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.

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.

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.

Expert Guidance at every step

We’ve helped more than a million entrepreneurs create detailed business plans they can be confident in using our real business plan examples.

Our guided path walks you step-by-step through our recommended approach to creating a lender-ready business plan.

Chat with support for additional help, or join an expert-led webinar to get additional business planning tips and wisdom. Wherever you are in your planning process, we’ve got you.

How We’re Different

More than business plan software

LivePlan isn’t just a tool to easily create a business pitch, plan, and financials — it’s a comprehensive business planning system to help you plan, fund, and grow.

Plenty of support to help you succeed

Inspiration powered by AI

Use the LivePlan Assistant to instantly generate ideas at each step of your plan. You can also access 550+ business plan examples to find one that matches your industry.

Guidance from business experts

Stay on track with video walk–throughs, webinars, and more from business planning experts with over 40+ years of combined experience.

If you ever get stuck, our team will help

If you ever have a question, instantly chat with a LivePlan expert. If you’re pressed for time or need additional guidance, access additional services from within LivePlan.

Create a plan and build your business dreams

Frequently Asked Questions

What are samples of a business plan?

A sample business plan is an example/template document that outlines the key sections and elements that are typically included in a plan used to start and/or operate a business venture. It provides a structured format and sample content that you can use as a guide when writing your own specific business plan tailored to your company’s details.

A good business plan example will contain the core components found in most business plans, including:

1. Executive summary
2. Company overview
3. Market analysis
4. Product/Service description
5. Operations plan
6. Management team
7. Marketing & sales strategy
8. Financial projections & requirements

The business plan example gives descriptions, instructions, and illustration text to explain what information should be covered in each of the sections. However, the actual data and specifics will need to be customized for your particular business.

The purpose of business plan examples is to provide an organizational framework and example formatting that can guide you in developing a professional, comprehensive plan to define their business model and convey it to potential investors or lenders. It essentially serves as a template and starting point you can adapt according to your own business goals, market, financials, and plans.

Download a free example business plan. Use it as a template for your own business plan and to see an example of what you’ll find in LivePlan.

How can I use business plan examples?

Here are some of the main ways you can utilize our examples of different business plans:

1. Get a visual template. A sample plan allows you to see the typical structure and order of sections in a professional business plan. This gives you a visual template to follow for organizing your own information.
2. Understand what to include. By seeing a business plan example, you can better understand what kind of information, analysis, and level of detail is expected in each section. The samples will prompt you on the key elements to cover.
3. Learn proper formatting. Sample business plans demonstrate the formatting conventions like using headings, subheadings, charts, and visual layouts. You can mimic the professional presentation.
4. Use it as a starting framework. Rather than starting from a blank page, you can use the sample as an initial framework and template.
5. Get ideas from the examples. The descriptions and sample text in each section can spark ideas and remind you of important points to include in your own plan.
6. Follow the flow and order. A good sample will put the sections in a logical order that guides the reader through the plan. You can maintain this clear flow when writing yours.
7. Study them as a learning tool. For first-time entrepreneurs, reviewing several sample plans can be an excellent way to learn what investors and lenders expect to see in a high-quality business plan.

The key is using real business plan examples as a guide and framework, while customizing with your company’s unique strategies, market research, projections and other plan details.