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Professional Business Plan Template to Customize

Create Your Business Plan

• Create a comprehensive business plan.
• Easily customize your slides to fit your needs.
• Showcase data with 40+ chart options.

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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.

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

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

Interactivity

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

How much does it cost to create a business plan with the business plan template, what types of charts and graphs are available in visme, can i use my brand kit to create my business plan with visme, is the business plan template completely customizable, can i use any photo in the image library in my business plan, your business plans deserve to be beautiful and so does the rest of your content.

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Free Online Business Plan Maker

Create a compelling and convincing business plan online with Venngage. Templates available for your every need, whether it's business plans, financial plans, marketing plans, and more.

Not a designer? No problem. With our easy-to-edit templates and online business plan generator, anyone can create a professional business plan for free. Over 40,000 businesses already use and trust Venngage.

Design from one of our business plan templates

Choose from hundreds of business plan templates. see all business plan templates, launch a profitable business with a visually engaging business plan.

Your business is unique and impactful — so should your business plan. Make sure the plan you share with investors, lenders, and other stakeholders is not only packed with key data and information but visually engaging too.

Looking to make your business plan stand out from the pack? Venngage's unique business plan templates add serious style to your ideas. Venngage's Business Plan Builder is a fraction of the cost of hiring a writer — you can even try creating a business plan for free.

Whether you're looking for a traditional business plan format or something more creative, Venngage's easy-to-edit business plan templates let anyone design business plans. No experience required. Free business plan templates available.

Nothing's better to convince your stakeholders than some sweet data that speaks volume. Engage and persuade your investors by visualizing your business plan data with Venngage's unique charts, graphs and diagrams.

Create a winning business plan with Venngage in 5 steps:

Design an unforgettable and convincing business plan today:

Business Plan Templates

Save money and hours of design time with Venngage's easy-to-edit templates and free business plan generator. Free online business plan templates available.

Easy-to-Use Editor

Venngage's online business plan builder is intuitive to use. The drag-and-drop editor means faster and better designs even when you don't have design experience.

Download Business Plans

Download your document with one click as an image (PNG), PDF, Interactive PDF or PowerPoint file. Add it to your Google Docs or Slides, Word doc or existing PowerPoint slides (paid plans only).

Visualize Business Plan Data

Persuade your stakeholders and tell a story with your business plan data through charts, graphs, maps and diagrams. Copy and paste your data or upload it in a .csv file in one click.

Brand Your Business Plans

Use Venngage's My Brand Kit to automatically import your brand identity. Then, add your brand colors and fonts to any business plan designs with one click.

Collaborate In Real Time

Collaborate with your whole team with Venngage's real-time collaboration. Leave helpful feedback through comments and create impactful business plans.

Easy-to-edit professional business plan templates

• Our team of professional designers have created a collection of unique, online business plan templates that anyone can customize. Pick a simple template, add your text and data and you're done.
• Or choose a more creative template and play around with the fonts, photos, icons, colors, and more.
• Whatever the case, Venngage's drag-and-drop free business plan generator lets anyone create a beautiful, professional business plan without any design experience.
• Share a public link for free from our online business plan creator. Don't worry. You can go back and edit your design at any time.

One-click branding with My Brand Kit

Show off important metrics with professional data visualizations

Collaborate with your whole team throughout the design process.

Business Plan Maker FAQs

How much does venngage's business plan builder cost.

Anyone can make a business plan for free and share a link to their work. Our Premium ($19/month) and Business ($49/month) plans include premium, professional business plan templates and features, plus access to multiple download formats.

How can I write my own business plan?

Your business plan can include these sections: executive summary, company description, market analysis, organization management, service/product line, marketing & sales, funding requests, financial projections, etc. Add sections to your business plan as you see fit — depending on the kind of plan you're creating. No matter the type of business plans you're making, Venngage has a template for that.

Can I download my business plan?

Yes! You can download your business plan in PNG, PDF, Interactive PDF, or PowerPoint formats (paid plans only). It's free to share a public link. It's also free to create an account and test out our online business plan maker with a free business plan template.

Wow your clients and investors at first sight — Create a convincing and winning business plan with Venngage's online business plan generator

Popular business plan templates you can edit right away

Nonprofit organization business plan template, business operational plan template, real estate investment business plan template, business continuity and disaster recovery plan template.

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🤖 Free Business Plan Generator (AI-Powered)

Starting a business is an exciting journey, filled with aspirations and ambitions, yet crafting a solid business plan can sometimes feel like navigating through a dense fog. The AI-Powered Business Plan Generator shines a light on this path, offering a straightforward way to outline your vision, strategies, and financial forecasts. By providing customized, coherent business plans, this tool assists in laying down the foundation of your entrepreneurial dream, ensuring every aspect is addressed. It simplifies the planning process, enabling you to focus on bringing your business idea to life with confidence and clarity.

Help us make the generator better. How is the output?

Writing a business plan can often feel like navigating through a dense forest without a map. You know your destination—securing investment, defining your business strategy, or setting clear objectives—but the path isn't always clear. Enter the AI-powered business plan generator, a tool designed to illuminate the way forward. This guide will walk you through the essentials of crafting a comprehensive business plan, touching upon the traditional elements that captivate stakeholders. In the final stretch, we'll introduce how an AI-powered business plan generator can streamline this process, making it more accessible and less time-consuming.

How to create a Business Plan

Now that you're familiar with the executive summary, let's tackle how you can create the rest of your business plan.

You can start manually by outlining your plan's structure and filling in the details step by step, or opt for a business plan generator to streamline the process.

Either method requires careful consideration of each section to ensure your plan is thorough and compelling.

Manual Methods for creating a Business Plan

You'll start with the Executive Summary, distilling your business idea into a compelling snapshot that captures attention.

Next, you'll outline your Company Overview, providing a clear picture of who you are and what you stand for.

Then, lay out your Business Objectives, Products and Services, and your Market Analysis Approach to build a solid foundation for your plan.

Executive Summary Essentials

Although it's often crafted last, the Executive Summary stands as the crucial opener of your business plan. It distills key aspects such as your mission, product highlights, and financial ambitions for quick investor insight. It encapsulates your company's essence for investors and maps out the business plan development milestones.

Ensure it crisply outlines your executive summary, underscoring the company's financial goals. This will help capture investors' attention right off the bat.

Company Overview

Begin your company overview by detailing your business's foundational elements, including its name, location, and the team driving its operations.

Here's what to include:

• A clear description of your business structure and ownership.
• The mission statement that defines your business's purpose.
• An outline of the products or services you offer.
• Background information that paints a picture of your company's history and objectives.

Business Objectives

To set your business on the path to success, start by defining clear and measurable objectives that reflect both your immediate and long-term aspirations.

Align your business objectives with strategic objectives to meet financial goals.

Conduct market research to fine-tune your target market strategies .

Ensure company goals are realistic and adaptable, setting a course for growth and market competitiveness.

Regular updates keep your plan relevant.

Products and Services

After setting clear business objectives, focus on articulating the core of your offering by detailing the products and services your business provides. Your description should also include:

• Unique features and benefits of each product or service.
• Specific products' competitive advantages.
• Your strategy for sales, distribution, and supply chain.
• Trademarks and market placement for your products and services.

Market Analysis Approach

A thorough market analysis is crucial for your business plan as it reveals the dynamics within your target market and guides your competitive strategy .

You'll identify potential customers, understand established market trends, and analyze how competitors differentiate themselves.

This knowledge shapes your sales plan and informs your marketing and sales efforts, highlighting opportunities in an otherwise crowded marketplace and showcasing your grasp of the competitive landscape.

Marketing and Sales Strategies

Crafting a marketing and sales strategy requires precise identification of your target customers to ensure your message resonates and spurs action. Here's how to proceed:

• Define your target market for the new product.
• Develop a pricing and sales channel approach.
• Design a marketing plan with promotional tactics.
• Analyze market trends to refine your strategy.

Stay focused on meeting customer needs and differentiating from competitors.

Financial Analysis and Projections

Diving into the financials, you'll need to gather historical data and conduct a thorough analysis of revenue streams , costs, and profit margins to inform your projections for the next three to five years.

Your financial plan hinges on these insights.

Operations Plan

To ensure your business runs like a well-oiled machine, start by mapping out your key operational processes and procedures. Your operations plan is a vital section of your business plan. Here's what to include:

• Outline technology's role in business operations.
• Develop a comprehensive staffing plan.
• Establish a robust inventory management system.
• Implement quality control measures to provide additional assurance of product or service excellence.

Funding Requirements

Having established the operational foundations of your business, let's now focus on determining the capital necessary to fuel your growth and operational needs.

Outline your funding requirements by presenting clear financial data, including projected income, balance sheets, and cash flows.

You'll need this to secure funding from venture capital firms or potential investors, ensuring they grasp how their capital will propel your business towards its targets.

Appendices and Exhibits

When crafting your business plan, don't overlook the appendices and exhibits; these sections provide the substantiating details that reinforce your proposal's integrity. Include:

Documents that outline key personnel qualifications and experience.

Details on intellectual property, such as patents.

Additional information for financial institutions, like credit histories.

Contracts, leases, or other legal documents relevant to your business.

Using a Business Plan Generator

You might wonder why you'd use a Business Plan Generator—these tools streamline the planning process, making it easier for you to focus on the core aspects of your strategy.

To get started, you'll follow a series of steps that help structure your executive summary, goals, and market analysis within a proven framework.

The benefits are clear: using a generator can save you time and provide you with a professional, investor-ready plan.

Steps to use the Business Plan Generator

To create a business plan using a generator, start by selecting a template that aligns with your industry and business type.

Here are the steps to use a business plan generator:

• Identify Your Business Details : Start by providing the name of your business and the industry it operates in. This foundational step sets the stage for the tailored guidance the generator can offer.
• Describe Your Offerings : Clearly articulate what products or services your business sells or offers. This will help the generator understand the value proposition of your business.
• Define Your Target Audience : Specify who your ideal customers are, including demographic information. Understanding your target audience is crucial for creating a focused and effective business plan.
• Outline Your Marketing Plan : Detail your strategies for promoting your business. This includes how you plan to reach your target audience and differentiate yourself from competitors.
• Detail Your Operational Strategy : Explain how your business will operate on a day-to-day basis. Include information on your supply chain, logistics, and any other operational details.
• Provide Financial Information : Input how much money you need to start your business and project how much revenue it will generate. This financial planning is critical for assessing the feasibility of your business idea.
• Set Business Objectives : List what you aim to achieve with your business in the short term and the long term. These goals will guide the direction of your business strategy.
• Click on Generate : After entering all the necessary information, click the "generate" button to create your personalised business plan. This plan will be tailored to the specifics of your business, providing a roadmap for success.

Benefits of using a Business Plan Generator

Harnessing a business plan generator can significantly streamline the process, saving you both time and effort as you craft a detailed blueprint for your venture.

Here are the benefits:

• Provides a structured framework to write a business plan efficiently.
• Helps identify opportunities in new markets.
• Enhances financial literacy through budgeting and forecasting tools.
• Clarifies business objectives, aiding in communication with stakeholders.

Tips for Creating a Business Plan

When crafting your business plan these tips collectively form a comprehensive business plan, providing a roadmap for your business and presenting a compelling case to investors and lenders.

Here are the tips for creating a business plan:

• Articulate your mission and vision succinctly.
• Outline your offerings and financial ambitions.
• Provide a snapshot of your business's financial health and market potential.
• Clarify the business structure ( sole proprietorship , partnership, corporation).
• Highlight ownership details.
• Showcase key employees, emphasizing their expertise.
• Define short- and long-term goals for your business.
• Align goals with your strategic direction.
• Establish a direct link between financing needs and future growth.
• Describe your offerings and emphasize how they meet market needs.
• Support claims with market research.
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of your competition.

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Business plan template

If you’re looking for a way to start your business off on the right foot, a business plan template can help you establish the foundation for your strategy. Get started in a few clicks with Asana’s free business plan template.

Sign up to use this template.

INTEGRATED FEATURES

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You’re pumped—you just thought of the greatest business idea ever. You want to get started, but you don’t have a plan laid out. You need a loan to get your idea off the ground, and the bank wants to see an in-depth business plan. We’re here to help.

What is a business plan template?

A business plan template is a framework that helps you solidify your ideas in an organized format. Our free business plan template walks you through how to create a new business from scratch, or re-imagine your existing business in a new market.

What components are included in a business plan template?

Our business plan template covers what an organization wants to achieve within three to five years. By using our template, you’ll have a place to capture all of the major information you need in order to complete your business plan. That includes:

Company description : Information like your executive summary , your company’s mission statement and vision, and your founder’s bio. 

Product and services: A high-level overview of what your company provides, including core products or services. This may also include how your product is developed, any potential screenshots or prototypes of your product, and pricing plans.

Marketing plan: How you plan to bring your product into market at a high level. You can add information like a SWOT analysis , target market research, and brand positioning in this section.

Financial plan: Important financial information such as balance sheets, a break-even analysis, and your cash flow projections. 

Management and organization information: Information on your company’s founders, executive team, and the board of directors.

How to use our free business plan template

Using Asana’s free business plan template is simple. Start by creating a new project with our free template. From there, add relevant information for your specific business plan in the sections provided in our template. If there’s more information you want to include in your business plan, you’re free to add sections, custom fields, or additional tasks to make this template fit your needs.

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Reporting . Reporting in Asana translates project data into visual charts and digestible graphs. By reporting on work where work lives, you can reduce duplicative work and cut down on unnecessary app switching. And, because all of your team’s work is already in Asana, you can pull data from any project or team to get an accurate picture of what’s happening in one place.

Milestones . Milestones represent important project checkpoints. By setting milestones throughout your project, you can let your team members and project stakeholders know how you’re pacing towards your goal. Use milestones as a chance to celebrate the little wins on the path towards the big project goal. 

Project Overview . Project Overview is your one-stop-shop for all important project context. Give your team a bird’s-eye view of the what, why, and how of your project work. Add a project description to set the tone for how you’ll work together in Asana. Then, share any important resources and context—like meeting details, communication channels, and project briefs—in one place.

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Google Workplace . Attach files directly to tasks in Asana with the Google Workplace file chooser, which is built into the Asana task pane. Easily attach any My Drive file with just a few clicks.

Gmail . With the Asana for Gmail integration, you can create Asana tasks directly from your Gmail inbox. Any tasks you create from Gmail will automatically include the context from your email, so you never miss a beat. Need to refer to an Asana task while composing an email? Instead of opening Asana, use the Asana for Gmail add-on to simply search for that task directly from your Gmail inbox. 

How do I create a business plan template? .css-i4fobf{-webkit-transition:-webkit-transform 200ms ease-in-out;transition:transform 200ms ease-in-out;-webkit-transform:rotateZ(0);-moz-transform:rotateZ(0);-ms-transform:rotateZ(0);transform:rotateZ(0);}

Instead of taking the time to create a business plan from scratch, start the process off with Asana’s free template.To further customize your template, add evergreen information about your specific business, such as your business model, company name, address, mission statement, value proposition, or target audience. Adding these details to your template lets you avoid documenting this information from scratch every time you create a new business plan.

What components should I include in a business plan template?

Business plan templates typically contain five main sections: a company description, products and services, a marketing plan, basic management and organization information, and your current financial plan.

How long should my business plan be?

Short answer—as long as you need it to be. The long answer is that your business plan should have the answers to specific questions on how your business is run, from the perspective of an investor. The goal of a business plan is to highlight your business strategy for the next three to five years. This means any important operational, financial, and strategic information should be included. 

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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.

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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.

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Business Plan Samples & Examples

550+ business plan examples to inspire you

Jump-start your own business with real-world business plan examples created in LivePlan.

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Don’t start from scratch — get a headstart with real business plan examples

Real business plan library

No business plan experience required

Looking at real business plan examples can help you visualize what a successful plan looks like. With LivePlan you’ll have access to over 550 free examples of a business plan to use as a starting point.

Browse real business plan examples covering a broad range of businesses to see how others have written effective executive summaries, planned marketing activities, created financial forecasts, and more.

AI-Powered Planning

Welcome to a world without writers block

LivePlan asks you questions about your business, you simply plug in the answers. It's as easy as that. Get expert guidance, instructions, and examples for your business plan at each step.

Not sure where to start? The AI-Powered LivePlan Assistant will automatically generate ideas for each section of the plan and offer improved versions of your writing, adjusting for tone, voice, and grammar or spelling errors.

Automatic Financials

Forget the formulas and focus on your vision

Forget the complex formulas and spreadsheets — with automatic financials and drag-and-drop forecasting you can finish faster and be confident your numbers are accurate.

Instantly get tailored revenue and expense suggestions to add to your forecast using the AI-Powered LivePlan Assistant.

Plus, access over 40 benchmark financial metrics so you can see how your key metrics (like net profit margin and marketing spend) stack up against other businesses within your same industry.

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.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

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WordPress vs. Weebly (Square Online): Differences, pros and cons

Brynne Conroy

Sierra Campbell

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Published 7:24 a.m. UTC Aug. 8, 2024

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BartekSzewczyk, Getty Images

Historically, WordPress and Weebly have both been good options when it comes to building your website. But since Weebly was acquired by Square in 2018, its future has been in question. Currently, Square has only promised to continue supporting Weebly through July 2025, making it a somewhat risky option when you’re building a new website. 

That said, let’s take a look at how the two services stack up against each other in their current states. Once you know the pros and cons, you may decide that the Weebly dilemma isn’t worth worrying about, as WordPress can be much more powerful.

WordPress.org is separate from WordPress.com. WordPress.org provides the completely free, open-source WordPress software, but you must pay for your own hosting. You’ll also need to find and download plugins to access the features you want. Small businesses don’t normally use WordPress.org because of this lack of functionality. However, this article will focus on both WordPress.org and WordPress.com.

Featured website builder offers

Via Wix’s website

Monthly fee

Free domain

For one year

Drag-and-drop builder

Via Web.com’s website

Only when paying annually

Squarespace

Via Squarespace’s website

WordPress vs. Weebly: Quick overview

WordPress.org is open source, which makes it a more powerful option and allows for more customization if you know what you’re doing in terms of web development. Both it and Weebly are friendly to business owners new to web design, but Weebly does host websites on its paid plans. That enables it to offer perks like free SSL certificates. 

WordPress.com offers paid plans to small business owners and has more functionality and features than the free WordPress.org platform. It can also be easier for business owners to grasp since it doesn’t require as many web development skills as WordPress.org.

Weebly also comes with e-commerce tools built in. You can get these with WordPress.org, but only through third-party plugins. You can get these included with WordPress.com plans, but you might have to pay for a higher tier to get all the e-commerce tools you need.

Pricing and value

Verdict: WordPress

Even though WordPress.org wins when it comes to the price of its services, WordPress.com might offer more functionality — and overall better value — to small business owners. Even when comparing it to Weebly. However, with some of Weebly’s higher-priced packages, you can get a free domain (if you pay annually, like with WordPress.com).

Weebly’s higher-tier plans also offer unlimited storage and free password protection. All Weebly plans and WordPress.com plans come with a free SSL certificate, though you can also get this with a WordPress.org site, depending on who you choose as your website host .

WordPress pricing and value

WordPress.org itself is free, open-source software. However, you will have to purchase a domain and hosting from another provider in order to get your website to work. Then you’ll run your website using WordPress.org as your content management system. That means WordPress.org itself is free, but pricing for your domain and hosting services will vary.

WordPress.com is different from WordPress.org, as it offers a free plan plus five paid plans. It is definitely easy for small businesses to use since it doesn’t require you to have a lot of knowledge about web development or coding. It also has a lot of perks and functions that WordPress.org doesn’t offer, like plenty of growth and monetization tools, SEO tools and e-commerce functionality.

Weebly pricing and value

While Weebly does have a free version, you’ll only be able to use an unprofessional subdomain unless you cough up some cash. Unlike WordPress, you’ll have to pay at least $13 per month if you want to connect a custom domain. However, if you pay for the Professional ($16 per month) plan or Performance ($29 per month) plan, you’ll get a free custom domain with your Weebly subscription. 

Both WordPress and Weebly can be easy to use, with drag-and-drop editing (known as “blocks” in WordPress) that requires very little technical knowledge. If you do have tech skills, though – or someone on your team who does – WordPress offers a much higher level of customization if you’re willing to dive into the code.

WordPress web editor

WordPress.org’s block editor is extremely easy to use if you have no coding background. However, if you do have the skills to customize your site, the platform is powerful enough that you can design almost anything you’d like. 

WordPress.org also comes with tens of thousands of plugins, which allow you to integrate other services. The skills required to use each plug-in vary, so depending on which one you download, you may be able to use them with zero coding skills, or you may need to know what you’re doing. Most plug-ins have a free version, but there’s also often a paid version which gives you access to more features. 

WordPress.com uses the same web editor as WordPress.org. However, with WordPress.com, you can’t use the plug-ins offered with WordPress.org. You can also only access all the themes it offers when paying for the highest tier plan, Entrepreneur, which costs $70 per month.

Weebly web editor

Weebly comes with a super easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor. It’s a great option if you’re building your website on your own. However, you won’t get the same level of customization that’s available with WordPress. You can play around with the elements in your format, but anything beyond that is much more difficult to adjust. 

E-commerce functionality

Verdict: Weebly

One of Weebly’s primary selling points is its e-commerce functionality. WordPress on its own doesn’t have these tools, but you can download plug-ins to give your WordPress site e-commerce features. 

WordPress e-commerce functionality

WordPress.org itself isn’t an e-commerce platform . There’s no inherent tool built in that will help you sell your products. However, its myriad plug-ins allow you to integrate any number of e-commerce tools. So while Weebly wins this battle because it has those tools built-in, they’re accessible for WordPress users, too. You could even build your own code to create e-commerce capabilities, but you’ll likely need a tech team to make that happen.

Typically, you will need to sign up for the Entrepreneur plan (for $70 per month) to create an online store. It does include a range of premium store themes and design tools, as well as inventory management features, the ability to sell your goods and services in many countries and the ability to integrate with shipping providers. 

If you choose that plan, you won’t have any limits on the number of products you can sell. You will also receive marketing automation features and can get help with upselling products to your customers. 

Weebly e-commerce functionality

Weebly shines when it comes to e-commerce. All of its packages include: 

• Shopping cart feature.
• Unlimited number of item listings.
• Item badges and options.
• Quick shop capabilities.
• Inventory management.
• Automatic tax calculator.
• Square gift cards. 
• In-store pickup option.

Now, if you go with the Free package, in-store pickup is the only option you’ll be able to offer your customers. Upgrading to a Personal or Professional package opens up the opportunity to ship orders and the option to sell digital goods in your online store . 

Those who pay for the highest-tier Performance package will be able to accept PayPal payments, feature customer reviews and increase sales with abandoned cart follow-up emails.

This one is close. If your only goal is to reach the customers you already have, you could achieve your goals with either WordPress or Weebly. However, because WordPress.org is so highly customizable, if you’re using your blog for marketing purposes or are concerned about search engine optimization (SEO), it ends up being a better choice. 

WordPress blogging

WordPress is a great blogging tool. You can use the block editor to easily build a post with no experience, or you can use the classic editor for a more text-based experience. Of course, you can always delve into the code behind the scenes, but it’s not a requirement. 

WordPress has SEO tools built in as a default. Whether you’re using Yoast or AISEO, you’ve got plenty of customization options that can help you build highly visible posts if you use the tools correctly. To open the full suite of tools, you may need to pay a subscription fee, but the ones that are available for free go a long way, especially for newbies. 

For those who are looking to create content for their readers, WordPress.com is the best fit. The Free plan offers many blogging features, and if you want to upgrade for a custom domain and an ad-free site, the Personal plan is a cheap option. Either way, you will have access to WordPress.com’s block editor, which you can use to create an unlimited number of pages and smart directs.

Weebly blogging

While it’s not as customizable as WordPress, Weebly does allow you to easily write and post blog entries on your site using the intuitive drag-and-drop editor. You won’t have access to Yoast, but there are built-in settings for things like meta keywords and RSS feed capabilities, and users have the ability to download some “apps,” which are the equivalent of WordPress’ plug-ins – though they’re not as prolific in number.

Marketing and SEO

If you’re new to website building, either Weebly or WordPress will give you beginner tools to make your website SEO-friendly for marketing purposes. But once your skills advance (or you hire a coding team), WordPress.org can help you take things to the next level in a way Weebly can’t.

WordPress marketing and SEO

We’ve already discussed SEO integrations for blog posts, but believe it or not, WordPress allows you to go even deeper than that. That’s because you can edit everything in the source code. 

However, just because you can do this doesn’t mean you should. Unless you have a lot of coding experience and know what you’re doing in terms of SEO, this is a task you should probably outsource. But it’s good to know that it can be done. 

With all WordPress.com websites, you will receive SEO tools. Some of these tools will include the ability to automatically generate sitemaps to help search engines index your website and the ability to clean URLs to help your page appear in search results. WordPress.com users can also edit page titles and descriptions without needing to know how to code.

Weebly marketing and SEO

While Weebly does offer some SEO tools and allows you to edit some HTML and CSS code, and you can get your site set up with Google Search Console, it’s not open-source like WordPress. That means that it’s good enough to get the job done for beginners, but you won’t be able to turbocharge your efforts to the same level as WordPress if you have more advanced skills. 

Performance and security

Weebly wins as it includes security features in all of its packages as well as provides hosting, which means its performance is measurable. That said, your WordPress site may be either more or less impressive depending on who you choose to pay for hosting services .

WordPress performance and security

WordPress.org requires you to take a bit of a more active role in your website’s security. It doesn’t offer a free SSL certificate or any security software as a platform on its own, though you may find these features included in your domain or hosting package (which have to be purchased separately from another provider). It’s not that you don’t have these security capacities – just that you’ll have to get them from a third-party provider. 

As far as performance goes, that, again, is going to depend on your hosting provider . You could choose a host that’s either better or worse than Weebly in terms of performance.

All websites created through WordPress.com come with a range of built-in security features depending on your plan tier. These features include SSL encryption, firewalls, backup and recovery tools, the monitoring of suspicious activity and frequent testing of your website’s security. It also has a security team that works to maintain the safety and performance of your website.

Weebly performance and security

Weebly websites come with free SSL certificates and DDoS mitigation included. While Weebly uses SSL language in its marketing, the security certificates now operate on TLS, which means your customer’s purchases are encrypted and protected. 

We tested the performance of three Weebly-hosted websites . All three loaded under Google’s recommended threshold of 1.8 seconds for first contentful paint, with an average load time of 1.4 seconds. This is respectable. You may get either a faster or slower load time with WordPress depending on your chosen host and website optimization.

While both Weebly and WordPress have apps, WordPress’ user experience has gotten better over time while the Weebly mobile app experience has gotten worse. In our personal experience, the easiest way to utilize all your CMS features is still on a PC, but you can get a lot done on your phone in 2024 – especially with WordPress.

WordPress mobile app

WordPress is pretty good about updating its mobile app, and its most recent version is probably the easiest to use yet. You’ll be able to write and publish blog posts, upload media and check up on user comment moderation. You will also have access to your site’s stats using the app. Both WordPress.com and WordPress.org use the same mobile app.

However, WordPress.com does use Jetpack, which has several features to help you manage and edit your website, even if you’re not near your computer. You can draft and publish posts and even read and reply to comments made by your readers. You can also use it to keep track of your site visitors and gain insights into which posts your readers liked the most.

Weebly mobile app

At one point in time, we may have ranked Weebly’s app ahead of WordPress. But it’s been on a steady decline since Square bought out the company. The Weebly mobile app can be buggy at times, and since it integrates with eCommerce for Square, sometimes you’ll be asked to switch between the Square app and the Weebly app as you attempt edits. The best way to get a good user experience for Weebly web design in 2024 is on a PC.

Final verdict

Winner: WordPress

It’s not just that WordPress beats out Weebly across a majority of categories – though it does. The fact that the fate of Weebly beyond July 2025 is unknown is a pretty big deal, as you wouldn’t want to invest a ton of time and energy into your website for it to be defunct within a year. 

Migrating a website to a new provider can be a Herculean task. If you’re not particularly adept at web development, you’re probably going to need to hire someone to help you get it done. You can avoid that drama by going with another host and using WordPress as your CMS.

Who is WordPress best for?

WordPress.org is best for those who don’t want to risk the need for site migration over the next 12 months. It’s also a good option for those who want powerful customization opportunities, as you can edit almost anything with the open-source software. Despite its power, it’s still user-friendly enough to be used by business owners who are complete novices when it comes to web design . 

WordPress.com is typically the better option for small business owners, especially because its interface is a bit more simple, and can be easy to learn. WordPress.com plans also come with hosting and security features, so you won’t need to worry about as much. If you don’t need many e-commerce features, then the lower-tier plans will work perfectly.

Who is Weebly best for?

Weebly was a great product for a long time. In its current state, it’s still a platform that’s easy to use and can help you get the job done even with zero coding background. However, because it may be taken off the market or have support discontinued after July 2025, now is probably not the time to start using it. Instead, go with a provider who fully plans on sticking around past next year.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Sometimes Weebly is cheaper than WordPress, but it depends. WordPress.org is free, but it doesn’t come with a free domain or web hosting services. You’ll have to purchase those separately.

The plug-ins you choose to pay for can also push costs up. WordPress.com has paid plans that start at a lower price point than Weebly, but the further you move up in terms of packages and features, the less competitive WordPress.com pricing gets.

Yes, you can transfer a Weebly site to WordPress, but it’s a massive task with lots of opportunities for error. It’s far easier to build your site with WordPress from the get go, and is probably a wise idea considering the lingering questions about whether or not Square will continue to support Weebly beyond July 2025.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Brynne Conroy has over 12 years of experience writing about money, with a particular focus on women's finances and small business lending and credit products. Her debut book was an Amazon #1 New Release across multiple categories, and she has been awarded a PEN America grant for the body of her work in the field. Find her bylines on LendingTree, Her Agenda, GoBankingRates, and Business Insider, and features on MSN Money, Jean Chatzky's HerMoney, and Yahoo Finance.

Sierra Campbell is a small business editor for USA Today Blueprint. She specializes in writing, editing and fact-checking content centered around helping businesses. She has worked as a digital content and show producer for several local TV stations, an editor for U.S. News & World Report and a freelance writer and editor for many companies. Sierra prides herself in delivering accurate and up-to-date information to readers. Her expertise includes credit card processing companies, e-commerce platforms, payroll software, accounting software and virtual private networks (VPNs). She also owns Editing by Sierra, where she offers editing services to writers of all backgrounds, including self-published and traditionally published authors.

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• Health Insurance
• Best Small Business Health Insurance Providers

Best Small Business Health Insurance Providers Of 2024

Updated: Jun 25, 2024, 8:57am

Kaiser Permanente and Blue Cross Blue Shield scored the best in our analysis of small business health insurance. We evaluated large insurance providers that offer ACA marketplace plans to find the best health insurance companies across the country.

Providing health insurance can help a small business attract—and keep—employees. One way small businesses can buy health coverage is through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace.

• Best Affordable Health Insurance
• Best Dental Insurance
• Best Disability Insurance
• Best Health Insurance
• Best Short-Term Health Insurance
• Best Vision Insurance

Summary: Best Health Insurance for Small Business Owners

How does small business health insurance work, types of health insurance companies for small businesses, how much does health insurance for small business cost, how to compare small business health insurance plans, how to get health insurance for a small business, methodology, other health insurance companies we rated, small business health insurance frequently asked questions (faqs), next up in health insurance.

How We Chose the Best Health Insurance For Small Business Owners

We analyzed state insurance department complaints, quality ratings, deductibles, breadth of health plans and metal tier offerings in the Affordable Care Act marketplace, sometimes called Obamacare, when comparing companies. Our editors are committed to bringing you unbiased ratings and information. Our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate insurance companies, so all companies are measured equally. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and the methodology for the ratings below.

• 259 health insurance plan costs crunched
• 84 coverage and quality data points analyzed
• 102 years of insurance experience on the editorial team

BEST QUALITY

Kaiser permanente.

Plans offered to small businesses

HMO, POS, PPO

Other coverage offered

Dental (in California) and vision

Provider network

More than 23,900 physicians in 39 hospitals and 622 medical facilities

We like Kaiser Permanente’s superior quality ratings, excellent average deductibles for silver plans and that it offers four different types of metal tiers on the ACA marketplace. That combination could make an excellent choice if you’re buying coverage for your small business.

• Operates an integrated health system, which means the medical providers and health plans work for the same company, which can reduce potential claims problems.
• Doesn’t charge businesses extra for offering multiple types of health plans.
• Excellent health insurance costs compared to other insurers analyzed.
• Kaiser Permanente has the best average ACA plan ratings of the insurers we reviewed.

More: Kaiser Permanente Health Insurance Review

• Only available in eight states and Washington, D.C.
• Finding a provider that accepts Kaiser Permanente may be a problem if members are in states that the company doesn’t serve.
• Consumer complaints to state insurance commissioners are higher than the industry average.
• Washington, D.C.

Best Provider Network

Blue Cross Blue Shield

EPO, HMO, POS, PPO

Dental, life, vision

Over 1.7 million healthcare providers

Blue Cross Blue Shield, which is made up of 33 independent insurers, has excellent quality ratings and lower-than-average silver plan deductibles. Another positive we like is the company’s large provider network and availability of Blue Cross coverage in all states.

• Large provider network means you should have an easier time finding a doctor if you’re traveling.
• Available nationwide.
• Offers all four metal tiers (bronze, silver, gold and platinum).
• Provides four types of health plans to small businesses (can vary by Blue Cross company).

More: Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance Review

• Consumer complaints to state insurance commissioners are slightly above average compared to the rest of the industry.
• Higher ACA marketplace premiums than competitors analyzed.
• All 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Best for Breadth of Insurance Options

Unitedhealthcare.

Accident, critical illness, dental, fixed indemnity, hospitalization, life, vision

1.5 million healthcare providers and 7,000 hospitals and facilities.

UnitedHealthcare has better-than-average complaints to state insurance departments and excellent health plan quality ratings, which we think offers small businesses excellent coverage.

• Large provider network across the country.
• Good National Committee for Quality Assurance quality ratings with excellent numbers for prevention and treatment.
• Offers a wealth of other insurance options.

More: UnitedHealthcare Health Insurance Review

• Doesn’t provide as many metal tiers or types of health plans in the ACA marketplace compared to competitors.
• Health insurance premiums are higher than some competitors.
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• North Carolina

The Affordable Care Act defines a small business as a group of no more than 50 full-time employees (FTE), though some states may define it differently.

A small business owner can enroll in a group health insurance plan offered by a private insurance company and then provide their employees the opportunity to enroll in that plan. The employer generally pays part of their employees’ monthly premiums, while employees typically pay smaller premiums, as well as their deductibles, copays, coinsurance and services not covered by the plan.

Small business owners contract with health insurance companies and decide how many options to provide to employees.

Small business owners can buy health insurance for their employees through approved insurance companies with the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP).

Employers may choose the types of benefit design, which influences whether an employee needs referrals to see specialists, can get out-of-network care and other factors. Three types of health insurance plans offered to small businesses are:

• EPO: Exclusive provider organization plans are often an affordable option. EPOs don’t usually require members to get primary care referrals to see specialists but they also often don’t cover out-of-network care.
• HMO: Health maintenance organization plans are generally much cheaper than other options, but they also have limitations not found in other plans. That includes needing primary care referrals to see specialists and not being covered for out-of-network care.
• POS: Point of service (POS) plans may allow you to get out-of-network care, but you generally need primary care referrals to see specialists and you must choose a primary care provider. These plans aren’t as common as the other types.
• PPO: Preferred provider organization plans are often the most expensive because they offer the most flexibility. That flexibility includes members not needing to get primary care referrals to see specialists and the ability to get out-of-network care.

Getting insurance through the SHOP Marketplace allows employers to offer health plans from multiple insurance companies and qualifies them for the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit, which can help with the cost of providing coverage.

Your business must meet these requirements to qualify for the SHOP tax credit:

• Fewer than 25 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.
• Average employee salary is about $56,000 per year or less.
• Pay at least 50% of your full-time employees’ premium costs.
• Offer SHOP coverage to all full-time employees.

Small business owners can also work with a health insurance broker who conducts all plan research and comparisons to find the best plan for your business at no additional charge. Or they can buy directly from a health insurance company.

If you buy coverage through the ACA marketplace, plans are organized by “metal” tiers: bronze, silver, gold and platinum . The tiers differ by premiums and out-of-pocket costs. For instance, bronze and silver plans have low premiums but higher deductibles and coinsurance. Gold and platinum plans have high premiums but lower out-of-pocket costs.

Employers have flexibility in which type of plans they choose to offer their employees.

The average cost for small business owners is $612 per employee per month and $1,274 for family coverage per month, according to Kaiser Family Foundation’s 2023 Employer Health Benefits Survey.

The exact cost depends on multiple factors, including previous health insurance claims. For instance, a year of high employee healthcare costs could lead to higher health insurance rates set by the insurance company the next year.

Average Health Insurance Costs for Small Business

Featured Health Insurance Partners

Offers plans in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

About 1.2 million

On Healthcare.com's Website

About 1.7 million

About 1.5 million

Choosing a small business health insurance plan requires you to act similar to a consumer buying an individual health insurance plan on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace.

Here’s what to look at when comparing small business health insurance plans.

• Benefit design: See what types of health plans a company offers, including EPO, HMO, POS and PPO. The benefit design dictates whether employees can get out-of-network care and need referrals to see specialists.
• Premiums: A health insurance premium is what members pay to have coverage. This usually gets deducted from paychecks. Employers pay most of the premiums, so businesses will need to figure out how much coverage will cost them and their employees.
• Out-of-pocket costs: Health insurance deductibles , coinsurance and out-of-pocket maximums play vital roles in how much members pay when they need healthcare services. Choosing a plan with high deductibles may cost businesses and employees for premiums, but it also puts more costs on employees when they need healthcare.
• Provider network: Health insurance companies contract with providers and medical facilities like hospitals. These contracts decide how much providers get paid and may set requirements for providers, such as requiring that they meet a minimum quality of care. A small network could result in employees needing to search for a doctor and lead to extra out-of-network costs.

EXPERT TIPS

How to Choose the Right Small Business Health Insurance

Les Masterson

Insurance Editor

Insurance Managing Editor

Michelle Megna

Insurance Lead Editor

Ashlee Valentine

Offer Multiple Plans If Possible

I believe that providing employees with multiple options can help with employee satisfaction. One employee may like the lower premiums in an HMO and not have a problem staying in-network, while another may prefer the flexibility of a PPO with the understanding that they will pay more in premiums. Giving them those options can help maintain your workforce.

Get Health Insurance Quotes from Multiple Insurers

Small employers aren’t all the same so don’t follow another company’s insurer or stay with your current company without checking other insurers. Instead, I would suggest getting quotes from multiple insurance companies for the same type of coverage so you can accurately compare them side-by-side.

Figure Out How Much You Can Afford

Part of buying health insurance as an employer is figuring out how much you can afford to spend on health insurance and how much employees may have to pay. I would suggest thinking about how much you want employees to spend on health insurance premiums and what coverage you need.

Work With an Insurance Broker

If you’re unsure about health insurance, talk to an insurance broker to help you with the process. I’ve found that HealthCare.gov offers a tool that lets you find available health insurance brokers in your area by entering your ZIP code.

Look Into Tax Credits

Small business owners may qualify for tax credits to help you pay for employee health insurance through a Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) plan. I’ve seen some small businesses save as much as 50% of their premiums, but there are requirements to qualify.

You have several options when it comes to searching for the right plan options for your small business.

We analyzed 84 data points about coverage and quality for seven large health insurance companies to determine the best health insurance providers for small businesses owners. Our ratings are based on:

• Complaints made to state insurance departments (30% of score): We used complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
• Plan ratings from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (30% of score): The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is an independent, nonprofit organization that accredits health plans and produces ratings based on specific metrics, including patient experience, prevention, treatment, overall rating of the health plan and rating of care.
• Average silver plan deductible (20% of score): The deductible is how much you have to pay for healthcare in a year before the health plan begins picking up a portion of the costs. Companies with health plans that had low deductibles got more points.
• Breadth of health plans (10% of score): Health insurance companies may offer up to four types of plan benefit designs (PPO, HMO, EPO and POS). Companies that offered more types of plans got more points.
• Metal tier offerings (10% of score): The ACA marketplace has four metal tier levels. We gave points to companies that offered more tier plan options.

Read more: How Forbes Advisor rates health insurance companies

Here are other health insurance companies we analyzed as part of our research.

Find The Best Health Insurance Companies Of 2024

Do small businesses have to provide health insurance.

Small business owners aren’t legally required to provide health insurance to their workers, but there are rules for those who do.

With that said, make sure you understand how your state defines a small business, as it will impact what you are required to provide, should you decide to offer health insurance to your employees.

What is a self-insured health plan?

An employer collects health insurance premiums in a self-insured health insurance plan and the business pays the claims rather than a health insurance company. Self-insured plans are more often an option for larger companies.

One potential benefit of self-insured plans is that businesses can save money if they collect more premiums than claims paid out. On the other hand, it could cause a problem if claims exceed premiums.

A self-insured health plan generally still requires that employers contract with a third party to enroll members, process claims and set up provider networks.

How much does group health insurance cost for small businesses?

The average annual cost of health insurance for small businesses is $8,722 annually per employee. Of that amount, employers pick up $7,349 on average and employees pay the rest, according to Kaiser Family Foundation’s 2023 Employer Health Benefits Survey.

Small businesses pay less for health maintenance organization (HMO) plans than other plans. Small companies spend $6,644 annually on average for HMO coverage per employee compared to $6,970 for a point of service (POS) plan and $7,729 for a preferred provider organization (PPO) plan, according to Kaiser Family Foundation.

The Kaiser Family Foundation added that small companies are more likely to pay all employee premiums than larger companies. The report said 30% of covered workers in small firms don’t pay premiums for single coverage for health insurance. That’s compared to just 6% in large companies.

How many employees does a small business have to have to provide health insurance?

Small businesses don’t have to offer health insurance , but employers with more than 50 full-time employees working at least 30 hours per week must offer coverage or face tax penalties.

Small businesses that provide coverage may benefit from tax credits.

Can business owners buy a plan on the marketplace?

Small businesses can buy health coverage for employees on the health insurance marketplace through the Small Health Options Program (SHOP). SHOP lets employers compare plans and the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit can help save money for businesses.

• How Much Does Health Insurance Cost?
• UnitedHealthcare Health Insurance Review

Get Forbes Advisor’s ratings of the best insurance companies and helpful information on how to find the best travel, auto, home, health, life, pet, and small business coverage for your needs.

Les Masterson is a deputy editor and insurance analyst at Forbes Advisor. He has been a journalist, reporter, editor and content creator for more than 25 years. He has covered insurance for a decade, including auto, home, life and health. Before covering insurance, Les was a news editor and reporter for Patch and Community Newspaper Company and also covered health care, mortgages, credit cards and personal loans for multiple websites.

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I retired at 57 and moved to an RV. It wasn't my plan, but I wanted to be close to my grandchild.

• In 2022, my wife and I sold our home and moved to Vancouver, Washington, to be near family.
• My plan wasn't to retire at 57 or live in an RV, but having grandchildren changed everything.
• We provide childcare for our granddaughter because we love her.

There was a knock-knock-knock at my RV door . My 3-year-old granddaughter was coming to have breakfast with my wife and me. The door opened, and she stepped in wearing her Bluey pajamas. I looked across the yard and waved to her mom.

Jena took off her Minnie Mouse slippers, went to my fridge, got out her orange juice, grabbed a straw from the drawer, and plopped down in my recliner. Taking a sip of her juice, she asked if she could watch Blippi . This was a fairly typical Saturday morning.

I hadn't planned on retiring at 57 or living in an RV . Funny how grandkids change things. When I saw the smile on my wife's face holding Jena as a baby, I knew the plan would change.

In 2022, we sold our house, bought an RV, and moved to Vancouver, Washington . We've been very fortunate to spend so much time with the kids. It's been great, though there have been challenges. It could have been disastrous for us had we not had such a good relationship with the kids.

I try to pay for as much as they allow me to

Relationships are challenging. Moving into a house owned by your adult children is a role reversal that some may have difficulty adjusting to. It's not your house; you are no longer the leader; you're a follower.

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Money can be a major stress point in any relationship, and adding additional people to a household comes with added costs. My son refuses to accept rent from me and won't let me pay any of the bills, so we take it out in trade.

My wife and I do a lot of household chores, even yard work. Once a week, we do the grocery shopping or pay for a Costco run. On Thursdays, I'll get takeout, or we'll all go to a restaurant, my treat.

They bought a fixer-upper house, and there is always some project underway that we are helping with. I thought that being retired would be more relaxing, but I regularly find myself hanging drywall, painting, putting in new fencing, or installing flooring. The work we do not only saves the kids money but also gives them more time as a family.

We provide childcare for them

Jena is our granddaughter, and we take care of her because we love her, not because it is a chore or some way to offset expenses. It's fun being with her, going on walks to the park or the corner store to get ice cream, or playing in her blow-up pool in the backyard.

This is also a way to help the kids out. They can go out on a dinner date, and they don't have to worry about her. Sometimes, they'll go to a concert, and they don't get back until after Jena's asleep. She says night-night to mommy and daddy, gives them big hugs, and waves to them out the window. Then, we have a yummy dinner and a fun evening before bedtime.

Everyone has their own space so we can have boundaries

When we are staying with the kids, we are in the RV. We come over a few times during the day, and for family dinners, and Jena will come over and visit us. But we have our own space so everyone can have some separate time. If they have friends over, we make ourselves scarce.

When it was our house, we didn't have to ask permission. Now, we have other adults to contend with, and there can be clashes. You've got to respect each other's boundaries, especially with grandkids. When you live in a multi-generational house, you're not a visiting grandparent; you're often acting as a parent.

The kids also need to recognize that although it's fun being around the grandkids, sometimes Gigi and Papa need a break. Chasing a 3-year-old around can really take it out of you.

We all have to be on the same page

It's essential to make sure that everyone is on the same page. Even something as simple as making dinner needs to be discussed. We don't just go over and start cooking food or even fixing lunch for Jena without asking.

Another tool we use is an erasable calendar on the kids' fridge. Play dates, doctor appointments, yoga classes — everything goes on the calendar.

I grew up in a house with my mom and grandparents. Our son lived with us during college, and he and his wife lived with us for over a year before and after their wedding. This new life just seems normal and is mutually beneficial. We live rent-free and get to spend time with our kids and our granddaughter. They get live-in childcare and an extra set of parents to share the load.

We now spend the winter months traveling the country and returning home in the summer. A couple of times in the winter, my wife will fly home for a week to spend time with Jena.

We can't imagine life any other way.

Watch: Why childcare has become so unaffordable

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Google has an illegal monopoly on search, US judge finds

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Reporting by David Shepardson and Mike Scarcella in Washington and Jody Godoy in New York; Writing by Chris Sanders; Additional reporting by Arsheeya Singh Bajwa in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Henderson, Matthew Lewis and Leslie Adler

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