Overview
Many people are now starting their businesses in different industries. However, owning and handling a business is not an easy job. That’s why a lot of business owners turn to business plan software when it comes to doing their business jobs daily.
In this article, we will discuss what is business plan software and the top 10 business plan software in the market. We will discuss each of the software’s information, key features, pros, and cons, and why is it recommended for business owners.
What is Business Plan Software?
Business plan software is program that is mainly used to create business plans. It’s a business planning and business development tool on one platform. It allows business owners to track business performance in different aspects.
Business plan programs has different features depending on the developer or the brand. But, generally, all business plan software has some of the following:
- sales and marketing tracker
- time and task manager
- social media calendar (for business networking)
What is the top 10 Business Plan Software in the Market?
The following business plan software listed below was selected based upon customer reviews, popularity level (based upon Alexa Rank), ease of use (from user interface perspective), and cost-effectiveness (depending on the price per month). The ranking might change from time to time according to business plan software available in the market.
1- Zoho Business Plan
Zoho business is one of the business plan programs that business owners are using. It was launched in 2006 and has had more than 5 million business users since then. The company behind it (Zoho Corporation) is well known for its productivity tool. This makes it easier for business people to monitor business performance periodically or daily.
The advantages of using this business plan program include simplicity when creating business plans, real-time analytics on business performance, and tracking contacts with different information like news updates (for networking). However, not all features are available in just one package. This is because this business planning software has only basic features. You have to buy additional service packages to be able to use business plan software as a whole.
2- QuickBooks Online Pro from Intuit
This business plan program is the simplified version of QuickBooks which business owners are using for accounting purposes to keep track of business expenses and sales, invoices, and revenue. The business performance tracking tool allows business owners to save time. You can do so by monitoring their business performance periodically or daily.
In addition, you can create a business plan with the click of a button to save your time. Plus, this has other features like comprehensive financial reports. These help you make smarter decisions to grow your business.
Moreover, QuickBook is free to use when you are just starting your business. But, when you start making sales and dealing with revenue, the business plan program becomes expensive due to its business performance tracking feature that allows users to monitor business expenses in real-time.
3- Planbox
Planbox is one of the leading business plan software in the market according to customer reviews. It offers startups free service packages which include contact managers, social media calendars, and email campaign management. This business planning software also has a couple of packages for team collaboration. Moreover, it has many other features. This includes project management tools. These allow you to monitor your tasks and milestones on an easy-to-use platform in one place.
Another powerful feature is called My Team where business owners can allocate tasks based upon each business person’s skills. Planbox business planning software also has a business performance tracking tool. It allows business owners to monitor business expenses in real-time. You can start this business plan program for free and upgrade your account if you want more service packages.
4- LivePlan
LivePlan is one of the business plan programs with a friendly user interface and easy-to-follow steps. This includes tracking business milestones, keeping track of tasks and deadlines, and keeping a record of financial statements. This gives business people confidence in their business projects. Moreover, it helps business owners get rid of confusion when creating business plans since they don’t have to spend time searching for information on how to create a business plan. It’s all there on the screen once you log in to business plan program.
This business planning software also has business performance tracking tools where you can keep track of business expenses in real-time. You can do so by monitoring business milestones periodically or daily. This business plan program is free to use for small businesses while enterprise plans are available at a cost.
5- Wave Apps
Wave is an accounting business plan program that provides many features for business owners, accountants, bookkeepers, and CPAs alike. It includes invoices (for billing), expense reports, links to bank accounts, and financial reports.
However, if you want more advanced features, business people have to pay for additional business plan programs. Such tools are marketing campaign management tools and advanced financial reports. It also comes with business performance tracking tools too.
Wave business planning software also has a user-friendly interface that business owners of all levels can use. This includes business performance tracking tools where you can monitor business expenses in real-time. It’s available for free, but business planners have to upgrade their accounts. This is if they want more service packages and advanced features. Such features are business performance tracking tools and marketing campaign management tools.
6- Bizness Apps
Bizness apps is another business planning software that is very popular among businesses nowadays. This is because it has an easy-to-use interface where anyone can start creating business plans easily. It offers business owners business performance tracking tools where they can monitor business expenses in real-time.
Moreover, it has finance management tools to help business people prepare financial statements on the go. This includes budgets and forecasts which are easy to understand for business owners and startup businesses.
Bizness Apps also comes with accounting management tools that help you create invoices, keep track of receipts, and more from your mobile device. But if you want more features such as marketing campaign management tools, business people have to upgrade their accounts. This can cost $24 per month or $120 per year depending on the subscription plan selected.
7- Wizeline
Wizeline is another business planning software that business owners should use. This is because it has project management tools to help business people manage business projects easily. It also comes with business performance tracking tools where business planners can monitor business expenses in real-time.
What’s more, this business plan program also has collaboration features. With that, business people can share updates about their business plans and strategies with their co-workers, clients, or business partners at the same time. Wizeline offers all of its services for $199 per month or $1,999 per year after a 15-day free trial period is over.
8- Axis Business Solutions
Axis Business Solutions is an accounting business planning software with many feature options. This is specially created for accountants and small businesses alike. Some of these tools are business performance tracking tools where business planners can monitor business expenses in real-time.
However, this business planning software is more than just a business performance tracking tool. It also has customer relationship management tools that help business people create lead lists. What’s more, it has an inventory management system to help business owners track their products’ stock levels on the go. This business planning software comes with a free trial too.
9- Yola
Yola is another business planning software that business planners should try for themselves. This is because it offers all features needed to create professional business plans easily and effortlessly. The first feature of this software is its web builder tool which allows you to build customized websites on your own without any need for coding knowledge.
It also comes with business performance tracking tools where business planners can monitor business expenses in real-time. Business owners can use flowcharts to create business plans that are easy to understand for business partners, clients, or co-workers. This business planning software is available for free without any need for an upgrade for your account.
10- Crelate Talent
Crelate talent business plan program is another great tool created mainly for recruiting teams and job recruiters. However, this doesn’t mean that business people won’t benefit from using it too. This is because it has powerful applicant tracking system (ATS) features. These help you manage resumes easily and effortlessly on the go. What’s more, it has lead management tools to help business recruiters and business owners get in contact with business prospects more likely.
Crelate talent business planning software is available for free to use unlike the business planning software mentioned above. However, business people who wish to get its full benefits will need to subscribe to a plan. There are three subscription plans available: $9 per person or per month($78 annually), $49 per user or per month($390 annually), and $199 per user or per month($1,788 annually).
That’s our list of the 10 best business plan software. If you want more articles similar to this one, don’t forget to visit us again.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Business Plan Software
Before deciding which business plan program to get, here are some factors you need to consider:
1) Ease of Use
Business plan programs should not be complicated. It should be user-friendly and easy to understand. If business owners will find it difficult to use business plan software, it can cost them more time instead of saving their time for business planning.
2) Price
Of course, business owners should consider the price of business plan program before getting one for themselves. However, keep in mind that there is some business plan program out there that offers a free trial period with no need to upgrade or subscribe for a paid account. So, finding the best business plan program does not necessarily mean you have to spend money on it.
3) Special Features
Business people who are looking for business planning tools should choose business plan program with special features according to their needs. If they want UI design tools then they should get business plan program that offers it. If business people want to create business proposals, business plans, and more. They should try business planning software with those features.
4) Customization
Some business planners don’t like business plan software as their business planning tools. Others cannot make the features of the business planning softwares fit according to their needs and preferences. Thus, always remember that you can still get your desired workspace by customizing its interface and UI design. Don’t forget also to check out how user-friendly and customizable is each business plan software mentioned above before deciding which one to choose for yourself!
5) Analytics
Business owners do not have time for their data analysis. Thus, business plan software with analytics features is a must for business owners to monitor their business performance. This way, business owners will see business trends and can make better business decisions.
Benefits of Using Business Plan Software
When it comes to business plan software, expect excellent results and efficiency when handling your business. Here are some advantages you can get when using business plan software:
1) Ease of business planning.
Before getting business plan software, business people will spend their time manually creating business plans. However, business plan software makes business planning easier and faster. If you want to shorten your business planning time then business plan software is the best solution for you.
2) Flexibility when scheduling business meetings.
When using business plan software, if you’re working for a specific client, then first on your list is to schedule a meeting with that client. This way, your business agendas won’t crash. Thus, giving your clients enough time for any change they might have wanted to implement on the meeting schedule.
3) Save more time with email management tools included in business planning software applications.
Email management tools as part of business planning software allow business planners to schedule their business emails. Plus, you can create relevant templates among others.
4) Easily share business plans with clients.
Business plan software also provides collaboration features for business owners. This way, they can easily share their business plans with clients anytime they need them. Business owners won’t find this feature on business planners without business plan software installed on them.
5) It works smarter, not harder!
Business plan software saves time for business people. This results in more efficient work done by business people using business plan software for their businesses!
6) See a bigger picture of your business’ growth.
With built-in analytics tools on most business planning software, you get the chance to see how much business you’ve earned for a business quarter or year. With business planning software, you can easily see business trends. That way, you can make better business decisions by knowing how much business has been rising or falling in the past few years.
7) You get multiple options to choose from.
There are lots of business plan software available on the internet. This means all business planners have more options when choosing one. Thus, they are not stuck to just one business planning tool but instead have more choices available for them.
8) Less expensive than other business services.
Business plan software is cheaper than hiring an outsourced person to create your business plans for you! Not to mention all the benefits mentioned above that come with using business plan software! What’s more, business plan software users can choose business plans created for them by experts. These, in turn, make business planning easy and efficient!
FAQS on Business Plan Software
What features should business plan software have?
When it comes to business planning, business plan software should have business templates, business email management tools, project management features, business analytics tools among other business planning software features.
Should you use business plan software or a service?
It depends on business owners whether business plan software or business plans services should they use. However, business plan software is still the cheaper option for business people looking to save time and money while at it.
What business plans will business planning software create for you?
Business plan software provides business planners with a variety of business plans for them to choose from. Business plans created by business planning software may include market analysis reports, sales forecasts, and more!
Why do we need business plan software?
To answer this question, we can say that without business planning tools available on most business applications, then creating any type of business plan becomes hard! Not only that but also taking notes during meetings become difficult too plus many others. Plus, most business people are already using office business software. That is why business planning software should be a part of business applications too!
Most business plan software provides templates for business people to use. What are those templates?
Most business plans created by business plan software have templates that business planners can easily edit and customize as they please. To do this, business planners just need basic computer skills such as how to work with Microsoft Office files. Thus, you will not have any issues using these templates!
Conclusion
When it comes to making business plans, it is essential to have business plan software installed on business people’s business planners. This business planning software makes business plans easy to create and have. Plus, since business planners can choose from a variety of business plan templates provided by business plan software, business planners save both time and money in the process.
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