Free Business Plan Generator
Do you still spend hours writing and creating a business plan? Not after today. Upmetrics’ free business plan generator simplifies writing a business plan and helps you create a comprehensive and compelling lean plan in seconds.
Sounds exciting? Let’s learn more about getting started with our free business plan generator and using it to draft your plan.
Using Upmetrics’ Free Business Plan Generator
Need help using the free business plan generator? Follow these step-by-step instructions to create a business plan using the free generator in no time.
Creating a business plan requires filling in 4 critical fields—company overview, marketing details, competitor information, and financial overview. Let’s start with the first.
1. Enter the Company Overview
Provide a company overview in approximately 3-4 sentences, including your business’s name, service offerings, USPs, mission, goals, and target market. Here’s an example for you:
2. Add Marketing Details
The next step—provide marketing details. Start by answering how your business plans to attract new customers and what you want to achieve with your business.
You may also include details about your marketing budget and preferred marketing channels. Here’s an example for your reference:
“i.e. We will attract customers through a strong online presence, social media marketing, and in-store promotions. Offering loyalty programs and hosting community biking events will help build a loyal customer base.”
3. Enter Competitor Information
After adding the marketing details, provide the name of your primary competitor(s) and explain how you are distinct from your competitors.
Describe whether your offerings have any competitive advantages or differentiators. Here’s how it can be done:
“i.e. Our primary competitor is ‘Wheels & Gears,’ but what sets us apart is our personalized customer service and expert bike repair services. We also differentiate ourselves by focusing on eco-friendly and sustainable products.”
4. Provide Financial Overview
Finally,—provide an overview of your business financials. Include what your startup costs are, what your financial strategy would be, and your first-year sales.
We are creating a lean business plan, so it may not require a detailed description of your business financials. Here’s an example for your understanding:
“i.e. Our expected business costs are $87,000 and that includes rent, inventory, equipment, and staff salaries. Our financial strategy is to minimize overhead costs and optimize inventory turnover. We project annual sales to reach $500,000 in the first year.”
5. Click on Generate a Business Plan
You’ve filled in all the necessary fields. It’s time to click “Generate a Business Plan” and see it yourself.
Your lean business plan is ready; you may make a few changes and go ahead with it or choose an AI business plan generator for comprehensive planning.
Make detailed business & financial plans in minutes with
Upmetrics’ AI Business Plan Generator
Plans starting from $7/month
Business Plan Example that will Inspire You
We created this sample CycleWave business plan using Upmetrics’ free generator. Remember, it’s your first draft—you can always go back and re-generate or edit it later.
CycleWave Business Plan
Introduction
Welcome to the business plan for CycleWave, a bicycle retail and repair shop dedicated to providing high-quality bikes and expert maintenance services. Our mission is to promote a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle through cycling while offering exceptional customer service.
Market Overview
The cycling industry is experiencing significant growth, driven by increasing interest in health, sustainability, and alternative transportation methods.
The target market includes cycling enthusiasts, commuters, and local community members.
Strong market potential due to growing awareness of the need for eco-friendly and sustainable products.
Competitive Analysis
Primary competitor: Wheels & Gears.
Differentiation factors
- Personalized customer service
- Expertise in bike repair services
- Focus on eco-friendly and sustainable products.
Highlight the advantages of our unique offerings to attract customers away from competitors.
Marketing Plan
Utilize a solid online presence through a professional website to showcase our products, services, and promotions. Implement social media marketing strategies to engage with customers and build brand awareness.
Host community biking events to foster a sense of belonging and attract potential customers. Offer loyalty programs to incentivize repeat business and build a loyal customer base.
Operational Plan
Secure a suitable retail location with ample space for displaying bicycles and providing repair services. Employ knowledgeable staff with expertise in bike repair and customer service.
Create efficient processes for inventory management and maintenance repairs to ensure fast turnaround times. Maintain an attractive and organized store layout to enhance the customer experience.
Financial Plan
Our expected business costs are $87,000, allocated as follows:
- Rent: $30,000
- Inventory: $40,000
- Equipment: $10,000
- Staff Salaries: $7,000
We project annual sales to reach $500,000 in the first year, allowing us to gradually cover expenses and increase profitability.
Conclusion and Call to Action
In conclusion, CycleWave aims to thrive in the bicycle retail and repair industry by offering high-quality bikes, expert maintenance services, personalized customer care, and eco-friendly products. Join us in promoting a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle through cycling.
If you want to support our mission and become part of our cycling community, please contact us or visit our store today!
Upgrade to Make Comprehensive Plans in Minutes
Upmetrics’ free business plan generator is undoubtedly a better way to business plan. However, you may need an upgrade to create a comprehensive, investment-ready plan.
AI business plan generator like Upmetrics make business plan creation a breeze with their modern AI-powered features.
AI writing assistant helps you write, rewrite, edit, or translate sections of your plan, while the forecasting assistant provides revenue and expense stream suggestions for accurate projections.
You also get to access the massive library of 400+ sample business plans . So, all you need to do is export a template into the editor and start preparing your plan with AI .
What are you waiting for? Business planning starts @ $7 per month.
Build your Business Plan Faster
with step-by-step Guidance & AI Assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a free business plan generator.
The free business plan generator is a free-to-use version of Upmetrics’ business plan software. It uses AI-powered features to help users create a business plan. Since it can only create a lean business plan, you need Upmetrics’ advanced features for detailed planning.
Is it really free to use?
Yes, Upmetrics’ free business plan generator is 100% free to use, but the features that come with it are also limited. So, you may consider getting a premium subscription for advanced business planning features.
What information will I need to provide to use the tool?
You must fill in the necessary details to create a business plan using the free generator. The information required may include a company overview, marketing details, competitor information, and a financial overview.
What type of businesses should use your free business plan tool?
Startups and small businesses starting up or operating on tight budgets should consider getting a free business planning tool to create a lean business plan.
Is there a limit to how many plans I can create with your software?
No. As of now, there’s no limit to the number of business plans you can create using Upmetrics’ free business plan generator.
Is a sample plan as useful as creating my own custom version?
Using a sample business plan or template is one of the easiest ways to create your business plan. All you need to do is export a template into the editor and start preparing your plan with AI.
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Create Your Business Plan It’s free and easy to use.
- Create a comprehensive business plan.
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Our business plan maker is used by over 27,500,000 marketers, communicators, executives and educators from over 133 countries that include:
Powerful Presentation Features That Help You Shine
Professional business plan templates.
Create a presentation or document business plan quickly and easily with Visme's template options. Customize each page or slide to fit your vision and information to pitch to cofounders or investors. Get started today.
Create Your Business Plan
Data visualization made easy
Tell your story with the data to match using easy-to-customize charts and graphs. Select from 40+ chart and graph visualizations and find the one that proves your point clearly. Upload static data or connect to Google sheets for live data.
Customize every aspect of your presentation with your own images and text
Convey the exact mood you desire for your business plan with over a million images, thousands of icons, dozens of charts and data widgets to visualize information in an engaging way. Apply a color scheme to all your slides with one click. Add animation effects, transitions, interactivity, pop-ups, rollovers and third-party content to support your business case.
Speed things up with Visme AI Designer
Go from a text prompt to a ready-to-use design in mere minutes with Visme AI Designer (Beta). Do you need to create a business plan but lack the time? Let Visme AI Designer help you save time and effort. Describe your desired project to our AI Designer Chatbot, choose a style, and relax as AI Designer generates your project.
Apply our simple business plan template to give you a head start.
Meet the Team
Mission Statement
Product Overview
Value Propositions
Industry Landscape
Market Size
Customer Descriptions
Market Growth
Competitive Comparison
Competitive Advantage
Business Growth Projections
Marketing Mix
Conversion Funnels
Funding Needed
It’s free and easy to use.
Share Your Business Plan
Finished your business plan and ready to share with the world? Visme’s business plan template makes it easy to publish, download and get feedback on your design. Simply download as a high resolution image or PDF, or publish it to the web and send a link to access it.
LEARN ABOUT BUSINESS PLANS
What is a Business Plan ?
A business plan is a written document or presentation that allows business leaders to share the business potential and goals, as well as your plans for the future. The business plan is a key step in working towards getting investors looking at your product.
If you're looking to flesh out a new business idea or venture in order to get cofounders or investors on board, you need a business plan. Get started with one of our templates to give you a starting point and framework for your own plan.
Why do I need a business plan?
Writing a business plan is a key step in securing funding and convincing high level executives that your business is worth their time. A well-executed business plan is crucial to the success of a business and it’s one of the first steps you should take.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED + MORE
Make Your Business Plan Stand Out
Take your business to new heights with a beautifully designed business plan. Our tools put the power of visual communication in the hands of entrepreneurs and business owners, no matter their level of design skills.
MAKE IT ENGAGING
Highlight your business’ unique selling point with interactive hotspots and rollover effects. Capture the attention of investors and stakeholders with interactive content.
VISUALIZE YOUR DATA
Charts & Graphs
Showcase in-depth data, statistics, and financial projections in a unique way. Harness the power of data visualization with Visme’s professional infographics, charts and graphs.
MEASURE THE IMPACT
Gain insight into the impact of your business plan with an analytics report. Track how many people have viewed your business plan and gauge its effectiveness.
HOW IT WORKS
How to Make a Business Plan in 5 Steps
If you are wondering how to write a business plan, you’ve come to the right place. Instead of starting your business plan from scratch, use our business plan templates to get you going in no time.
Learn more about creating your own business plan presentation or document by going through our step-by-step tutorial below or watching this quick video.
- Log into your Visme dashboard or create a new account, then click Create New Project.
- Access our business plan templates by searching for “Business Plan” in the search box.
- Select the template, then customize the content for your business.
- Update any charts and graphs to reflect your business goals.
- Once all your content is added, customize colors, logos, icons and more.
Questions About the Business Plan Template
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Type your business idea below.
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How it Works
Questionnaire
Respond to a series of targeted questions about your business goals and objectives.
AI Business Plan Generator
The engine analyzes your responses and generates a business plan tailored to your vision.
SBA Approved Business Plan
Receive a detailed, tailored business plan that aligns with your requirements. Ready for funding.
WHO BENEFITS FROM Plannit?
Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Analyze your ventures through extensive business plans aligned with your vision and goals.
Business Owners
Back your business with a solid plan that aligns with your vision and goals. Perfect for startups and small businesses.
Educational Institutions
Develop your business understanding and vocabulary by analyzing your business idea and creating a plan.
Startups Accelerators
Work alongside your founders as they build their plan to ensure they have a solid roadmap for growth and scalability.
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Funding ready business plan, executive summary, company overview.
Problem Statement
Business Description
Mission Statement
Business Model
Products and Services
Additional Features
Revenue Model
Market Analysis
Target Market
Market Size and Segments
Unique Value Proposition
Risks and Mitigations
Identified Risks
Mitigation Strategies
Financial Overview
Income Statement
Marketing and Sales Plan
Focus On Your Vision
Language support.
Key Features & Benefits
Ai editing companion.
Modify and regenerate sections of your business plan using premade or custom prompts. Our AI will help you refine your plan to perfection.
Multi-User Collaboration
Invite team members with easy sharing to collaborate on your business plan in real-time. Communicate and make changes together. Collaborate with your partners in real-time as you perfect your plan.
Education Center
Immerse yourself in a rich library of articles, tools, templates, webinars and resources for continuous business and professional growth. Learn all about the key aspects of starting, running and growing a business.
Powered by Chat GPT
Our algorithms are powered the latest in AI technology to ensure the most accurate and relevant output. We use OpenAI's GPT 4 and 3.5 engines for the perfect blend of accuracy and speed.
Business Resources
We recommend a variety of useful tools and resurces that help sustain your growth. We only recommend the best in the business. Filter your needs and equip yourself with the best tools.
Your plan in your language. We offer a choice of over 150 worldwide languages to ensure the best fit for your business plan.
Financial Projections
Take an additional questionnaire about your financial trajectory and get a detailed financial projection + 3 year income statement for your business.
Tools and Templates
Plannit's comprehensive suite that accompany business planning. From pitch decks to financial models, we have you covered.
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Download your business plan in an editable .docx format. Fully edit & share your plan with investors, partners, and stakeholders.
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Rest assured, your privacy is our top priority, and we're committed to keeping your information safe and confidential.
PLANNIT BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Initiate with Your Business Concept: Lay the Groundwork: Start by introducing your business idea into Plannit AI's Business Plan Generator. This first step is crucial, as it sets the tone for a tailored, insightful business plan that truly resonates with your vision. Capture the Essence: Our platform is designed to grasp the nuances of your concept, ensuring that the generated plan accurately reflects the core and potential of your business.
- Navigate Through the AI-Guided Questionnaire: Tailored Interactive Experience: Plannit AI’s AI-guided questionnaire is your interactive guide through the planning process. It meticulously gathers information about your business's objectives, strategies, and market positioning, ensuring a comprehensive and reflective plan. Intelligent Feedback and Suggestions: As you progress through the questionnaire, benefit from smart prompts and suggestions, ensuring that your plan is not just detailed but also strategically sound and aligned with industry standards.
- Generate Your Plan with Advanced AI: Intuitive Plan Creation: With the questionnaire complete, Plannit AI's advanced algorithms intelligently analyze your responses. They then craft a detailed, customizable, and strategically aligned business plan, providing you with a structured, coherent, and actionable format. Benefit from AI-Powered Insights: Plannit AI offers AI-driven insights and suggestions, ensuring your plan is not just a document but a strategic tool equipped with tailored AI prompts and an in-app plan editor. Get inspired by browsing through our sample business plans, a collection of successful strategies across various industries.
- Finalize Your Plan with Confidence: Dynamic Adaptation and Refinement: Plannit AI recognizes that a business plan is a living document. Our platform allows for continuous adaptation and refinement, ensuring your strategy remains agile, relevant, and aligned with your evolving business goals. Professional Presentation and Sharing: Once your plan meets your standards, utilize Plannit AI's export features to present your plan professionally. Choose between various formats for exporting your business plan, ready to impress stakeholders, attract investors, or guide your team. Review and Adapt: Ensure your business plan is a living document, ready to evolve with your growing business. Plannit AI's dynamic platform allows you to adapt your strategy as new opportunities or challenges arise.
- Roadmap for Success: At its core, a business plan acts as a strategic guide, providing detailed steps on how your business will achieve its objectives. It helps you navigate the startup phase, manage growth effectively, and tackle unforeseen challenges with a well-thought-out strategy.
- Securing Funding: For startups and businesses looking to expand, a business plan is crucial for securing loans or attracting investors. It demonstrates to potential financial backers that your business has a clear vision, a solid strategy for profitability, and a plan for delivering returns on their investment.
- Informed Decision-Making: A well-prepared business plan offers valuable insights into your market, competition, and potential challenges. This information is vital for making informed decisions, from day-to-day operations to long-term strategic shifts.
- Market Analysis and Strategy: It allows you to conduct an in-depth analysis of your target market, understand customer needs, and position your product or service effectively. The marketing strategy outlined in your business plan helps in identifying the best channels and tactics to reach your audience and achieve market penetration.
- Financial Planning: One of the most critical components of a business plan is the financial forecast. It outlines your funding requirements, expected revenue, profit margins, and cash flow projections. This section is essential for budgeting, financial management, and ensuring the financial viability of your business.
- Goal Setting and Performance Measurement: A business plan sets clear, measurable goals and objectives. It provides a framework for monitoring performance, measuring success, and making necessary adjustments to stay on track.
- Aspiring Entrepreneurs: If you're at the idea stage, looking to transform your vision into a viable business, Plannit AI offers the tools and guidance to bring your concept to life. Our platform helps you articulate your business idea, define your target market, and develop a solid plan to turn your dream into reality.
- Students and Educators: For students delving into the intricacies of business planning and educators teaching the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, Plannit AI serves as an invaluable resource. It provides a practical, hands-on tool for learning and teaching how to create detailed business plans, analyze markets, and understand financials in a real-world context.
- Startup Founders: In the dynamic startup environment, Plannit AI is the ideal partner for founders looking to pivot quickly, secure funding, or understand their competitive landscape. With our AI-driven insights and market analysis tools, startups can make informed decisions and adapt their strategies to thrive in competitive markets.
- Small Business Owners: For small business owners seeking to optimize their operations, expand their customer base, or explore new markets, Plannit AI offers targeted solutions. Our platform simplifies the planning process, enabling owners to focus on growth while managing the day-to-day challenges of running their business.
- Consultants and Freelancers: Consultants and freelancers specializing in business development, strategic planning, or financial advising will find Plannit AI a powerful addition to their toolkit. It allows them to provide clients with comprehensive, data-driven business plans and strategies, enhancing the value of their services.
- Non-Profit Organizations: Leaders of non-profit organizations can leverage Plannit AI to plan initiatives, secure funding, and manage resources more efficiently. Our platform helps non-profits articulate their mission, set achievable goals, and measure their impact, ensuring they can make a difference in their communities.
- Innovators and Inventors: Individuals looking to commercialize innovative products or technologies can use Plannit AI to navigate the complexities of bringing new ideas to market. From patent strategies to go-to-market plans, our platform covers all bases, ensuring innovators can focus on what they do best.
- Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and Government Agencies: Government and SBA backed entities can greatly benefit from integrating Plannit AI into their services, enhancing their ability to support a larger number of clients more efficiently. By facilitating quicker, more in-depth business plan development, these organizations can spend more time assisting with plan execution and less time on creation, ultimately serving their communities more effectively.
- Anyone with a Business Idea: Ultimately, Plannit AI is for anyone with a business idea, regardless of industry, experience, or stage of business development. Our mission is to democratize business planning, making it accessible, understandable, and actionable for everyone.
- Interactive Questionnaire and ChatGPT Integration: Plannit AI transforms the business planning process into an engaging conversation. Through our advanced ChatGPT integration, we offer a questionnaire that dynamically adapts to your responses, ensuring your plan is personalized, comprehensive, and aligned with your business goals.
- Dynamic Planning Environment: Unlike static templates provided by many, Plannit AI introduces a living platform that grows with your business. It features real-time updates, strategic insights, and a feedback mechanism that keeps your business plan current and actionable.
- Extensive Educational Resources: Our Education Center is packed with articles, guides, and sample plans to bolster your planning process. It's designed to arm you with the knowledge to navigate the complexities of your industry confidently.
- Enhanced Collaboration and Customization: Recognizing the collaborative essence of business planning, Plannit AI supports team efforts with multi-user editing, annotations, and feedback features, ensuring a comprehensive approach to your strategy.
- Customer Success Stories: Our users' achievements are a testament to Plannit AI's effectiveness. These success stories illustrate how diverse businesses have utilized our platform for strategic planning and growth.
- Tailored Business Plan Creation: Our platform stands out with its tailored approach, featuring customizable templates that directly cater to your business type and industry, making plan creation straightforward and relevant.
- Content Generation:: ChatGPT helps draft various sections of a business plan, from executive summaries to marketing strategies, by providing structured and coherent text based on the prompts given.
- Strategic Insights: It can offer suggestions on business strategies by analyzing trends and providing examples from a wide range of industries.
- Financial Planning: While it can't replace professional financial advice, ChatGPT can guide the structure of financial projections and statements, helping you consider important financial aspects of your plan.
Take The First Step Towards Success
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- Best Business Plan Software
10 Best Business Plan Software In 2024
Updated: May 3, 2024, 5:15pm
Writing a business plan not only helps you stay on track as you start a new business but it can also help you secure funding. You can create one from scratch with a simple template, but business plan software often has features to make it easier, more nuanced and overall better. It could even make the difference between bringing investors on board and going it alone. So, Forbes Advisor found the best business plan software that has the features you need at an affordable price.
- Best Project Management Software
- Best Construction Project Management Software
- Best Project Portfolio Management Software
- Best Gantt Chart Software
- Best Task Management Software
- Best Kanban Software
The Best Business Plan Software of 2024
Forbes advisor ratings, methodology, how to choose a business plan software, benefits of business plan software, frequently asked questions (faqs), next up in business.
Featured Partners
From $8 monthly per user
Zoom, LinkedIn, Adobe, Salesforce and more
On monday.com's Website
Yes, for one user and two editors
$7 per user per month
Google Drive, Slack, Tableau, Miro, Zapier and more
On Smartsheet's Website
Yes, for unlimited members
$7 per month
Slack, Microsoft Outlook, HubSpot, Salesforce, Timely, Google Drive and more
On ClickUp's Website
- Wrike: Best overall
- Smartsheet: Best for goal management
- LivePlan: Best for financial forecasting
- Aha!: Best for roadmapping
- Bizplan: Best for beginners
- IdeaBuddy: Best for ideation
- iPlanner: Best for no-frills business planning
- Enloop: Best for automatic business plan creation
- AchieveIt: Best for consultant groups
- Business Sorter: Best for teams
Best Overall
Starting price
Free; $9.80 per user
Team messaging
Roadmapping
Wrike is a project management (PM) tool that works well as business plan software because it gives you tools to help you gather and compare your data. Wrike makes it easy to start your business plan with its collaboration tools, business plan templates , drag-and-drop interface and goal management features. Another benefit of using Wrike to build your plan is that you see your ideas and goals from multiple views: Gantt chart, calendar or board views.
There are a few reasons why it’s a good idea to use Wrike for your business plan. First, you can map out exactly what your business goals are in a project, invite teammates to collaborate and message business partners to discuss everything. Plus, you can export your data when you’re ready to put all the details into a presentation to hand over to potential investors.
Wrike offers a free plan that’s good for putting your vision down in task and project form, but you may want to upgrade to a paid plan to invite collaborators, get custom workflows and add more views and automations. Paid plan pricing ranges from $9.80 per user, per month, to $24.80 per user, per month, both billed annually.
Learn more: Read our full Wrike review .
Who should use it:
Wrike makes it easy for any new business owner to create a business plan and collaborate with others on the financial and operational goals. Plus, it provides value after you finalize your business plan because it’s a good pick for a PM tool.
- Roadmapping ability
- Multiple views (Gantt, calendar and board)
- Business plan templates included
- Goal management via projects and tasks
- Free plan available
- Affordable plans
- No pitching tools
- No financial tools
Best for Goal Management
$7 per user, per month
(billed annually)
(added cost)
Using PM software like Smartsheet is a good idea for starting a business plan because it includes all the tools you need to collaborate and plan across multiple teams or stakeholders. It’s especially good for real-time goal management. Get your ideas in place, go over market and competitive research from other teammates and finalize everything together.
Smartsheet won’t help you write your business plan, but it does give you a place to compile all the data and then you can use one of its free business plan templates. As you figure out your milestones, you can invite an unlimited number of viewers to see how it’s going. The only downsides are that Smartsheet doesn’t have a native messaging app (you’ll have to use an integration), only commenting allowed and there’s no free plan.
Paid plans from Smartsheet cost $7 per user, per month, or $25 per user, per month (billed annually for both). The low-priced Pro plan limits you to 10 editors, but the Business plan allows unlimited editors (but it also has a three-user minimum).
Learn more: Read our full Smartsheet review .
Smartsheet lets you make changes in real time, so it’s a good option for those who are just starting to piece together a plan and looking for a way to manage ideas and goals before finalizing a business plan.
- Discounts for nonprofits available
- Automations on every plan
- Popular integrations allowed on low-tier plan
- 30-day free trial
- No free plan
- Only 10 viewers allowed on low-tier plan
- Three-user minimum on Business plan
Best for Financial Forecasting
$15 per month
One of the strongest cases for using LivePlan to create your business plan is its financial forecasting. It isn’t just a single feature, rather it’s a tool that lets you turn your balance sheet and cash flow statements into charts, graphs and what-if situations to help you show possible investors the best- and worst-case scenarios for your business.
There are two plans available: Standard or Premium (there is no free plan). The low-priced plan, which costs $15 per month (billed annually), doesn’t limit your contributors or guests and includes instructions to help you complete a business plan. It even includes the financial forecasting features and more than 500 sample plans to get you started.
The Premium plan costs $30 per month (billed annually), but it’s full-featured. You get a milestone planner and industry benchmark data, which can save you research time. Another timesaver: At this plan level, you can integrate QuickBooks or Xero to add your financial data seamlessly.
LivePlan is business plan software that includes prompts and accounting software integrations, making it great for new business owners that want easy financial forecasting.
- Unlimited guests and contributors
- Export finished business plan as PowerPoint presentation
- Includes step-by-step instructions with prompts
- 35-day money-back guarantee
- No free trial
Best for Roadmapping
$59 per user, per month
Every business plan starts with strategy and Aha! makes it easier to map out what you plan to do to get from point A to point Z. Aha! is primarily roadmapping software that product teams use to plan features, products or bug fixes. Any business in any industry can use it to shape ideas and strategy into plans and milestones.
Much like product development, business plans have phases and Aha! is ideal for the first few phases of business planning. Although you won’t find a scorecard feature with Aha! Roadmaps, you can score and prioritize your business vision and goals. Finally, you can present your plan to viewers (stakeholders) before you create your official business plan and secure funding.
There are three plans from which you can choose: Premium at $59 per user, per month; Enterprise at $99 per user, per month; and Enterprise+ at $149 per user, per month, all billed annually. The only reasons to upgrade to either Enterprise plan is if you want to add on automation, development tools and custom worksheets and tables.
Aha! Roadmaps is a great tool to help you strategize and get your ideas for your business in one place. You can use the presentation feature to share your business’s roadmap on your way to creating your finalized business plan.
- User-friendly interface
- Ability to score and prioritize ideas
- Share roadmaps with others
- Expensive for business plan creation
- Has a bit of a learning curve
Best for Beginners
$20.75 per month
Bizplan is specifically for business plan creation. It offers a guided walkthrough of each section you need for a complete business plan to use for funding or pitching to partners. Plug in the information, from your mission and goals to financial forecasts, and Bizplan will do the math and create the visual charts you need to get your point across.
Bizplan is very easy to use because it includes prompts and questions that take away the manual effort of figuring out what you need, so you can simply focus on providing the answers. When you’re satisfied you included all the data needed, you can invite stakeholders and consultants to look it over and add comments for approval or change requests. A unique feature of Bizplan is it gives you access to Fundable, a crowdfunding platform, on which you can share your business plan to try to generate funding.
Monthly pricing costs $29, but you can opt for annual pricing that averages to $20.75 per month. If you expect to need business plan software for much longer than a year, there’s a lifetime access option for $349 flat. All plans come with all features and access, including business courses, business planning tools and a route to investors.
If it’s your first time creating a business plan, Bizplan is a great choice to help guide you through all the sections you need to include in your plan for potential investors and partners.
- Monthly, annual and lifetime plans
- Unlimited business plans
- Unlimited collaborators
- Step-by-step instructions
- Modular, drag-and-drop interface
- Online business courses
- Access to Fundable
- Financial forecasting
- No roadmapping tools
- Lack of customization
- Only integrates with Xero
Best for Ideation
Free; $6 per month
IdeaBuddy is a basic business plan tool that lets you start for free, which is great for beginners who aren’t quite ready to create a plan. The idea plan feature is great because it lets you lay out your business plan on one page, giving you an overview. There are built-in sticky notes for brainstorming and custom templates to start you off with a bit of a guide (or just create your own).
Another great feature of IdeaBuddy is the whiteboard, which lets you drag and drop various elements, draw on it and collaborate with others to come up with your perfect business idea. That feature is locked behind the highest tier, so you’ll have to pay $22 per month (billed annually) to use it. However, that plan also gives you up to 10 collaborators and 10 ideas.
Other plans are more limiting: The free plan is for a solopreneur who has a single idea to work on and the Dreamer plan is $6 per month while the Founder plan is $12 per month, both billed annually. The Dreamer plan is also limited to one idea, but you get one collaborator while the Founder plan gives you up to three ideas and three collaborators. Plus, you’ll get access to the paid plans to export and share your plan with viewers.
IdeaBuddy is just what it sounds like: It’s best for ideation. You can create a full-fledged business plan, but this program is best suited for the very beginning stages of business creation.
- Free forever plan
- Affordable paid plans
- Monthly and annual billing options
- Easy to use
- Export to Word, Excel or as PDF
- Flexible whiteboard feature
- May be too basic for some users
- Doesn’t offer much guidance
Best for No-Frills Business Planning
$55 for one year
Business plan software doesn’t have to be fancy to be effective, and iPlanner certainly fits that bill. It’s been around since 2007 and it doesn’t appear to have updated its look or functions. The browser-based business planning software gives you a place to build out your business model and a business plan.
There are two different software options from iPlanner: Strategy Designer and Startup Framework. The Strategy Designer costs $59 for three plans, but it’s a one-time fee for the year. Choose it if you want a more condensed and no-frills kind of business plan. You can export it to Word or as a PDF.
The iPlanner Startup Framework is $55 per year, which gives you one plan to create. It’s similar to the Designer version, but you can create a business model, separate financials and build a team with various roles (view only, project owner or consultant).
iPlanner is best for those who have created a business plan before and don’t need hand-holding or fancy features.
- Business modeling option
- Samples on site for demoing
- Export to Word or as PDF
- No free plan or trial
- Not a lot of guidance
- Outdated interface
Best for Automatic Business Plan Creation
$11 per month
Enloop is a unique business plan app that generates a business plan for you based on information you provide. You can edit the text Enloop writes for you to make it more specific or change numbers in your financial forecasts as you see fit. Enloop offers a scorecard that updates as you change things, finish sections and make your business plan overall better.
Then Enloop compares your financial forecasts to industry standards, so you don’t have to do the research. The software shows you up to 16 ratios, such as sales, inventory and payables and then shows you what the average is for your industry as it compares to your financials. Enloop then gives you either a pass or fail so that you can modify your plan before you put anything into play.
Although Enloop doesn’t offer a free plan, there is a free trial for one week so you can see if it’s right for you. The Detailed plan costs $11 per month while the Performance plan is $24 per month, both billed annually. The biggest difference between the two plans is how many financial ratios Enloop analyzes: The Detailed plan only gets three ratios and Performance plan gets 16.
Enloop is best for those who have some experience creating business plans, not necessarily for those who are starting from scratch as there are no brainstorming or strategizing tools included. Use Enloop to create business plans quickly.
- Three business plans for each tier
- Generates a business plan automatically
- Compares your financials to industry standards
- Seven-day free trial available
- Scorecards indicate odds of success
- No messaging team members through app
- Not meant for strategizing
Best for Consultant Groups
$80 per, user per month
Not everyone wants to go it alone when creating business plans and consultants are often hired for industry expertise and business plan creation. AchieveIt offers generous plans that won’t limit the number of plans and projects you can create, so you can work on multiple business plans at one time.
Specifically, AchieveIt is planning software meant for medium to large teams to work on projects simultaneously. For business planning, it’s a great option for those strategizing and analyzing a variety of data points with multiple people—all of AchieveIt’s plans have a minimum requirement of 20 users.
Plans are pricey, especially when you consider the user minimum. Core, the lowest-priced plan, costs $80 per user, per month, and Plus is $90 per user, per month, both billed annually. So, it’s going to cost $1,600 per month, at least, which puts this software out of reach for most small businesses.
AchieveIt is a good choice for large businesses that need planning software and for business plan purposes, it makes most sense for established consultant groups.
- Unlimited plans and projects
- Collaboration tools
- Goal management
- 20-user minimum
- Pricier than most competitors
- Integrations at added cost
Best for Teams
Business sorter.
$10 per month
When you’re ready to craft your business plan, it can help immensely to have business planning software like Business Sorter. The cloud-based app makes it easy for you to start a plan and kicks off your business planning with a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats). Then, you can follow a guide to build your plan with each section divided by areas. After which, you can choose cards to help steer you toward the right objectives and goals for your business.
You won’t find roadmapping tools in Business Sorter, but the card system keeps you on track (and even gives you goals you may not have considered). As you prioritize goals, you’ll find steps you need to take that guide you to completing your business plan. Every plan allows multiple users, so you can collaborate on what takes precedence.
Plans start at $10 per month, billed annually, and allows you to have three users on board. For 10 users, the Medium plan costs $30 per month, billed annually, and if you need 30 users, the Large Team plan will run you $80 per month, billed annually. It’s one of the most affordable business planning apps for teams.
Although Business Sorter doesn’t offer a messaging tool, it’s still one of the best options for teams. You don’t have to pay per person, but you can add multiple people to the account to work on creating business plans.
- Easy-to-use business plan templates
- Free trial available
- Card system helps guide your goal setting
- Create up to 40 business plans
- Plans limit user count
- No messaging in app
- Very limited integrations
| Company | Company - Logo | Forbes Advisor Rating | Forbes Advisor Rating | Starting Price | Team messaging | Roadmapping | Learn More CTA text | Learn more CTA below text | LEARN MORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wrike | 5.0 | Free; $9.80 per user, per month | Yes | Yes | Read Forbes' Review | ||||
| Smartsheet | 5.0 | $7 per user, per month (billed annually) | Yes (added cost) | Yes | On Smartsheet's Website | ||||
| LivePlan | 4.8 | $15 per month (billed annually) | Yes | Yes | |||||
| Aha! | 4.3 | $59 per user, per month (billed annually) | Yes (added cost) | Yes | |||||
| Bizplan | 4.0 | $20.75 per month (billed annually) | Yes | No | |||||
| IdeaBuddy | 3.9 | Free; $6 per month (billed annually) | No | No | |||||
| iPlanner | 3.8 | $55 for one year | No | No | |||||
| Enloop | 3.5 | $11 per month (billed annually) | No | Yes | |||||
| AchieveIt | 3.4 | $80 per, user per month (billed annually) | No | No | |||||
| Business Sorter | 3.2 | $10 per month (billed annually) | No | No |
| Cloud-based software | $12.00/mo. | 60-day money back guarantee | ||
| Windows app and cloud-based software | $20.75/mo. | 60-day money back guarantee | ||
| Professional service | Custom quote | N/A | ||
| Cloud-based software | $10.00/mo. | 14 days | ||
| Cloud-based software | $39.00/mo. | N/A |
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LivePlan: Best overall business plan software
Data as of 3 /13/23 . Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *With annual billing
LivePlan has been our favorite business plan software for a while now, despite the stiff competition.
There’s a lot to like about LivePlan. It has pretty much all the features you could want from your business plan software. LivePlan gives you step-by-step instructions for writing your plan, helps you create financial reports, lets you compare your business’s actual financials to your plan’s goals, and much more. And if you ever need inspiration, it includes hundreds of sample business plans that can guide your writing.
LivePlan software pricing
| $12.00/mo. | $15.00/mo. | ||
| $24.00/mo. | $30.00/mo. |
But the best part? You get all that (and more) at a very competitive price. (You can choose from annual, six-month, or monthly billing.) While LivePlan isn’t quite the cheapest business plan builder out there, it’s not too far off either. And if comes with a 60-day money back guarantee. So there’s no risk in trying LivePlan out for yourself.
With a great balance of features and cost, LivePlan offers the best business plan solution for most businesses.
BizPlanBuilder: Most user-friendly
Need something easy to use? BizPlanBuilder fits the bill.
BizPlanBuilder doesn’t have a flashy, modern user interface―but it does have a very clear, intuitive one. You’ll be able to see your plan’s overall structure at a glance, so you can quickly navigate from your title page to your market trend section to that paragraph on your core values. And as you write, you’ll use a text editor that looks a whole lot like the word processing programs you’re already familiar with.
BizPlanBuilder software pricing
| $20.75/mo. | $29.00/mo. | $349.00 |
|---|
Data effective 3/13/23. At publishing time, amounts, rates, and requirements are current but are subject to change. Offers may not be available in all areas.
BizPlanBuilder also offers lots of helpful guidance for actually writing your plan. It gives you pre-written text, in which you just have to fill in relevant details. It offers explanations for what information you need to include in each section of your plan and way. It even gives you helpful tips from experts, so you’ll have all the information you need to plan like a pro.
So if you want planning software with almost no learning curve, you’ll like BizPlanBuilder.
Wise Business Plans: Best professional service
- Custom quote
Unlike all the other companies on this list, Wise Business Plans doesn’t offer software. Instead, it offers professional business plan writing services―meaning someone does all the hard work for you.
Now, you might think that sounds expensive―and you’re probably right (you have to request a custom quote for your plan). But there’s a lot to be said for expertise, and Wise Business Plans has plenty of that. Your business plan will get written by an experienced writer (with an MBA, no less). They’ll get information from you, do their own research, and then write your plan. You get one free revision, and you can always pay for more.
Wise Business Plans service pricing
| N/A | N/A | Custom quote |
|---|
Your end result will be a polished, entirely original business plan. (You can even get printed copies.) And best of all, you won’t have to spend your precious time working on the plan yourself. Wise Business Plans takes care of all the hard parts, and makes your business look good while doing it. Sounds like a service worth paying for, right?
Put simply, if you want the most professional business plan possible, we recommend using Wise Business Plans’s writing service.
Business Sorter: Best for internal plans
Many businesses need plans to show to people outside the company (to get financing, for example). But what if you just need a plan for internal use? In that case, we suggest Business Sorter.
Business Sorter uses a unique card-based method to help you craft the perfect business plan. (You can watch a demo video to see how it works.) You’ll plan some of the usual things, like finances and marketing. But Business Sorter also lets you make plans for specific teams and team members. It also emphasizes more internal matters, like operations, that might get overlooked in a business plan for outsiders.
Business Sorter software pricing
| $10.00/mo. | $80.00/yr. | ||
| $30.00/mo. | $240.00/yr. | ||
| $80.00/mo. | $640.00/yr. | ||
| Custom pricing | Custom pricing |
After you’ve made your business plan, Business Sorter also helps you stay accountable to it. You can create tasks, give them deadlines, and assign them to team members―giving you basic project management tools to make sure your business plans become business actions. (Oh, and did we mention that Business Sorter has the lowest starting prices of any software on this list?)
It all adds up to a business plan software that works great for internal planning.
GoSmallBiz: Most extra features
Want to get way more than just business planning software? Then you probably want GoSmallBiz.
See, GoSmallBiz offers business plan software as part of its service―but it’s just one part of a much bigger whole. You also get everything from discounts on legal services to a website builder to a CRM (customer relationship manager) to business document templates. And more. In other words, you get just about everything you need to get your startup off the ground.
GoSmallBiz software pricing
| $39.00/mo. | ||
| $49.00/mo. | ||
| $199.00/mo. |
Don’t worry though―you still get all the business planning help you need. GoSmallBiz gives you business plan templates, step-by-step instructions, and the ability to create financial projections. And if you get stuck, GoSmallBiz will put you in touch with experts who can offer advice.
If you want business planning and much, much more, give GoSmallBiz a try.
- PlanGuru : Best financial forecasting
- EnLoop : Cheapest tool for startups
We recommend the software above for most business planning needs. Some businesses, though, might be interested in these more specialized planning software.
Honorable mention software pricing
| $899.00/yr. | $99.00/mo. | N/A | ||
| $11.00/mo. | $19.95/mo. | N/A |
PlanGuru: Best financial forecasting features
PlanGuru is pretty pricey compared to our other picks, but you might find its forecasting features worth paying for. It has more forecasting methods than other software (over 20) plus it lets you forecast up to 10 years.
EnLoop: Cheapest tool for startups
EnLoop doesn’t have our favorite features or interface, but it does have really, really low pricing plus a seven-day free trial. It's the most affordable software for startup business planning and still provides all the essential features like financial analysis, team collaboration, charting, and more.
Data as of 3 /13/23 . Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. * With annual billing
Several of our previous favorite planning software, including BusinessPlanPro and StratPad, seem to have gone out of business.
A business plan is a written, living document that tells the story of your business and what you plan to do with it. It serves as the source of truth for you—the business owner—as well as potential partners, employees, and investors, but it also serves as a roadmap of what you want your business to be.
Why you need a business plan
While some small-business owners don’t see the point of creating a formal business plan, it can have some concrete benefits for your business. For example, one 2016 study found that business owners with written plans are more successful than those that don’t. 1
Still too vague? Then let’s get specific.
If you ever seek business funding (from, say, banks, angel investors , or venture capitalists ), you’ll have to prove that your business deserves the money you want. A formal business plan―complete with financial data and projections―gives you a professional document you can use to make your case. (In fact, most potential investors will expect you to have a business plan ready.)
Even if you’re not seeking funding right now, a business plan can help your business. A formal plan can guide your business’s direction and decision making. It can keep your business accountable (by, for example, seeing if your business meets the financial projections you included). And a formal plan offers a great way to make sure your team stays on the same page.
What to include in your business plan
Not all business plans are created equal. To make a really useful business plan, you’ll want to include a number of elements:
- Basic information about your business
- Your products/services
- Market and industry analysis
- What makes your business competitive
- Strategies and upcoming plans
- Your team (and your team’s background)
- Current financial status
- Financial and market projections
- Executive summary
Of course, you can include more or fewer elements―whatever makes sense for your business. Just make sure your business plan is comprehensive (but not overwhelming).
How business plan software can help
With so many elements to include, business plan creation can take a while. Business plan software tries to speed things up.
Most business plan software will include prompts for each section. In some cases, you can just fill in your business’s specific information, and the software will write the text for you. In other cases, the software will give you specific guidance and examples, helping you write the text yourself.
Plus, business plan software can help you stay organized. You’ll usually get intuitive menus that let you quickly flip through sections. So rather than endlessly scrolling through a long document in a word processor, you can quickly find your way around your plan. Some software even lets you drag and drop sections to reorganize your plan.
Sounds way easier than just staring at a blank page and trying to start from scratch, right?
Choosing business plan software
To find the right business plan builder for your business, you’ll want to compare features. For example, would you rather write your own text, getting prompts and advice from your software? Or would you rather go with a fill-in-the-blank method?
Likewise, think about the elements you need. If your plan will have a heavy focus on finances, you’ll want to choose business plan software with robust financial projection features. If you care more about market and competitor analysis, look for software that can help with that research.
You may also want to find business plan software that integrates with your business accounting software . Some plan builders will import data from Xero, QuickBooks, etc. to quickly generate your financial data and projections.
And of course, you’ll want to compare prices. After all, you always want to end up with software that fits your business budget.
The right business plan software can make your life easier. With LivePlan ’s wide breadth of features and online learning tools, you can’t go wrong. Plus, BizPlanBuilder 's one-time pricing makes it easy to invest while Business Sorter has a low starting cost. And if you're business is looking to grow, GoSmallBiz and Wise Business Plans will scale with you.
But of course, different companies have different needs. So shop around until you find the software that’s best for you and your business.
Now that you've got a business plan, take a look at our checklist for starting a small business. It can help you make sure you have everything else you need to get your startup off to a good start!
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Creating a business plan can take anywhere from a couple hours to several weeks. Your timeline will depend on things like the elements you choose to include, whether you use software or hire a writing service, and how much research goes into your plan.
That said, much of the business plan software out there brags that it can help you create a fairly detailed plan in a few hours. So if you’re going the software route, that can help you set your expectations.
If you want to get the most out of your business plan, you should update it on a regular basis―at least annually. That way, you can continually refer to it to inform your company’s strategies and direction.
At the very least, you should update your business plan before you start looking for a new round of funding (whether that’s with investors or lenders).
Thanks to business plan software, you can easily write your own business plan rather than pay someone to do it for you. And in most cases, software will cost you less than a professional business plan service.
There are some times you might want to go with a service though. If time is tight, you might find that it’s worth the cost of a service. Or if you’ve got big investor meetings on the horizon, you might want the expertise and polish that a professional service can offer.
Ultimately, you’ll have to decide for yourself whether business plan software or a business plan service will work better for your company.
Methodology
We ranked business plan software and tools based on features, pricing and plans, and connections to project management and other services. The value of each plan and service, along with what it offers, was a big consideration in our rankings, and we looked to see if what was offered was useful to small businesses or just extra. The final thing we looked at was the ease of use of the software to see if it's too complex for small businesses.
At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.
Sources 1. Harvard Business Review, “ Research: Writing a Business Plan Makes Your Startup More Likely to Succeed .” Accessed March 13, 2023.
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Disclaimer: The information featured in this article is based on our best estimates of pricing, package details, contract stipulations, and service available at the time of writing. All information is subject to change. Pricing will vary based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the customer’s location, package chosen, added features and equipment, the purchaser’s credit score, etc. For the most accurate information, please ask your customer service representative. Clarify all fees and contract details before signing a contract or finalizing your purchase.
Our mission is to help consumers make informed purchase decisions. While we strive to keep our reviews as unbiased as possible, we do receive affiliate compensation through some of our links. This can affect which services appear on our site and where we rank them. Our affiliate compensation allows us to maintain an ad-free website and provide a free service to our readers. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy Page . |
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Everything you need to plan, launch & grow
Create a fundable business plan. Then use financial tools to bring it to life.
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With the right tools and a little guidance, you can achieve almost any business goal
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Get inspired by 550+ sample business plans
Browse hundreds of sample business plans that cover every industry imaginable. This helps you visualize what your completed plan should look like.
Organize & pitch your ideas
Clarify and vet your ideas in 30 minutes by creating a One-Page Pitch. Then use it to easily explain your business opportunity to investors.
Create financials without clunky spreadsheets
No more complicated formulas. LivePlan guides you through a simple process for building financial forecasts and reports for your business plan.
LivePlan has helped over 1 million business owners build better businesses
It’s proven, companies that plan and track against their plan grow 30% faster than those that don’t. No matter your industry, location, or size — LivePlan helps you get your business off the ground and grow
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Owner & Founder, Tailored Coffee
“It wasn’t my intention to be an entrepreneur or a business person. My intention was to work with dogs. I kind of had to learn the rest of it in order to do what I wanted to do.”
Joanna Stanford
Founder, Trots Dogs
“That’s what it does for your business; [using LivePlan] has got us all talking and much more engaged about what we are and what we’re trying to do.”
Owner & Founder, Web Ninja
“Before LivePlan, I was making decisions that were poorly informed. Now I test everything through my business first, before I take it to my clients.”
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Owner & Founder, Esquire Accounting
Entrepreneurs & business owners love LivePlan
“I learned more about running my small business from a week of focused work in [LivePlan] than I have from any other single source. It has fundamentally changed the way I view my business ventures”
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“Using LivePlan is easy and there is so much assistance available. There are examples, templates, and videos explaining what to write. [...]. It does the math for you. It creates graphs and charts. It is amazing.”
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“LivePlan was a great help to design, work out, plan and strategically organize and think about all the ideas that go into developing a new project and business plan [...] Think about it like a coach guiding you through the process.”
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“Before LivePlan, my team and I had no idea where or how to start [...] It helped us focus on and build every single area of our business strategy and recognize that some aspects of the company needed to be adjusted before we could launch.”
“LivePlan has eased my business planning processes and have provided me with easy access to credit from both banks and investors alike.”
“All businesses require solutions and tools [...] for control of expenses, spreadsheets were always the first option, but since the arrival of LivePlan, all work is easier and more automated.”
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“I didn’t have a business plan and using LivePlan helped give me an easy tool to build a strong business plan for myself and clients. My clients have gone on to enhance their plans and grow their businesses.”
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“LivePlan provides the balance between stating your vision, the framework to support it, and the numbers.”
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The best free small business software in 2024
Whether you find them on basic cable or on your parents' Facebook timelines, the top-rated personal finance gurus all agree: free is good. Especially if you're launching a new business venture. To get your company off the ground, you'll need to make every inch of your runway count, which is why free business software can be an attractive—even necessary—option.
It's fair to be worried about quality. Free apps for business often mean undeletable watermarks that ruin your branding or unreliable functionality that can toss a wrench into your workflows at any moment. But if you know which apps to use and how to use them, free doesn't have to mean cut-rate.
In fact, the right free small business app can give you the power to pull off a successful launch, and then scale up as your margins allow you to grow. Or, when the time's right, you can simply jump ship to another platform that makes more sense for your expanding business needs.
To do that, you'll first need a solid start that won't bust your bottom line. Here's a roundup of the best free small business software. Since every business has different needs, I'll introduce you to categories of apps you should consider when putting together your small business tech stack, suggest apps along the way, and link you to more top apps within that category.
The best free software for small businesses
How we evaluate and test apps, the best free software for small businesses at a glance .
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|
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|---|---|---|
| Free CRM software | Managing up to 250 unique leads with sales, marketing, chat, and customer service features for free |
| Free email marketing services | Delivering dynamic, text- and image-rich content to inboxes |
| Free website builders | Leveraging AI to write website copy |
| Free project management software | Visualizing project workflows |
| Free survey tools and form builders | Building forms using a robust feature set |
| Free graphic design and photo editing software | Creating AI-generated images using text—and then using them in your designs |
| Free keyword research tools | Quickly identifying priority keywords worth chasing |
| Free timesheet software | Tracking time from multiple devices, including browser, desktop, mobile app, or within 100+ third-party apps |
| Free invoicing software | Customizing invoice designs |
Free CRM software like EngageBay
Add new EngageBay Marketing contacts to Google Sheets as rows
Add new EngageBay contacts from Typeform form
Free email marketing services like MailerLite
Create/update MailerLite subscribers from new Squarespace form submissions
Create or update MailerLite subscribers from new Webflow form submissions
Free website builders like Wix
Once you've attracted attention with your dazzling email marketing, you'll need a place to send all that traffic. You can try to cut corners with that friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend who builds websites on the side until their pro League of Legends career takes off. Or you can opt for a more reliable, still affordable option by going with a website building platform.
These apps, even in their free tiers, are customizable and easy to use—no coding required—allowing you to build a dynamic web presence that won't get buried in search engine results.
Add or update Mailchimp subscribers when a new Wix Form is submitted
Send private channel messages in Slack for new forms in Wix
Free project management software like Trello
When looking at free software for small businesses, you need to think about your internal operations, too. For all your core processes, it's about organized projects that are planned and executed with maximum efficiency.
Create Trello cards from new Google Forms responses
Create Trello cards from new rows on Google Sheets
Free survey tools and form builders like google forms.
Send new Google Forms responses to Notion databases
Share Google Forms responses in a Slack channel
Free graphic design and photo editing software like canva.
You're likely already thinking about (or using) social media as a way to keep in touch and nurture customer relationships. More than just collecting likes and hearts, the right social media presence can boost customer engagement and drive traffic to your door.
Free keyword research tools like Moz Keyword Explorer
Free timesheet software like Toggl Track
If you're employing others, timesheet apps are an indispensable tool for equitable resource allocation, transparent invoicing, budgeting, and oversight. To track time effectively, however, you need user-friendly software that integrates into your workflows.
Create new Toggl Track entries for every new Google Calendar event start
Create new Toggl Track projects from new rows in Google Sheets
Free invoicing software like wave.
At the end of the day, you need to get paid for the goods and services you provide—hence the whole "business" aspect of launching a business. You can bring that money in the door faster, and with less effort, by using invoicing software.
Create Wave customers from new Pipedrive deals
Create Wave customers from new changes to properties of HubSpot contacts
Connect your free small business apps with automation
The best free apps for small business owners can be a boost on their own. But to really move the needle, your apps need to talk to each other.
Related reading:
This article was originally published in February 2023. The most recent update, with contributions from Jessica Lau, was in February 2024.
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Toby Peterson
Toby Peterson is an educator, writer, and editor living in Portland, Oregon. He enjoys unironically British food and the Oxford comma. Visit him at tobiaspeterson.com.
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Best business plan software of 2024
For planning your business finance
Best overall
Best budget, best established, best for speed.
- How we test
The best business plan software makes it simple and easy to plan your business finances in order to present them to a bank or investors.
1. Best overall 2. Best budget 3. Best basic 4. Best established 5. Best for speed 6. FAQs 7. How we test
The whole point of a business plan is that it allows you to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, not least via your Unique Selling Point (USP) ,and make product or service comparisons with competitors.
Of course, even the best business plan relies on estimates and guesstimates, as it's impossible to predict market changes, developments, and future performance under such conditions.
Ultimately, though, a business plan will demonstratively prove why your business is a solid enough investment to risk putting money into, and shows that you have properly and thoroughly researched your market, and details the real potential of a new business opportunities.
Here then are the best business plan software providers currently available.
You may also be interested in our featured business guides on best business laptops , best business computers and best business smartphones .
The best business plan software of 2024 in fill:
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid.
Bizplan is the online business planning tool that claims usage of 30,000 startup founders from the Startups.co platform. They use a guided creator that can break the big project down into the component pieces that get tracked with a Progress Tracker, and expert guidance each step of the way including templates that can be dropped in, and completed, along with simple integration of visuals along the way.
Additional resources are also provided via the Bizplan Academy, with lessons on relevant topics, for example, “Building a Brand: How to Tell a Powerful Brand Story,” and “Critical Path Your Way to Higher Revenues,” among the many offerings. Those that need even more assistance also can take advantage of an expert consultation from a financial expert.
- ^ Back to the top
2. PlanGuru
PlanGuru is a comprehensive, and powerful software package in the business planning space. Education is provided via a series of case studies at their PlanGuru University and a whole slew of video tutorials.
The feature set includes flexible budgeting that can handle a simple small business, or a larger multi-department operating budget, and financial forecasting that uses multiple methods, including intelligent and turn-key methods - twenty methods in total. Historical results can also be imported with the general ledger import utility which can then applied to produce a rolling forecast. They also offer PlanGuru Launch, a service to bring in expertise and is charged per hour of assistance.
A significant downside is Planguru charges a higher cost than other software options. The cheapest option is around $75 per month for one business entity when billed annually. While there is no free trial, PlanGuru does offer a 30 day money back guarantee.
Our expert review:
Enloop is a great choice for business planning software for the cash strapped business as it is the rare offering that has a free tier. Step up up to the next tier, and this is no barebones product, as it has over 100 currency symbols, can automatically generate bank-ready financial reports, and even has automated text writing that can sync with financial data to turn it into text. There is also a real time performance score assigned, that dynamically changes as the business plan is strengthened.
The plans start with the Free tier, which is limited to a single business plan with simple text, no images, and does not offer any advanced features. The next plan up is the Detailed plan, that supports three business plans, and offers a significant 55% discount when paid annually, making it even better value. This plan costs around $20 per month. For a more comprehensive package you can buy the Performance plan costing around $40 per month.
Read our full Enloop business plan software review .
4. LivePlan
LivePlan is business planning software that offers a simple pricing scheme as there is only a single plan to choose from. As they have a 15+ year track record, they offer a clean and simple interface, that can create business plans that look like they were done by an expert consultant, and the software includes a live dashboard that can track day-to-day performance. Those with writer’s block will benefit from the over 500 included sample plans that can be turned to for inspiration.
Rather than complicate things with too many tiers to choose from, LivePlan only has a single plan which can be paid for monthly or annually.
5. Business Sorter
Business Sorter promises to simplify and speed up business planning and claims to be able to flesh out a plan in an hour or two, via a novel 273 card sort system that covers many common situations.
The ability to reword cards is included, or also to add cards to the already expansive deck, so no worries if there is not a pre-made card for your situation. Unlike some sites that have videos, the educational resources here are provided as PDFs and Word files, which can be quicker to access, but harder to follow for some learners.
The lowest tier plan, Basic is fully featured, and includes up to three team leaders.
Read our full Business Sorter review .
Other business plan software to consider
We've only covered some of the most popular business plan software platforms out there, but there are a number of other notables worth mentioning, plus a wide variety of providers of business plan templates. Below we'll briefly cover a range of some of the additional options out there that are worth considering to get your business plan right.
Go Business Plans is more of a consultancy than a software solution, but is worth mentioning for the simple fact that it's one of America's biggest business plan companies. While software might be able to do the job for you, if you're looking for significant funding, it's probably useful to get some professional advice, not least in terms of strategic planning, feasibility studies, and financial projections to ensure you have a solid base for your business plan.
Wise Business Plans provides a very wide range of templates to work from in constructing a business plan. These are particularly designed with funding in mind, no matter what kind of business you run. What is especially helpful is that Wise doesn’t simply deal with business plan templates for a diverse range of business types, the company also provides plan templates for franchises and non-profits.
Plan Writers is another bespoke service that essentially listens to what you want and then puts the plan together for you. Again, this technically falls outside of business plan "software", but the chances are you'll use a software package as a platform to build from, and Plan Writers can then help you build up from that base.
Bplans is another provider of business plan templates, but goes beyond that with additional pitch and SWOT analysis templates. There are also business plan guides, industry reports, and a free course on writing a business plan. Bplans also publishes a lot of free-to-use articles on business planning, financials, and tax reporting, to help ensure you can keep your figures and projections accurate and compliant.
We've also listed the best free software for small business .
A business plan is essentially your roadmap to profitability from an initial investment. Whether it's your own money, or a loan from a bank, it's still a good idea to set up a business plan for yourself.
Main things to look to are a SWOT analysis to provide an idea of your business idea's strengths and weaknesses, as well as identify a unique selling point (USP) that will give your business an edge.
While business plans inevitably demand the use of figures, and while these can be impossible to be accurate with, at least by making intelligent guesses you can set yourself targets to work towards.
That's another common feature of a plan, so that specific periods you can review your business progress and make adjustments to your plan as required. This allows you to use real figures for your projections, allowing you to better plan ahead.
Which business plan software is best for you?
When deciding which business plan software to use, first consider what your actual needs are, as sometimes free platforms may only provide basic options, so if you need to use advanced tools you may find a paid platform is much more worthwhile. Additionally, free and budget software options can sometimes prove limited when it comes to the variety of tools available, while higher-end software can really cater for every need, so do ensure you have a good idea of which features you think you may require.
How we tested the best business plan software
To test for the best business plan software we first set up an account with the relevant software platform, whether as a download or as an online service. We then tested the service to see how the software could be used for different purposes and in different situations. The aim was to push each business plan software platform to see how useful its basic tools were and also how easy it was to get to grips with any more advanced tools.
Read how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar .
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Blog Business 8 Best Business Plan Software for 2024
8 Best Business Plan Software for 2024
Written by: Krystle Wong Jan 01, 2024
Gone are the days of staring at blank pages and struggling to structure a business plan effectively. With user-friendly interfaces and a wide range of business plan templates catering to various industries, creating business plans that are polished, professional and data-driven can now be done in a fraction of the time.
For startups, business plan software guides them through the crucial early stages with comprehensive business plan templates and financial modeling tools. Established businesses on the other hand benefit from the software’s collaborative features, enabling seamless teamwork as they pivot, innovate and pursue new growth opportunities.
In this article, let’s delve into exploring the seven best business plan software for 2024. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur with a groundbreaking idea or a seasoned business owner ready to elevate your enterprise to new heights, these software solutions have all you need to create a solid business plan.
Click to jump ahead:
What is a business plan software?
- 7 Best business plan software for 2024
Factors to consider when choosing a business plan software
7 steps to create your own business plan, business plan software faq, key takeaway.
A Business plan software is a specialized digital tool designed to assist entrepreneurs, startups and established businesses in creating, organizing and presenting comprehensive business plans.
Business plan software significantly reduces the time and effort required to create a comprehensive business plan . The availability of business plan templates, financial modeling tools and automated features streamlines the process of business planning and eliminates the need for starting from scratch.
Some advanced business planning software even integrates market research capabilities. This feature provides users with access to market trends, industry benchmarks and relevant data. Access to such data helps users make informed decisions and demonstrate a thorough understanding of their target market.
8 Best business plan software for 2024
1. venngage.
Venngage specializes in transforming traditional business plans into captivating visual stories. Visuals can communicate complex information effectively, ensuring your ideas stand out and resonate with your audience.
When it comes to business planning, conveying your ideas with impact is just as important as the content itself. In this digital age, visual storytelling has emerged as a powerful way to captivate audiences and leave a lasting impression. That’s where Venngage steps in.
With a rich library of templates, Venngage offers a variety of themes and styles to suit different industries and business types. Customize your business plans with our user-friendly drag-and-drop tools by adding your brand elements, customizing colors, fonts and visuals to make your business plan truly unique. Check out our library of sample business plans to get started today.
However, while Venngage excels in visual storytelling, it might not be the go-to tool for in-depth financial forecasts and analysis. Users seeking extensive financial modeling might want to complement Venngage with a comprehensive business planning tool.
Pricing options:
Create your first 5 designs with Venngage for free and upgrade to a premium or business plan for $10/month per user and $24/month per user respectively to enjoy premium features. For larger teams who need extra support, controls and security, the enterprise plan starts from $499/month for 10+ seats.
Can I collaborate with team members using this business plan software?
Yes, absolutely! Venngage offers collaborative features that allow you to work seamlessly with multiple team members when creating business plans. You can invite team members to join your Venngage account and they can contribute to the design process in real time.
Can I export my business plan to different file formats?
Upgrade to a premium or business plan on Venngage to export your professional business plan to different file formats. After designing your business plan, you can choose to export it as a high-quality PDF document, which is ideal for sharing and printing. Additionally, Venngage allows you to export your business plan as an image file (PNG or JPG), making it easy to use in presentations or on your website.
Is this business plan software suitable for startups or established businesses?
Venngage is great for entrepreneurs and businesses looking to enhance their business plans with visually engaging infographics and visual assets.
Instead of sharing a lengthy, 50-page document that may bore your audience and fail to effectively convey your message — present your business plan with infographics. Here’s how you can create a business plan infographic that will wow your readers and showcase your business at its best.
2. LivePlan
Source: Screenshot from LivePlan
In the realm of business planning software, LivePlan stands out as a reliable and user-friendly tool. With a focus on seamless financial forecasting and budgeting capabilities, LivePlan streamlines the planning process, helping businesses transform their visions into reality.
The software’s financial forecasting tools provide users with the ability to project revenue, expenses and cash flow accurately. This financial insight is invaluable for making informed decisions and setting realistic goals.
For hassle-free data integration, the business plan software offers seamless integration with accounting software . This feature allows users to import financial data effortlessly, saving time and reducing manual data entry.
While LivePlan excels in financial planning and user-friendliness, some users may find the customization options for design and layout to be limited. For businesses seeking highly tailored visual aesthetics, LivePlan’s template-based approach might be less ideal.
The standard plan is available at $20/month for monthly billing and $15/month for annual billing. For businesses seeking extensive financial tools to support their operations and growth, the Premium plan costs $20 for the first month and $40/month (monthly billing) or $30/month (annual billing) for subsequent months.
LivePlan facilitates seamless collaboration among users within your account, allowing multiple individuals to work on the same plan concurrently. To prevent conflicting edits, LivePlan restricts access to specific sections, allowing only one user to edit at a time while others observe the locked section.
You can export your business plan by using the print to PDF feature. This generates your plan content in a standard file format compatible with Adobe Reader and other free reader programs. Alternatively, you can export your plan to Microsoft Word (2007 or later).
A great tool for small businesses, startups and entrepreneurs looking for easy-to-use software with solid financial planning tools.
3. Upmetrics
Upmetrics is an AI-powered business planning software that helps businesses of all sizes and industries write their business plan.
With Upmetrics AI Assistant, you can write your plan faster, get answers to any business-related queries, and prepare financial forecasts in no time.
Besides, the subscription includes access to 400+ sample business plans, various informative guides, and video tutorials to keep your business plan writing process on track.
Additionally, it has collaborative features, so that everyone on the team can share their insights. Not just that, the software provides you with an AI pitch deck generator, so you can make a stellar pitch.
As an AI business plan builder , Upmetrics is suitable for entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses to write their plans at any stage. Although it has various cover page designs and immense customization options, it might still lack visual appeal.
Pricing plan options
- Starter plan – $7 monthly
- Premium plan – $14 monthly
Yes, you can collaborate with your team members while using Upmetrics. It offers collaboration tools that allow you to work effortlessly with your team on the business plan. You can invite team members to collaborate, assign tasks, and track the progress together.
You can download your business plan as a PDF or directly as a document in Word. Besides, you can share the business plan directly to any email, and they will get the viewer access to the plan.
Upmetrics is a versatile business planning software suitable for startups and established businesses. But its financial planning features, step-by-step guidance, and AI Assistant make it more useful for startups writing business plans for the first time.
4. BizPlan by Startups.com
Source: Screenshot from BizPlan
If you’re a startup aiming to raise investments, BizPlan is the one for you. As a universal professional business plan builder, BizPlan offers the added advantage of seamless integration with all the tools within the Startups.com network.
Designed with startups in mind, BizPlan’s step-by-step approach allows you to break down the entire scope of work into manageable steps and the built-in Progress Tracker tool keeps you on track towards success.
Once you subscribe, BizPlan opens the door to utilizing all the tools offered by Startups.com, making it a one-stop shop for your entrepreneurial needs. Whether it’s lifetime access to the service, connectivity to Findable to attract financial investments, a wealth of online educational programs or the ability to connect multiple owners to a single account, BizPlan delivers comprehensive support.
While the business plan software offers an array of benefits, it’s essential to consider the possible downsides. The absence of a free version and a mobile app, along with a lack of industry-specific templates for business plans may be worth considering before making your decision
Pricing plan options:
- Monthly plan ($29 per month)
- Annual plan ($20.75 per month or $249/year)
- Lifetime access (one-time fee of $349)
Bizplan encourages collaboration with partners, team members, advisors and subject matter experts by allowing threaded comments throughout the entire plan. It provides control over who can access sensitive financial data and enables convenient cloud-based access from anywhere.
Bizplan provides multiple options for sharing your business plan with others. You can generate an online version of your plan, which can be set as private by default or made publicly accessible through a unique shareable URL. Additionally, Bizplan offers the option to create a custom-branded PDF of your business plan.
BizPlan is great for entrepreneurs and small businesses who value a vast collection of resources and need support in financial analysis.
Source: Screenshot from Enloop
Enloop emerges as one of the best business plan tools for startups, catering to entrepreneurs who crave a streamlined planning process. With the ability to automatically generate basic text for each section of your plan, Enloop saves time and effort in crafting your business vision.
A highlight of the business plan tool is its automatic generation of financial projections, offering accurate insights based on your entered data. This powerful feature empowers entrepreneurs to make informed decisions and project future outcomes with confidence.
For those with a penchant for strategic thinking, Enloop’s “what-if” scenario analysis becomes an invaluable tool. It allows users to explore various business strategies and assess their potential impact on plan outcomes, enabling sound decision-making.
Enloop doesn’t stop at generating numbers; it goes a step further by providing a business plan grading system. This insightful feature assesses plan quality, giving users valuable feedback to refine and enhance their business plans.
However, it’s essential to consider the software’s limitations as customization and design options are relatively limited. Additionally, the basic version of Enloop might not meet the needs of all users, as it lacks certain advanced features.
- Seven day free trial (no credit card required)
- Detailed plan ($19.95/month or $11/month when billed annually)
- Performance plan ($39.95/month or $24/month when billed annually)
Enloop’s online business plan writing app lets you invite and collaborate with anyone on your business plans using the ‘Invite & Share’ feature.
Enloop allows you to download your business plan in PDF format whenever you’re ready. The plans remain accessible in your paid account, encouraging regular updates to keep track of your business’s health and have an up-to-date plan ready for financing needs.
Suitable for entrepreneurs seeking a tool that simplifies financial forecasting and scenario analysis.
6. PlanGuru
Source: Screenshot from PlanGuru
PlanGuru’s standout feature lies in its ability to forecast all three financial statements – income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement so that users can make data-driven decisions.
Creating detailed analyses becomes a breeze with PlanGuru’s general ledger import utilities, allowing seamless historical data import. The software facilitates budget vs actual reporting and enables building rolling forecasts with just a few clicks each month.
Unlimited budgeting flexibility is another advantage offered by the business plan builder. Users can craft simple high-level small business budgets or delve into intricate multi-department operating budgets with ease.
With scenario analysis capabilities, PlanGuru empowers users to interpret the financial impact of specific events accurately. This feature enables making critical investments and strategic decisions with confidence, knowing thorough due diligence has been performed.
Given its sophisticated features, PlanGuru may be more suitable for financial professionals and analysts looking for in-depth financial analysis and budgeting tools. Users not familiar with financial modeling may face a steeper learning curve when utilizing Enloop’s robust capabilities.
- Single entity ($99/month or $75/month when billed annually)
- Multi-department consolidations ($299/month or $225/month when billed annually)
You can add up to 3 users with the multi-department consolidation plan. Additionally, all plans allow you to add on $29/month (billed monthly) or $25/month (billed annually) for each extra user.
What other apps does PlanGuru integrate with?
The cloud-based platform is also accessible as a Windows-based desktop version, giving you the freedom to choose the format that suits you best. Additionally, PlanGuru seamlessly integrates with MS Excel, QuickBooks Online and Xero, providing further flexibility and convenience in using the software.
The cloud-based version is suitable for SMBs or nonprofits budgeting for a single entity while the multi-department consolidations plan is for companies with multiple departments needing consolidated budgets.
7. Business Sorter
Source: Screenshot from Business Sorter
With Business Sorter’s card sort system, crafting the foundation of your plan becomes a breeze. Featuring 273 cards covering various business situations, the business plan generator offers flexibility, allowing users to customize their plan by adding their cards or modifying existing ones, tailoring the plan to their specific needs.
The platform also provides the convenience of viewing your plan on any device, including smartphones, which not many business plan apps have. Additionally, guidance is at hand with Business Sorter as the software provides valuable tips and advice for every key step, empowering users to implement their business strategy with confidence.
While Business Sorter excels in its interactive features, it may not offer as extensive financial analysis tools as other business plan software. For businesses requiring advanced financial modeling capabilities, Business Sorter might not fully meet their requirements.
- For small teams with up to 3 users ($10/month or $80/year)
- For medium teams with up to 10 users ($30/month or $240/year)
- For large teams with up to 30 users ($80/month or $640/year)
- For enterprises with unlimited users (custom pricing)
Your business plan can be edited by only one user at a time. When a user opens a plan, it automatically locks to prevent any data loss and remains locked until the user finishes their work and exits the plan.
You can print each business plan directly from the plan summaries on your dashboard.
Suitable for both entrepreneurs and businesses looking for an interactive and visually appealing planning approach.
9. AchieveIt
Source: Screenshot from AchieveIt
AchieveIt stands as a versatile software for business plans, designed to simplify the planning process for businesses of all sizes and planning methods. With AchieveIt, you can easily build plans, ensuring alignment and engagement among your employees and optimizing plans for seamless execution.
Regardless of your preferred planning method, AchieveIt empowers you to construct plans effortlessly, providing a flexible solution for any planning use case. The software ensures your plans are well-aligned with your organization’s objectives, engaging all team members for successful plan execution.
The business plan tool provides robust tracking and reporting features, allowing businesses to monitor the progress of their plans and measure performance against set goals. Users can create customized dashboards to visualize key performance metrics, making it easier to identify trends and insights.
That said, In comparison to most business plan software, AchieveIt’s pricing might be relatively higher with its extensive features. On top of that, for users new to strategic planning software, AchieveIt may present a learning curve during the initial adoption phase.
The business plan software packages for AchieveIt varies based on factors like organization size, required functionality and the number of users. AchieveIt being an enterprise-level software offers custom pricing to cater to the specific needs of each business. For accurate pricing details, it’s best to contact their sales or customer support team.
AchieveIt allows team members, stakeholders and advisors to have shared access to the platform, providing them with visibility into the latest updates and progress on the plans. Users can assign tasks to team members and track their progress within the platform.
Can AchieveIt integrate with existing systems?
AchieveIt’s Data Integration API lets you import key metric data from existing systems, saving time and reducing errors by eliminating the need for data entry in multiple places.
AchieveIt is best suited for medium to large-sized businesses and organizations that require a comprehensive and collaborative strategic planning platform. It caters to teams and enterprises seeking to improve their planning processes, track performance and drive organizational alignment to achieve business objectives effectively.
No idea what your business plan should look like? Check out these business plan examples for inspiration.
When searching for the best business planning software, you may be wondering — what features should I look for in business plan software? You want to make sure it meets your specific requirements and streamlines the planning process effectively. Here are the top six factors to consider:
Ease of use
The software should have a user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of creating a business plan. Look for intuitive navigation, clear instruction and a layout that makes it easy to input and organize your information.
Features and business plan templates
Check the range of features and business plan templates the software offers. Look for a diverse selection of business plan templates catering to various industries and business types. The software should provide essential sections like executive summaries, market analysis, financial projections and more.
Financial modeling tools
Your business plan software should allow you to input financial data and generate accurate and comprehensive financial projections. These business plan creation tools are vital for assessing the financial viability of your business.
Collaboration and sharing
If you’ll be working with a team or seeking feedback from others, consider software that enables real-time collaboration and easy sharing. The ability to work together seamlessly can enhance productivity and improve the quality of your business plan.
Built for fast-moving teams that need to be on the same page, Venngage’s real-time collaboration enables you to polish your design with your team in real time, leave comments on each other’s work,and save your designs in one shared folder. With your Venngage Business account, you can easily invite and manage your team members to collaborate on a design, all in real time.
Security and data protection
Since a business plan contains sensitive information, prioritize software that prioritizes security. Ensure that the software uses encryption and data protection measures to keep your data safe from unauthorized access.
Exporting and sharing options
Check the software’s export options. You’ll likely want to share your business plan with others, so ensure it can be exported in popular formats like PDF or PowerPoint.
Are you an entrepreneur starting a new business or expanding your existing business? This guide on how to create a small business plan might come in handy for you.
Creating business plans can be a crucial step in setting your entrepreneurial vision on the right track. To help you through the process, here are 7 steps to guide you in crafting a comprehensive business plan:
Step 1: Executive summary
Start with an attention-grabbing executive summary. This section provides an overview of your business. In your executive summary, make sure to highlight your mission, goals, products or services, target market and the unique value you offer. Keep it concise, yet compelling.
Step 2: Company description
Give a detailed description of your company. Explain your business’s history, its legal structure (e.g. sole proprietorship, LLC, corporation) and the reasons why your business will succeed in the market.
Step 3: Market analysis
Conduct thorough market research to understand your industry, target market and competition. Identify your ideal customers, their needs and preferences. Analyze your competitors and highlight your competitive advantages.
Step 4: Products and Services
Describe your products or services in depth. Explain their features, benefits and how they meet the needs of your target customers. Emphasize what sets your offerings apart from the competition.
Step 5: Marketing and sales strategy
Outline your marketing and sales strategies to reach your target audience. Explain your promotional activities, pricing strategies, distribution channels and sales tactics. Detail how you plan to acquire and retain customers.
Step 6: Financial projections
Project your financial performance over the next three to five years. Include estimated revenue, expenses and cash flow. Detail your startup costs and funding requirements if applicable. Be realistic and supported by market research.
Step 7: Implementation plan
Create a detailed roadmap for executing your business plan. Set specific goals and milestones. Break down tasks and assign responsibilities. Include timelines and a plan for measuring progress.
A great tip here is to start with a well-structured outline. This guide on how to create a business plan outline will help you in creating your blueprint to easily identify your business’ resource needs, including finances, personnel and equipment.
Is my business data safe with business plan software?
Most reputable business plan software providers prioritize data security and employ encryption and other measures to keep your business data safe from unauthorized access.
What are the benefits of using business planning tools?
Business planning tools offer time efficiency, professional presentation, error reduction, collaborative features and accessibility, making it easier to create a comprehensive business plan that impresses investors and stakeholders.
Do I need any specific skills or expertise to use business plan software?
No, many business plan software solutions are designed to be user-friendly, requiring no specific skills or expertise. They often come with templates and step-by-step guidance to assist you through the planning process.
In the dynamic landscape of 2024, businesses are on the lookout for innovative tools to stay ahead of the curve and drive their growth. These 7 business plan software picks for 2024 offer a wide range of features, from user-friendly interfaces and real-time collaboration to sophisticated financial analysis tools and customizable dashboards.
Whether you’re looking for user-friendly platform business planning tools that aligns with your business planning processes or a business plan writing software that allows you to tailor the business plan according to your industry, goals and unique requirements — I’m quite certain I’ve got them all covered.
The value of these business plan software options lies not only in their efficiency but also in their ability to save time and reduce errors. By integrating with existing systems through Data Integration APIs, users can seamlessly import key metric data, eliminating redundant data entry and streamlining the process.
If you’re still unsure about which is the right business plan software for your business, you can always take advantage of free trials or video tutorials and demos offered by software providers. Testing the platform firsthand will give you a practical understanding of its usability and suitability for your business.
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Accounting software for your small business
Run your business accounting online with Xero. Easy to use accounting software, designed for your small business.
- Start your free trial
- Plans from $15 per month
Everything in one place
See all your invoices, contacts, balances, financial information and accounts online.
Connect to your bank
Easily sync your bank with your financials in Xero online accounting.
Collaborate online in real time
Invite your advisor to work with you on the online accounts anywhere, anytime.
Customize to suit your needs
Make Xero your own by connecting other apps to the Xero accounting software.
Xero is a powerful online accounting software solution for small businesses. Run things smoothly, keep tidy online bookkeeping records, and make compliance a breeze.
- Included Automate tasks like invoicing and reporting
- Included Get a full picture of your business with up-to-date financial data
- Included Make end-of-year tax returns easy
Set up bank feeds from your accounts so transactions are imported securely into the Xero accounting software each business day.
- Included Bank transactions automatically flow into Xero
- Included Reconcile your bank transactions daily
- Included See an up-to-date picture of your cash flow
Use Xero to work with your employees, bookkeeper, or accountant online, even if you’re on opposite sides of the world.
- Included Access the same up-to-date financial information at the same time
- Included Leave comments and discuss business and financial data in real time
- Included Allow employees to submit expenses, manage leave, and send invoices
Make Xero online accounting software work for you. Add what you need to make it easier to run your small business.
- Included Build on your plan with add-ons like Xero Expenses and Xero Projects
- Included Connect to third party apps like Stripe and Vend
- Included Browse the Xero App Store to easily find, try, and buy apps that connect with Xero
Join over 4.16 million subscribers
See what people are saying about Xero on Trustpilot
See more of what Xero can do
More about Xero
The Xero Accounting mobile app works in tandem with the Xero accounting software so you can run your small business online from anywhere. Keep track of your unpaid and overdue invoices, bank account balances, profit and loss, cash flow and bills to pay – plus reconcile bank accounts and convert quotes to invoices. Free with every subscription. Compatible with iOS and Android.
Check out the Xero App Store to find, try and buy business apps that connect to Xero online accounting software and make running your small business even easier. Apps like Stripe, GoCardless, Vend, and Shopify connect seamlessly and sync data with Xero.
With your accounting software and data stored online in the cloud, you can access your up-to-date accounts anywhere there’s an internet connection. You can receive automated bank feeds into your accounting software and connect to other business apps for greater efficiency You can also give other people, including your accountant or bookkeeper, access to view, share and collaborate on the figures. Your Xero data is backed up regularly and protected with multiple layers of security.
Get access to all of Xero including add-ons like Xero Projects and Xero Expenses. Use the demo company to try things out, or enter your own business details and data to try it out for real. Anything you enter will be retained when you transfer from a free trial to a subscription. No credit card is required when you start a free trial.
Xero offers pricing plans to suit businesses of different sizes and stages. In addition, Xero accounting and bookkeeping partners can offer bare-bones plans for businesses that need only the basics. There are no setup fees or hidden costs. We’re upfront about pricing, and provide full details of our pricing plans and optional extras. In regions where a feature is listed as an add-on (for example, Xero Payroll, Xero Projects, Xero Expenses and Analytics Plus), pricing is based on the number of users who use the add-on each month. For Payroll with Gusto (US), pricing is based on the number of users who are paid each month.
Xero subscriptions are billed monthly in advance. Each month, Xero emails a link to your invoice, You can pay it using Visa or Mastercard debit or credit cards, or by direct debit. The payment date depends on when you signed up to a pricing plan. You can upgrade your plan anytime or downgrade your plan once you’ve been on it for 30 days, or cancel your Xero online accounting subscription at any time with one month’s notice.
You can import data from other accounting software in bulk via CSV files once you’ve done some initial set up in Xero. That includes the chart of accounts, invoices, bills, contacts and fixed assets. We recommend working with an accountant or bookkeeper, preferably one with Xero experience, when you make the move to Xero online accounting software.
Useful features to run your business
Xero’s online accounting software is designed to make life easier for small businesses – anywhere, any time.
Start using Xero for free
Access Xero features for 30 days, then decide which plan best suits your business.
- Included Safe and secure
- Included Cancel any time
- Included 24/7 online support
Or compare all plans
12 Best Graphic Design Software in 2024 (Compared)
Adobe Illustrator
Pricing: $20.99 per month Standout Features: Vector-Based Design, Extensive Typography Options, Advanced Color Manipulation
Adobe Photoshop
Pricing: $20.99 per month Standout Features: Layer-Based Editing, Comprehensive Photo Retouching, Generative AI
CorelDraw Graphics Suite
Pricing: $22.42 per year Standout Features: Multi-Page Layout Design, Interactive PDFs, Dynamic Publishing Options
With the rapid development of technology and generative AI, graphic design software is more accessible and invaluable than ever before. From captivating websites and 3D modeling to compelling media ads, designers rely on a variety of graphic design tools for all of their digital and print design needs. Finding the right tool can make all the difference for those looking for more creativity and efficiency in their workflow. In this article, we will explore some industry-leading graphic design software suitable for beginners, professionals, and those on a budget.
- 1 What is Graphic Design Software?
- 2.1 1. Adobe Illustrator
- 2.2 2. Adobe Photoshop
- 2.3 3. CorelDraw Graphics Suite
- 2.4 4. Adobe InDesign
- 2.5 5. GIMP
- 2.6 6. Affinity Designer 2
- 2.7 7. Affinity Photo 2
- 2.8 8. Pixlr
- 2.9 9. Sketch
- 2.10 10. Figma
- 2.11 11. Canva
- 2.12 12. Inkscape
- 3 Graphic Design Software: Price Comparison
- 4 What is the Best Graphic Design Software?
- 5 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Graphic Design Software?
Graphic design software is essentially a program (or suite of tools) used to create and edit digital art or images. They are useful for creating website and app interface designs, banners or images for social media, or 3D presentations for architecture.
Some graphic design tools, like Adobe’s Photoshop and Illustrator, have remained giants in the industry, while more recent tools, like Canva and Figma, have made graphic design more accessible to the multitudes with more user-friendly solutions.
The Best Graphic Design Software (Compared)
Because graphic design solutions cater to various industries, use cases, and capabilities, it is important to take the time to find the right solution. Photographers, web designers, and content creators need tools tailored to their workflow. In this list, we’ll delve into each software’s unique features to help you determine the best fit for your needs.
1. Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is the best graphic design software for vector graphics design and has been for a while. This all-inclusive toolkit provides the versatility to craft everything from logos to floor plans. Its versatility ensures compatibility with almost any tool currently available.
Illustrator shines brightest as a tool for creating complex vector graphics. It has all the built-in tools a designer needs to draw, paint, or modify any digital masterpiece that can easily scale to any size. This makes it an ideal choice for creating SVGs that provide scalable high-resolution graphics for web design and other use cases.
A standout feature is its compatibility with digital graphic tablets, replicating the experience of creating physical art. Initially, industry pioneers frequently used Adobe Illustrator in their early careers. This is why it’s a preferred choice for all kinds of print and digital art. Moreover, most modern printing hardware supports its file formats. It’s an unparalleled option for designing fonts and logos.
Key Features of Adobe Illustrator
- Advanced tools for vector graphic design and manipulation
- CMYK grading & EPS support
- Prompt-driven color generation
- Cross-device compatibility
- Voiceover tool integration
- Advanced exporting options
Adobe Illustrator’s unique AI-powered generative recolor feature allows users to input text prompts. For instance, you can input “warm summer colors” and receive several palette suggestions. This significantly streamlines the color adjustment process.
Best For: Adobe Illustrator is the go-to for graphic designers, illustrators, and creative professionals hungry for pixel-perfect precision. It’s your canvas for vector-based artwork, logo design, and intricate illustrations. It’s also for those diving into typography, icon creation, and even simple sketches. Whether you’re a freelancer aiming to impress clients or an agency crafting brand identities, this tool elevates your design game to gallery-worthy heights.
Pricing: Starts from $20.99/mo or $54.99/mo for all Creative Cloud Apps
Get Adobe Illustrator
2. Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop stands as the premier choice in the realm of photo editing and manipulation software. It boasts a comprehensive editing tool suite that empowers users to create digital art with a broad range of applications. Photoshop has similar capabilities to Illustrator, but one that sets it apart is its editing capabilities, especially when it comes to images.
When it comes to image refinement, Photoshop stands unrivaled. It is set apart due to its unique nondestructive editing capabilities, combined with countless graphic design tools limited only by one’s imagination. Its extensive features and algorithms make it ideal for those who demand precision and versatility in their work.
With the recent integration of Adobe Firefly , its Generative Fill and Expand feature utilizes Artificial Intelligence to enhance and expand designs based on text prompts. This functionality proves especially advantageous for stock photography vendors, reducing their reliance on stock photos and mitigating potential copyright concerns. One can simply select a portion of the image and, with one simple prompt, generate stunning additions to enhance an image.
Photographers and social media influencers rely on this tool for its exceptional background removal, image enhancement, and portrait retouching capabilities. Many anticipate that these capabilities will revolutionize the industry.
Key Features of Adobe Photoshop:
- Powerful AI photo editing tools for image enhancement, upscaling, and more.
- Professional tools for photo and text editing.
- Lens distortion correction
- Advanced filters and color adjustments
- Automated actions
- Batch image processing
- Cinematic color LUTs
- Puppet Warp manipulation
Best Suited For: Adobe Photoshop is a cornerstone product for photographers, graphic designers, and digital artists. It excels in photo editing, retouching, and manipulation. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a budding creative, this tool offers a suite of features that can transform your work from mundane to mesmerizing. Plus, its new AI features are well worth it.
Pricing: Starts at $20.99/mo or $54.99/mo for all Creative Cloud Apps
Get Adobe Photoshop
3. CorelDraw Graphics Suite
Once a rival to Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW is still considered one of the best full-featured graphic design editors. It specializes in vector illustration and page layouts, making it a versatile solution for digital and print designs. It comes with a suite of tools you can use to add more powerful features for editing photography and typography. You can use CorelDRAW Graphics Suite on all major computer platforms, including Windows, Mac, Web, and iPad.
You can also take advantage of CorelDRAW.app for real-time collaboration with your clients and team. Overall, CorelDRAW is great for beginners interested in illustration and vector graphics.
Key Features of CorelDraw
- Offers a powerful suite of tools for editing graphics, images, and more.
- Supports a vast array of file formats
- Includes advanced typography tools and access to Google Fonts
- Optimized tools for web design and print production
- Third-party plugin compatibility
- Works on Windows and Mac
Historically, CorelDRAW has been an industry standard due to its extensive file format support. Its versatile file support is especially beneficial for professionals collaborating with various vendors. Web designers will appreciate the support of WEBP file format, which is the new standard for image optimization for the web.
Best For: CorelDRAW is designed for graphic designers, small business owners, and print professionals. It’s a versatile vector illustration, layout design, and photo editing tool. CorelDRAW is particularly strong in the realm of print projects, offering specialized features for brochures, signage, and merchandise design. Whether you’re creating marketing materials or developing a brand identity, CorelDRAW offers a comprehensive set of tools to bring your vision to life.
Pricing: Subscription pricing at $22.42/mo (paid yearly) or LTD at $549
Get CorelDRAW Graphics Suite
4. Adobe InDesign
Adobe InDesign is the indisputable leader when it comes to producing print media. It is purposely designed for text-centric projects, including magazines, newspapers, and books. It provides designers with unparalleled flexibility in arranging texts around graphics to create stunning layouts with precision.
InDesign is an ideal solution for branding because of its unique interactive features. You can add immersive elements to your design that can wow clients with an elevated presentation of their brand assets. For example, you can add animation that opens and flips through a brochure or magazine you designed.
Key Features of Adobe InDesign
- Seamless integration with Adobe Creative Cloud for easy file access and sharing
- Precision layout & design control for professional print media designs and branding
- Pre-made templates to jumpstart your projects and keep them consistent
- Advanced typography tools
- Collaboration features for sharing designs with your team for feedback
- Interactive PDF & eBook design elements like dynamic bookmarks
When designing a newspaper layout, magazine, or book, InDesign makes it easy to add and organize graphics within your text layouts in creative ways throughout. You can split text into columns or wrap text around images to create unique advertising banners. You can even use dummy text to fill up the layout initially to understand what it would look like and then place the actual content.
Best For: Adobe InDesign is tailored for layout designers, publishers, and print professionals. It’s the industry standard for creating multi-page documents like magazines, brochures, and eBooks. The tool also shines in typesetting, offering precise control over text, images, and complex layouts. Whether you’re assembling a product catalog or crafting an interactive PDF, InDesign provides the tools to make your vision a printed reality.
Get Adobe InDesign
GIMP is the best graphic design software for Linux-based operating system users. However, it’s available for all major platforms, including Windows and Mac OS. As a free, open-source solution, it offers a comprehensive range of photo editing and 2D art creation tools.
Compared to Adobe’s tools, GIMP is lightweight and resource-efficient. Initially designed for photo manipulation, GIMP excels with RGB or raster graphics but lacks native CMYK support, making it less suitable for print designs.
Key Features of GIMP
- Diverse exporting support
- Open-Source & free
- Native Linux support
- Customizable docking interface
- Script-Fu scripting for automation
- GEGL integration
- Free plugin ecosystem
GIMP has a wide range of file type support when exporting images, vectors, and documents. It lets you save your work in jpg, jpeg, HTML, HEIC, PDF, and all the major formats you might imagine. This adds great flexibility in using and sharing your work with vendors.
Best For: GIMP is a solid choice for budget-conscious graphic designers, photographers, and digital artists. It offers a range of features comparable to paid alternatives like Adobe Photoshop, from photo retouching to graphic design and text editing. Its affordability makes it accessible for freelancers, small businesses, or anyone just starting their creative journey. While it may lack some of the polished features of its premium counterparts, GIMP holds its own as a powerful, cost-effective solution for your editing needs.
Pricing: Free
6. Affinity Designer 2
Need a budget-friendly design tool? Consider Affinity Designer . With a single payment, it offers everything you might need. Businesses of any size and freelancers can benefit from it. This tool handles both vector and raster graphics. Plus, it can open and export various file types like PSD, SVG, EPS, and PDF.
Affinity Designer is known for its efficient performance on all devices, especially the iPad. Because of its universal file format, you can jot down notes, receive feedback, and keep designing seamlessly.
Key Features of Affinity Designer
- Combined vector and raster features
- Cost-effective
- Support across multiple platforms
- Compatibility with various file types
- Exceptional zoom capability
- Low resource usage
- Adaptable workspace
A standout feature of Affinity Designer is its ability to transition between vector and raster workspaces within a single environment. Hence, this blend provides unmatched creative freedom, enabling the production of stunning digital art.
Best For: Affinity Designer is a prime pick for graphic designers, illustrators, and web creators who crave quality without the recurring price tag. With a one-time payment, it stands as an affordable alternative to subscription-based giants like Adobe Illustrator. The tool excels in vector design, raster art, and even hybrid projects. It offers a robust set of features that can go toe-to-toe with similar tools, making it a compelling choice for professionals and hobbyists alike. Whether you’re crafting logos or exploring digital art, Affinity Designer delivers without draining your wallet.
Pricing: One-time payment of $69.99
Get Affinity Designer
7. Affinity Photo 2
Affinity Photo is a prime choice for those seeking an affordable alternative to Adobe Photoshop or a dedicated raster graphics editor. It is efficient and precise, even with few resources. Users can easily edit photos and work with layers. They can also create beautiful raster paintings. So, it’s a popular choice for many.
Key Features of Affinity Photo
- RAW image processing, including Adobe DNG support
- Combining multiple exposures into a single HDR image
- Panorama stitching
- High-end retouching capabilities
- Focus stacking
Support for RAW and DNG file formats allows photographers to maintain the original, unprocessed data from their camera sensors. Therefore, it ensures enhanced image quality and fully uses Affinity Photo’s features.
Best For: Affinity Photo is a top choice for photographers, graphic designers, and retouching artists who are budget-conscious but unwilling to compromise on quality. The tool excels in photo editing, manipulation, and retouching, offering a feature set that rivals more expensive options like Adobe Photoshop. A one-time payment provides an affordable yet powerful solution for those looking to elevate their visual projects without recurring costs. Whether you’re editing RAW files or creating complex composites, Affinity Photo has the tools to make your work shine.
Pricing: One-time payment at $69.99
Get Affinity Photo
Pixlr shines as a go-to web-oriented solution for photo editing and graphic design. With its platform-neutral focus, users can utilize its vast collection of editing tools from any device via a modern web browser. What’s more, Pixlr offers a design library filled with templates, icons, and fonts tailored for fundamental photo manipulation and editing tasks. Its AI-driven tool skillfully removes backgrounds, while the AI-created image feature requires additional refinement for improved input and result generation.
Key Features of Pixlr
- Preserved layer and history functionality
- Comprehensive photo editing and manipulation tools
- AI-driven image generation and background removal
- Support for most major file types, including PSD
- Integrated stock library
Pixlr’s layer tool and history saving work much like what you see in Adobe Photoshop and Affinity Photo. In the same way, it lets you quickly apply effects and choose elements, making it simple to compare changes. It’s a speedy and advanced tool, ideal for quick edits and touch-ups.
Best For: Pixlr is perfect for beginners, social media managers, and casual users seeking quick photo edits without the steep learning curve. The tool offers basic to moderate photo editing capabilities, from cropping and filters to more advanced tasks like layering. It’s web-based, making it easily accessible without downloading or installing. While it may not replace professional-grade software for complex projects, Pixlr serves as a convenient, user-friendly option for straightforward editing tasks.
Pricing: Free, with paid plans starting at $1.99/mo
Sketch is mainly crafted for web and mobile designs but is also great for vector graphics. Interestingly, their homepage highlights it as a Mac app for designers, while others can view and comment from any browser. Before Figma’s rise, Sketch was the go-to for web design and prototyping. Additionally, it has plugins that make sharing designs easy and allow developers to see related CSS.
Key Features of Sketch
- Almost 2,000 extensions and plugins
- Support for multiple artboards
- Developer-centric exports
- Cloud collaboration capabilities
- Shared design libraries
- Integrated prototyping tools
Zeplin, a once-popular plugin for sharing designs with developers, has become an integrated feature in Sketch. Additionally, the platform offers thousands of other useful plugins, including Unsplash integration and accessibility and colorblindness checkers.
Best For: Sketch is tailored for UI/UX designers, web developers, and product designers focused on digital interfaces. The tool specializes in vector-based design, making it ideal for creating user interfaces, wireframes, and prototypes. With features like Symbols and Shared Styles, Sketch streamlines the design process, allowing for easy collaboration and consistency across projects. If you’re in the business of crafting digital experiences, Sketch offers the specialized tools to make your designs intuitive and visually compelling.
Pricing: Paid plans starting at $12/mo
Figma has emerged as a top-notch tool for graphic design, boasting an intuitive interface that particularly shines in web and app design projects. It has garnered favor among web designers and UI and UX experts for its prototyping capabilities but is also versatile to handle photo editing as well. Additionally, it boasts a robust and active community that frequently shares UI Kits and a host of other resources.
Figma also makes migrating design elements across platforms a breeze. You can effortlessly duplicate CSS code and apply it to your own app or website!
Key Features of Figma
- Reusable components and styles
- Live collaboration features
- Cloud-first design approach
- Prototyping for various devices
- Offline design accessibility
- Automatic versioning
- Developer mode
- Integration with brainstorming tools
- Vast community, resources, and plugins
Figma components are truly a lifesaver for designers. If you start your design with a design system built with components, the chances of making mistakes become very low. Because everything will be aligned with the central design system, and every button and font will have the same height, margin, and padding. This would also save time on revisions while adding new features.
Best For: Figma is engineered for UI/UX designers, product teams, and collaborative creatives. The platform excels in real-time design and prototyping, offering a cloud-based solution that enables seamless teamwork. It’s a one-stop shop for creating user interfaces, wireframes, and interactive prototypes, with the added bonus of in-app commenting and version history. Figma is your go-to tool if you’re part of a dynamic team that values real-time collaboration and design consistency.
Price: Free version is available, with the Pro version starting at $15/mo
Canva is a graphic design software targeted to social media influencers and students. Not only can you create stylish presentations, but you can edit videos. Its trendy templates help grab attention and boost interactions. Therefore, it is user-friendly and great for beginners. With its easy drag-and-drop feature, even new computer users can quickly make designs for social media and slides. The free plan is sufficient for most users. But the pro plan is a worthy investment, offering premium templates that ensure your designs remain unique and stylish.
Key Features of Canva
- Extensive stock photos, graphics, and illustrations
- Intuitive drag-and-drop editor
- Extensive library of pre-designed templates and layouts.
- Custom fonts and color palettes
- Animation and GIF creation
- Logo creation tool
- AI-driven background removal and image enhancement
With Canva’s extensive template library, you’re never starting from scratch. They have templates for social media posts, posters, and even video templates for reels! Both designers and non-designers can use these templates for their day-to-day needs. In either case, your designs will look professional and attractive.
Best For: Canva is designed for small business owners, social media marketers, and non-designers looking for a quick and easy design solution. The platform offers a wide range of templates for everything from social media posts to presentations and business cards. With its drag-and-drop interface, Canva makes design accessible for those without specialized skills. It’s an excellent tool for creating visually appealing content on the fly without the need for extensive design experience. Whether you’re crafting marketing materials or personalizing a resume, Canva simplifies the design process.
Pricing: Popular free version available, with paid plans starting at $14.99/mo
12. Inkscape
Inkscape mainly deals with vector graphics like Adobe Illustrator and Affinity Designer. However, its interface isn’t as intuitive. What sets Inkscape apart is its calligraphy tools, which work nicely with graphic tablets.
It offers features like path operations, node editing, and layering to craft detailed vector designs. While some find it slower than other vector tools, its free price tag makes it an attractive choice for many.
Key Features of Inkscape
- Comprehensive drawing tools
- Free and open-source
- Support for live linked clones and patterns
- Advanced node and path operations
- Text on an editable path
- Compatibility with all operating systems and vector file formats
Inkscape’s calligraphy tool provides a classic writing feel to graphic tablet users. Not only does it work well with changing strokes, but it also offers customizable settings. With customizable profiles and custom brushes and tips, the process becomes even more interesting.
Best For: Inkscape is a strong fit for graphic designers, illustrators, and hobbyists who are looking for a cost-effective vector graphics solution. The tool is open-source and excels in creating scalable vector graphics, logos, and complex illustrations. It offers a range of features that can handle tasks from simple shapes to intricate designs, making it a versatile choice for those on a budget. If you’re seeking a no-cost alternative to premium vector design software, Inkscape provides a robust set of capabilities to meet your creative needs.
Get Inkscape
Graphic Design Software: Price Comparison
The price of graphic design software can greatly influence decisions, especially for beginners or large teams. For seasoned design teams, a high-end tool can boost productivity. However, it’s essential to balance the subscription cost with its advantages. Below is a price comparison table to help you select a tool that aligns with your budget.
| Rank | Design Software | Price | Free Option | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | $20.99/mo | ❌ | ||
| 🥈 | $20.99/mo | ❌ | ||
| 🥉 | $22.42/mo (paid yearly) | ❌ | ||
| $20.99/mo | ❌ | |||
| Free | ✔️ | |||
| $69.99 (one-time) | ❌ | |||
| $69.99 (one-time) | ❌ | |||
| $1.99/mo | ✔️ | |||
| $12/mo | ❌ | |||
| $15/mo | ✔️ | |||
| $14.99/mo | ✔️ | |||
| Free | ✔️ |
What is the Best Graphic Design Software?
Adobe Illustrator has the most features and tools any vector artist can request. Its AI-based generative recoloring, font recognition, image tracing, and color theme extraction features make it the superior choice for illustrations.
Adobe Photoshop is the best graphic design software in the photo editing and manipulation category for its high-caliber algorithm for making pixel-perfect edits. The AI-powered content-aware fill, face-aware liquify, neural filters, and auto reframe features take its quality even further than no other software can offer in this category.
If you are looking for a worthy alternative to Adobe, CorelDRAW will not disappoint. Its graphic suite offers everything you need to design vector graphics, edit photos, and create page layouts for print media.
In conclusion, we will say that there are different software for different purposes that must match your needs and wants as well. So, start with one and see how it works out for you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best software for graphic design, what is the best free graphic design software, what is the best adobe graphic design software, what is the best graphic design software for beginners, how much is the cost of graphic design software, which software do you need for tshirt design, which graphic design sofwtare is best to design logos, is there is an ai graphic design software, where can i learn graphic design, what is the best graphic design certification course.
Explore Our Top Picks
Here are our favorites! 👇
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With so many great options available, it can be hard to pick one. find out why adobe illustrator is our favorite. 👇.
By Sekander Badsha
Sekander is a passionate advocate for open source. He also delights in experimenting with new culinary creations. With two international WordCamp talks under his belt and numerous presentations at Dhaka meetups, he is a recognized voice in the Bangladesh tech community.
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Free Icon Maker
Upgrade your logos and images with HubSpot's free and easy-to-use icon generator. Create custom icons for your websites, apps, and creative projects. Elevate your brand and start designing today.
What is an icon?
Icons are simple images representing real things (e.g., software, apps, websites). They are recognizable symbols to convey your brand's principles. For example, HubSpot's icon is an orange 'O' with three lines pointing in three different directions. The symbol has been said to look like a sprocket, part of a circuit, or a cogwheel. The icon looks modern — and when people see it, they associate the symbol with a tech company. Icons can be used on websites, applications, and social media profiles. For example, you can add social media icons to your website to guide users to your brand's social profiles. Additionally, you can place icons on your browser tab to quickly identify your site when multiple tabs are open.
What is an icon maker?
An icon creator is a tool for designing, customizing, and downloading an icon for your business. Some icon generators have paywalls or questionable downloading trustworthiness. Hubspot’s website icon creator is always free and easy to use. Create your custom icons now with HubSpot's free website icon creator.
How do I use HubSpot’s Icon Generator?
Step 1: brainstorm a few ideas.
Before using our free icon maker, it is a good idea to think about what you want your logo to be like. Try making a list of words that describe your business and the emotions you want customers to feel when they see your logo or icons.
Step 2: Input your industry, business name, and slogan
Fill out your business information so our icon builder can give personalized recommendations from our professional-looking logos and icons library.
Step 3: Choose your favorite icon template
Pick an icon design from the recommended templates generated by the free logo maker that visually communicates your brand's values, associations, and emotions.
Step 4: Customize your icon and logo style
Customize the aesthetics of your icon and logo until it represents your brand. You can use color psychology that matches your business personality and target audience. Choose from bold, creative, and elegant colors. You can experiment with combinations in the free icon generator until you get the exact look and feel you want.
Step 5: Generate and download your icon
Next, download your icon files as either a JPEG, PNG, SVG, or WebP.
Create icons without installing an icon creator tool
Impress visitors and increase clickthrough rates with a custom icon. HubSpot's custom icon maker lets you design and download icons without installing design software. Start designing free icons for your website and social media using your browser.
Free icons increase brand awareness
As visual symbols, icons help users identify what they want or need. HubSpot's website icon builder lets you instantly produce unique logos, icons, and vectors — even without design skills. Take charge of your branding and upgrade your brand with a fresh set of custom icons.
Design your icons from thousands of options
Add personality to your icon design to create a memorable brand. With HubSpot's free icon maker, you can customize color palettes, typography, and styles with thousands of options. Start achieving your brand's right look and feel with fully customized icons.
Export free SVG icons in minutes
No two icon file types are the same. Vector-based image files like SVG expand to any size without losing their resolution, while raster (or pixel-based) files like PNG become pixelated when expanded. HubSpot's free online icon maker supports JPG, WebP, SVG, and PNG formats. Choose the perfect icon sizes for your website and social media, and download the desired file format to get your designs instantly.
Make icons with endless possibilities
Easily find the perfect icons for your business using HubSpot's icon creator. With thousands of icon templates to select, you can download icons that best represent and level up your brand.
Benefits of using an icon maker for your small business or startup
Save money with a free icon maker.
If you run a small business or a startup, you likely need to save money wherever you can. Hiring a graphic designer to create an icon for you can be very expensive, with a seasoned designer costing as much as $100 an hour . HubSpot’s icon maker is both user-friendly and completely free.
Make your website look trustworthy
Customers can tell simply by the design and look of your website whether or not you’re a small business with limited resources or a business with the resources to look good. Customer opinion of your website will influence how much money they are willing to spend on your products and whether or not they trust you. A free icon generator can ensure your design is consistent across web pages, making your business look legit.
Customize icons for different social media platforms
Using a free icon maker can help you customize your icons for different social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and more. HubSpot’s icon maker generates different social media kits for you, so you can easily upload them to your business’ profile page.
Are you ready?
Generate custom icons for your websites, apps, or projects with HubSpot's free and user-friendly icon generator. Upgrade your logos and images to elevate your brand today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to make a website icon, how to add an icon to your website.
A website icon is called a favicon. You can add one to your site by saving the icon image file to your website directory.
Favicons come in the ICO format, but most websites use the PNG format because it’s more widely accepted and has a smaller file size.
Content management systems like the HubSpot CMS also let you add website icons without HTML coding.
What makes a good icon?
A good icon is simple, unique, and memorable. Website or app logos should be on-brand, while general icons like those used for social media profiles should be identifiable.
The images should be visible, have a high resolution, and be available in different file formats.
If you don't have a brand logo design, HubSpot’s brand kit generator can help you create one. Simply input your business’s industry, name, and slogan to get personalized logo recommendations.
You can then seamlessly integrate your brand kit assets into HubSpot’s CMS.
Is it easy to use HubSpot's icon maker tool?
Can i download my icon easily.
With HubSpot's website icon creator, you can easily download the icons you create directly to your desktop or mobile device. You will receive the downloaded icons in the following image file types: JPEG, PNG, SVG, and WebP. These icons are available in various design styles, including:
- Black logo with white background
- White logo with black background
- Black logo with transparent background
- White logo with transparent background
- The logo with the color palette you choose
How much does it cost to create a custom logo?
What is the best size for icons, how do you make a transparent icon.
Using the HubSpot icon generator, your icons will be available in various design styles, including:
Once you choose the background style you like, you can download your transparent icon and upload it where needed.
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Fill out your business information so our icon builder can give personalized recommendations from our professional-looking logos and icons library. Step 3: Choose your favorite icon template. Pick an icon design from the recommended templates generated by the free logo maker that visually communicates your brand's values, associations, and ...
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