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How Much Does a Business Plan Cost?

  • Written By Dave Lavinsky

business plan writing services costs

A complete business plan helps you to identify your business goals and how you plan on reaching them. Whether you are a new business owner or an experienced entrepreneur, writing a comprehensive business plan can help you start, grow, and/or attract investors to fund your business.  

How Much Does It Cost to Write a Business Plan ?

Business plan pricing depends on what route you take to create it. However, there are a few essential elements that are common to all business plans:

  • Executive Summary
  • Business Description
  • Market Analysis
  • Customer Analysis
  • Competitive Analysis
  • Marketing Strategy
  • Operations Plan
  • Management Team
  • Financial Plan

There are several ways to approach writing a successful business plan, but the cost of each way varies widely. The cost of a business plan can be a significant investment, but it’s an essential tool for any business. Below we provide some tips for what to consider and the costs for the various methods of completing your own business plan.  

Considerations When Writing Your Own Business Plans

There are several things to consider when writing your own plan. Depending on whether you’re in need of funding and how much, the costs for your business plan will be different.

Take into account:

  • How long will your business plan be?
  • How many hours does it take to complete the business plan?
  • What kind of language is used in the business plan?
  • Who will use the business plan?
  • Who will fund your business?
  • How much are you looking to raise or if you need funding at all?

According to our business consultants’ surveys of investor requirements, a 15- to 25-page business plan is the ideal length. Adding more pages may cause your time-constrained investor to skim portions of the plan, even if they are interested, which might result in important information being overlooked. However, fewer pages may lead potential investors to believe that the firm has not been thoroughly thought out or simply doesn’t have enough information for them to make an investment decision.  

Business Plan Template Costs

There are a variety of business plan templates online that you can purchase for a one-time fee. These templates range in price but usually start at around $100. Remember, a bargain business plan template may not include all the information that you need, so it’s important to understand what is included with the template you purchase.

Many of these templates also come with instructions to help you fill in the template and make changes as needed. However, if there is something you want to be changed on the template, it may take time and money to have it done.

Be sure to do your research and find the right template for your business. The wrong template could set you back even further and change the face of your business entirely. If you purchase a professional business plan template, make sure it’s from a reputable business plan company with business plan writing skills   in a variety of industries.

The business plan template should be easily editable and customized for your specific business needs and industry trends.

If you do not want to pay for a template, there are companies that will charge by the page and some that offer free resources . However, these templates may not have been professional business plans written for your exact type of business.  

Experienced Consultants & Business Plan Writers Cost

Hiring a business plan writer or professional writing service will help you get a comprehensive business plan written just for your business. A professional business plan consultant will help you identify your goals and how your company will reach these goals. A business plan consultant fee usually costs more but can be worth it if you do not have the time or resources to complete the business plan yourself.

A business plan writer can be found through online directories, but be sure to do your research prior to engaging in business with them. Be sure to ask for references and read reviews before hiring a business plan writing service.

If you choose to hire a business plan consultant, the complexity and length of the plan will determine how much is a business plan. Generally, a consulting firm or private consultants charge between $1,000 and $5,000 to have a comprehensive business plan written . However, a lengthy and complex plan can easily start at a few thousand dollars and stretch into the tens of thousands of dollars based on the needs of the business.

Some experienced business plan writing services also offer package deals that include additional services, such as market research, a marketing plan, and realistic financial projections.

Business Plan Software Costs

There are business plan software applications that can be used for free or have a monthly subscription cost, which may work better for your needs depending on what you need in a business plan. These apps provide templates and make writing a business plan and business planning easier. They help organize the information you enter into the app and will sometimes offer advice on how to do things like financial projections for your business plan .

The information that you put into the application can be used for several different types of business plan needs. These apps are great for startups and small businesses looking to raise capital or secure funding.

Each app or software varies in what it offers. Some are more customizable than others, some have more options for presenting your business plan, and some even offer investment opportunities. With just your business idea, the business planning software can help you write your own business plan quickly and easily. 

Write Your Own Business Plan from Scratch

If you do not want to purchase a template or use software, the easiest and most cost-effective way is to write a business plan from scratch. This route takes time and effort to complete but can be done by anyone willing to put in the work.

When writing your business plan documents, remember that they should be as detailed as possible. This document is your guide to starting and running your business. The more complete it is, the better off you’ll be.

There are a variety of free resources available online to help you write a business plan, including articles, templates, and even video courses.

When writing a business plan from scratch, it’s important to consider all of your business aspects. This includes your business concept or business model , management, production, market research , sales strategies , customer service, operations, human resources, financial projections , and more.

Try to be as thorough as possible when writing the plan. While the task may seem daunting at first, you’ll find that putting together a business plan is not so bad once you get started. After all, if you can dream it, you can write it.

The cost of writing a b usiness plan is dependent on the purpose, type, and length of the business plan. The amount of time it takes to complete a  business plan , the language used, and who will be using the document also play a factor in the cost. You can find templates for a one-time fee or pay by the page, hire a business plan writing service or a business plan writer , contact a consulting firm , or use software/apps to create your business plan. Whichever option you choose, make sure you do your research, conduct an in-depth business plan review, and find the best resource to meet the goals for your business.  

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How Much Do Business Plan Writers Cost in Canada?

business plan writers cost

Having a clear plan in place is essential when starting or growing a business. One way to achieve this is by writing a business plan, which can help you outline your goals and sales strategies. A well-crafted business plan can also be a valuable tool when seeking funding from potential investors, such as venture capitalists or a bank loan.

Professional business plan writing services can be a great option if you don’t have time to write your own plan or need help getting started. However, it’s important to consider the business plan writers cost and whether it’s worth the investment.

How Much Should I Pay For a Business Plan Writing Service?

Generally, professional business plan writers and consultants charge between $2,000 and $25,000 , depending on the required quality, complexity, and length of the document. Private consultants may charge an hourly fee ranging from $50 to $300 or more, depending on the consultant and the complexity of your plan.

Regardless of whom you choose to write your business plan, ensure that the service includes a comprehensive plan with an executive summary, market analysis, marketing plan, financial plan with 3-5 years of financial projections, and other essential components required by potential investors. The plan should also be customized based on your business model and specific needs and well-researched based on relevant industry information and a thorough competitive analysis.

It’s important to note that the quality of business plan writing services can vary significantly, and you generally get what you pay for. Choosing a cheap plan writer may result in a low-quality plan that could make it harder for you to secure funding or attract investors. Therefore, choose carefully and prioritize quality over cost to ensure that your business plan is strong and professional-looking.

How to determine the business plan writers cost?

The pricing of business planning services is influenced by various factors, including the length of the plan, the size of the company, the level of expertise of the writer, the turnaround time, and additional services.

Longer and more complex business plans typically cost more than shorter plans. Similarly, business plans for larger or more complicated companies may be more expensive to write. Companies may opt to hire less experienced writers who charge lower prices, but this may not be effective in achieving the desired outcomes such as funding and growth.

Shorter turnaround times generally result in increased prices, and some companies may offer additional services such as business plan presentation and pitch deck editing and support for an extra fee.

To increase the likelihood of securing the necessary funds to start or grow a business, it’s crucial to have a well-written business plan created by an experienced professional. However, it’s essential to conduct thorough research and choose carefully when selecting a consultant to hire.

When budgeting for your business plan, consider your business plan writers cost as investment in your business’s future success. A skilled business plan writer can yield a high return in terms of the quality of the plan and its effectiveness in securing funding.

Who Can I Hire To Write My Business Plan?

If you’re considering hiring someone to write your business plan, it’s crucial to select a writer or consulting firm with extensive business experience and proven expertise in business plan development. It’s recommended to choose a company that has been in the industry for at least five years and regularly provides business plan writing services. Additionally, they should be able to offer references from other companies they’ve worked with.

A Business Plan Writing Company vs Consultant

When hiring a business plan writing service, you have two primary options: working with a single writer or a dedicated team of experts who will be responsible for the entire project. The price of the service may vary depending on which option you choose.

While a business plan writers cost is typically less than an entire consulting team, it’s important to note that you may have less control over the outcome. However, your business plan will be written by an expert with a deep understanding of the writing process. When choosing this route, it’s crucial to ask for references and examples of previous work, as well as ensuring the writer has the necessary credentials and experience to meet your needs. You should also inquire about any fees associated with revisions or updates.

Many businesses opt to work with a business plan consulting firm that offers a collaborative team of experts. This type of company provides the best of both worlds, as you can utilize the knowledge and expertise of all the experts involved in the project while still retaining control over the direction and vision of your business plan.

When determining the cost of working with a business plan writing service, take the time to explore all of your options and consider both pricing models and the qualifications offered by various service providers in your area. Doing so will help you find the most qualified choice for your business planning needs.

You Can Write It Yourself

If you’re a newer entrepreneur or trying to save money, there are various free resources available online to assist you in writing your business plan. The Small Business Administration (SBA) and your local Chamber of Commerce offer business plan services, workshops, or courses to help you get started. Using a business plan template is also an excellent way to quickly and easily complete your plan, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the business planning process.

While some business owners may be comfortable writing business plans without outside help, it typically takes more time than they have to spare. For this reason, experienced business owners are recommended to not write their own plan, even those with plenty of business plan writing experience.

In most cases, experienced business owners who write their own business plans have a better understanding of what elements are needed and how they should be presented. However, it can still be time-consuming to compile all the necessary information into a cohesive business plan that meets your audience’s needs. Additionally, it’s important to note that writing a business plan is one thing, but writing a business plan that can persuade investors or lenders to provide a large funding check is another thing.

If your budget doesn’t allow for hiring a comprehensive business plan service, combining outside services with writing your own plan may be the best option. This approach offers complete control over the process while still benefiting from expert advice. It’s also a great option for entrepreneurs who lack the time to write their own plan but aren’t yet ready to hire someone else.

Other business services that can be helpful include market research, copywriting assistance, startup/growth opportunities identification, and business plan review. Market research can help identify viable business opportunities, while copywriting assistance can help create a compelling marketing message. Identifying potential opportunities for startup or growth is also critical, as is having an expert review your business plan for gaps or logic errors.

When choosing a business plan consulting service, take the time to explore all of your options and find the best fit for your budget and needs. Ensure that the service provider can meet your expectations and deliver quality content on time and within budget. Ultimately, taking the time to choose the right combination of services can help ensure the best possible outcome for your business plan.

Whether or not it’s worth it to use a professional business plan writing service depends on several factors. Professional services may be a good option if you’re short on time or lack the necessary writing skills to create a business plan on your own.

Working with a professional writing service can help you complete the necessary research and planning to develop a comprehensive business plan that aligns with your company’s goals and objectives. However, it’s important to note that professional writing services can be costly, and the quality of work can vary dramatically.

Before deciding to use a professional business plan writing service , it’s important to consider your budget, timeline, and the complexity of your business. You should also research and choose a service provider carefully, ensuring that they have the necessary experience and expertise to meet your specific needs. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to use a professional service should be based on your individual situation and goals.

How Business Plan Experts Can Help Your Business

Business Plan Experts has a wealth of experience in developing business plans for entrepreneurs and business owners looking to start or grow their businesses. Our services cater to the needs of each client, from small business owners to Fortune 500 companies.

We offer a variety of business plans , including business plan consultants who help identify new opportunities and develop plans, as well as business plan writers who are committed to delivering results. Our market research team can also conduct independent research, giving you an advantage over competitors in your industry.

In addition, our experienced business consultants can help prepare private placement memorandums, which can be used to raise capital from accredited investors. We also offer a simple business plan template, which can be customized to fit your needs and sent to lenders and investors.

Finally, our website offers a Business Plan Writing Help Center, which includes over 200 business plan examples specific to various industries, as well as articles on business planning and funding.

No matter which service you choose, we wish you success in your business venture.

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How much does a business plan cost?

entrepreneur assessing the cost of writing his business plan

You need a business plan and are wondering how much creating one costs? 

You’ve come to the right place: in this guide, we’ll look at the factors that influence the cost of a business plan. 

This will help you figure out exactly how much you should pay for a business plan software , writer, or even a template. So, let’s get started.

In this guide:

What are the factors that influence the cost of a business plan?

How much does a business plan software cost, how much does a business plan writer cost, how much does a business plan template cost.

  • The final verdict

First, let’s agree on the scope. In this guide we’ll look at the cost of putting together the business plan itself and exclude the costs associated with preparatory research. 

There are a number of things you need to do before you begin drafting your business plan: gathering data, assessing budget lines, and iterating on multiple scenarios to find the best strategy for your business. 

Needless to say, all of these things require both time and money. However, these tasks are performed before creating the business plan itself, and are therefore excluded from the scope of our guide.

Now that we know what we are solving for, let’s get to it. 

We will first look at the tasks that need to be completed to create the business plan, then we will look at tools that can be used to speed up the process, and finally at who can perform these tasks.

What jobs need to be done when drafting a business plan?

Fundamentally a business plan is composed of two main parts:

  • A financial forecast which highlights the business’ funding requirements, growth prospects, potential profitability and cash generation
  • A written presentation which presents the business operations and strategy in details, and provide the context needed to judge the quality of the forecast

Both of these parts are essential and contribute to the cost of creating the business plan. 

Let’s look at both of them in a bit more detail.

Creating the financial forecast for your business plan

A financial forecast helps assess the business’s viability. This section of a business plan contains at a minimum the following financial tables:

  • A cash flow statement - a document that details how money comes in and goes out of the business. 
  • A Profits and Loss (P&L) statement - a document that provides information about the expenses and revenues the business has generated over a given time period.
  • A balance sheet - a document that details the assets and liabilities of the business at any given point in time. 

There are two ways to create your forecast. You can either opt for that old fashioned spreadsheet method or use a financial forecasting software instead.

The main driver in terms of cost when it comes to creating your forecast is the complexity of your business. 

Modeling a simple brick and mortar business is relatively straightforward. Modeling a complex business organization with multiple processes (manufacturing, storage, distribution, etc.), lines of products and services, and locations or legal entities will require more work and, therefore, increase the cost.

Writing your business plan itself

The written part of a business plan is without any doubt the most time-consuming, and contributes to the cost of creating the plan.

The time required (and, therefore, cost) to draft your business plan will first be influenced by the size of your business. 

Your business plan includes valuable strategic and financial information. If your business has multiple locations or products and services, you’ll have more information to include. This means writing about the business as a whole will take longer, require more effort, and will increase the overall cost. 

Then comes the complexity of the industry your business operates in (or/and your business model). A business plan is argumentative and needs to demonstrate that there is a viable business opportunity to be seized by you on the market. 

To do this you’ll have to provide in-depth explanations backed by market research, so that your reader can understand:

  • What you sell
  • Who you sell to
  • Who you compete against
  • Whether the market is large enough and your business correctly positioned to compete effectively 

This is quite straightforward to do if your business operates in an industry your potential readers are familiar with. If your reader is unfamiliar with your niche, however, then you will need to do more explaining. 

Adding these details will help make sure your readers - investors or banks, usually - understand that a commercial opportunity is ripe to be seized on the local market. However, this will require time and will add to the cost. 

Justifying the amount of funding you need for your business is the last factor that can increase the cost of writing your business plan. A funding requirement of $10 million will need more explanation and convincing than that of $10,000. Needless to say that it’ll also take more time and effort. 

Now that we understand the factors that influence the cost of creating the document, let’s have a look at the tools which can be used to create a business plan.

What tools can be used to write a business plan?

There are two ways to put together a business plan: 

  • Using a spreadsheet and word processor

Using an all in one business plan software

Using a spreadsheet and a word processor.

Creating a business plan using a spreadsheet and a word processor was the way to go in the 1990s. 

However, this method is quickly falling out of fashion, and for good reasons: 

  • It’s incredibly long and needlessly complicated
  • It requires knowledge of accounting in order to create the forecast on a spreadsheets without making errors
  • Investors and banks are skeptical of figures modeled by entrepreneurs themselves on spreadsheets 
  • Formatting such a long document on a word processor takes time and effort

Nowadays, the way to go is to use an all in one business planning software.

Along with being affordable, using an online business plan software has numerous other benefits. 

Some of them include: 

Creating a financial forecast for your business plan without manual calculations

The financial forecast is the most technical part of the business plan. 

Working on this section without adequate knowledge of finance can lead to critical mistakes which endanger the business’s future. 

Making such a forecast using online business plan software enables you to de-risk the process as the calculations and accounting treatments are done for you by the software using best in class modeling assumptions.

Furthermore, good online business plan softwares, such as the one we offer at The Business Plan Shop , come equipped with scoring algorithms which help identify issues within a financial forecast (such as insufficient cash or inventory, for example). 

This ensures that your forecast is free of modeling errors, and provides reassurance to the readers that the numbers can be trusted. 

entrepreneur enquiring about the price of a business plan from a writer

Getting access to instructions and examples throughout the process  

As mentioned, creating a business plan is a complex process for those who’re not familiar with creating such documents. 

Using online business plan software allows you to have access to expert guidance as you write. 

This means your business plan will be effective and completed faster than with a word processor. 

Being able to use downloadable templates to create a business plan 

Good online business plan softwares, such as the one we offer at The Business Plan Shop, come with dozens of downloadable business plan templates you can use as inspiration to write your business plan. 

Being able to look at concrete examples of business plans helps avoid writer’s block and speed up the writing process, thereby reducing the overall cost of putting the plan together.

Saving time on formatting

Good online business plan softwares, such as the one we offer at The Business Plan Shop, also come with professionally designed themes and color schemes which enable you to quickly get a stunning document matching your brand colors, while delegating the bulk of the formatting to the software.

Software also automatically integrates your forecast into the document, saving hours of manual formatting compared to using word processors. 

done for you formatting helping reduce the cost of your business plan

Now that we understand what tools can be used, let’s have a look at the last factor that influences the cost of creating the business plan: the person writing the document.

Who’s writing the business plan?

No matter what tool you use, writing a business plan is time consuming and the cost per hour of the person doing the actual writing will have a serious impact on the overall cost.

Here you have two options: either do the writing in-house using your team’s time, or outsource it to a professional business plan writer .

Outsourcing is usually much more expensive than doing the writing in-house as you have to cover the writer’s time, software, marketing costs, and profit margin. But it frees your team’s time which can be used elsewhere.

Now that we’ve covered the factors that influence the overall cost of a business plan, let’s have a look at the concrete price of the most popular options.

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Using online software to create a business plan is undoubtedly the best approach, and you’ll probably end up paying for software anyway - whether you pay for software yourself or the software’s cost is included in your business plan writer’s fee.

There is a common misconception that business plan software might be quite expensive. However, that’s not the case with our online business plan software. 

As a publisher, The Business Plan Shop is committed to leveling-up the playing field between small businesses and large corporations by making our solution affordable to businesses of all sizes.  

You might think we’re a bit biased when it comes to talking about our own pricing. But you’re not bound to take our word for it: see our prices for yourself .

If you’re thinking of outsourcing the writing of your plan your next option will be to hire a business plan writer. 

However, you need to know that when you hire a writer to draft a business plan, the cost of the plan will depend on the factors we’ve mentioned earlier in this guide. 

In addition, the pricing structure for writing the business plan varies among writers: 

  • Hourly pricing - the writer charges a fixed hourly rate for their services. The hourly rate is multiplied by the hours they spend working on your business plan. 
  • Fixed pricing - in this structure, the writer will charge a fixed price based on creating a business plan. The price may depend on the length, level of details, and complexity of the document. 

While getting a fixed price is easier for budgeting purposes, you need to remember that you get what you pay for. 

Business plan writing is a for profit activity, which means that if the price seems low, then there is probably a catch. The writer might either be inexperienced (a business student for example), or take shortcuts and not spend enough time on your document, or the result might be incomplete (only include a P&L in your forecast for example).

If you are writing a business plan to secure funding, you also need to remember that investors want their money to be used to grow your business, not wasted on consulting fees. So the amount you spend on your business plan needs to be reasonable in relation to the amount of financing you are looking for.

For example, if you are trying to secure $100k and spend $10k on business plan writing services and $10k in legal costs, then you’ve wasted 20% of the capital you are trying to secure, which will not impress investors.

Finally you also need to remember that outsourcing your plan is not a completely hands-off process. You still need to provide the writer with the inputs and the research materials needed to write your plan.

You are the only one who knows: how your business operates, what strategic and commercial actions have been planned, and how much sales are expected, and what employees are paid.

So, while we are discussing the amount spent on the actual business plan writing fee, it’s not a total cost by any means, nor a like-for-like comparison with the cost of using software discussed above.

With that in mind, let's look at how much hiring a writer would actually cost. 

How much would a business plan writer cost per hour? 

The hourly rate for a business plan writer is usually around $100 to $300. This might not seem that much at first. However, you must understand that a minimum of 20 hours is usually required to create a business plan. 

So, if your business plan writer charges $100 per hour and works for 20 hours, you’ll pay $2,000 for the document. If they charge $300 per hour, you’ll pay $6,000. 

However, these are just for simple business plans. Depending on your business size and the complexity of your industry, the total price might end-up being much higher.

Another factor is the amount of revisions needed on your business plan. It’s quite common for your plan to require several updates as you gain more information on your market conditions and feedback from lenders and investors.

When you use hourly consultants these revisions can quickly add-up as you have to pay extra for them.

How much would fixed business plan writing services cost? 

When it comes to fixed pricing, the actual cost may vary from one writer to the other. 

However, the price is generally based on their years of experience, level of expertise, and the amount of work they put in. 

Packed-based pricing service might start around $2,000. However, you’ll only get basic-level business plans at such a price. 

If you need a complex business plan with in-depth market analysis, detailed plans about business operations, and three to five years of financial projections. Package services offering such business plans might cost as much as $30,000. 

Considering these prices, it’s safe to say that you should only opt for this approach if you aim to secure a significant amount of funding. 

If you’re in the starting phases of your business, it is better to use online business plan software instead. The money you spend hiring a writer can be used for other business operations such as marketing and product development. 

Need inspiration for your business plan?

The Business Plan Shop has dozens of business plan templates that you can use to get a clear idea of what a complete business plan looks like.

The Business Plan Shop's Business Plan Templates

The last alternative to write your business plan at a low cost is to use an Excel and Word business plan template.

Most people often think a business plan template will not cost anything at all. They’re right to a certain extent. 

You can find loads of free business plan templates on the internet, but here also: you get what you pay for. These free templates are usually either: very basic, not properly maintained and outdated, or prepared by unknown “experts” who don’t seem to grasp the basic principles of accounting.

The cost of some business plan templates might go to $300. These templates are more detailed. In addition, some of these paid templates might even have visual aesthetics making them more presentable. 

Before you opt for this approach, you need to understand that these are just templates. This means they’ll provide you with a structure and format. However, you’ll still have to do all the work yourself. 

In comparison to using online business plan software, templates are more expensive and extremely low value for money. Furthermore, using a template still requires you to have a certain level of expertise and is an approach that’s not free from error. 

The final verdict 

When it comes to creating a business plan, you have three options: online software, a business plan writer, or templates. 

Professional software usually offers the best return on investment. Templates are low value for money and should be avoided. And writers can be worth it, if you intend on raising a significant amount of capital. 

Also on The Business Plan Shop

  • Business plan vs budget: what's the difference?
  • Do I need a business plan? Your questions answered

Know someone who wants to create a business plan? Share this guide with them!

Guillaume Le Brouster

Founder & CEO at The Business Plan Shop Ltd

Guillaume Le Brouster is a seasoned entrepreneur and financier.

Guillaume has been an entrepreneur for more than a decade and has first-hand experience of starting, running, and growing a successful business.

Prior to being a business owner, Guillaume worked in investment banking and private equity, where he spent most of his time creating complex financial forecasts, writing business plans, and analysing financial statements to make financing and investment decisions.

Guillaume holds a Master's Degree in Finance from ESCP Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Business & Management from Paris Dauphine University.

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How much does a business plan cost?

The price of a business plan depends on many factors such as availability of information on the industry, the scope of the plan and how the plan will be used. For example, a business plan for a restaurant will be very different than a business plan for a recreational property that offers a restaurant area, rental accommodations, and nature tours.  Regardless of the type of business plan, we always have one flat rate pricing so you know exactly how much it will cost with no surprise bills ever! 

Click here to request a quote for your business plan!

What can you expect from your comprehensive business plan?

Our comprehensive business plans include everything you will need to make informed decisions about your opportunity or business. Our plans provide bank lenders and investors with a clear and concise picture of your company’s financing needs.

This is the perfect solution for any business, whether you are a start up or a rapidly growing business. If you require capital to fund startup or growth expenses, increase working capital, make acquisitions, acquire inventory or take advantage of other opportunities you need a professionally prepared business plan.

We built almost 700 business plans over the years with a long list of very satisfied clients.  With a dedicated group of business plan writers, financial modelers, and business plan consultants in Canada, we produce high quality business plans for our clients. 

Our Business Plan includes 30+ professionally written pages covering the key areas of your business proposal. Click  here  for further information on the sections and chapters of the business plan.

Short Turnaround

We will prepare your plan in weeks, not months.

Great Results

A custom business plan that will inform and influence your audience.

Get It Done Right

Leverage our experience! We have written almost 700 business plans since 2007.

Full-Service Option:

  • Length:  30 to 45 pages
  • Format:  PDF & Word
  • Duration: 3 – 6 weeks
  • Financials:  3 years
  • Research:  Included
  • Revisions:  5 rounds
  • Formatting:  full-color

We can only work on a limited number of plans per month!

Check our availability online, reserve your spot to start your business plan today.

how much does a business plan cost in canada

Our team of professionals has written over 5,000 business plans that have been approved for over $350 Million in capital for our clients . We work closely with all Canadian banks, the BDC and all Government Grant programs to ensure the quality of our business plans. We have the track record of creating business plans that get you funding. Our clients invest in us because we create the framework for their business which they can then take to banks, lending organizations, investors and the like, to have them finance their business dreams.  

How can BizPlan Pros help me?

BizPlan Pros provides you with all the services you need to build a better business in Canada. From our business plan writing services, to business coaching, accounting and bookkeeping assistance to  help with starting a business from scratch, we have over 30 years’ experience helping business owners develop their business strategy with ease and professionalism.

How much does a business plan cost?

The price of your business plan depends on two major factors (and some minor ones, but let’s concentrate on the big ones). 1. The complexity of the business we need to describe – the more complex the business the more writing will have to be done about it. 2. The purpose of your business plan. For example, are you applying for a $25,000 government grant or a million dollar business loan etc.? The consultant will go over these questions with you during your free consultation and give you customized quote.

Do you have a free business plan template on your site?

Yes we do! It is at the bottom of our “Resources” page. You can download it absolutely free! This free template will give a good understanding of all the sections which a proper business plan must include.

How long does it take for business plan to be done?

Depending on which plan you choose (Silver, Gold Platinum) it usually takes 1 – 3 weeks respectively.

What do I need to provide?

Once we settle on the kind of business plan you need. Our staff will begin to communicate with you immediately through email or telephone (according to your preference) and we will send you a questionnaire and a financial spreadsheet to collect some information about your business.

You should begin to fill out the questionnaire and the spreadsheet as soon as possible. As an FYI, the more detail you provide the better your plan will be as it will give us more insight into your business and how you intend to operate.  Please let your contact at BizPlan Pros know if you need assistance with the questionnaire or the financial spreadsheet. Once we have your information, the writer will be in the position to develop your financial graphs, charts and break-even analysis.

Are BizPlan Pros fees tax deductible?

Yes, all the fees charged by BizPlan Pros are 100% tax deductible as a business expense.

What is your success rate with helping your business plans?

Based on the feedback we have been receiving from our clients over the years, we have been about 85% successful in helping our clients acquire funding for their businesses from various sources.

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How much does it cost to start a new business?

8 common expenses to consider when budgeting for your startup..

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In this guide

8 common startup costs

Compare your business loans options, how can i pay for initial startup costs, bottom line, frequently asked questions.

You need to spend money to make money — but just how much depends on the type of business you’re looking to start, on top of other factors. Estimating the different costs you might incur can help you apply for financing that truly meets your new business’s needs.

Business startup costs can range quite extensively from under $1,000 to over $10,000. How much you actually pay depends on your business type, where you’re located and the equipment and supplies you’ll need to get up and running. For example, it will cost much more to start a new restaurant than it will to start a freelance photography business out of your home.

How to calculate startup costs for a small business

Calculating the cost for a startup is relatively simple — you just need to add your estimated expenses together to get a full picture of what your budget should look like. Do some research into the type of business you’re planning to start in order to give you an idea of the costs involved.

While your specific costs will vary, these are the eight most common factors to consider when deciding how much you’ll need to borrow:

1. Registering your business: $200 to $400

In most provinces, registering your business as a corporation costs between $300-$400, while federal registration costs are usually $200-$250. But licensing and permit costs can vary, so it’s best to meet with an accountant and attorney to guide you through the process. Just be sure to work their fees into your budget as well.

2. Office space: $5-$70 per square ft

Renting or buying office space is typically one of the larger fixed expenses your new business will face. On average, you can expect to pay $5-$70 per square ft. Keep in mind that the office location will drastically impact the price. If you want office space in the business district downtown, be prepared to pay top dollar. However, while larger cities are often more expensive, they may offer more amenities and easier access for your employees.

To reduce this cost, you may want to consider working from home or out of a coworking space for those first few months while you’re getting started. Once you’re ready to expand into an office, take the cost of rent, utilities and taxes into account as well as any changes you plan on making to the layout of the office.

3. Equipment and supplies: Varies

The equipment and supplies you need will vary greatly depending on the type of business you plan on opening. Because of this, it’s critical to do your research.

You’ll likely need to finance some of your equipment , so prepare a budget and a solid business plan so you can present it to lenders. And if you plan on hiring employees, keep in mind they’ll need their own equipment and supplies, too.

4. Inventory: Varies

You’ll have no concerns about inventory if you provide a service. But any business involved in retail or manufacturing will need to calculate their inventory costs.

To create a budget, work backward from your revenue goal. Use the price you plan on selling your inventory at and how much you realistically plan on selling in a year to help guide you.

5. Employees: 1.2 to 1.4 times each employee’s annual salary

Payroll should cover more than just an hourly salary. Consider these other expenses when calculating how much you should budget for your employees:

  • Employment Insurance (EI)
  • Canada Pension Plan (CPP) deductions
  • Employment taxes
  • Commissions
  • Overtime pay
  • Vacation pay

Because it varies widely across the country and by industry, there’s no set number to keep in mind. Instead, you should be prepared to dedicate a significant portion of your budget to payroll at first.

Remember: You also need to be paid, so be sure to account for your own wages when determining employee costs.

6. Insurance: Around $500 to $5,000 per year

Canadian small businesses will pay anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per year. Your costs will vary depending on where you’re based, your business’s risk profile and the provider you choose.

When comparing business insurance providers, you might want to look into these four types of coverage depending on the industry you’re in:

  • Product liability
  • Commercial general liability
  • Professional liability
  • Cyber risk coverage

7. Website and marketing: Varies

If you plan on using an online platform like WordPress, Wix, Squarespace or Weebly, you’ll likely only need around $10 to $35 per year to register a domain and create a website for your business. If you want to pay someone else to custom design your website for you, you could end up paying a few thousand dollars.

As for marketing, most of these costs can be reduced by simply using social media and other free brand-building platforms. You can also create flyers, buy ad space on Facebook or print business cards. As a benchmark for your budget, a 2019 Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) survey revealed that small businesses spend around $30,000 on marketing, while businesses with over 50 employees tend to spend upwards of $100,000.

8. Taxes: Approximately 12% of revenue

If your a small business registered as a corporation, you should expect to pay a combination of federal and provincial/territorial tax rates. The costs can get tricky, though. Rather than calculating them on your own, contact an accountant to ensure your business is following all regulations. It can help save time and money now — and some headaches down the road.

Once you’ve worked out a budget, you’ll have a realistic idea of how much financing you’ll need to cover the costs required to start your new business. Make sure to shop around for competitive interest rates with loan terms that best suit your business needs. Compare providers in the table below to find the right option for you.

  • Business loans for startups
  • Personal loans for business use

How to finance your startup

While your options are limited compared to businesses that have been around for a while, you still have a few ways to finance your startup:

  • Equipment loans. If your business requires equipment to get up and running, equipment loans allow you to buy necessary machinery.
  • Business credit cards. To help build your business’s credit and finance smaller startups costs, you may want to compare a few of the leading small business credit cards . Some even offer bonus intro APRs for the first year — giving you some breathing room to pay off expenses slowly over several months.
  • Personal loans. Some banks and online lenders allow you to use a personal loan for business expenses . However, you’re typically limited to borrowing $50,000 or less.
  • CSBFP loans. The Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP) Loan is a government-backed loan offering up to $1,000,000 in funding and some of the most competitive interest rates. To apply, you’ll need to head to your local bank, credit union or registered financial institution and ask if they offer CSBFP loans. While government-backed, the decision to approve your loan ultimately lies with the financial institution.

From equipment and inventory to payroll and office space, funding the cost of your startup can put a huge dent in your personal finances. Before you dig into your savings, compare business loan options that might work for your new company.

What business startup costs are tax deductible?

Claiming business startup costs as tax deductions can be a bit tricky. According to the CRA, you can only claim expenses that you payed during the fiscal period in which you did business. So you have to have a very clear start date in order to justify claiming your expenses.

Depending on the type of business, it can be a challenge to define an exact start date. For example, if you purchased a building to open a shop, your first day of business might be when you start renovating it or start using at least 90% of it for business purposes. Once this capitol property is being used to earn income, you can deduct current, and even past, business expenses.

In order to navigate the complex world of business taxes, and to make sure you’re reaping the benefits of the tax system, your best bet is to work with a certified accountant or tax professional.

What's the difference between startup costs and operating costs?

A startup budget includes some initial operating costs, like website domain registration, down payments on office space and licensing fees. But your operating budget will be what you create year after year as your business grows. Any startup costs will get deleted from your budget once they’re initially paid out, and only ongoing costs will remain part of your operating budget.

Can I lease my equipment instead of buying it?

Yes. If you don’t have the budget to make large monthly payments or think you might want to upgrade your equipment in a few years, compare the difference between leasing versus financing equipment to see which option is best for your business.

Avatar

Kellye Guinan

Kellye Guinan is a freelance editor and writer, specializing in consumer lending. Her writing and analysis has been featured on Bankrate, MSN and MediaFeed. She holds degrees in anthropology and German language and literature from Middle Tennessee State University.

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how much does a business plan cost in canada

Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 is now available for small and medium-sized businesses.

Find the best Microsoft 365 plan for your business

Microsoft 365 business basic.

Originally starting from CAD $8.10 now starting from CAD $8.10

CAD $8.10 CAD $8.10

(Annual subscription–auto renews) 1

Apps and services to kick-start your business, including:

Identity, access, and user management for up to 300 employees

Custom business email ([email protected])

Web and mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook 3

Chat, call, and video conference with Microsoft Teams

1 TB of cloud storage per employee

10+ additional apps for your business needs (Microsoft Bookings, Planner, Forms, and others)

Automatic spam and malware filtering

Anytime phone and web support

Microsoft 365 Business Standard

Originally starting from CAD $17.00 now starting from CAD $17.00

CAD $17.00 CAD $17.00

Everything in Business Basic, plus:

Desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook

Webinars with attendee registration and reporting

New : Collaborative workspaces to co-create using Microsoft Loop

New : Video editing and design tools with Microsoft Clipchamp

Copilot for Microsoft 365 available as an add-on . *

Microsoft 365 Business Premium

Originally starting from CAD $29.80 now starting from CAD $29.80

CAD $29.80 CAD $29.80

Everything in Business Standard, plus:

Advanced identity and access management

Enhanced cyberthreat protection against viruses and phishing attacks

Enterprise-grade device and endpoint protection

Discover, classify, and protect sensitive information

Microsoft 365 Apps for business

Originally starting from CAD $11.70 now starting from CAD $11.70

CAD $11.70 CAD $11.70

Desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook:

 Desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook

1 TB of cloud storage per user

Add Copilot to your Microsoft plan *

Sign in to add Copilot to your existing Microsoft 365 business plan.

If you’re not an existing customer, buy a Microsoft 365 plan to get started.

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Explore Microsoft 365

how much does a business plan cost in canada

Help me choose the right Microsoft 365 plan

Learn more about microsoft 365 for business, learn more about microsoft 365 for enterprise, get just the microsoft 365 desktop apps, other suggested products.

Visio: Flowchart software. Different plans available Project: Project management software. Different plans available

Frequently asked questions

What is microsoft 365.

Microsoft 365 is the productivity cloud designed to help everyone achieve what matters, in their work and life, with best-in-class Microsoft 365 apps, intelligent cloud services, and advanced security.

On how many devices can I install Microsoft 365 apps if I have a Microsoft 365 business plan?

Install Microsoft 365 apps on up to five PCs or Macs, five tablets, and five mobile devices. Hybrid Windows devices, such as the Microsoft Surface Pro, count as either a PC or a tablet.

What forms of payment can I use?

All major credit cards are accepted. When paying with a credit card, your subscription amount will appear on your credit card statement. Existing customers may be eligible to pay by invoice and can contact support to check their eligibility for this payment method.  Learn more about paying by invoice . For Microsoft 365 business plans, depending on your choice of service, you'll be billed monthly or annually.

What's the difference between monthly, annual, and annual commitment payments?

To provide you with the greatest amount of flexibility, different payment options are available.

Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Apps for business, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, and Microsoft 365 Business Premium plans are available for monthly commitment payment or annual commitment payment.

  • Monthly commitment payment:  Pay month by month and cancel at any time.
  • Annual commitment payment:  Sign up for a one-year subscription and benefit from a discount for using this payment option. By default, your billing plan will be set to monthly billing. After your purchase, you can change your billing plan to annual billing within the Microsoft 365 admin center. The Microsoft 365 Enterprise and Office 365 Enterprise plans (including standalone plans such as Exchange Online) and Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise are available for annual commitment payment.
  • Annual commitment payment:  Sign up for a one-year subscription and choose to pay monthly or for the entire year at the time you sign up.

Can I convert my trial to a paid subscription and retain all my settings and files?

Yes. If you purchase Microsoft 365 licenses for the accounts you create during your free trial, the information and configuration for these users' accounts will remain intact. Once your free trial expires, you’ll have an additional 30 days to purchase Microsoft 365 before your account information is erased. Once your trial account information has been erased, it can’t be retrieved.

Does Microsoft 365 work when I'm not connected to the internet?

The Microsoft 365 apps that you install on your PC or Mac—such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook—are available to you when you’re not online. 

With OneDrive in Microsoft 365, get file storage that you can access when you’re offline. When you make changes while offline, they’ll be synced to OneDrive and across the rest of your devices when you reconnect.

With Outlook, read emails already delivered to your inbox, or draft new emails and meeting requests. Your inbox and outbox will sync across the rest of your devices when you reconnect.

What happens to my data if I cancel my subscription?

Your data is yours. If you decide to cancel your Microsoft 365 subscription, download your data—for example, your email and documents on team sites—and save it to another location. You should save your data before you cancel. After you cancel your subscription, data associated with your Microsoft 365 account will be available to your administrator(s) in a limited function account for 90 days.

Where can I find more answers to frequently asked questions?

Find more answers to frequently asked questions on the  Microsoft 365 for business FAQ page .

What is Microsoft Defender for Business?

Microsoft Defender for Business is an endpoint security solution designed to help businesses with up to 300 employees. It helps protect against cybersecurity threats, including malware and ransomware, in an easy-to-use, cost-effective package. Microsoft Defender for Business is included with Microsoft 365 Business Premium and is available as a standalone product.  Learn more .

How many users can I host for online meetings and video calls using Microsoft Teams?

With Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, and Microsoft 365 Business Premium plans, you can host online meetings and video calls for up to 300 people using Microsoft Teams. ​

With Microsoft 365 E3 and E5, Microsoft 365 A3 and A5, and Microsoft 365 Government G3 and G5 plans, this limit increases up to 1,000 people.  Learn more . 

For IT providers, what are the options to manage more than one customer at a time?

IT service providers can use Microsoft 365 Lighthouse to secure their Business Premium customers at scale. Learn more .

Copilot for Microsoft 365 frequently asked questions

Find more answers to frequently asked questions. Learn more .

  • [1] Once your paid subscription begins, cancellation policies vary based on your status as a new customer and your product and domain selections on Microsoft. Learn more . Cancel your Microsoft 365 subscription any time by going to the Microsoft 365 admin center. When a subscription is canceled, all associated data will be deleted. Learn more about data retention, deletion, and destruction in Microsoft 365 .
  • [2] After your one-month free trial ends, your subscription will automatically convert into a 12-month paid subscription and you will be charged the applicable subscription fee. Cancel anytime during your free trial to stop future charges. Credit card required to sign-up. Learn more .
  • [3] iOS and Android require separate app download. Availability of mobile apps varies by country/region.
  • [4] Availability of Audio Conferencing and Calling plans varies by country/region.  See countries and regions that are supported  for more information.
  • [*] Copilot for Microsoft 365 may not be available for all markets and languages. To purchase,  enterprise customers  must have a license for Microsoft 365 E3 or E5 or Office 365 E3 or E5, and  business customers  must have a license for Microsoft 365 Business Standard or Business Premium, or a version of these suites that no longer includes Microsoft Teams.

Connect with Microsoft 365 :

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How Much does Business Immigration to Canada Cost?

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How Much does Business Immigration to Canada Cost?

November 30, 2020

  • By Benoit Desjardins

Different immigration programs have different investment requirements depending on where in the country you and your family wish to live and work. You should expect to pay anywhere from CAD $100,000 to CAD $600,000. On the lower end of this bracket, the British Columbia Regional Pilot Program is currently the least costly business immigration program in Canada, whereas the Ontario Working Permit , within the Greater Toronto Area, is the country’s most expensive option for individuals seeking to start a business and move to Canada.

As you can see, the cost of business immigration to Canada is not definitive and should be considered on a program/location-specific basis.

Location Is a Key Factor for the Cost of Your Canada Business Immigration

There are many places to choose from for starting a business in Canada , and more attractive areas tend to require higher minimum investments from prospective business immigration applicants. Generally speaking, programs that are less in demand tend to require smaller investment amounts and vice versa. As previously stated, the British Columbia Regional Pilot Program is the most affordable option because it requires applicants to move to a small municipality with fewer than 75,000 people or 30KM away from a municipality with more than 75,000 people. Because of this requirement, there tends to be less interest for business people to move to rural municipalities. 

On the other hand, the Ontario Working Permit for the Greater Toronto Area is the most expensive as it allows candidates to live in Canada’s most populous city. For many business people, major metropolitan areas are more sought after as they provide great opportunities for starting a business and raising a family.

The Total Cost of Your Canada Investor Visa Should Factor in Additional Fees and Cost of Living

Before choosing a destination for your application, you should carefully study all of the additional costs or fees which will be required in the total cost of your Canadian business immigration project. Regardless of which program you opt to apply for, expect additional Legal & Management and Government Processing fees, which can add up to CAD $60,000 on average, for a total projected investment from CAD $160,000 to CAD $660,000.

The cost of living for you and your family can vary greatly from one Canadian city to another, from one municipality to another, which is another important factor in your decision. This is why most programs require applicants to have a minimum amount of assets available to sustain themselves. For example, although the British Columbia Pilot Program requires an investment of CAD$160,000, the minimum assets required to apply for the program is CAN $300,000. Based on our experience, individuals with CAN $600,000 or more are ideal candidates for Canadian business immigration.

Although the cost or investment for business immigration to Canada constitutes a significant factor, so are the requirements for each program. Determining the one which is most suitable for your needs, for your preferred environment and location, for how quickly you want to obtain PR, and what kind of business you wish to operate can be a daunting task. However, by working with the right immigration law firm, you can rest assured that they will provide you the necessary guidelines and services to ensure your success in immigrating to Canada through a business program.

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Squarespace Pricing Plans (2024 Guide)

Updated: Jan 9, 2024, 2:38am

Fact Checked

Table of Contents

What is squarespace, squarespace pricing plans, squarespace discounts, squarespace cost vs. competitors, squarespace free trial: what you should know, additional squarespace costs, bottom line, frequently asked questions (faqs).

Squarespace is one of the best website builders available, allowing virtually anyone to build their own site with no coding required. The platform features award-winning templates, an easy-to-use site editor and competitive pricing. Squarespace offers four pricing plans, with monthly costs ranging from $16 USD ($21.54 CAD) to $65 USD ($87.48 CAD). Unlike other site builders, there are no hidden fees and pricing doesn’t increase upon renewal.

Read our guide to learn more about Squarespace pricing. We’ll review and compare each plan option, so you can decide which is best for your needs.

Get a well-priced, impeccably designed website with Squarespace

On Squarespace’s Website

Featured Partners

On Wix’s Website

Starting price

$16 USD ($21.88 CAD) per month

Drag-and-drop editor

E-commerce in entry-level plan

On Bluehost’s Website

$2.95 USD ($4.05 CAD) per month

Storage and bandwidth

Unmetered bandwidth, and SSD storage starts at 10GB

Extras and inclusions

Free domain name and SSL for a year, free CDN

Squarespace

Standout Features

Free domain and SSL certificate, no transaction fees, award-winning templates

Squarespace is a beginner-friendly platform that allows users to create their own websites. It’s one of the most popular website builders available and is designed specifically for users without any coding or development experience. It’s also an all-in-one content management system – (CMS), which allows you to host content, register domains, sell products and access analytics.

For more details on the pros and cons, as well as how it stacks up to competitors, check out our comprehensive Squarespace review .

Squarespace pricing breaks down into four different plans, which are promoted as being simple and straightforward. Users are free to change or cancel their selected plan at any time, and both refunds and new charges will be prorated. There’s truly an option for everyone, whether you are looking for a simple website to use for blogging or you want to create a complete online store.

Squarespace Tiered Features and Plans

  • Price: $16 USD ($21.54 CAD) per month (paid annually) or $23 USD ($30.95 CAD) per month (paid monthly)
  • Best for: The Squarespace Personal plan is an excellent choice for users interested in building their first website, and who don’t need lots of extra bells and whistles.

The pricing breaks down to $23 USD ($30.95 CAD) per month if you pay as you go, or $16 USD ($21.54 CAD) per month if you pay for a year in advance. If you are a freelancer or solopreneur looking for a way to showcase your portfolio, share relevant content or create a blog, this plan is right for you. Arguably the biggest downside to the Personal plan is that there are no e-commerce options. If your goal is to set up an online store, this won’t be the plan for you.

  • Price: $23 USD ($30.95 CAD) per month (paid annually) or $33 USD ($44.40 CAD) per month (paid monthly)
  • Best for: This plan is a great option for businesses that only offer basic online transactions and don’t plan to have a high sales volume.

Squarespace Business levels up from the Personal plan, offering e-commerce abilities such as selling, accepting donations, gift card functions and discount codes. Business pricing is $33 USD ($44.40 CAD) per month, or $23 USD ($30.95 CAD) per month if you pay annually, which equals a 30% savings. If you connect a custom domain, you’ll be able to create a professional email address through Google Workspace. This costs an additional yearly fee, but the first year is free so you can try it out.

There is a 3% fee on all transactions on the Business plan, so if your site grows to a point where this is cost-prohibitive, it may be time to upgrade to the Basic Commerce plan where Squarespace doesn’t charge transaction fees.

Basic Commerce

  • Price: $27 USD ($36.33 CAD) per month (paid annually) or $36 USD ($48.44 CAD) per month (paid monthly)
  • Best for: This plan is for those that have graduated to higher sales and have a booming e-commerce business.

In addition to having access to advanced analytics, you’ll also get point-of-sale (POS) features for in-person sales and merchandising tools. For example, customers will be able to create accounts and leave reviews on products they’ve purchased.

The monthly fee for Basic Commerce is $36 USD ($48.44 CAD), or $27 USD ($36.33 CAD) per month if billed annually. Notably, this plan stands out over the Business level since it eliminates all transaction fees, plus users cross-promote their inventory on Instagram and promote products with “limited availability” labels.

Advanced Commerce

  • Price: $49 USD ($65.93 CAD) per month (paid annually) or $65 USD ($87.48 CAD) per month (paid monthly)
  • Best for: This plan is best for those with a high-volume e-commerce business that needs advanced features to maximize sales opportunities.

The Advanced Commerce plan takes everything offered in the Basic Commerce plan and then throws in extra additions such as advanced discount codes that automatically apply to qualifying orders, the ability to sell weekly or monthly subscriptions and generate real-time postal company shipping quotes. If you want to integrate third-party software, you’ll need this plan to unlock access to the platform’s API.

Advanced Commerce will set you back $65 USD ($87.48 CAD) per month, or $49 USD ($65.93 CAD) per month if you opt for an annual payment. It’s also the only Squarespace plan that provides the abandoned cart recovery feature, which many businesses find essential for increasing their e-commerce sales.

Which Squarespace Plan Should You Choose?

The right plan option will depend entirely on what you’re wanting to use your site for and what services you need. If you are looking to create an online portfolio , start a blog and occasionally sell goods or services, either the Personal or Business plan will work well. If you have a robust online store (or are trying to build one) and plan to have a high volume of sales, choosing the Basic Commerce or Advanced Commerce plan will be your best bet.

Once you choose the best plan for your needs, there are a few ways to save money on your new Squarespace website. Here are the most relevant discounts that you can utilize to save money on a variety of features you may need.

Utilize Google Workspace

Even though users can choose an email address and domain name through Squarespace, it’s not the cheapest option. Google Workspace offers both, with a Business Starter plan that costs just $7.80 CAD per user, per month.

Annual Payments

As you can see from the pricing breakdown, you’ll receive savings of 25% to 30% when you opt for an annual payment instead of monthly. Don’t worry if you prepay, only to change your mind a few months later. Squarespace allows you to change or cancel your plan at any time, and you’ll receive a prorated refund if you discover it’s not the right website builder for you.

Student Discount

Budding entrepreneur on a college budget? Take advantage of the Squarespace student discount, which offers 50% off any annual plan for your first year. Simply verify your student status, then you’re free to start building the website of your dreams.

Promo Codes

Squarespace provides promo codes from time to time that will give you a percentage or total dollar amount off of your total purchase. Promo codes may also be available through affiliates of Squarespace that offer a discount to sign up. Many of these promo codes are only available when you’re making your first purchase with Squarespace and you won’t be able to use any if you are already a member. You can check for current promo codes directly on Squarespace’s website.

Squarespace is feature-packed and offers a terrific solution to building a website for whatever your needs are. While the costs vary depending on the features you want, they fall in the range of $16 USD ($21.54 CAD) to $65 USD ($87.48 CAD) per month. There are similar services available where you can build your site for less than this.

Here is a breakdown to see how some of Squarespace’s biggest competitors compare:

As you can see, Squarespace is a bit more expensive than Wix but it should be noted that we’ve ranked the product higher than Wix on our best website builders review. Shopify is a bit different as it’s primarily an e-commerce platform , but Squarespace compares very well in price, especially for those who just need a basic e-commerce site and don’t need more advanced features.

Squarespace offers a free trial that gives you the ability to test the waters and see if the whole platform is right for your needs. Many free trials are limited or require a credit card that will automatically be charged when your free trial ends. Squarespace not only doesn’t require a credit card for you to get started, but you also get access to most premium features. Let’s take a closer look at the free trial details at Squarespace.

How Long Is the Free Trial?

No matter what plan you’re interested in, Squarespace offers a full 14-day free trial so that you can see if it’s the right option for you. You can create as many free trials as you want.

What’s Included in (and Missing From) the Trial?

With Squarespace’s free trial, you get access to most premium and e-commerce features. The trial sites, however, are private unless you upgrade. The trial is meant to test out Squarespace’s platform and is not meant to publish sites. During your trial, your site won’t be indexed by search engines and you won’t have access to license Getty images.

You also won’t be able to submit or obtain subscriptions, from Apple Podcasts nor podcasts you publish on the site. However, you can test building a site and using Squarespace’s platform with unlimited contributors to the site. The other large difference between this version and the regular premium plans is that you lose some advanced e-commerce features, such as accepting payments through Squarespace Commerce. You also won’t be able to create subscription products or connect your PayPal account to the site.

Can You Extend a Squarespace Trial?

When your free trial ends, you will not have access to your site unless you upgrade to a paid service. There is no extension of the free trial, but you can create a new free trial if you want to build a different site.

While the price listed above ($16 USD ($21.54 CAD) to $65 USD ($87.48 CAD) per month) will give you access to the majority of Squarespace features, there may be some additional fees that you could end up incurring, depending on the type of business you have. Here are some of the most common costs you could incur that are in addition to your monthly cost.

E-Commerce Transaction Fees

Depending on the plan you choose, you may incur transaction fees for selling products through your site. The Business plan costs you a 3% transaction fee for every transaction processed, but that fee is waived on both of the Commerce pricing plans. Most e-commerce sites will need one of the two commerce plans to sell products, however, to get access to features such as product reviews and checkout on your domain.

Custom Domain Name

If you buy an annual plan, then you’ll receive a free custom domain registration for one year without paying anything extra. However, you don’t get this feature if you buy a monthly plan. That means you’ll have to register your custom domain somewhere else, which generally costs between $10 USD ($13.45 CAD) and $20 USD ($26.92 CAD) per year. This cost could be more if you have a specialty domain.

Every plan, with the exception of the Personal plan, offers one free professional email account through Google Workspace. You will be charged for any additional accounts you have during that time, and your free account will cost additional fees after one year. Google accounts now start at $7.80 CAD per user per month. To use the free year of Google Workspace, you must redeem it within one year of making your first Squarespace purchase.

Other Add-Ons

Squarespace offers the ability to integrate with third-party products, such as OpenTable for restaurants. These premium integrations are included in the three top tiers, but you’ll incur additional fees for the services you’re integrating with. You may also need the help of a third party to map the integrations properly, depending on what you’re connecting with, and this would be an additional cost to you. The platform itself, though, doesn’t have any additional fees for these premium integrations.

Squarespace pricing compares favourably across the industry for the vast amount of features and tools you get to maximize the features and visibility of your site. Squarespace is a great web builder that meets the needs of most sites but it isn’t as strong for e-commerce businesses as others that are out there. If you need more advanced e-commerce settings or options, you may consider Shopify ($38 CAD per month) instead of Squarespace. Learn more about how Squarespace compares to Shopify in our Squarespace vs. Shopify guide.

Canadian centric editing and pricing research conducted by Anna Rey.

Related: Best Squarespace Alternatives

What does Squarespace cost?

The price of Squarespace depends on the features you need access to, as the company offers four different pricing plans. You’ll also be charged a different amount if you decide to pay monthly compared to annually. Overall, Squarespace costs between $16 USD ($21.54 CAD) and $65 USD ($87.48 CAD) per month.

Is Squarespace free?

Squarespace is not free and you’ll need to pay either a monthly or annual fee to use the product. The company does offer a 14-day free trial, though, if you’re just wanting to test the waters and see if it’s a good option for you. The free trial gets you access to most of the premium features available.

What is the best Squarespace plan?

The best Squarespace plan is going to depend on what your needs are. Each of these plans offers something unique and is right for a specific group of people. For example, the Personal plan is a good fit for those just wanting to create a blog while the Advanced Commerce plan is the best plan for those wanting next-level e-commerce features such as abandoned cart recovery.

Does Squarespace offer free trials?

If you want to try out Squarespace before committing, it offers a free 14-day trial for new users, with no credit card required. While you’ll get access to most premium features, your site will remain private during your trial and it won’t be indexed by search engines.

Are Squarespace’s paid plans worth it?

Whether the plans Squarespace offers are worth it is very much up to you and what features you need in a web builder. We believe that Squarespace is a very competitive option in the market and it offers a variety of features that could make the product right for a number of different use cases.

Does Squarespace have any hidden fees?

Squarespace doesn’t have any hidden fees but there are some additional charges, depending on what you’re doing with your site. For example, you may have to pay a 3% transaction fee for processing online transactions through the site if you have the Business plan. This fee is waived if you buy either of the two Commerce plans.

Can I switch to a different Squarespace plan?

You can switch to a different Squarespace plan at any time via your online account portal.

How does Squarespace compare to WordPress?

Squarespace and WordPress are both leading web platforms on the market. However, the two are very different. In a nutshell, Squarespace is far more beginner-friendly, with only a very slight learning curve thanks to its drag-and-drop site editor and all-inclusive plans. Meanwhile, WordPress is far more customizable and offers more comprehensive e-commerce capabilities at a lower price.

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Jeff is a writer, founder, and small business expert that focuses on educating founders on the ins and outs of running their business. From answering your legal questions to providing the right software for your unique situation, he brings his knowledge and diverse background to help answer the questions you have about small business operations.

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