How Long Should a Business Plan Be?

We get this question a lot: How long should a business plan be?

And honestly, the only thing consistent about the answers online is how inconsistent they are. Some say 50 pages. Others swear by a one-pager.

But here’s what we’ve learned from working with hundreds of founders: There’s no magic number.

The “right” length depends on what you're doing with the plan: Pitching investors, applying for a loan, mapping strategy, or just getting your team aligned.

It also depends on how complex your business is. A solo freelancer doesn’t need the same plan as a fast-scaling SaaS startup.

In this blog, you'll find the answer and explore the elements it should include. This is the same lens we use at PlanGrowLab when building plans that get read and acted on.

How long should a business plan be?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this. Some are built for investor meetings. Some for internal strategy. Others are just trying to get ideas down in a structured way.

Here’s what we tell founders with the question:

• If you’re building a traditional business plan for strategic clarity or internal use, you’re looking at 15–20 pages
• If the goal is serious funding, especially institutional, then it’s closer to 40–100 pages, depending on complexity
• If you just need a sharp snapshot, a 1–10 page mini plan can do the job
• And if you’re testing a concept or need a quick pitch, even a single-page business plan works

What actually matters is fit for purpose. A 50-page plan for a local food truck is overkill. A 2-page plan for a medtech startup raising $2M is too thin.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what typically goes into each type:

Traditional business plan (15–20 pages):

• Business concept
• Market opportunity
• Competitive analysis
• Company description
• Financial projections
• Marketing plan
• Operations and team overview

Funding-focused plan (40–100 pages):

• Detailed strategy to attract lenders/investors
• Clear funding request and usage
• Revenue model and growth plan
• Risk mitigation
• ROI strategy and exit options

Mini business plan (1–10 pages):

• Executive summary
• Key financials (charts, estimates)
• Brief market and marketing strategy
• High-level funding need

One-page business plan (1 page):

• Quick intro
• The problem
• Your solution
• Target customer and business model

Once you know your audience and objective, the length becomes a lot easier to figure out. And if you're still unsure, we help founders decide this all the time.

Factors that determine the length of a business plan

Stats show that writing a business plan can boost your growth odds by 30% and in our client work, we’ve seen that number go much higher. The key is to make sure the length and content match your stage, goals, and audience.

So before you worry about word count, focus on purpose. Here’s how to get it right.

Business’s purpose

Why are you writing this plan in the first place? That answer alone changes how long it needs to be.

A business plan for a bank loan needs more depth than one for internal use. A pitch deck with a one-page plan might work for early-stage fundraising, but a franchise proposal or licensing plan needs detail. Here are a few business purposes that can affect the length of your business plan:

Different stages of business plan

Every business stage requires a different plan to address specific goals and challenges. Hence, the length of a business plan may vary depending on the business's growth and development.

Here’s a table that demonstrates how different business stages determine  a business plan’s length:

In our experience, founders often under-plan this part. If you’re scaling or preparing to exit, your plan is a vision doc and a risk-management tool.

Different types of audiences

Who’s reading your plan? A one-pager might work for internal teams. But if you’re speaking to an investor or a loan officer, you’ll need to dig deeper.

A few common audience types:

• Internal use → Shorter, focused on strategy and KPIs
• Lenders → Requires repayment strategy, cash flow coverage
• Investors → Needs growth story, exit path, and financial returns
• Partners → Needs alignment on goals, collaboration roadmap

When we review business plans, from our side, we always ask: “What does this reader need to see to trust you?” That’s how we decide what to cut or expand.

Different industry

The length of a good business plan can vary significantly depending on the industry and the business's specific needs.

Different industries have distinct requirements and expectations that influence how comprehensive or concise a business plan should be.

The healthcare industry may require a comprehensive plan that provides information on patient care protocols, industry-specific risks, compliance standards, company descriptions, and financial projections.

On the other hand, a small-scale industry business plan requires a concise mini-business plan that provides a brief overview of key elements.

Rather than in-depth details, it focuses on essential information to guide day-to-day operations and potential growth.

We always benchmark against what’s normal for the industry. In some sectors, too-short plans are a red flag. In others, verbosity kills attention.

Business complexity

A straightforward business idea may require less explanation, while a complex business model demands more detailed descriptions.

The complexity of the business influences how much information you must include to ensure clarity and thoroughness for your audience.

The table below provides an estimated overview of how a business plan’s length varies as per the complexity of the business:

When we work with complex models, we break the content into layers—core plan first, appendices second, so it stays readable. That way, it’s investor-ready without overwhelming anyone.

Tips to modify the length of your business plans

To effectively modify the length and create a comprehensive business plan, consider the following tips:

• Place detailed data or supporting documents in an appendix to keep the main plan concise.
• Use consistent formatting to improve readability and reduce unnecessary space.
• Use numerical summaries to replace lengthy explanations and enhance clarity.
• Present financial projections in summary tables rather than lengthy narratives.
• Add images or infographics to illustrate critical points without excessive text.
• Visualize data to convey complex information quickly and clearly.
• Use bullet points for easy reading and quick comprehension.
• Prioritize actionable insights over extensive background information.
• Establish a maximum page count for each section to encourage brevity.
• Conduct thorough reviews to cut unnecessary details and streamline content.

Write for your audience rather than focusing on the business plan length

In our experience working with hundreds of founders, one thing is clear: your plan isn’t being graded by page count, it’s being judged by clarity.

So instead of asking “how long should my business plan be?” a better question is: “Does this plan give the right people what they need to say yes?”

While there are general benchmarks, they’re just that, benchmarks. What matters more is whether the plan speaks directly to your audience.

• Pitching to a bank? Then they’ll look closely at repayment strategy, collateral, and cash flow.
• Talking to a VC? They’ll care more about market size, traction, and return potential.

That shift in lens changes what you write and how much of it.

A well-tailored plan answers the audience’s specific questions and objections. It builds trust. It shows that you’ve done the homework they care about. This is where most generic templates fall flat; they treat every reader the same. We’ve rewritten enough of those to know.

If it takes 15 pages to clearly make your case, that’s fine. If it takes 40, that’s fine too, as long as each section earns its place. The goal is to communicate what’s important.

So write for clarity, not for length. And if you’re not sure what your audience expects, that’s exactly the kind of strategic input we give when shaping a business plan.

Final Words

After reading this blog, you’re well prepared to craft comprehensive business plans and convince potential investors. Additionally, this blog will help you craft a tailored approach that resonates with your target audience.

However, structuring a business plan is a complex task. If you need any assistance or want to prepare your business plan from scratch, our expert business plan consultants from Plangrowlab can help.

We’re equipped with well-experienced consultants who can help you write your business plan tailored to your specific needs and requirements.

So, connect with our experts and get your business plan ready today!