Free Business Plan Template for Small Businesses [Edit + Print]
Executive summary · Company Purpose / Mission Statement: Briefly describe the business purpose or mission. · Problem We Solve: Summarize the market need or ...
ask just the right questions
Yes, you can hire a professional business plan writer to write your business plan for you. Working with a professional can be especially useful if you're still struggling to write your business plan even when using a template for your business plan. Just be prepared to talk about your business, provide the appropriate details, and review the finished plan to be sure it actually reflects your business. If you need help vetting professional business plan writers, check out our free resource to help you <anchor>ask just the right questions</anchor> of potential plan writers.
10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Business Plan Writer - Bplans
10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Business Plan Writer - Bplans

[Business Planning](https://www.bplans.com/business-planning/)

[What is a business plan?](https://www.bplans.com/business-planning/basics/) [Types of business plans](https://www.bplans.com/business-planning/types/) [How to write a business plan](https://www.bplans.com/business-planning/how-to-write/) [Business planning tips](https://www.bplans.com/business-planning/tips/) [Industry business plans](https://www.bplans.com/business-planning/industries/)

**Free download**

A fill-in-the-blank business plan built for small businesses.

[Download Business Plan Template](https://www.bplans.com/downloads/business-plan-template/)![Business Plan Template](https://web-cdn.paloalto.com/bplans/header/bpt.png?format=auto&width=162&height=177)

[Sample Plans](https://www.bplans.com/sample-business-plans/)

Popular Plans

[Coffee Shop](https://www.bplans.com/coffee-shop-business-plan/) [Agricultural Farm](https://www.bplans.com/agriculture-farm-business-plan/) [Hair & Beauty Salon](https://www.bplans.com/hair-and-beauty-salon-business-plan/) [Bakery](https://www.bplans.com/bakery-business-plan/) [Cleaning Service](https://www.bplans.com/cleaning-service-business-plan/) [See All](https://www.bplans.com/sample-business-plans/)

Top Categories

[Food & Beverage](https://www.bplans.com/food-and-beverage-business-plans/) [Fitness & Beauty](https://www.bplans.com/fitness-and-beauty-business-plans/) [Cleaning, Repairs & Maintenance](https://www.bplans.com/cleaning-and-repairs-and-maintenance-business-plans/) [Clothing & Fashion Brand](https://www.bplans.com/clothing-and-fashion-brand-business-plans/) [Retail & eCommerce](https://www.bplans.com/retail-and-ecommerce-business-plans/) [See All](https://www.bplans.com/sample-business-plans/)

[Start a Business](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/)

[Before you start](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/before-you-start/) [Find a business idea](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/ideas/) [Validate your idea](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/validate-your-idea/) [Conduct market research](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/market-research/) [Select a business model](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/business-model/) [Pricing products and services](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/pricing/)

[Legal requirements](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/legal-requirements/) [Set up finances](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/finances/) [Choose a location](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/choose-location/) [Build your team](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/build-your-team/) [Market your business](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/marketing/)

[Funding](https://www.bplans.com/business-funding/)

[How to get funding](https://www.bplans.com/business-funding/how-to-get/) [Funding and financing options](https://www.bplans.com/business-funding/options/) [Create your pitch](https://www.bplans.com/business-funding/pitching/) [Manage your funding](https://www.bplans.com/business-funding/manage/)

**Free download**

Impress investors with a professional pitch deck.

[Download Pitch Deck Template](https://www.bplans.com/downloads/free-download-investor-pitch-templates/)![Business Pitch Deck](https://web-cdn.paloalto.com/bplans/header/pitch-deck.png?format=auto&width=252&height=162)

[Growth](https://www.bplans.com/business-management/)

[Manage business finances](https://www.bplans.com/business-management/finances/) [Create a strategy](https://www.bplans.com/business-management/strategy/) [Set business goals](https://www.bplans.com/business-management/set-business-goals/) [Ways to grow your business](https://www.bplans.com/business-management/ways-to-grow/) [Manage during a crisis](https://www.bplans.com/business-management/during-a-crisis/) [Selling your business](https://www.bplans.com/business-management/sell-your-business/)

[Search]( #search-mobile)

Search

[Business Planning](https://www.bplans.com/business-planning/)

- [What is a business plan?](https://www.bplans.com/business-planning/basics/)
- [Types of business plans](https://www.bplans.com/business-planning/types/)
- [How to write a business plan](https://www.bplans.com/business-planning/how-to-write/)
- [Business planning tips](https://www.bplans.com/business-planning/tips/)
- [Industry business plans](https://www.bplans.com/business-planning/industries/)

[Sample Plans](https://www.bplans.com/sample-business-plans/)

**Popular Plans**

- [Coffee Shop](https://www.bplans.com/coffee-shop-business-plan/)
- [Agricultural Farm](https://www.bplans.com/agriculture-farm-business-plan/)
- [Hair & Beauty Salon](https://www.bplans.com/hair-and-beauty-salon-business-plan/)
- [Bakery](https://www.bplans.com/bakery-business-plan/)
- [Cleaning Service](https://www.bplans.com/cleaning-service-business-plan/)
- [See All](https://www.bplans.com/sample-business-plans/)

**Top Categories**

- [Food & Beverage](https://www.bplans.com/food-and-beverage-business-plans/)
- [Fitness & Beauty](https://www.bplans.com/fitness-and-beauty-business-plans/)
- [Cleaning, Repairs & Maintenance](https://www.bplans.com/cleaning-and-repairs-and-maintenance-business-plans/)
- [Clothing & Fashion Brand](https://www.bplans.com/clothing-and-fashion-brand-business-plans/)
- [Retail & eCommerce](https://www.bplans.com/retail-and-ecommerce-business-plans/)
- [See All](https://www.bplans.com/sample-business-plans/)

[Start a Business](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/)

- [Before you start](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/before-you-start/)
- [Find a business idea](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/ideas/)
- [Validate your idea](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/validate-your-idea/)
- [Conduct market research](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/market-research/)
- [Select a business model](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/business-model/)
- [Pricing products and services](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/pricing/)
- [Legal requirements](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/legal-requirements/)
- [Set up finances](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/finances/)
- [Choose a location](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/choose-location/)
- [Build your team](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/build-your-team/)
- [Market your business](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/marketing/)

[Funding](https://www.bplans.com/business-funding/)

- [How to get funding](https://www.bplans.com/business-funding/how-to-get/)
- [Funding and financing options](https://www.bplans.com/business-funding/options/)
- [Create your pitch](https://www.bplans.com/business-funding/pitching/)
- [Manage your funding](https://www.bplans.com/business-funding/manage/)

[Growth](https://www.bplans.com/business-management/)

- [Manage business finances](https://www.bplans.com/business-management/finances/)
- [Create a strategy](https://www.bplans.com/business-management/strategy/)
- [Set business goals](https://www.bplans.com/business-management/set-business-goals/)
- [Ways to grow your business](https://www.bplans.com/business-management/ways-to-grow/)
- [Manage during a crisis](https://www.bplans.com/business-management/during-a-crisis/)
- [Selling your business](https://www.bplans.com/business-management/sell-your-business/)

Search

[Questions to ask a plan writer](https://www.bplans.com/business-planning/tips/hiring-plan-writer/) [Business planning](https://www.bplans.com/business-planning/) [Business planning tips](https://www.bplans.com/business-planning/tips/)

# 10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Business Plan Writer

![Female entrepreneur sitting outside surrounded by plants while talking on the phone asking a professional plan writer questions before hiring.](https://pas-bp-wp-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/bplans/content/uploads/2023/02/15151055/07.jpg)

![Author: Tim Berry](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/be084ba8f13a71bda6c110d1c05c9228?s=32&d=https%3A%2F%2Fweb-cdn.paloalto.com%2Fbplans%2Fauthors%2Fdefault-author.png&r=g)

Tim Berry

[Tim Berry](https://www.bplans.com/author/timberry/)

1 min. read

Updated October 27, 2023

[![Download Now: Free Business Plan Template →](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/467363/interactive-174330637568.png)](https://cta-service-cms2.hubspot.com/web-interactives/public/v1/track/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLJPrboqsXMxqYt9gtLuIk6Rs4vbhLOn%2F9GaduaP9Rz0LWSjGDqV4kSRdn1EFNBtu3mayjJNruHLP%2BOO5yKLZOJG33442qXXT7llLirxKTKtM0%2FPKGFUlW0LfaurZF0S84nzQb9Qfv%2BKe8ho1J4%2B1FyYxwpj0cIS%2F24QtpJsDbTPgU%2FgY3afR2yvH9dNwEotYILNDZ51Vcz%2FCAVl&webInteractiveContentId=174330637568&portalId=467363)

No, it’s not that I have anything against business plan writers for hire. I spent some years doing that, although I never just wrote the plan; I always facilitated and translated and coached planning. (Unless, of course, you’ve read my post on my worst business plan engagement, in which case you’ll know I’ve used “never” and “always” wrong in the above).

01. If you wanted to get your body in shape, would you hire somebody else to eat better and exercise regularly?
02. How would you feel about sending somebody else to the doctor to be examined to determine your health?
03. How do you feel about pre-packaged vacations?
04. What would you tell your ghost writer? How long would that take you? Could you type that out, maybe? Could you do it in YouTube?
05. How will you deal with questions that come up, after the plan is done?
06. How much good will a single one-time plan document do you?
07. What will you do about revisions later on? Will you just accept a plan done once, and never revise?
08. How long would you estimate is the average shelf life of a written business plan, before it begs for revisions?
09. What would you do about regularly reviewing and revising a business plan that some outside business plan writer had written?
10. How would you get a team of people committed to a business plan that an outsider wrote?

Brought to you by

![LivePlan Logo](https://web-cdn.paloalto.com/common/adbutler/EvergreenAboveAuthor/lp-logo.png?format=auto)

### Create a professional business plan

#### Using AI and step-by-step instructions

[Create Your Plan](/create-your-business-plan.php)

Secure funding

Validate ideas

Build a strategy

[![Content Author: Tim Berry](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/be084ba8f13a71bda6c110d1c05c9228?s=88&d=https%3A%2F%2Fweb-cdn.paloalto.com%2Fbplans%2Fauthors%2Fdefault-author.png&r=g)](https://www.bplans.com/author/timberry/)

[Tim Berry](https://www.bplans.com/author/timberry/)

Tim Berry is the founder and chairman of Palo Alto Software , a co-founder of Borland International, and a recognized expert in business planning.
He has an MBA from Stanford and degrees with honors from the University of Oregon and the University of Notre Dame. Today, Tim dedicates most of his time to blogging, teaching and evangelizing for business planning.

[![Check out LivePlan](https://web-cdn.paloalto.com/common/adbutler/EvergreenLeftRail/default.png?format=auto)](/create-your-business-plan.php)

Table of Contents

Jump to


Related Articles

[![](https://pas-bp-wp-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/bplans/content/uploads/2017/08/15145809/32.jpg)\
\
7 Min. Read\
\
8 Reasons Business Plans Fail That No One Wants to Talk About](https://www.bplans.com/business-planning/tips/reasons-plans-fail/)

[![](https://pas-bp-wp-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/bplans/content/uploads/2021/08/15145718/25.jpg)\
\
5 Min. Read\
\
Create a Compelling Message With Your Business Plan to Sell Your Idea](https://www.bplans.com/business-planning/tips/compelling-message/)

[![](https://pas-bp-wp-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/bplans/content/uploads/2019/09/15150350/95.jpg)\
\
8 Min. Read\
\
Tools and Resources to Help You Write a Business Plan](https://www.bplans.com/business-planning/tips/resources/)

[![](https://pas-bp-wp-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/bplans/content/uploads/2020/09/15145945/59.jpg)\
\
6 Min. Read\
\
11 Common Business Plan Mistakes You Should Avoid](https://www.bplans.com/business-planning/tips/common-mistakes/)

The LivePlan Newsletter

### Become a smarter, more strategic entrepreneur.

#### Your first monthly newsetter   will be delivered soon.

Unsubscribe anytime. [Privacy policy](/policies/privacy-policy.php).

![Garrett's Bike Shop](https://web-cdn.paloalto.com/oim-units/investor-pitch/garrett-card.png?format=auto&width=267&height=185)![Garrett's Bike Shop](https://web-cdn.paloalto.com/oim-units/investor-pitch/garrett-card-sm.png?format=auto&width=236&height=161)

![LivePlan](https://web-cdn.paloalto.com/global/logos/liveplan-logo-text.svg?format=auto&width=78&height=20)  By  ![Bplans](https://web-cdn.paloalto.com/global/logos/bplans-logo-text.svg?format=auto&width=73&height=20)

## The quickest way to turn a business idea into a business plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

[Start Now](https://www.bplans.com/create-your-business-plan.php)

No thanks, I prefer writing 40-page documents.

## Build a Better Business Plan.

### Explore

- [Business Planning](https://www.bplans.com/business-planning/)
- [Starting a Business](https://www.bplans.com/start-a-business/)
- [Funding](https://www.bplans.com/business-funding/)
- [Growth](https://www.bplans.com/business-management/)

### Resources

- [Newsletter](https://insights.liveplan.com/the-liveplan-newsletter-subscription)
- [Sample Business Plans](https://www.bplans.com/sample-business-plans/)
- [Free Tools and Templates](https://www.bplans.com/downloads/)
- [Learn From Tim Berry](https://timberry.bplans.com/)

### Company

- [About Us](https://www.bplans.com/about-us/)
- [Contact Us](https://www.bplans.com/contact-us/)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.bplans.com/policies/privacy-policy.php)
- [Legal](https://www.bplans.com/policies.php)

- [Bplans on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/c/bplans)
- [Bplans on facebook](https://www.facebook.com/Bplans)
- [Bplans on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/bplans)

©2024 Palo Alto Software. All rights reserved.

![LivePlan pitch example](https://web-cdn.paloalto.com/bplans/lp-footer/garrett.png?format=auto&width=265&height=151)

![LivePlan Logo](https://web-cdn.paloalto.com/bplans/lp-footer/lp-white-logo.svg?format=auto&width=142&height=35)

## Discover the world’s \#1 plan building software

Discover the world’s #1 plan building software

[Explore Plan BuilderSave 40% on the #1 Business Planning Software](/create-your-business-plan.php)

![](https://web-cdn.paloalto.com/bplans/lp-footer/minimize-white.png?format=auto&width=20&height=12)![](https://web-cdn.paloalto.com/bplans/lp-footer/exit-white.png?format=auto&width=16&height=16)