9 Best business planning software for 2025

A great business plan is like a blueprint for building your dream home — without it, you’re just hammering nails in the dark. Business planning software illuminates the path forward, transforming scattered ideas into a structured roadmap that guides every decision, investment, and pivot along your journey.

This guide breaks down the 10 best business planning software options for 2025, comparing features, benefits, and pricing to help you find your perfect match. From financial forecasting to investor-ready presentations, we’ll explore how platforms like monday work management connect strategy to execution, turning your business vision into reality.

What is business planning software?

Business planning software brings order to the chaos of starting and growing a business. Think of it as your strategic command center where ideas transform into actionable plans. These digital platforms help entrepreneurs and business owners create, organize, and manage comprehensive business plans without drowning in spreadsheets.

What sets business planning software apart from general project management platforms? Focus and purpose. While project management handles day-to-day workflows, business planning platforms zero in on the big picture: financial models, strategic documents, and growth roadmaps.

The evolution from static Word docs to dynamic, cloud-based platforms means you can now collaborate in real-time and adapt your strategy as you learn.

You want platforms that let you focus on strategy, refine your approach, and guide your team toward common goals. Modern solutions should eliminate manual errors and keep momentum high. Here’s what effective business planning platforms bring to the table:

• Financial modeling: Build projections and financial statements without wrestling with complex formulas
• Document creation: Generate professional, investor-ready plans from guided templates
• Strategic planning: Map out your mission, goals, and roadmap for success
• Collaboration: Bring your entire team into the planning process with real-time editing and feedback

Why growing companies need business plan software

Let’s face it. Scattered documents and manual spreadsheets create chaos, and important information falls through the cracks. You often work with outdated versions and spend more time formatting than strategizing. By centralizing your planning process and automating tedious tasks, business plan software puts your focus back on making critical decisions.

Is your current approach holding you back? Modern business planning platforms streamline your process, helping you cut planning time dramatically while creating polished documents that impress investors. They also keep your entire team aligned on strategic goals. With robust scenario planning, you can test different ideas before committing resources.

How to choose the right software for business plans

Choosing business planning software doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. We’ve created a simple framework that cuts through the noise and focuses on what actually matters for your business.

Check collaboration and real-time editing

Your best ideas come from your team. And your business plan should capture that collective wisdom. Look for platforms like monday.com that have simultaneous editing, comment threads, and permission controls. These features ensure everyone contributes effectively while keeping sensitive information secure.

With monday.com you can update your entire team on a particular task, project, or doc with just a few clicks. You can also see status updates and build interactive dashboards to present all the information to your team.

Assess financial forecasting and budgeting

Strong financial planning separates dreams from viable businesses. The right platform offers dynamic forecasting, scenario analysis, and built-in financial templates. You need more than a basic calculator. You need a system that proves your business model works.

And with monday.com you can track all of your expenses and budget items in boards and then connect them to interactive dashboards that help you display everything in one place. You can even create gantt charts for your business plan to clearly display the steps you’re going to take to achieve your goals.

Look for freeware or affordable options

Budget matters. Some platforms charge a monthly fee or one-time purchase, while others offer free trials or freeware business plan versions. Explore your options to find the right fit before you invest.

Verify integration and compatibility

Your business plan connects to everything else you do. Check for integrations with accounting software, CRM systems, and project management platforms. Seamless connections eliminate manual data entry and keep information flowing.

Evaluate security and compliance

Your business plan contains your most valuable secrets. Ensure your chosen platform offers encryption, secure access controls, and compliance with industry regulations. Don’t compromise on security.

10 best solutions for business plans

Ready to find your perfect match? We’ve rounded up the 10 best business plan software platforms that transform vision into reality. From comprehensive work management systems to specialized fundraising platforms, there’s something here for every growing business.

1. monday work management

monday work management transforms business planning from a static exercise into a dynamic, ongoing process. Our platform connects high-level strategy to day-to-day execution, ensuring your business plan stays alive and actionable. With AI-powered planning blocks and visual workflows, you’ll automate repetitive planning work while keeping everyone aligned and moving forward.

Best for

Teams wanting integrated planning and execution in one platform

Key features

• AI-powered planning blocks that generate insights and automate workflows
• Customizable templates that adapt to any business planning need
• Real-time dashboards for tracking progress against business goals

Pros

• Connects planning directly to execution and project management
• Visual interface makes complex planning intuitive
• Scales with your business from startup to enterprise

Pricing

Starting at $10/user/month with free trial available

2. LivePlan

LivePlan shines for first-time entrepreneurs who need guidance at every step. Its structured approach walks you through each section of your business plan, while industry benchmarking helps you ground your projections in reality.

Best For

First-time business planners seeking step-by-step guidance

Key Features

• Guided planning process with prompts and examples
• Industry benchmarking against real business data
• Automatic financial calculations and charts

Pros

• Extremely user-friendly for beginners
• Strong financial forecasting capabilities
• Educational resources throughout the platform

Cons

• Limited customization for unique business models
• Can feel restrictive for experienced planners
• Lacks advanced project management features

Pricing

$20/month with 35-day money-back guarantee

3. Bizplan

Bizplan focuses on helping startups secure funding. Its drag-and-drop builder and direct integration with funding platforms make it ideal for entrepreneurs ready to pitch investors.

Best For

Startups actively seeking investor funding

Key Features

• Drag-and-drop business plan builder
• Direct integration with Fundable platform
• Progress tracking to keep you accountable

Pros

• Streamlined for fundraising success
• Modern, intuitive interface
• Built-in pitch deck creation

Cons

• No mobile app for on-the-go planning
• Limited collaboration features
• Focuses more on presentation than deep planning

Pricing

$29/month or $349/year

4. Enloop

Enloop brings automation to business planning with its unique scoring system. The platform generates text automatically and provides real-time feedback on your plan’s strength.

Best For

Entrepreneurs wanting automated plan writing assistance

Key Features

• Automatic text generation for plan sections
• Real-time performance scoring
• Financial forecast automation

Pros

• Saves time with automated content
• Performance score provides instant feedback
• Simple, straightforward interface

Cons

• Limited design customization options
• Auto-generated text needs editing
• Basic collaboration features

Pricing

$19.95/month with free trial

5. Aha!

Aha! excels at connecting strategic planning with product development. Its roadmapping capabilities help businesses align their plans with execution across teams.

Best For

Product-focused companies needing strategic alignment

Key Features

• Visual strategy roadmaps
• Goal and initiative tracking
• Integration with development platforms

Pros

• Powerful visualization capabilities
• Strong strategic planning features
• Connects planning to product development

Cons

• Higher price point than alternatives
• Steep learning curve
• May be overkill for simple planning needs

Pricing

Starting at $59/user/month

6. Cuttles

Cuttles streamlines the path from idea to investor pitch. Built specifically for startups, it guides you through creating both business plans and pitch decks.

Best For

Startups preparing for investor presentations

Key Features

• Integrated pitch deck builder
• Clean, modern templates
• Milestone tracking

Pros

• Designed specifically for fundraising
• Beautiful output documents
• Simple, focused approach

Cons

• Fewer integration options
• Limited advanced features
• Less suitable for established businesses

Pricing

$20/month with free trial

7. Smartsheet

Smartsheet brings familiar spreadsheet functionality to business planning. Perfect for Excel lovers who want more power and collaboration features.

Best For

Teams comfortable with spreadsheet-based planning

Key Features

• Grid-based interface like Excel
• Flexible customization options
• Strong project management capabilities

Pros

• Familiar interface reduces learning curve
• Highly customizable for any process
• Bridges planning and project execution

Cons

• Less guidance for business planning specifics
• Requires more setup than dedicated planners
• Can become complex quickly

Pricing

Starting at $7/user/month

8. Wrike

Wrike focuses on turning plans into coordinated action. Its workflow management features help teams execute complex business strategies effectively.

Best For

Teams needing strong workflow coordination

Key Features

• Advanced resource allocation
• Custom workflows and automation
• Real-time collaboration

Pros

• Excellent for complex project coordination
• Strong team collaboration features
• Scales well for growing teams

Cons

• Complex initial setup
• Can overwhelm small teams
• Business planning isn’t primary focus

Pricing

$9.80/user/month for professional plan

9. GoSmallBiz

GoSmallBiz combines planning software with expert guidance. Access to business advisors sets it apart from purely self-service platforms.

Best For

Entrepreneurs wanting expert consulting support

Key Features

• Access to business advisors
• Educational resources and courses
• Integrated business management suite

Pros

• Human expertise complements software
• Comprehensive small business platform
• Good for those needing guidance

Cons

• Dated user interface
• Higher cost for full features
• Less modern than competitors

Pricing

$39/month for full access

Common features that drive better planning

What separates basic templates from powerful business planning platforms? It’s the features that transform static documents into dynamic, living plans. Modern platforms offer capabilities that make planning faster, smarter, and more collaborative.

The features that make the biggest difference include ready-made templates with AI assistance, visual editing capabilities, automated tracking systems, and secure cloud collaboration. Let’s explore how each transforms your planning process:

• Ready-made templates and AI-driven summaries: Start strong with professional templates that cover every essential section. AI capabilities in platforms like monday work management help summarize complex information and even generate content suggestions. Writer’s block becomes a thing of the past.
• Drag-and-drop tools for quick editing: Visual interfaces make updating your plan intuitive. Reorganize sections. Update projections. Refine your strategy. All without wrestling with formatting or complex menus.
• Automated tracking and dashboards: Your business plan should breathe with your business. Real-time dashboards show progress against milestones and financial targets. monday work management lets you build custom dashboards that track exactly what matters to your business.
• Secure cloud access and team collaboration: Access your plan anywhere. Collaborate in real-time. End version control nightmares. Cloud-based platforms ensure everyone works from the same playbook.

Do all your business planning with monday.com

Choosing the right business planning software sets the foundation for sustainable growth. The right platform streamlines collaboration, improves accuracy, and frees up countless hours. What could your team achieve with a structured, dynamic planning process that evolves with your business?

If you’re ready to move beyond static documents and bring your business plan to life, monday work management offers the flexibility and power to connect strategy with real execution.