Best Business Plan Makers in 2026

Creating a solid business plan is essential for startups, funding pitches, or strategic growth. In 2026, AI-powered tools dominate, offering templates, automated financials, and writing assistance. Based on expert reviews from ZDNET, G2, Capterra, and recent comparisons (e.g., Shopify, monday.com), here are the top recommendations. I've prioritized ease of use, features, and value for entrepreneurs.

Top 5 Business Plan Makers

1. LivePlan (Best Overall)

• Key Features: 550+ industry-specific templates, AI writing assistant, drag-and-drop editor, automated financial forecasting, pitch deck builder, performance dashboards.
• Pricing: Starts at $10/month (annual discount to ~$15/month); 14-day free trial.
• Pros:
  • Beginner-friendly with step-by-step guidance.
  • Investor-ready outputs with charts/graphs.
  • Integrates with QuickBooks/Xero.
• Cons:
  • Financials can overwhelm absolute novices.
  • No one-time purchase option.
• Best For: Startups seeking comprehensive, professional plans.

2. Upmetrics (Best AI-Powered for Startups)

• Key Features: AI plan generator, 400+ templates, drag-and-drop builder, auto-financials, investor pitch tools, collaboration.
• Pricing: Starts at $1/month (annual); free trial.
• Pros:
  • Fast (plans in <1 hour), highly customizable.
  • Strong financial modeling and team editing.
  • Affordable for solopreneurs.
• Cons:
  • Fewer templates than LivePlan.
  • AI outputs may need light editing.
• Best For: Quick, AI-assisted plans with deep financials.

3. Bizplan (by Startups.com) (Best Value/Free Tier)

• Key Features: Drag-and-drop builder, financial dashboards, self-guided courses, revenue forecasting.
• Pricing: Free basic access via Startups.com; premium ~$10/month.
• Pros:
  • Free entry point with solid templates.
  • Great for non-finance founders.
  • Includes business courses.
• Cons:
  • Less AI-heavy than competitors.
  • Premium unlocks full financial tools.
• Best For: Bootstrappers on a budget.

4. Enloop (Best for Automated Scoring)

• Key Features: Auto-generates text/financials, plan scoring (A-F grades), real-time edits, export options.
• Pricing: Free basic; Pro $10/month; Premium $10/month.
• Pros:
  • Unique scoring helps refine plans.
  • Strong for text-heavy plans.
• Cons:
  • Dated interface.
  • Limited templates/visuals.
• Best For: Iterative planning and validation.

5. PrometAI or Canva AI Business Plan Generator (Best Pure AI/Free)

• PrometAI: AI-first generator for full plans; free tier available.
• Canva: Magic Write AI drafts sections, converts to decks; free with Pro upgrades (~$15/month).
• Pros: Ultra-fast (minutes), visual exports, collaborative.
• Cons: Less depth in financials; generic without tweaks.
• Best For: Quick drafts or non-profits.

Quick Comparison Table

LivePlan edges out for most users due to its balance of AI, visuals, and pro features (ZDNET 2026 pick). Upmetrics wins for affordability and speed. Avoid pure ChatGPT—it's free but lacks structure/templates.

Free Alternatives

• Startups.com/Bizplan: Full basic plans.
• Canva AI: Great for visuals/pitches.
• ChatGPT/Notion AI: Prompt-based, but manual assembly needed.

What type of business are you planning (e.g., startup, e-commerce, service)? Do you need strong financial forecasting, a free tool, or AI-heavy generation? Any budget or specific features in mind? Let me know for tailored advice!

Creating a business plan has evolved significantly in 2026. You no longer have to start with a blank page; instead, you can choose between AI-first generators that build a draft in minutes or traditional planning software that offers deep financial modeling for lenders and investors.

Here are the best business plan makers categorized by their strengths:

1. Best Overall (Professional & Lender-Ready)

LivePlan LivePlan remains the gold standard for entrepreneurs who need to secure a bank loan or impress serious investors. It balances modern AI features with heavy-duty financial tools.

• Pros: Includes 500+ industry-specific sample plans; syncs with QuickBooks/Xero to compare "Plan vs. Actual" performance.
• Cons: No free version; can feel slightly complex for very simple side hustles.
• Best for: Startups applying for SBA loans or seeking venture capital.

2. Best AI-Powered Value

Upmetrics Upmetrics is highly rated for its "AI Assistant" that helps you write, refine, and shorten your copy while providing real-time financial projections.

• Pros: Very affordable compared to competitors; excellent "Pitch Deck" builder included; 400+ templates.
• Cons: Financial tools are slightly less granular than LivePlan’s.
• Best for: Tech-savvy founders who want a balance of AI speed and professional structure.

3. Best for Speed (Drafts in Minutes)

Venturekit or 15MinutePlan.ai These tools prioritize getting you a completed document as fast as possible. You answer a questionnaire about your business, and the AI generates a 15–20 page plan instantly.

• Pros: Extremely fast; identifies competitors and market trends automatically.
• Cons: AI content can sometimes feel generic and requires manual "human" polishing.
• Best for: Testing a new idea quickly or creating a "lean" plan for internal use.

4. Best Free & Low-Budget Options

• Bizplanr: A "freemium" AI tool that allows you to build a structured plan for free, with paid upgrades for advanced financial exports.
• SCORE / SBA Templates: If you prefer a traditional approach, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers free Word/PDF templates that meet all legal requirements for federal loans.

Comparison Summary

Which one should you choose?

To help me give you a more specific recommendation, could you tell me a bit more about your situation?

1. What is the goal? (e.g., getting a bank loan, pitching to investors, or just organizing your own thoughts?)
2. What industry are you in? (Some tools have better templates for restaurants, while others excel at SaaS/Tech.)
3. How comfortable are you with financials? (Do you need the software to do all the math for you?)