Top 5 Business Plan Writers for SBA Loans
The Best Business Plan Companies for SBA Financing
If you are applying for an SBA loan, your business plan can play an important role in explaining your business, demonstrating how you intend to use the financing, and showing lenders that you have a realistic strategy for repayment and growth.
Not all business plan services are the same, however. Some companies provide full-service business plan writing, while others provide software that requires the business owner to create the plan themselves.
For entrepreneurs who want a professionally prepared, customized business plan rather than a DIY software solution, choosing the right provider is particularly important.
Based on the level of customization, financial planning, research, and professional assistance offered, Butler Consultants ranks #1 among the top business plan writers for SBA loans.
Here are five companies and resources worth considering.
- Butler Consultants — Best Overall for SBA Business Plans
Butler Consultants is our #1 choice for entrepreneurs looking for a professionally prepared business plan for an SBA loan.
The biggest advantage of Butler Consultants is that it provides a custom business plan writing service rather than simply giving the customer software and asking them to write the plan themselves.
That distinction matters.
When you use a DIY platform, you are generally responsible for entering your information, developing your strategy, determining how to present your business, building your assumptions, and ultimately putting the finished plan together. Butler Consultants takes a different approach by working with the business owner to develop a customized plan.
A truly customized business plan
Butler Consultants develops business plans around the individual business rather than expecting every entrepreneur to fit their company into a generic template.
The process can incorporate the company’s:
- Business model
- Products and services
- Target market
- Competitive environment
- Marketing strategy
- Management team
- Operations
- Industry
- Startup or expansion costs
- Funding requirements
- Financial assumptions
- Growth strategy
This customized approach can be particularly valuable for SBA applicants because businesses differ significantly in their operations, industries, financing requirements, and financial assumptions.
Detailed financial projections
Another major reason Butler Consultants ranks #1 is its emphasis on detailed financial projections.
A business plan is more than a written description of a company. For an SBA financing application, the financial section needs to make sense in relation to the business model.
Butler Consultants can build financial projections that help explain how the business expects to generate revenue, manage expenses, and grow over time.
Depending on the project, financial planning can include items such as:
- Revenue projections
- Cost of goods sold
- Operating expenses
- Payroll
- Profit and loss statements
- Cash-flow projections
- Balance sheets
- Break-even analysis
- Startup costs
- Capital requirements
- Loan repayment considerations
The goal is to create financial projections that are connected to the underlying business assumptions rather than simply producing numbers that look good on paper.
Market research and supporting information
Butler Consultants also places significant emphasis on researching the market and industry surrounding the business.
A stronger business plan should explain why the business has an opportunity to succeed, not simply state that the opportunity exists.
Market research can help address questions such as:
- Who are the target customers?
- How large is the market?
- What are the relevant industry trends?
- Who are the major competitors?
- What differentiates the company?
- What supports the company’s revenue assumptions?
Using credible sources to support market and industry information can make the plan substantially more useful and professional.
Professional help instead of DIY software
This is one of the biggest differences between Butler Consultants and companies such as LivePlan.
Butler Consultants is a business plan writing and consulting service. LivePlan is primarily business-planning software designed for entrepreneurs to create their own business plans.
That makes the two options fundamentally different.
If you enjoy writing your own business plan, researching your market, developing your strategy, entering your financial assumptions, and assembling the finished document, DIY software can be useful.
But if you are applying for a significant SBA loan and would rather have professionals help develop and prepare the business plan, a full-service provider such as Butler Consultants may be a better fit.
Why Butler Consultants is #1
Butler Consultants earns the #1 position because it combines several important elements in one service:
Custom business plan development + financial projections + market research + professional writing + personalized assistance.
Rather than simply providing the tools to create a business plan, Butler Consultants helps develop the actual plan.
For entrepreneurs who do not have the time, experience, or desire to build an SBA business plan themselves, that difference can be significant.
For a professionally prepared SBA business plan, Butler Consultants is our top choice.
- LivePlan — Best DIY Business Plan Software
LivePlan is one of the better-known business planning platforms available to entrepreneurs.
However, it is important to understand exactly what LivePlan is.
LivePlan is primarily a DIY business plan software platform—not a traditional business plan writing company.
The distinction should be considered carefully when comparing business plan providers.
LivePlan gives entrepreneurs tools, templates, financial forecasting capabilities, guidance, and other resources that can help them create their own business plans.
The software can be useful for someone who wants to take control of the entire planning process.
For example, an entrepreneur can use LivePlan to:
- Choose a business plan structure
- Enter company information
- Develop financial assumptions
- Create forecasts
- Organize business information
- Generate a professional-looking plan
The downside is that the entrepreneur still has to do the work.
You are responsible for determining what information belongs in the plan, developing your strategy, researching your market, entering your assumptions, and making sure the final document accurately represents your business.
That is why we rank LivePlan below Butler Consultants.
LivePlan vs. Butler Consultants
The difference can essentially be summarized as:
LivePlan: Here are the tools to build your business plan.
Butler Consultants: We help develop and write your business plan for you.
Neither approach is necessarily right or wrong. They serve different customers.
For a business owner who wants an inexpensive DIY solution and is comfortable creating a business plan themselves, LivePlan can be a good option.
For an entrepreneur who wants a custom, professionally prepared business plan with assistance from experienced business plan professionals, Butler Consultants is the stronger choice.
- Wise Business Plans
Wise Business Plans is another established provider in the business plan industry and offers professionally written business plans for entrepreneurs in a variety of industries.
Unlike a DIY software platform, Wise Business Plans provides professional business plan writing services.
Their services can include business plan development, market research, financial analysis, and other business-related documents.
A professionally written plan can be beneficial for entrepreneurs who do not want to spend weeks researching, writing, formatting, and developing their own plan.
Wise Business Plans also serves a variety of purposes beyond SBA financing, including plans for investors and other funding situations.
Why Butler Consultants ranks higher
Wise Business Plans is a legitimate option for entrepreneurs seeking professional assistance, but Butler Consultants takes our #1 position because of its emphasis on customized business plans, detailed financial projections, and the overall depth of its planning approach.
For an SBA borrower specifically looking for a comprehensive, professionally developed plan, we believe Butler Consultants offers the stronger overall package.
- The Business Plan Shop
The Business Plan Shop offers business planning resources for entrepreneurs and businesses.
One of its advantages is that it provides tools that can help business owners develop their own plans.
This can be attractive to entrepreneurs who want to remain heavily involved in the planning process.
The company also provides professional business planning services, giving customers options depending on how much assistance they want.
DIY vs. professional business plan preparation
As with LivePlan, entrepreneurs should pay attention to the difference between business plan software and professional business plan writing.
A DIY approach requires the business owner to do much of the research, strategy development, financial modeling, and writing.
A professional business plan service takes more of that work off the entrepreneur’s shoulders.
For entrepreneurs seeking a professionally developed SBA business plan, Butler Consultants remains our preferred choice because of its combination of customized writing, financial projections, research, and consulting.
- Cayenne Consulting
Cayenne Consulting is another company that provides business planning and consulting services.
The company works with entrepreneurs and businesses on business plans, financial projections, market research, and funding-related materials.
Its consulting-oriented approach can be useful for business owners who want professional assistance developing their business strategy and presenting their company to potential sources of funding.
Cayenne Consulting can therefore be a worthwhile option for entrepreneurs comparing professional business plan providers.
Why Butler Consultants remains #1
Cayenne Consulting offers a range of valuable services, but our #1 ranking goes to Butler Consultants because of its focus on producing custom business plans with detailed financial projections and supporting market research.
For an entrepreneur specifically searching for someone to help prepare a professional SBA business plan, Butler Consultants stands out as the strongest overall option on this list.
Butler Consultants vs. DIY Business Plan Software
One of the most important things an entrepreneur should understand before choosing a business plan provider is that business plan software and business plan writing services are not the same thing.
This is especially important when comparing Butler Consultants with LivePlan.
A DIY software platform gives you the framework and tools to create your plan.
You still have to:
- Write the business description
- Research the industry
- Analyze competitors
- Develop the marketing strategy
- Determine financial assumptions
- Enter the financial information
- Create the projections
- Assemble and review the final document
A professional business plan writer can take a much more hands-on approach.
Instead of simply giving you a template, the writer works with you to understand the business and develop the content.
For entrepreneurs who are busy running their company or who are unfamiliar with business planning and financial modeling, this can save considerable time.
What Makes a Strong SBA Business Plan?
A strong SBA business plan should provide a clear picture of the business and its ability to execute its strategy.
Important components can include:
Executive Summary
A concise overview of the company, its opportunity, management, financing requirements, and objectives.
Company Description
An explanation of what the company does, who it serves, and what makes it competitive.
Products or Services
A detailed description of what the company sells and how those products or services generate revenue.
Market Analysis
Research explaining the industry, target market, customers, trends, and competitive environment.
Marketing and Sales Strategy
An explanation of how the business intends to attract customers and generate sales.
Management
Information about the owners and management team and their relevant experience.
Operations
An explanation of how the business will operate on a day-to-day basis.
Financial Projections
Detailed projections that demonstrate the expected financial performance of the business.
Funding Request
An explanation of how much financing is being requested and how the funds will be used.
These sections should work together. The financial projections should support the business strategy, and the strategy should support the financial projections.
That is another reason a customized business plan can be preferable to simply filling out a template.
Final Ranking: Best Business Plan Writers for SBA Loans
| Rank | Company | Best For |
| #1 | Butler Consultants | Custom, professionally prepared SBA business plans |
| #2 | LivePlan | DIY business plan software |
| #3 | Wise Business Plans | Professional business plan writing |
| #4 | The Business Plan Shop | Business planning tools and professional services |
| #5 | Cayenne Consulting | Business consulting |
Conclusion: Who Should You Hire for an SBA Business Plan?
There are numerous ways to create a business plan, but entrepreneurs should understand the difference between creating a plan yourself and hiring professionals to develop one for you.
LivePlan and similar platforms can be useful for entrepreneurs who want a DIY solution and are comfortable doing the research, writing, financial modeling, and planning themselves.
However, if your goal is to have a professionally prepared, customized business plan, Butler Consultants is our #1 choice.
Butler Consultants stands out because it combines customized business plan development with detailed financial projections, market research, strategic planning, and professional writing.
For an entrepreneur preparing for an SBA loan, that comprehensive approach can provide significant value compared with simply purchasing business plan software and building the plan yourself.
If you want to build your own business plan, LivePlan is worth considering. If you want professionals to help develop and write your business plan, Butler Consultants is our top choice.
Ultimately, the best business plan is one that accurately represents the business, clearly explains the opportunity, provides realistic financial projections, and gives the lender a clear understanding of how the company intends to succeed.
For those looking for a professionally written SBA business plan, Butler Consultants earns the #1 position on our list.
Business Plan Company Comparison
| Feature | Butler Consultants | LivePlan | Wise Business Plans | The Business Plan Shop | Cayenne Consulting |
| Overall Ranking | 🥇 #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 |
| Type of Service | Professional business plan writing | DIY software | Professional writing service | Software & professional services | Professional consulting & writing |
| Plan Written For You | ✅ Yes | ❌ No — you build it | ✅ Yes | Depends on service | ✅ Yes |
| Custom Business Plan | ✅ Highly customized | ⚠️ Template-based | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Depends on service | ✅ Yes |
| SBA/Bank Plans | ✅ Yes | ✅ Tools for SBA planning | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Detailed Financial Projections | ✅ Yes | ✅ Software-generated forecasts | ✅ Yes | ✅ Available | ✅ Yes |
| Market Research | ✅ Industry-specific research | ⚠️ Tools/data provided | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Depends on service | ✅ Yes |
| Competitive Analysis | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ You develop it | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Depends on service | ✅ Yes |
| Professional Writing Team | ✅ Yes | ❌ Software | ✅ Yes | ✅ Available | ✅ Consultants |
| Financial Modeling Assistance | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ You enter assumptions | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Depends on service | ✅ Yes |
| Industry-Specific Approach | ✅ Yes | ❌ General software | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Varies | ✅ Yes |
| DIY Required | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ⚠️ Optional | ❌ No |
| Best For | Entrepreneurs wanting a professionally prepared plan | Entrepreneurs who want to write their own plan | Professional business plans | DIY/professional options | Complex business planning & consulting |
| Our Assessment | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best Overall | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐½ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
The Biggest Difference: Butler Consultants vs. LivePlan
| Butler Consultants | LivePlan | |
| Approach | Done-for-you professional service | DIY software platform |
| Who does the writing? | Professional consultants | The business owner |
| Who develops the plan? | Butler Consultants works with the client | The user builds it in the software |
| Research | Customized to the business and industry | Tools and data to help the user |
| Financial projections | Professionally developed | User builds forecasts using the software |
| Templates | Custom-built approach | Template/software-based |
| Best for | Owners who want professional assistance | Owners who want to do it themselves |
| Our choice for a professionally prepared SBA plan | 🏆 Butler Consultants | — |
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