the Capitol Riot and, minutes later, would not admit he lost the election to President Joe Biden before he brought up — you guessed it — immigration. Again.

ABC has fact-checked Trump in surprisingly vigorous fashion

As completely expected, Donald Trump spouted a lot of lies and gross exaggerations during Tuesday’s debate. But unlike on some other debate nights, the network in charge is doing some effective real-time fact-checking. At least three times, one of the two ABC moderators, David Muir and Linsey Davis, have stepped in and corrected Trump after particularly egregious answers.

“There is no state in this country where it’s legal to kill a baby after it’s born,” Muir announced after Trump falsely claimed otherwise during an answer on abortion.

Muir also informed the audience at home that there is no evidence of immigrants eating dogs in Ohio, which Trump claimed, spinning off a popular conservative conspiracy theory that raced across the internet this week.

A shushing attempt, too

Trump tries to blame harris for assassination attempt.

In a shocking moment, Trump seemed to directly accuse Harris of contributing to the attempt on his life, suggesting her rhetoric played a role. “I probably took a bullet to the head because of the things they said about me,” he said.

It appears to be part of a recent trend from Trump and his circle to raise the specter of conspiracy around the July assassination attempt ahead of the November election. On Monday, Trump’s wife, Melania, shared a  video suggesting that there was “more to the story” of the shooting.

Harris continues to take hits on her 2019 positions

ABC asked Vice-President Harris about her previous positions calling for a fracking ban, a mandatory assault-weapons buyback, and decriminalizing immigration enforcement.

Harris in her reply says she supports fracking, and notes the Inflation Reduction Act, which she voted for, expanded fracking. But she doesn’t mention the other issues, and retreats into a generalized defense of her values. It’s her weakest response so far.

Trump brings a racist pet-eating hoax to the debate stage

Trump raised a debunked racist hoax on the stage, claiming that immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are eating and killing residents’ pets. The rumors have been shared by Republican allies of Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance. “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in. They’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there and this is what’s happening in our country,” he said.

Debate moderator David Muir cut in to correct Trump on his claim, but Trump continued on, saying that people have said so on TV.

When it was her turn to speak, Harris seemed pleased with the exchange. “I mean, talk about extreme,” she said with a laugh.

Trump owns our national abortion nightmare

Harris’s powerful abortion answer wasn’t just her strongest rhetorical moment; it was directly responsive to the contemporary hellscape of women sitting in parking lots bleeding out, patients being forced to cross state lines for their procedures, minors being forced to stay pregnant after assault, and IVF in the crosshairs. Before  Roe  v.  Wade  was overturned, this probably felt theoretical to a lot of Americans, and polls were all over the place. Now, all of the aforementioned stories are real.

Meanwhile, Trump’s trying to run an old playbook on abortion, the one the Susan B. Anthony List historically encouraged: trying to make Democrats squirm by bringing up later abortions, or as he put it to Hillary Clinton back in 2016, claiming that they support “the baby out of the womb of the mother just prior to the birth of the baby,” and lying about so-called post-birth abortions, which do not exist. (He was distorting comments made about newborn hospice and confusing West Virginia and Virginia in the process.) The problem for him is that he’s talking hypotheticals about a past that he can’t substantiate, while every day, Americans read headlines about real-life consequences that have profoundly affected public opinion.

The first person to bring up Hannibal Lecter was … Harris?

I have good and bad news if you had “Trump shouts out the ‘late great Hannibal Lecter’” on your debate bingo card. Harris brought up Trump’s favorite fictional cannibal as an example of the unhinged things Trump says at his rallies rather than focusing on ways to help the American people.

Harris puts Trump on the defensive on abortion

On abortion, former president Donald Trump offered a rambling, if familiar, answer, saying falsely that liberal states “have abortion in the ninth month.” Then he misspoke in the process of lying: He claimed the the governor of West Virginia wanted to execute babies after birth, when he usually means Ralph Northam, the former governor of Virginia. “For 52 years they’ve been trying to get Roe v. Wade into the states,” he said and praised the “genius, heart and strength” of his chosen Supreme Court justices, who voted to overturn Roe . This is typical Trump: He wants to take credit for killing Roe , a decision that he claims, falsely, is popular, but he doesn’t want to answer direct questions about his own position on issues like Florida’s abortion referendum.

Then Vice-President Kamala Harris swiftly and decisively put him on the defensive, referring to “Trump abortion bans” in conservative-controlled states and describing the human consequences of those bans. Some don’t have exceptions for rape or incest, she said, adding, “That is immoral.” People do not have to “abandon their faith or their deeply held beliefs” in order to oppose the government — and Trump — making reproductive decisions for them.

It was an effective line of attack, and Trump didn’t credibly respond. All he could do was accuse Harris (again, falsely) of supporting abortion as late as the ninth month of pregnancy “and probably after birth.” If Trump thinks he can appeal to moderates and independents by claiming to support certain exceptions to abortion bans, he’s failing. His arsenal contains lies and not much else. As personal stories of harm emerge in states with bans on the books, it’s harder and harder for Trump to distance himself from the world he’s created — and would reinforce if reelected president.

Kamala Harris is definitely winning the reaction game

Harris, baiting trump, flags his rallies, trump dodges question about signing a national abortion ban.

“Will you veto a national abortion ban?” asks a moderator. “Well, I won’t have to,” Trump replies. Trump hems and haws about whether a national abortion law will pass Congress. He is told that J.D. Vance promised he would veto a national abortion ban. Trump replies that he didn’t talk to Vance.

That sure sounds like he wouldn’t veto a ban.

Trump is angry — that wasn’t the plan

Trump’s advisers were preoccupied with two things ahead of the debate: (1) Prevent him from getting angered by whatever Harris says, which they worried would knock him off message. (2) Encourage him to hang back, in the hopes that Harris might be forced to talk more expansively, which they hoped would lead to her producing mangled sentences they could utilize in service of their argument that she speaks incoherently (as opposed to Trump, who is of course famously coherent.)

Just a few minutes in, he’s already angry. It seemed to start with Harris mentioning the Wharton School, which was an artful way to trigger him and it worked instantly. Now he is speaking at a high volume and rather aggressively. He is still on message, but for how long? Harris meanwhile seems to be tailoring her facial expressions for memes. People looking in a befuddled way at Donald Trump is a robust genre already, and I expect she’ll make a meaningful contribution to that trove by the end of the night.

A early miscue

Trump seemed to briefly mix up the two Virginias during a winding response on abortion. While inaccurately claiming that states are performing abortions after nine months, Trump appeared to make a reference to former Virginia governor Ralph Northam, praising his successor and ally Glenn Youngkin, but said West Virginia instead. A mix-up that likely won’t endear him to the commonwealth.

Didn’t take long to get to the red-baiting

After initially claiming that Harris was just a Biden rubber-stamp and then that she had no policies at all, Trump suddenly lurched into a flat assertion that Harris is a Marxist, alluding to the occasional description her father as a “Marxist economist.” He offered no explanation of this claim, but guess Harris is lucky he didn’t call her a “communist” as he often has.

If Harris can even fight Trump to a draw on the economy, that is a win

The economy is one of Trump’s best issues, per polling. The race is basically tied, and Trump’s strength is the perception he is an economic mastermind — a perception that is winning over some voters who otherwise don’t like him. Trump needs to win a clear victory on the economy. I don’t think he did at all, but we’ll see what the viewers think.

Behold skeptical Kamala

Harris blames trump for praising china’s covid response.

Kamala Harris not only quoted Trump praising Xi Jinping’s handling of COVID; she noted China’s lack of transparency on the origins of the pandemic. That is an interesting position for her to take, and a correct one, in my view. But it’s also one conservatives have largely owned, because some progressives have treated the hypothesis that the pandemic emerged from a lab as a conspiracy theory. Harris seems to be taking the other side.

Harris invokes Project 2025 early

One of the Democrats’ most effective attack lines against Donald Trump and other Republicans this year has been  Project 2025 , the draconian playbook the Heritage Foundation and conservatives government cooked up for a second Trump presidency. Harris mentioned it early on even though the answer had little to do with the question Harris is asked, but it likely won’t be the first time she hits it tonight.

Trump, on the defensive, claimed ignorance. “I haven’t read it, I don’t want to read it,” he said.

A handshake and then a collision

When the two candidates came out, one question was answered when Kamala Harris approached Trump with a handshake that he awkwardly answered. The first question to Harris reprised the famous 1980 Reagan debate question: “Are [we] better off than four years ago?” She did not answer but instead went into her stock “opportunity economy” message, followed by a brisk denunciation of Trump’s economic agenda of tax cuts and tariffs. Following up, Trump introduced alleged uncontrolled immigration as wrecking the economy, and in a series of follow-ups, the two candidates hammered each other along the lines we expected, with Harris citing Project 2025 and Trump mocking Harris’s policy specifics.

Getting into it, right off the bat

Harris forces a handshake.

After much speculation it wouldn’t happen, there was indeed a handshake, but it didn’t come easily. Harris clearly insisted and had to walk all the way to Trump’s lectern to make it happen. “Kamala Harris. Let’s have a good debate,” she said. Trump replied, “Nice to see you, have fun.” Awkward!

Hell of a rumor!

Will that mass deportation involve barbed wire and cattle cars.

If my colleague Sarah Jones is right that Trump could “get nasty — and racist — fast” on immigration once the debate begins, then Kamala Harris will have a strategic decision to make on how to handle one of Trump’s signature issues. Up until now, she’s basically dealt with immigration by endorsing the bipartisan border-control bill that Trump killed earlier this year and moved on to other issues. But should Trump really go wild, she might consider poking him a bit on the implications of his promise to launch the greatest “mass deportation” in American history, involving  every  undocumented immigrant. Because of their defensiveness on the issue, Democrats have not raised alarms about the details of this terrible-sounding plan or the implications for Latino citizens and legal immigrants. who may be hassled or even rounded up in such an effort. Trump needs to pay a price for this very un-American America First idea.

Meanwhile in our group chat

Staffer 1: The debate room looks like Avatar. Staffer 2: rather aquatic Staffer 1: the podiums look different height Staffer 4: it’s making me feel a little insane Staffer 1: Trump is going to lose it Staffer 5: Shouldn’t the plural be “podia”? Yet it isn’t, strange Staffer 1: I went to a state school Four minutes later… Staffer 5: FYI, according to this AI Overview, “The plural of the word ‘podium’ is ‘podiums’ or ‘podia’” Six minutes later… Staffer 6: Chiming in to note that these are neither podiums nor podia. They are lecterns . The podium is the thing you stand on, not the thing you stand at.

When Laura Loomer is your debate adviser

Far-right activist Laura Loomer was seen leaving Trump’s plane after it arrived in Philadelphia. Loomer’s presence is notable for her extremism: She has  called  Islam “a cancer” and  celebrated  the deaths of migrants who were crossing the Mediterranean. On an extremist podcast in 2017, Loomer, who is Jewish, said, “Someone asked me, ‘Are you pro-white nationalism?’ Yes. I’m pro-white nationalism.”

Nevertheless, Trump  supported  her failed 2020 congressional race in Florida, she has flown on his plane in the past, and he reportedly wanted to hire her for a campaign role — until aides intervened, the Washington  Post  reported . With Loomer onboard, Trump may be in a pugnacious mood, especially on immigration. On Truth Social yesterday and today, he repeatedly boosted  the viral lie  that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are kidnapping and eating pets, and Republicans have tried to link Vice-President Harris to President Biden’s immigration policy with that rumor and in other talking points. The debate has yet to start, but expect Trump to quickly get nasty — and racist — once it begins.

The $64,000 question

At the end of the June 27 debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, CNN moderators tried  three times  to get a clear answer from Trump as to whether he would accept defeat in November. Indeed, not that a single person noticed, but Biden’s  last words  before the candidates went to closing remarks trolled and mocked Trump for his refusal to answer what turned out to be the $64,000 question of the 2020 election:

You’re a whiner. When you lost the first time, you continued to appeal and appeal to courts all across the country. Not one single court in America said any of your claims had any merit, state or local, none. But you continue to promote this lie about somehow there’s all this misrepresentation, all the stealing. There’s no evidence of that at all. And I tell you what? I doubt whether you’ll accept it because you’re such a whiner.

The odds are very high that the same fraught question will come up tonight and that Trump will again hedge and change the subject. Unless the moderators can find a more precise way to elicit a clear answer, Harris may need to do so herself with a pledge of her own.

There are at least a couple of benchmarks moderators or Harris could suggest for a concrete agreement by the candidates not to let the contest go until another horrifying January in Washington. One would be to accept the results if the election is called by the Associated Press and all the major networks, including Fox News. Another is to accept the results as certified by governors (or the highest election official in each state), which federal law requires by December 11. If Trump rejects a moderator or Harris challenge to go along with any benchmark other than his subjective determination the election is “fair,” it will be safe to conclude he’s planning another election coup.

Trump brought a big entourage to Philly

Politico reports that Trump Force One arrived with a lot of extra passengers, including “Stephen Miller, Natalie Harp, Laura Loomer, Vince Haley, Ross Worthington, John Coale, Steve Witkoff, Lara Trump, Alina Habba, Chris LaCivita, Steven Cheung, Susie Wiles, Corey Lewandowski, Eric Trump, Taylor Budowich, Tulsi Gabbard, Rep. Matt Gaetz, Margo Martin, Jason Miller, Boris Ephsteyn, Walt Nauta and Dan Scavino.”

Will there be fact-checking?

ABC News seems rather noncommittal, per the New York Times :

Rick Klein, ABC News’s political director and a lead organizer of Tuesday’s debate, said in an interview that  the moderators, David Muir and Linsey Davis , were “there to facilitate a discussion” and that “the debate belongs to the candidates.” Is there a role for the moderators to fact-check? “I don’t think it’s a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ proposition,” Mr. Klein said. “We’re not making a commitment to fact-check everything, or fact-check nothing, in either direction. We’re there to keep a conversation going, and to facilitate a good solid debate, and that entails a lot of things in terms of asking questions, moving the conversation along, making sure that it’s civilized.”

What Democrats are expecting — and hoping for

Greetings from the extremely air-conditioned press filing center–slash–spin room in Philadelphia, where I just settled in after almost running straight into a very busy looking Marco Rubio at my hotel a few blocks away. (He must be here spinning for Donald Trump.)

I spent most of today checking in with Democrats inside of and close to Kamala Harris’s campaign to see how they’re feeling, what they expect, what they want to see, and what they’re nervous about. I got a lot of different answers, but one thing stuck out: Basically, all of them agreed that more pressure is on Harris tonight, if only because she’s the new character in the race and the one voters are still interested in hearing more from. (The consensus: Voters know exactly who Trump is and don’t need any new information about him,  thank you very much .)

Harris knows this, obviously. As I  reported over the weekend , she hasn’t been prepping to deliver some sort of devastating knockout blow to Trump but instead has been thinking about the best ways to present herself as representing a new political era. That’s probably going to mean talking plenty about Trump’s record, naturally — but just as much, if not more, about her vision for the economy.

Of course, we’ll see how this all goes to plan or rather how quickly it veers into unexpected territory. As one Democratic pollster told me this afternoon, reliable research about debate audiences shows 70 percent of what matters to voters is the visual and the performance rather than the substance of what the candidates say.

So yes, Harris will be eager to let Trump be Trump, to put it mildly. Her campaign has been trolling Trump on the airwaves and with  billboards about, uh,  crowd  size  here in Philly. If he goes unhinged early, they’ll consider it a win. One top Democrat I talked to didn’t disagree that the pressure was on her but said the bar was pretty low after Biden’s performance this summer. Instead, this person suggested, Harris’s job is just to be the normal adult onstage. Isn’t that what exhausted voters want?

It’s a special guest spin-off!

Spin-room drama abounds:

Tim Walz’s pre-frame

At a campaign stop in Arizona, he told supporters that Harris would use the debate to introduce their ticket to more of the country — and the contrast with Trump would be obvious:

Tonight you’re going to watch Vice President Harris lay out a plan for this country, a new way forward. You’re going to hear her talk about an economy that is an opportunity economy where everybody matters. She’s going to talk about education being a path to a better future, not long term student loan debt. She’s going to talk about tackling some of the toughest problems like climate change and doing it in a way that grows our economy. Now if you did a split screen to that, on the other side of that screen, you’re going to see a nearly 80 year old man who’s in it for himself talk about revenge and talk about how bad this country is, and talk us down on everything he does. … Let’s not let a single person, make the case that there is not an absolutely crystal clear difference of a positive forward America, or one that is small, petty, backwards and we’re done with it.

Trump is demanding a government shutdown over mythical noncitizen voting

Hours before the debate, Donald Trump added a surreal note to the event by pitching a fit on Truth Social and demanding that congressional Republicans shut down the federal government at the end of September if Democrats don’t accept a ridiculous and redundant proposal to federalize state election systems in order to address a completely made-up crisis over noncitizen voting:

If Republicans in the House, and Senate, don’t get absolute assurances on Election Security, THEY SHOULD, IN NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, GO FORWARD WITH A CONTINUING RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET. THE DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO “STUFF” VOTER REGISTRATIONS WITH ILLEGAL ALIENS. DON’T LET IT HAPPEN - CLOSE IT DOWN!!!

By way of background, House Republicans earlier this year pushed through the  so-called SAVE Act , reflecting Trump’s 100 percent unsubstantiated claims that Democrats are planning to flood the polls with voting by noncitizens. Noncitizen voting is already illegal in all 50 states with prison sentences and deportation the available penalties for the incredibly rare violation.

Congressional Republicans led by House Speaker Mike Johnson understood all along this was a empty “messaging” bill not designed to become law but to underline a MAGA campaign talking point. But now Trump has blown up that harmless if demagogic gesture by demanding that Johnson (and also Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who is likely to openly mock this gesture) refuse to go along with a stopgap spending plan at the end of the fiscal year that is necessary to keep the federal government operating. There is zero chance the Senate or the White House will go along with this demand, which would require all 50 states completely redo their process for voter registration right before a national election for absolutely no good reason. Johnson agreed to prioritize this dumb legislation in the first place because he needed Trump’s protection from a potential coup by the House Freedom Caucus, which was angry at Johnson for not shutting down the government earlier this year. Now, the dispute could become very real for federal employees and beneficiaries of key federal programs and services.

This is a very old theme for Trump despite its fictional underpinnings. When he won in 2016, he complained that he would have won the national popular vote (which he lost by over 2-and-a-half million votes) if not for “millions of illegal votes.” He offered zero evidence for this claim. He’s brought back the phantom menace of noncitizen voting this year as part of a broader claim that Democrats have opened up the borders to bring in migrants who will immediately be marched to the polls to reelect their socialist benefactors. You can understand how this hoax appeals to Trump since it combines his signature immigration and “stolen election” themes. Either Harris or the debate moderators should consider demanding that Trump cite some actual evidence that any of this is happening, not that hard-core MAGA folk need any for this version of the  Great Replacement Theory .

The bets are against a handshake

On the political betting site Polymarket , most bettors don’t think Harris and Trump will shake hands tonight:

The odds are probably even worse than that, since there hasn’t been a presidential debate handshake since the first Trump-Clinton debate in 2016.

What Harris and Trump need to do

From my debate preview this morning, Harris has her work cut out for her:

Without question, [she] has the more complicated task: defining herself to viewers as an agent of change from the Biden-Trump era of politics, and a much safer option than an extremist second Trump administration. This means anticipating and rebutting Trump claims that she is responsible for Biden’s alleged policy failures and is more radical than Biden himself. And it also means casting some light through the fog of endless commentary about Trump to convincingly express concerns about what he will do if restored to power.

Trump, meanwhile, needs to focus on pigeonholing:

Trump’s biggest advantage is the extremely low standard he has set throughout his career for either coherence or civility. Almost anyone else would be afflicted with a dilemma as to whether to accuse Harris of being Biden 2.0 or a “communist,” since Biden is nobody’s idea of a dedicated Marxist-Leninist revolutionary. Trump can blithely pursue both angles of attack simultaneously, because that’s just who he is. Calling Harris a “radical” or a “Marxist” or a “communist” is what passes for a substantive comment from the former president, and he would be wise to stick with ideologically freighted criticism rather than slandering her personally (i.e., he should leave the blatantly racist and sexist patter to MAGA social media). Above all, the 45th president needs to do everything he can to fan doubts about Harris, making her out to be the “risky change” candidate and returning the election to a competition between highly motivated party bases with swing voters ultimately focused on their unhappiness with life as it is.

What time is the debate tonight, and how can you watch it?

It will be broadcast live at 9 p.m. ET on ABC and simulcast on multiple other networks, including C-Span, PBS, MSNBC, and Fox News. The debate will also be streamed live on  ABC.com  and  ABC News’ YouTube channel  (for people without cable or streaming-service subscriptions), as well as on ABC News Live, Disney+, and Hulu.

This post has been updated a lot.

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SEC’s Gensler Sees ESG Plans Thwarted as Biden’s Term Nears End

By Andrew Ramonas and Clara Hudson

SEC Chair Gary Gensler started out with big plans on ESG.

The Democrat arrived at the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2021, after George Floyd’s murder in 2020 and President Joe Biden’s election that year fueled interest in environmental, social and governance investing. Gensler wanted public companies to report details about their climate change risks, workforce management and board members’ diversity.

He also sought new rules to fight greenwashing and other misleading ESG claims by investment funds.

Almost four years later, most of those major ESG regulations are unfinished, and they’ll likely remain so in the less than five months Gensler may have left as chair. A conservative-led backlash against ESG and federal agency authority has fueled challenges in and out of court to corporate greenhouse gas emissions reporting rules and other SEC actions, helping blunt the commission’s power.

The climate rules—Gensler’s marquee ESG initiative—were watered down following intense industry pushback, then paused altogether after business groups, Republican attorneys general and others sued.

“It’s clear the commission leadership is exhausted and feeling buffeted by the courts, Congress and industry complaints,” said Tyler Gellasch, who was a counsel to former Democratic SEC Commissioner Kara Stein and is president and CEO of investor advocacy group Healthy Markets Association.

The SEC has finalized more than 40 rules since 2021, “making our capital markets more efficient, transparent, and resilient,” an agency spokesperson said in a statement to Bloomberg Law.

The spokesperson declined to comment on the status of the agency’s pending ESG rules, beyond pointing to the commission’s most recent regulatory agenda .

Long-standing plans to require human capital and board diversity disclosures from companies have yet to yield formal proposals. Final rules concerning ESG-focused funds still are pending, and even if the SEC adopts them before January as the agenda suggests, a Republican-controlled Congress and White House may have the power to quickly scrap them under the Congressional Review Act.

After a burst of activity proposing and adopting significant rules in 2022 and 2023, major rulemaking by the SEC has slowed in 2024, according to a Bloomberg Law review of agency records of open meetings, where votes to advance big regulatory matters usually happen. Gensler’s 2024 tally so far trails that of his two most recent predecessors: Trump appointee Jay Clayton and Obama pick Mary Jo White. Clayton picked up his pace of open meetings in his last year, while White held roughly steady.

Workforce Disclosures

Gensler’s SEC originally set an October 2021 target for proposing rules requiring companies to make specific disclosures about the demographic makeup of their workforces and the diversity of their boards.

But the estimated date of arrival grew later and later, and now the agency is looking to issue proposals on human capital disclosures—which could entail anything from how many part-time workers they have to employee diversity—in October.

The target for a board diversity reporting proposal has moved to April 2025 , according to the agency’s latest agenda released in July.

The SEC usually takes at least a year to turn a proposal into a rule.

The agency has faced consistent calls from lawmakers and activists to speed up its workforce update so that investors can get access to more human capital data as soon as possible.

“I think the agenda has been incredibly ambitious and because of that, you’re resource-constrained,” said Ethan Rouen, an associate professor at Harvard Business School who specializes in human capital research. The SEC had to juggle “things that are winnable with things that are important. And human capital, while important, might be much harder to win,” he said.

Board Diversity

The odds of winning board diversity disclosure requirements also are questionable.

The SEC was sued in 2021 by conservative groups for approving Nasdaq Inc. rules that require thousands of companies listed on the exchange to report director diversity information annually and have a diverse board or explain why they can’t. The agency needed to approve the regulations for Nasdaq to implement them.

A panel of three US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit judges appointed by Democratic presidents backed the agency last year, allowing Nasdaq’s rules to stand. Conservative groups appealed, and the full Fifth Circuit , where judges appointed by Republican presidents hold the majority, is expected to rule in the coming months.

“The argument is easier to make that the exchanges have that authority than the SEC,” Gellasch said. “So, if the exchanges lose that argument, it’s more challenging for the SEC to try to do it directly.”

Unlike the workforce and board diversity rules that have yet to be proposed, investment fund regulations concerning ESG have already been drafted and are targeted for completion in October , according to the SEC’s latest agenda. ESG funds would have to disclose their portfolio companies’ emissions and report on their ESG strategies.

The SEC proposed the regulations in May 2022, along with rules intended to ensure ESG funds’ names align with their investments. The commission issued final fund name rules in September 2023.

The SEC’s investment fund proposal has raised objections from both funds and environmental and investor advocates.

The proposal would require environmentally-focused funds to disclose their carbon footprints, if emissions are part of their investment strategies. But it wouldn’t require funds that look at emissions to disclose other metrics that play a significant role in how they invest and the methodology they use to calculate those measures. The Natural Resources Defense Council, Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, and other environmental and investor groups pushed for those requirements in an April letter to the SEC.

The Investment Company Institute, which represents funds, has raised concerns its members would have to report on their carbon footprints before public companies must disclose their emissions under SEC rules. The group in April called on the SEC to keep fund emissions reporting requirements on ice until the litigation challenging the agency’s public company climate rules is resolved. That litigation is at the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, which is unlikely to rule this year.

The fund rules have received no Republican support at the SEC, with only Gensler and his fellow Democratic commissioners voting in favor of proposing them.

“If it’s a Republican Congress and Trump administration, you could imagine they would be willing to disapprove those,” said Susan Dudley, a George Washington University professor who oversaw the White House regulatory policy office under President George W. Bush.

The SEC also may have to contend with another lawsuit, if it issues the investment fund rules in the next five months.

Republican attorneys general from West Virginia, Louisiana and other states urged the SEC in 2022 to abandon its proposed fund regulations after they pressed the agency to ditch its climate rules for public companies. When the agency proceeded with the climate regulation, adopting a diluted version in March, every state with a Republican attorney general—27 in total—either sued or sent the Eighth Circuit a friend-of-the-court brief in support of the litigation.

The SEC has lost major legal challenges to its authority under Gensler. Recent setbacks include the Fifth Circuit’s National Association of Private Fund Managers v. SEC ruling that struck down hedge fund fee disclosures in June and the Supreme Court’s SEC v. Jarkesy decision that month that curtailed the agency’s enforcement power. The SEC didn’t ask the Supreme Court to review the Fifth Circuit ruling ahead of a deadline last week, ending its fight to save the hedge fund regulations.

It’s unclear what regulations are possible after the court losses, said Alexandra Thornton, a senior director of financial regulation at the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning think tank. But the SEC isn’t done with ESG disclosure regulations for good, even if Gensler can’t overcome industry pushback and legal attacks in what could be the twilight of his chairmanship, Thornton said. Investors want the information, she said.

“Depending on what happens in the election, it may not be next year,” Thornton said. “But they’ll come back.”

To contact the reporters on this story: Andrew Ramonas in Washington at [email protected] ; Clara Hudson in Washington at [email protected]

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Bernie Kohn at [email protected] ; Amelia Gruber Cohn at [email protected]

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Inside the Trump-Harris Debate Prep: Method Acting, Insults, Tough Questions

Kamala Harris is camped out at a Pittsburgh hotel. Donald Trump is being peppered informally by aides. Both sides share the same belief about why the debate is so crucial.

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By Jonathan Swan Maggie Haberman Katie Rogers and Reid J. Epstein

Follow along with live updates and debate analysis on the Trump and Harris campaigns .

Vice President Kamala Harris is holed up for five days in a Pittsburgh hotel, doing highly choreographed debate practice sessions ahead of Tuesday night’s clash. There’s a stage and replica TV lighting and an adviser in full Lee Strasberg method-acting mode, not just playing Donald J. Trump but inhabiting him, wearing a boxy suit and a long tie.

The former president’s preparations are more improv. They are pointedly called not “debate prep” but “policy time,” meant to refresh him on his record. Nobody is playing Ms. Harris; sometimes his aides sit at a long table opposite him and bat questions back and forth, or other times he pulls up a chair closer to them. Mr. Trump has held just a handful of sessions so far, interrupting one at his Las Vegas hotel so he and his advisers could go up to his suite to watch Ms. Harris’s convention speech .

While the two camps’ preparations for the big night in Philadelphia could not be more different, both sides view the debate the same way, according to interviews with nearly two dozen people close to the candidates, many of whom insisted on anonymity to discuss the private preparations. The Harris and Trump teams see it as a crucial moment to define Ms. Harris for millions of swing voters who know what they think about Mr. Trump but are still curious about her.

Bringing out Mr. Trump’s most self-destructive instincts is a priority for Ms. Harris, as is coming across as coolheaded and presidential.

“She should not be baited, she should bait him,” Hillary Clinton, the last woman to debate Mr. Trump, said in an interview on Thursday. “When I said he was a Russian puppet, he just sputtered onstage. I think that’s an example of how you get out a fact about him that really unnerves him.”

In Mr. Trump’s debate prep sessions, Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida has embraced the role of posing tough questions to Mr. Trump, including on uncomfortable subjects like his criminal convictions, according to a person with knowledge of the gatherings. Tulsi Gabbard , the former Democratic congresswoman who memorably attacked Ms. Harris in a 2019 presidential primary debate, has also been helping Mr. Trump prepare.

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