How to Use AI Tools to Write a Business Plan

These tools use artificial intelligence to generate full business plans you can take to investors.

A man sits at a white desk and looks at the screen of an open laptop. Scattered elsewhere on the desk are a couple of potted plants, a cup of pencils and scissors, a tablet and smartphone, and a few stacks of papers. The man is wearing a dark blue plaid shirt over a purple T-shirt, and he has one hand held to his chin in thought.

Although you shouldn't rely on artificial intelligence to write your entire business plan for you, AI tools can provide general content and first drafts to get you started. — Getty Images/JGI/Tom Grill

Writing a business plan is an important, if arduous, task. Most investors and financial institutions will ask to see your business plan before providing startup capital. But, for many entrepreneurs, putting pen to paper to detail your idea can be burdensome.

AI tools can speed up the process of writing a business plan by providing the framework and initial content. However, you’ll need to go through the plan in detail to make sure it accurately reflects the financial modeling, mission and vision, and other elements that you’re starting to put into motion. Consider any business plan generated by these AI tools as a starting point from which to finesse your plan to perfection.

ProAI

ProAI is built to generate custom business plans that include financial projections, market research, and a SWOT analysis. These detailed plans can be edited in the app or exported to Google Docs and Sheets for further editing. Simply answer some questions about your business information and goals; AI will create a custom plan with financials. The report can be ready in a few days, depending on the depth and level of customization required — something you determine when you go through the initial process. ProAI can also provide pitch decks and business funding. Pricing for ProAI starts at $199/month.

Simplified

Simplified offers a unique AI generator for small businesses. Like ProAI, you simply enter your small business details and objectives, or work off one of their existing templates (such as for a gym, food truck, or real estate service). Simplified’s artificial intelligence can generate market analysis, financial projections, and a clear value proposition for your plan. It can be edited within the tool. The best part? Simplified is free up to 2,000 words.

LivePlan

LivePlan Assistant is the company’s AI writing tool that can help you create a business plan. With this option, you can select one of LivePlan’s business plan templates and get help filling in each section from the Assistant. LivePlan’s database of 550 free sample business plans gives you a good starting point. The Assistant’s “Help Me Write” function will then generate ideas for each section of your plan according to the information you give it. It includes financial forecasting functionality, too. Pricing for LivePlan starts at $20/month.

Upmetrics

Upmetrics’ AI Assistant can autowrite sections of your business plan, adjust the tone of your content to be more persuasive or professional, and reformat sections to make the plan flow. Unlike other tools on this list, Upmetrics also offers well-designed cover pages so you can make your document stand out. The platform lets you collaborate with different users on the same document so you can stay organized and coordinate better. And, instead of using a set template, Upmetrics has a drag-and-drop builder so you can determine what sections you want to include. Upmetrics starts at $7/month.

IdeaMaster.io

IdeaMaster uses ChatGPT-3 to create fairly basic business plans; if you’re looking for a short two-pager to share with investors before fully developing your concept, this is a good starting point. Simply tell IdeaMaster your industry and product type to get started. Plans include the basics, such as market size, MVP features, value proposition, sales and marketing channels, and key resources, among other things. Best of all, IdeaMaster is free.

WriteCream

WriteCream develops generic business plans that can be customized to fit your vision. It’s less sophisticated than other tools on this list, and it can be used as a blank canvas if you have a great idea but no time (or patience) to write a full business plan. It doesn’t come with the bells and whistles of other tools, but it is affordable: WriteCream is free-to-use for up to 10,000 words per month.

CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.

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