$5,715–$50,799 to start
Appliance repair business plan template
$108–$252 typical US price for an appliance repair, averaging $180 (HomeAdvisor). Sample plan: Ridgeway Appliance Repair, Fresno, CA.
Free · Word + PDF · no email
Free business plan templates (Word + PDF), with a sample plan for your industry
Pick your industry and download the business plan template as a Word document or a PDF — the complete eleven-section plan with the trade's typical startup costs and monthly figures already in the tables. Each one comes with a finished sample plan, what owners earn and the licenses you need in the US. Or write yours in five questions.
112 industries · Free to download · No sign-up to write a plan
Business plan templates by industry
Browse by category, or read how to write a business plan first — the sections, a worked example from one of these plans, and the mistakes to skip.
Home services and trades
The lead-driven trades, where the website is the next purchase after the plan.
$20,465–$42,237 to start
Blinds business plan template
$1,018 the average window treatment project in HomeAdvisor's June 2026 cost guide. Sample plan: Larkspur Blinds & Shutters, Boise, ID.
$13,035–$58,000 to start
Carpentry business plan template
$60–$125/hr typical billed rate for a self-employed carpenter in the US. Sample plan: Knotwell Carpentry, Grand Rapids, MI.
$3,345–$18,390 to start
Carpet cleaning business plan template
$120–$250 typical US price for a home carpet clean; HomeAdvisor's 2026 range is $123–$242, averaging $183. Sample plan: Tidewell Carpet Care, Raleigh, NC.
$16,255–$52,800 to start
Christmas light business plan template
$2.50–$7 a foot what US homeowners pay professional installers, lights, setup and removal included (HomeAdvisor, June 2026). Sample plan: Hollisford Christmas Lights, Lehi, UT.
$1,659–$6,056 to start
Cleaning business plan template
$118–$238 a standard house cleaning visit in HomeAdvisor's 2025 figures (averaging $176). Sample plan: Brightline Home Cleaning, Raleigh, NC.
$16,900–$44,500 to start
Concrete business plan template
$5–$8 a square foot typical installed price of a plain concrete driveway; decorative and stamped work runs $8 to $21. Sample plan: Ironside Concrete, Tulsa, OK.
$18,600–$86,500 to start
Construction business plan template
$50–$150/hr typical billed labor rate, residential. Sample plan: Ridgeline Builders, Spokane, WA.
$11,935–$55,900 to start
Drywall business plan template
$1.50–$3.50/sq ft typical published US price to hang and finish drywall, materials included, for a Level 4 finish. Sample plan: True Plane Drywall, Columbus, OH.
$40,335–$173,500 to start
Dumpster rental business plan template
$582–$891 average US price of a roll-off rental in 2026, from a 10-yard to a 40-yard, with delivery, pickup, about a week and a set weight included. Sample plan: Longleaf Roll-Off Co., Huntsville, AL.
$13,350–$61,600 to start
Electrical business plan template
$50–$100+ an hour typical residential electrician's rate, plus parts; emergency calls cost about double. Sample plan: Copper Wren Electric, Charlotte, NC.
$41,585–$229,100 to start
Equipment rental business plan template
$200–$350/day typical published US rental rate for a mini excavator; about $600–$1,000 a week and $1,500–$3,000 a month. Sample plan: Ironbridge Equipment Rental, Tulsa, OK.
$11,400–$49,400 to start
Fence company business plan template
$10–$75/ft typical US installed price per linear foot, by material. Sample plan: Straightline Fence Co., Raleigh, NC.
$9,350–$33,900 to start
Flooring business plan template
$2–$5/sq ft typical US labor price per square foot to install vinyl plank. Sample plan: Plank & Grain Flooring, Columbus, OH.
$5,930–$48,223 to start
Garage door business plan template
$155–$379 typical published US price for a garage door repair, averaging $265; a spring replacement runs $180–$350. Sample plan: Sagebrush Garage Door Service, Henderson, NV.
$3,925–$14,887 to start
Gutter cleaning business plan template
$200–$400 a typical US gutter cleaning, most around $300 for 150 feet on a two-story house (Fixr, January 2025). Sample plan: Clearflow Gutter Co., Charlotte, NC.
$6,000–$29,700 to start
Handyman business plan template
$50–$100/hr typical handyman rate, most US cities. Sample plan: Fix-It Fred's, Indianapolis, IN.
$20,835–$100,200 to start
Home remodeling business plan template
$15,000–$45,000 what most US homeowners pay for a kitchen remodel (Fixr, January 2026); the job a one-crew remodeler builds its year around. Sample plan: Hearthline Remodeling, Raleigh, NC.
$13,400–$56,100 to start
HVAC business plan template
$75–$150 typical service-call or diagnostic fee. Sample plan: Mesa Comfort Heating & Air, San Antonio, TX.
$12,900–$43,900 to start
Junk removal business plan template
$150–$600 per job, by load size. Sample plan: Clearway Hauling, Tampa, FL.
$6,600–$33,400 to start
Landscaping business plan template
$50–$100/hr typical labor rate per crew member. Sample plan: Evergreen Yard Co., Charlotte, NC.
$3,830–$16,350 to start
Locksmith business plan template
$100–$200 typical published US price for a locksmith visit; a house lockout runs $50–$175 and a rekey $70–$160. Sample plan: Brightline Lock & Key, Riverside, CA.
$26,500–$85,200 to start
Moving company business plan template
$100–$180/hr typical local rate for two movers and a truck. Sample plan: Two Oaks Moving Co., Boise, ID.
$4,400–$15,000 to start
Painting business plan template
$2–$6/sq ft typical interior price with paint and labor. Sample plan: Brightside Painting Co., Raleigh, NC.
$5,350–$15,950 to start
Pest control business plan template
$100–$150/visit typical quarterly plan price. Sample plan: Sentinel Pest Control, Charlotte, NC.
$5,600–$24,600 to start
Plumbing business plan template
$80–$130/hr typical residential plumbing rate. Sample plan: Blue Valve Plumbing, Kansas City, MO.
$6,000–$28,490 to start
Pool cleaning business plan template
$80–$200 a month typical price of weekly residential pool service, by a national cost guide; full service with repairs included runs $120 to $300 or more. Sample plan: Clearwater Pool Care, Mesa, AZ.
$2,950–$11,100 to start
Pressure washing business plan template
$50–$100/hr typical effective hourly rate, solo. Sample plan: Summit Soft Wash & Pressure Cleaning, Greenville, SC.
$9,530–$39,900 to start
Property maintenance business plan template
$60–$125/hr typical US hourly rate for maintenance and handyman work, plus materials. Sample plan: Keystone Property Care, Phoenix, AZ.
$8,900–$32,600 to start
Roofing business plan template
$350–$550/square typical installed price for architectural asphalt. Sample plan: Ridgeline Roofing Co., Tulsa, OK.
$26,485–$101,400 to start
Solar installation business plan template
$2.60–$3.36/W typical US installed price for a home system, before incentives, 2026. Sample plan: Mesquite Ridge Solar, Tucson, AZ.
$12,035–$53,200 to start
Tile business plan template
$4–$15/sq ft typical published US labor price to install tile, before the tile itself; about $8 for standard ceramic or porcelain on a flat floor. Sample plan: Straightjoint Tile Co., Charlotte, NC.
$29,001–$43,325 to start
Trash can cleaning business plan template
$18–$25 what a bin costs to clean on a plan every four weeks — the most common plan (Bubble Binz's price guide, June 2026). Sample plan: Tidy Lid Bin Cleaning, Mesa, AZ.
$14,350–$64,500 to start
Tree service business plan template
$500–$2,000 typical price for a single residential tree removal, haul-away included; national cost guides put the average between about $750 and $1,000, and a big tree over a house runs far higher. Sample plan: Cedar Hollow Tree Care, Knoxville, TN.
$8,485–$29,800 to start
Welding business plan template
$65–$125/hr typical US mobile welding rate, plus a trip or call-out fee. Sample plan: Ridgeline Mobile Welding, Tulsa, OK.
$3,395–$12,882 to start
Window cleaning business plan template
$150–$302 HomeAdvisor's 2026 US range for a home window cleaning job. Sample plan: Northlight Window Cleaning, Boise, ID.
Cars, trucks and transport
Detailing, repair, towing, hauling and delivery.
$35,200–$108,700 to start
Auto repair shop business plan template
$100–$180/hr typical shop labor rate at an independent. Sample plan: Bridgeway Auto Care, Columbus, OH.
$95,106–$165,161 to start
Car dealership business plan template
$1,409 the gross profit a franchised dealership made on each used vehicle it retailed in the second quarter of 2026 (the Presidio-NCM benchmark of 4,000-plus dealerships) — down 10% on the year. Sample plan: Redbud Motor Co., Tulsa, OK.
$3,000–$12,100 to start
Car detailing business plan template
$150–$300 typical price per full detail. Sample plan: Mirror Finish Mobile Detailing, Tampa, FL.
$37,100–$195,800 to start
Car wash business plan template
$10 a single wash at Tommy's Express, by its own posts (February 2025). Sample plan: Blue Bay Hand Car Wash, Mesa, AZ.
$2,871–$24,120 to start
Courier business plan template
$32.50 the price of a scheduled route stop a day in Central Courier's price list. Sample plan: Corvelle Courier, Columbus, OH.
$24,096–$46,780 to start
Mobile mechanic business plan template
$50–$85 an hour what two US mobile mechanics in the local news charged for labor, 2025 and 2026 — plus parts, and often a call-out or mileage fee. Sample plan: Redbud Mobile Auto, Tulsa, OK.
$14,435–$87,100 to start
Tow truck business plan template
$75–$125 + $2.50–$7/mi typical published US price for a short local tow of 5 miles or less, and the per-mile rate commonly charged. Sample plan: Copperline Towing, Knoxville, TN.
$35,105–$72,912 to start
Trucking business plan template
$3.01 the national average dry van spot rate per mile, fuel included, in DAT's September 2026 figures. Sample plan: Red Caliche Freight, Fort Worth, TX.
$8,932–$22,226 to start
Window tinting business plan template
$99–$850 what US drivers pay to tint a car all around, from dyed film to ceramic (Rayno, a film maker's guide, updated July 2026). Sample plan: Caprock Window Tint, Lubbock, TX.
Food and drink
From a food truck to a winery; the build-out and the margins.
$53,300–$242,500 to start
Bakery business plan template
$4–$8 typical pastry price; loaves $6–$12. Sample plan: Wildflour Bakehouse, Portland, OR.
$70,260–$442,500 to start
Bar business plan template
$5–$13 a cocktail in Nashville — $5 at one bar's all-$5 list, $13 at a lounge The Infatuation counts as cheap (2025). Sample plan: The Copper Lantern, Nashville, TN.
$6,300–$28,800 to start
Catering business plan template
$20–$70/guest typical per-head pricing. Sample plan: Saltgrass Kitchen Catering, Nashville, TN.
$60,500–$217,500 to start
Coffee shop business plan template
$300k–$600k typical yearly sales, small independent shop. Sample plan: Copper Kettle Coffee, Boise, ID.
$30,740–$67,440 to start
Farm business plan template
−$1,830 the median US farm household's income from farming in 2024 — most farm households earn their living off the farm (USDA ERS). Sample plan: Copperleaf Market Farm, Lititz, PA.
$44,935–$140,311 to start
Food truck business plan template
$50k–$200k+ the annual revenue band of insured food trucks with fewer than five employees (Insureon, 2026). Sample plan: Rolling Ember Kitchen, Austin, TX.
$1,911–$8,121 to start
Personal chef business plan template
$125 a head one New Jersey private chef's price for an in-home coursed dinner, eight guests minimum, groceries billed at cost on top (September 2026). Sample plan: Larkmere Private Dining, Scottsdale, AZ.
$103,500–$507,500 to start
Restaurant business plan template
$20–$45 average ticket, casual dining. Sample plan: Harbor & Vine, Columbus, OH.
$45,336–$116,280 to start
Winery business plan template
$56.78 the average bottle shipped direct to consumers in 2025 — a record, with Napa County at $99.97 (Sovos ShipCompliant, January 2026). Sample plan: Quarry Lane Cellars, Lodi, CA.
Shops, hospitality and travel
Retail, rooms and routes.
$42,135–$230,200 to start
Bed and breakfast business plan template
50% average occupancy for US bed and breakfasts and inns in the industry's own 2018 study. Sample plan: The Larkfield House, Galena, IL.
$5,264–$24,014 to start
Ecommerce business plan template
$340.2 billion US retail e-commerce sales in the second quarter of 2026, up 12.2% on a year earlier (Census Bureau, August 18, 2026). Sample plan: Wrenfield Home Goods, Columbus, OH.
$14,380–$51,560 to start
Flower shop business plan template
$55–$110 typical everyday arrangements at two independent florists (October 2026). Sample plan: Wildstem Flower Studio, Asheville, NC.
$8,482–$28,849 to start
Jewelry business plan template
$52,540 the May 2025 US median pay for employed jewelers and precious stone and metal workers (BLS) — a survey that leaves out the self-employed — and the Occupational Outlook Handbook says many jewelers are. Sample plan: Fernwood & Flint Jewelry, Asheville, NC.
$54,240–$318,900 to start
Laundromat business plan template
$15k–$300k annual cash flow for a single US coin laundry (Coin Laundry Association). Sample plan: Cedar Street Wash House, Akron, OH.
$6,557–$19,611 to start
Perfume business plan template
$115 a 50 mL bottle at Imaginary Authors, Portland (October 2026) — most indie full bottles run $80 to $200 (fragplace, July 2026). Sample plan: Lantern & Vetiver Perfumes, Savannah, GA.
$37,678–$105,409 to start
Retail store business plan template
$745.0 billion US retail and food services sales in September 2026, up 6.3% on a year earlier (the Census Bureau's advance estimate, October 15, 2026). Sample plan: Juniper & Finch Mercantile, Greenville, SC.
$1,240–$8,595 to start
Travel agency business plan template
$52,636 average 2023 income of hosted travel advisors, in Host Agency Reviews' 2024 survey. Sample plan: Redbud Lane Travel, Tulsa, OK.
$5,600–$36,900 to start
Vending machine business plan template
$75–$400/mo typical sales per machine, by location. Sample plan: Summit Snack Vending, Las Vegas, NV.
Beauty, health and fitness
Chairs, tables, memberships and care.
$36,887–$118,048 to start
Barbershop business plan template
$41 the average US men's haircut in BarbersTake's February 2026 sample of shop menus. Sample plan: Trinity Street Barber Co., Fort Worth, TX.
$19,450–$89,950 to start
Dance studio business plan template
$67–$135/mo tuition per student for one class a week, at five US studios' 2026-27 rates. Sample plan: Riverbend Dance Collective, Boise, ID.
$2,085–$10,720 to start
Doula business plan template
$800–$3,500 typical published US fee per birth for a private birth doula. Sample plan: Brightwater Birth Support, Sacramento, CA.
$6,844–$29,176 to start
Esthetician business plan template
$45,330 median pay for employed US skincare specialists, May 2025 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Sample plan: Fernhollow Skin Studio, Raleigh, NC.
$55,800–$291,500 to start
Gym business plan template
$40–$150/mo typical membership, independent gym or studio. Sample plan: Ironwood Strength Club, Salt Lake City, UT.
$17,100–$92,900 to start
Hair salon business plan template
$40–$100 per cut, typical starting range. Sample plan: Golden Hour Salon, Phoenix, AZ.
$63,620–$133,503 to start
Home care business plan template
$35 an hour national median a family paid in 2025 for a non-medical caregiver; $80,080 a year for 44 hours of care a week. Sample plan: Riverbend Home Care, Greenville, SC.
$23,774–$80,285 to start
Martial arts business plan template
$120–$150 the average monthly unlimited membership in the US, in a $100 to $200 range (ClassCard, August 2026). Sample plan: Ironbark Martial Arts Academy, Chandler, AZ.
$4,284–$21,035 to start
Massage therapy business plan template
$58,450 median pay for employed US massage therapists, May 2025 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Sample plan: Lindenfield Massage, Boise, ID.
$81,500–$384,500 to start
Med spa business plan template
$10–$16/unit typical retail price for neurotoxin. Sample plan: Lumen Aesthetics Med Spa, Scottsdale, AZ.
$2,905–$15,200 to start
Personal training business plan template
$47,160 median pay for employed US fitness trainers and instructors, May 2025 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Sample plan: Ridgeback Strength Coaching, Columbus, OH.
$204,150–$452,156 to start
Pharmacy business plan template
$140,910 the 2025 median pay of employed pharmacists (O*NET, from BLS data) — $67.75 an hour; pharmacy technicians $22.00. Sample plan: Larkfield Corner Pharmacy, Tulsa, OK.
$3,710–$15,633 to start
Private practice business plan template
$59,350 the 2025 median pay of employed mental health counselors (O*NET, from BLS data) — $66,940 for marriage and family therapists, $100,580 for clinical and counseling psychologists. Sample plan: Lantern Hill Counseling, Denver, CO.
$42,800–$291,200 to start
Spa business plan template
$110 the average spend per day-spa visit in 2025 — $123.10 across all US spas (ISPA's 2026 study). Sample plan: Stillwater Day Spa, Asheville, NC.
$14,129–$39,172 to start
Tattoo shop business plan template
32% of US adults have a tattoo, 22% more than one, and 41% of adults under 30 (Pew Research Center, July 2023). Sample plan: Ninebark Tattoo, Richmond, VA.
$20,865–$63,984 to start
Yoga studio business plan template
$47,160 the 2025 median pay of employed exercise trainers and group fitness instructors (O*NET, from BLS data) — $22.67 an hour. Sample plan: Still Pine Yoga, Boise, ID.
Professional and financial services
Practices that sell time, advice and paperwork.
$950–$49,400 to start
Accounting firm business plan template
$150–$400/hr typical published US hourly rate for a CPA. Sample plan: Harborview Tax & Accounting, Raleigh, NC.
$8,009–$22,906 to start
Architecture firm business plan template
$99,280 the 2025 median pay of employed architects (O*NET, from BLS data) — $47.73 an hour. Sample plan: Linden & Vale Architecture, Charlotte, NC.
$450–$26,100 to start
Bookkeeping business plan template
$300–$1,200/mo typical published US fee per small-business client for a monthly bookkeeping package. Sample plan: Ledgerline Bookkeeping, Columbus, OH.
$6,235–$42,100 to start
Consulting business plan template
$100–$250/hr the hourly band more consultants bill in than any other — 39% of them. Sample plan: Northstar Operations Consulting, Denver, CO.
$9,047–$22,700 to start
Engineering firm business plan template
$100,840 the 2025 median pay of employed civil engineers (O*NET, from BLS data) — $48.48 an hour. Sample plan: Bramblewood Engineering, Fort Collins, CO.
$6,251–$24,552 to start
Financial advisor business plan template
1% the usual yearly fee on the first $1 million of a client's assets, in XY Planning Network's 2026 benchmarks. Sample plan: Kestrel Point Financial Planning, Boise, ID.
$2,076–$11,423 to start
Graphic design business plan template
$62,960 the 2025 median for employed graphic designers (O*NET, from BLS data) — a wage survey that leaves out the self-employed; in the 2019 design census 9% of 9,429 respondents were freelance and another 9% self-employed. Sample plan: Marigold & Pine Design, Portland, OR.
$7,600–$29,200 to start
Insurance agency business plan template
7–16% commission on auto policies, new and renewal, in The Hartford's producer disclosure (7% to 15% on homeowners). Sample plan: Harbor Light Insurance Group, Tampa, FL.
$7,100–$26,600 to start
Interior design business plan template
$100–$250/hr typical hourly rate for a residential designer. Sample plan: Juniper & Oak Interiors, Denver, CO.
$2,706–$10,785 to start
IT consulting business plan template
$50–$100 the most common monthly price per user among MSPs that charge per user, in Kaseya's 2024 survey of 984 MSPs. Sample plan: Clearpath Office IT, Omaha, NE.
$5,350–$21,000 to start
Law firm business plan template
$150–$350/hr typical billing rate for a solo attorney. Sample plan: Calder & Reyes Law, Raleigh, NC.
$4,464–$22,370 to start
Life coaching business plan template
$272 average fee for a one-hour coaching session in North America, 2022 (ICF Global Coaching Study). Sample plan: Tall Pines Life Coaching, Asheville, NC.
$7,335–$36,600 to start
Marketing company business plan template
$1,000–$5,000/mo typical published US SEO retainer per small-business client (WebFX's 2026 survey; agency retainers overall run $1,000 to $20,000). Sample plan: Brightfield Local Marketing, Boise, ID.
$490–$10,700 to start
Notary business plan template
$75–$200 typical published US fee per loan signing for a notary signing agent. Sample plan: Keystone Mobile Notary, Tampa, FL.
$7,675–$32,900 to start
Real estate business plan template
2.5–3% typical commission per side of a sale. Sample plan: Peachtree Home Group, Atlanta, GA.
$14,300–$48,500 to start
Recruitment agency business plan template
15–25% typical contingency fee, as a share of the hire's first-year base salary. Sample plan: Ledger & Lake Recruiting, Milwaukee, WI.
$5,377–$30,210 to start
Software business plan template
$135,980 the 2025 median pay of employed software developers (O*NET, from BLS data) — $65.38 an hour. Sample plan: Slateworks Software, Raleigh, NC.
$5,295–$14,918 to start
Tax preparation business plan template
$185–$280 the average fee for a basic Form 1040 in NATP's 2025 fee study — $185 from a non-credentialed preparer, $228 from an enrolled agent, $280 from a CPA. Sample plan: Northbank Tax & Bookkeeping, Columbus, OH.
$535–$21,500 to start
Virtual assistant business plan template
$25–$45/hr typical published US rate for an independent virtual assistant; new assistants commonly start at $15–$25, the survey average is $35.61, and specialist work sits above the band. Sample plan: Fieldnote Virtual Assistance, Richmond, VA.
Kids, pets and education
Care and lessons, booked by the week.
$4,250–$19,300 to start
Daycare business plan template
$203–$224/wk average tuition per child in a US family child care home, 2025. Sample plan: Little Oaks Family Child Care, Sacramento, CA.
$9,050–$53,000 to start
Dog grooming business plan template
$62–$120 average US price for a groom by size, small to giant — about $77 for a medium dog and $85 overall. Sample plan: Tidy Tails Grooming, Boise, ID.
$520–$8,400 to start
Dog walking business plan template
$20–$40 typical price for a 30-minute dog walk in the US. Sample plan: Millbrook Dog Walking, Providence, RI.
$5,485–$27,900 to start
Driving school business plan template
$50–$90 typical US price per lesson-hour for private behind-the-wheel instruction. Sample plan: Kestrel Road Driving School, Fresno, CA.
$1,966–$9,416 to start
Tutoring business plan template
$35–$60/hr what most tutors charge on Wyzant (December 2024), with plenty above and below. Sample plan: Summit Learning Tutors, Austin, TX.
Events, creative and media
Weekends, packages and the day rate.
$6,583–$16,482 to start
DJ business plan template
$1,800 the average couples paid a wedding DJ in 2025 (The Knot's Real Weddings Study, as reported July 2026); most spent $1,000 to $2,500. Sample plan: Copper Needle Entertainment, Tampa, FL.
$3,000–$15,500 to start
Event planning business plan template
$1,000–$3,000 typical fee for day-of coordination. Sample plan: Golden Hour Events, Austin, TX.
$3,343–$15,061 to start
Musician business plan template
$47.80 an hour the May 2025 US median for employed musicians and singers (BLS) — in a survey that leaves out the 48% who are self-employed. Sample plan: Marlow Street Music, Chattanooga, TN.
$2,920–$17,200 to start
Photography business plan template
$150–$500 per portrait session to start. Sample plan: Juniper Lane Photography, Kansas City, MO.
$3,174–$10,781 to start
Videographer business plan template
$2,300 the average couples paid a wedding videographer in 2025 (The Knot's Real Weddings Study, as reported July 2026); most spent $1,500 to $5,000. Sample plan: Quillfeather Films, Raleigh, NC.
$2,651–$9,614 to start
Wedding planner business plan template
$1,600 the average day-of coordinator fee US couples paid in 2025 — the most-hired kind of help (The Knot's 2026 Real Weddings Study, 10,474 couples). Sample plan: Foxglove Lane Weddings, Raleigh, NC.
Nonprofits, churches and foundations
Written in the funding voice: formation, the first program, the first year.
$12,772–$46,304 to start
Church business plan template
$10,000 the average startup cost of a church plant that stayed under 100 in attendance, with $60,000 of first-year costs (the ECFA's 2022 survey of 2,700 North American planters, Christianity Today, January 2023). Sample plan: Larkspur Hill Church, Boise, ID.
$254,339–$517,201 to start
Foundation business plan template
$117.15 billion given by US foundations in 2025 — 19% of all charitable giving, the second-largest source after individuals (Giving USA 2026). Sample plan: Cedar Hollow Family Foundation, Madison, WI.
$4,900–$35,683 to start
Nonprofit business plan template
$275–$600 IRS application fee for tax-exempt status — $275 on Form 1023-EZ, $600 on the full Form 1023 (US). Sample plan: Northside Reading Circle, Minneapolis, MN.
Business plan templates: common questions
Is the business plan template really free?
Yes. Every template on this page downloads as a Word document or a PDF with no email, no sign-up and no watermark. The sample plan beside each one is free to read and download too. The generator that writes a plan from your own answers is free to use; printing or exporting what it writes uses a free sign-in.
What's in each business plan template?
The complete eleven-section plan for your industry — executive summary, products and services, market analysis, marketing strategy, operations plan, startup costs, financial plan, risks, licenses and permits, the first 30 days and a lender's checklist — written for a placeholder business with [bracketed] lines to fill out, and the typical US startup and monthly figures for the trade already in the tables. You replace the estimates with your quotes.
Should I download the Word template or the PDF?
Word if you want to edit it in Word, Google Docs or Pages: open it, replace the bracketed lines, keep or change the figures. The PDF is the same template to print and fill out by hand, or to read on a phone. The sample plan is a PDF because it's finished — read it to see what each section looks like done.
My industry isn't on the list. What do I use?
The free generator. It writes the same eleven sections for any business from five plain-language questions, with small-business ranges you replace with your own figures; the industry pages are those same plans with a trade's checklist already loaded. New industries are added regularly, so check back, and the generator's plan can be saved and exported as Word after a free sign-in.
How do I actually write the plan once I have the template?
Numbers first: fill the startup-cost table and the monthly costs before you touch the words, because they decide what the rest can promise. Then the services, the customers, the marketing and the operations sections, the financial arithmetic, the first 30 days and the risks, and the executive summary last. The how-to guide linked on this page walks every section with a worked example.
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The generator covers every business: five plain-language questions, a complete plan with your own startup list and financials, no sign-up to write it.
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