Writing a business plan can feel like staring at a blank page, unsure where to start. LivePlan simplifies the process by guiding you step by step with tools that make it easier to focus on your business goals.
Whether you’re pitching to investors or planning your next big move, using a structured and proven tool like the LivePlan business plan helps you turn vague ideas into real strategies.
What Is LivePlan and Who Is It For?
LivePlan is more than a template—it’s a full-fledged online business planning tool designed for entrepreneurs, small business owners, startups, and consultants.
It’s especially useful for:
- First-time entrepreneurs needing clear direction
- Startup founders preparing to pitch to investors
- Small business owners applying for loans or grants
- Freelancers planning to grow their service business
- Students learning how to write professional business plans
The platform offers customizable business plan templates, automatic financial forecasting, and performance dashboards. That means even if you’re not a finance pro, you can still present your business with polished charts and projections that make sense.
Step-by-Step: How to Create a LivePlan Business Plan
Building your business plan with LivePlan doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here’s a breakdown of the process with tips for making each section stand out.
Step 1: Set Up Your Business Profile
This is the foundation of your plan. LivePlan will ask for:
- Your business name
- Type (LLC, Corporation, Sole Proprietor, etc.)
- Industry
- Business stage (idea, startup, growing, or established)
The reason this matters is that LivePlan tailors recommendations and examples based on your answers. For instance, if you select “retail” as your industry, you’ll get sample plans that match retail-style cash flow and inventory models.
Pro Tip: Take time to describe your business clearly—even if you’re still refining your idea. Writing it out can help clarify your goals.
Step 2: Write Your Executive Summary
The executive summary is a snapshot of your entire plan. LivePlan prompts you to answer:
- What problem does your business solve?
- Who are your customers?
- What is your business model?
- How will you make money?
- What are your financial highlights?
While many people write this last, LivePlan suggests you start here and come back to revise it as your plan evolves.
Keep it simple. Avoid buzzwords and long descriptions. Aim for clarity, not hype.
Step 3: Define Your Business Opportunity
This is where you dig into your market, competitors, and target audience.
LivePlan walks you through:
- Market size and trends
- Customer segments
- Competitive landscape
- Industry outlook
You can add charts, visuals, or data points to back up your research. If you’re not sure where to start, LivePlan links to market research databases and offers built-in guidance.
Here’s what helps: Think like an investor. They want to see demand, a clear niche, and why your business is positioned to win.
Step 4: Craft Your Business Model and Strategy
LivePlan’s business model canvas-style layout makes this section more visual and interactive.
You’ll map out:
- Revenue streams
- Key partners and suppliers
- Customer acquisition strategy
- Channels (how you deliver your product/service)
- Cost structure
If this sounds like startup lingo, don’t worry. LivePlan includes plain-language explanations with real examples.
This part of your LivePlan business plan shows how your business will work in practice—not just on paper.
Step 5: Marketing and Sales Plan
LivePlan helps you flesh out your go-to-market strategy, including:
- Branding and positioning
- Sales funnel and lead generation
- Pricing strategy
- Advertising and promotions
- Online marketing and social media
Instead of vague goals, LivePlan encourages you to map specific actions and timelines. For example, rather than saying “we’ll use Facebook ads,” the platform suggests structuring it as “invest $500/month in Facebook retargeting ads to drive traffic to landing pages.”
This turns your marketing from a dream into a system.
Step 6: Operational Plan and Milestones
Operations are where your plan becomes real. This section includes:
- Location and facilities
- Technology and equipment
- Suppliers and logistics
- Key roles and responsibilities
- Milestones with deadlines
You can set timelines, assign tasks, and track progress through LivePlan’s dashboard. If you’re applying for funding, this part shows how you’ll stay organized and on track.
For service-based businesses, you might explain how you’ll manage client work or scale with contractors. For product businesses, you might focus on inventory systems and fulfillment partners.
Step 7: Build Your Financial Plan
Even if you’re not a numbers person, LivePlan makes this part approachable.
Here’s what you’ll include:
- Sales forecast
- Expense budget
- Profit and loss statement
- Cash flow projections
- Break-even analysis
- Balance sheet
LivePlan auto-generates charts and reports based on your inputs. You can adjust variables and instantly see how changes affect your financial future.
You can also download investor-ready reports or SBA-compliant documents for loan applications.
Real example: If you’re opening a coffee shop, you might project 100 customers per day at an average spend of $5. LivePlan turns that into a 12-month revenue forecast—without spreadsheets.
Key Features That Set LivePlan Apart
LivePlan isn’t just a document editor—it’s a full suite of planning and tracking tools. Here are standout features that make it a great choice.
1. Industry-Specific Sample Plans
LivePlan offers over 500 sample plans across industries like:
- Restaurants
- Retail
- Freelance and creative services
- SaaS and tech startups
- Ecommerce
- Construction and trade services
You can browse and customize these examples. It’s helpful to see how other businesses structure their strategy and forecasts.
2. Automated Financial Forecasting
No need to build complex Excel models. Just enter your assumptions—like monthly sales or cost of goods—and LivePlan calculates:
- Gross margins
- Cash reserves
- Operational costs
- Future revenue targets
You can also model “what if” scenarios to prepare for best- and worst-case outcomes.
3. Performance Dashboard
Once your business is live, LivePlan becomes a tracking tool. You can:
- Connect your QuickBooks or Xero account
- Compare actuals vs. forecasts
- Track KPIs like revenue, expenses, and net income
- Share dashboards with your team or investors
This closes the loop between planning and execution. Instead of burying your plan in a drawer, you revisit it monthly to stay on track.
4. Collaboration and Sharing
LivePlan lets you invite collaborators with different access levels. You can:
- Assign team members to sections
- Leave comments or feedback
- Export to PDF or Word
- Present your plan with a shareable link
This is especially useful for teams or when working with mentors and advisors.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using LivePlan
Even with a powerful tool, it’s possible to get off track. Here are mistakes I often see and how to avoid them.
- Being too generic. Your LivePlan business plan should reflect your unique voice, market, and vision. Don’t just copy and paste from templates.
- Ignoring the financials. It’s tempting to skip the numbers, but investors care more about realistic projections than slick language.
- Overestimating growth. Be optimistic but grounded. If you’re forecasting 300% monthly growth with no marketing plan, it raises red flags.
- Forgetting to update your plan. Businesses evolve. Log in monthly or quarterly to revise goals and track progress.
Best advice? Treat your LivePlan business plan like a living document, not a one-time assignment.
How Much Does LivePlan Cost and Is It Worth It?
As of now, LivePlan costs around $20 per month with annual billing or $30 monthly. Here’s what you get:
- Full access to templates and examples
- Financial forecasting tools
- Performance dashboards
- Customer support and tutorials
If your alternative is hiring a consultant or struggling with Excel, this is a solid investment. Think of it as buying clarity, structure, and credibility.
For entrepreneurs seeking funding, the LivePlan business plan pays for itself if it helps secure even a small grant or investment.
Real User Feedback and Case Studies
Let me share a few stories I’ve seen that highlight how LivePlan helped real users:
Lara from Austin: She launched a home bakery using LivePlan’s food service template. She said the financial forecast helped her qualify for a microloan and manage cash flow during her first holiday rush.
Mike and Jasmine, tech founders: They used LivePlan to pitch their health app to angel investors. Their plan stood out for its polished charts and realistic milestones. They closed a $75K seed round.
Reggie, retail store owner: He used LivePlan’s dashboard to monitor sales against projections and caught a downward trend early. That let him adjust pricing and avoid a larger revenue dip.
These examples aren’t outliers—they show how structure creates momentum.
Should You Use LivePlan for Your Business?
If you’re serious about launching, funding, or growing your business, a structured plan is essential. You could spend hours building one from scratch, or you could use a tool built for the job.
The LivePlan business plan platform is ideal if you:
- Want to impress investors or lenders
- Prefer guided writing over starting from a blank page
- Need help with financial projections
- Want a tool to monitor your actual business performance
- Value your time and want to plan efficiently
On the other hand, if you’re working on a tiny side hustle and don’t need funding or a roadmap, a simple outline in Google Docs might be enough for now.
Getting Started With LivePlan: Tips for Success
To make the most of LivePlan, here’s how to start strong:
- Use the tutorials. They’re short and extremely helpful.
- Pick a sample plan. Customize it, don’t reinvent it.
- Set weekly planning goals. Block off time to finish one section at a time.
- Get feedback. Share drafts with mentors, partners, or your accountant.
- Revisit monthly. Treat it like a GPS for your business—not a one-and-done document.
Expert Tip to Apply Right Now
Before you dive into building your full LivePlan business plan, sketch out your value proposition on paper in one sentence. Just one. If you can’t explain why your business matters in a single breath, it’s worth revisiting the idea before investing more time into the full plan.
A great business plan starts with clarity—and that starts with you.
