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LivePlan Reviews & Product Details

LivePlan Overview

What is LivePlan?

LivePlan simplifies business planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance tracking for small businesses and startups. Become a more confident business owner and strategically manage your business from day one and onward with LivePlan. LivePlan works for any business, at any stage. Whether you're looking to get your business plan or pitch together for funding, or you're currently a business owner looking to build a forecast as a roadmap for your future - LivePlan can help you plan, fund, and grow your business with ease. With step-by-step instructions, expert guidance, tutorials, webinars, and over 500+ sample business plans - creating a professional business plan has never been easier. No need for complex spreadsheets or number crunching. LivePlan's automated financials with built-in formulas means your projections and financials are razor accurate. Share a quick one-page pitch of your business model with lenders, investors, and internal teams - keeping everyone on the same page, without having to share your full business plan document. Budgets and sales forecasts are a critical element to business success. Bring these numbers to life with LivePlan's performance dashboard. These dashboards simplify your performance and creates impressive charts and graphs automatically. Sync QuickBooks or Xero with LivePlan to pull in your actual accounting data. Use this data as the foundation for your projections, budgets, and see how your current performance compares to your forecasted plan.

LivePlan Details
Languages Supported
English
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Product Description

LivePlan simplifies business planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance tracking for small businesses and startups.


Seller Details
Year Founded
1988
HQ Location
Eugene, OR
Twitter
@paloaltosoft
669 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
65 employees on LinkedIn®

Corey A.
CA
Overview Provided by:
Associate eCommerce & Digital Manager at Palo Alto Software

Recent LivePlan Reviews

Verified User
I
Verified UserSmall-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
1.5 out of 5
"Very expensive for what it is -- falls short where it has the potential to stand out"
- well organized with a logical user-interface, which delivered relatively quick adoption and use by our team - the *real* benefit in the point ab...
Aaron E.
AE
Aaron E.Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
4.5 out of 5
"Perfect for a fast growing SaaS business"
We previously used a desktop based software package and moved to LivePlan in December of 2017. We tried several different products, but LivePlan wa...
Craig C.
CC
Craig C.Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
4.5 out of 5
"Excellent software if you give yourself time"
This software is excellent for both beginners and experienced individuals in business. As someone who advises firms on their structure and format, ...
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LivePlan Media

LivePlan Demo - Follow a step-by-step process.
LivePlan asks you questions about your business, you plug in the answers. It's as easy as that.
LivePlan Demo - 500 Sample Example Plans
Access 500+ Business Plan Templates and Examples in LivePlan. Ideal for entrepreneurs who want to maximize their chances of securing a bank loan or investment.
LivePlan Demo - Financials are calculated for you
LivePlan tells you exactly what kind of financial information you need to enter and then it does all the calculations automatically using built-in formulas.
LivePlan Demo - Wow lenders with a proven plan format
So you end up with razor-accurate financial statements that include all the tables that a lender or investor expects to see.
LivePlan Demo - We're here to help!
Most LivePlan users are able to breeze through their first business plan. But if you ever have a question, we're here to help!
Answer a few questions to help the LivePlan community
Have you used LivePlan before?
Yes

Video Reviews

31 LivePlan Reviews

4.1 out of 5
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31 LivePlan Reviews
4.1 out of 5
31 LivePlan Reviews
4.1 out of 5

LivePlan Pros and Cons

How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Cons

Overall Review Sentiment for LivePlanQuestion

Time to Implement
<1 day
>12 months
Return on Investment
<6 months
48+ months
Ease of Setup
0 (Difficult)
10 (Easy)
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G2 reviews are authentic and verified.
Verified User in Management Consulting
IM
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
More Options
Validated Reviewer
Review source: Organic
What do you like best about LivePlan?

- well organized with a logical user-interface, which delivered relatively quick adoption and use by our team

- the *real* benefit in the point above was the accountability and focus that this helped drive, both for individuals and as a team Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about LivePlan?

- financial forecasting capabilities are relatively simplistic and cannot be easily (i.e. self-) manipulated -- in their attempt to (seemingly) deliberately hide some of the "under the hood" calculations -- i.e. the equations behind how certain numbers are determined -- they've actually done the strategic equivalent of "cutting off one's nose to spite the face," because this overblown attempt to protect IP really only served to make the tool less practical/flexible/helpful to use and only served to push me right back to good ol' Excel

- pricing model needs a re-think --> pricing ramps up right as value derived tapers off dramatically... in its current form, this really is more of a project/purpose-based tool and falls well short of a more insight- and impact-based business management platform that provides -- as it can and should -- far more meaningful output over the long-haul. As a starting point, even just the AI component could be more meaningfully deployed -- rather than coming up with flowery language to plug holes on a business-plan-page, why not pose probative questions to the business owners/leaders to help shed light on any blind spots? I was left feeling like this tool was a lot of sizzle without much steak.

- Onboarding support was impressive at first (proactive, genuine, generous in the investment of time), but follow-through was very poor -- follow-up answers were promised on a few very specific, straight-forward questions only to never hear back

- overall, solid concept terribly executed in its current form/structure/delivery and corresponding pricing model. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is LivePlan solving and how is that benefiting you?

See prior answers -- was used for business planning and financial forecasting purposes, but ultimately was not at all satisfied and reverted to other less-sexy but better-substance alternatives offering improved ease of use, better customization/scenario testing, simple import, export, and manipulation of data, (much) lower costs, and a far greater likelihood that I (and other users) actually *THINK* about what goes into the plan and/or forecast compared to this tool which makes it a little too easy to churn out something that sounds/looks good but may actually not make sense in reality... Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Craig C.
CC
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Government Relations
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
More Options
Validated Reviewer
Review source: G2 invite
Incentivized Review
What do you like best about LivePlan?

This software is excellent for both beginners and experienced individuals in business. As someone who advises firms on their structure and format, the design and outputs are user-friendly and easy to assemble. This allowed me to communicate effectively with my clients and give them the knowledge they needed to better understand their business. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about LivePlan?

As a small business owner, I have found LivePlan to be a powerful tool for planning and tracking my business. However, I sometimes struggle with its lack of customization options. While LivePlan's templates are useful for general planning, they do not always cater to the unique needs and strategies of every business. This lack of flexibility can limit the plan's potential. Despite this, LivePlan is an effective tool for many other aspects of business planning and should not be overlooked. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is LivePlan solving and how is that benefiting you?

In the expansive theater of business management, LivePlan comes out as a veritable dramaturge—scribing your enterprise’s story with such sharpness and conciseness that quite candidly they are indispensable. It’s a tool which in its essence solves the impasse of ambiguity. It provides you clear and concise roadmap for your business plotting course from those early embryonic stages of yours to the peak potentials of yours).

LivePlan you see is the antidote to that chaos of business planning. It’s really just a bulwark against the storm of uncertainty and becomes sort of your lighthouse guiding you through the fog of financial forecasting. What LivePlan does for you is distill all that vision down into an actual plan complete with let’s call them financial projections, budgeting and performance tracking.

Also, it’s a tool that benefits your business by delivering a clear line of sight to your goals. It allows you to track your progress, adjust your course as necessary and ensure every decision you make is congruent with the overarching objectives. And it’s a tool that, in essence, provides a framework for your ambition, a scaffold upon which you can construct the edifice of your enterprise.

So, while its limitations are obvious – as every tool does– LivePlan is an effective weapon in the crusade for success in business. It’s a tool that when wielded with skill and understanding turns the artless dream of business success into real life concrete accomplishment. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Rajeev B.
RB
Founder
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
More Options
Validated Reviewer
Verified Current User
Review source: G2 invite
Incentivized Review
What do you like best about LivePlan?

One page pitch deck is eye-catching. While preparing a business plan, there are relevant existing templates related to one's niche that makes the process seamless. Now when it comes to forecasting, far better than Excel as there is no need to write formulas. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about LivePlan?

While LivePlan connects with QuickBooks and Xero, they are irrelevant for users like us from India. It will help if Zoho and Tally too connect. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is LivePlan solving and how is that benefiting you?

Quite often as founder of a startup, I need to submit one-page pitch deck or elaborate business plan. LivePlan does this nicely. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Shawnnell B.
SB
Owner
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
More Options
Validated Reviewer
Verified Current User
Review source: G2 invite
Incentivized Review
What do you like best about LivePlan?

Using LivePlan is easy and there is so much assistance available. There are examples, templates, and videos explaining what to write. You can go in and edit at any time. It does the math for you. It creates graphs and charts. It is amazing. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about LivePlan?

It does not have an auto spell check integrated within it. I have found so many misspellings in my plan when looking at it in other forms or using the information as a reference for applications or other things. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is LivePlan solving and how is that benefiting you?

It is helping me to build the foundation that I should have started with in my business. It is helping me build a road map to my business success by writing everything in a way that I can visualized my goals and display them to others. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Aleksei V.
AV
Founder
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
More Options
Validated Reviewer
Verified Current User
Review source: Organic
What do you like best about LivePlan?

More countries comparative data, more actual business plan examples. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about LivePlan?

discount taxes fixed per salary do not depend on the salary. The capability to be more customizable and make startup valuation pre-money and post-money Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is LivePlan solving and how is that benefiting you?

Tool to avoid using Excel and include data requests and formulas to present the results beautifully. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Gabrielle B.
GB
Marketing & Communications Officer
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
More Options
Validated Reviewer
Review source: G2 invite
Incentivized Review
What do you like best about LivePlan?

Hike the ease of the platform. The templates help you through the components you need for your business plan. You don't have to decide which components you need. You also dont have use every section. This is helpful for new solopreneurs and business owners. I've even used the platform to help pitch strategies to prospects and clients. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about LivePlan?

It would have been great to have a mobile app or mobile friendly site to complete the plans online over mobile devices. Also, it would be helpful to have a course that can take someone through the essentials in completing their business plan. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is LivePlan solving and how is that benefiting you?

I didn't have a business plan and using Liveplan helped give me an easy tool to build a strong business plan for myself and clients. My clients have gone on to enhance their plans and grow their businesses. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

James B.
JB
Senior Customer Success Account Manager | Digital Natives
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
More Options
Validated Reviewer
Review source: Organic
What do you like best about LivePlan?

It has solid examples so you can build off already strong business planning Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about LivePlan?

It is expensive to use for pre-revenue business planning. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is LivePlan solving and how is that benefiting you?

It has a strong user experience, which makes the business planning process enjoyable. When you create one business plan you might be excited to move onto the next. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

KF
Accountant
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
More Options
Validated Reviewer
Verified Current User
Review source: G2 invite
Incentivized Review
What do you like best about LivePlan?

Being able to project upcoming projects, compare actual vs. projected amounts Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about LivePlan?

I haven't really run into any downside, but mapping things is the most time consuming. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is LivePlan solving and how is that benefiting you?

Projections for clients for upcoming and past projects. Being able to show the comparison easily is great! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Accounting
UA
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
More Options
Validated Reviewer
Review source: G2 invite
Incentivized Review
What do you like best about LivePlan?

Easy to use, easy to navigate through. Some of the questions I hadn't even thought of before, so I felt like I was putting together a complete plan. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about LivePlan?

I can't think of any downsides to this product. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is LivePlan solving and how is that benefiting you?

I didn't have any experience putting together a business plan and I didn't want to pay a ton to have someone else develop one for me. I feel that the business plan I put together using LivePlan gave me clarity on many aspects of the business I am working to start (and will help me get the funding I will be looking for). Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User
U
More Options
Validated Reviewer
Review source: Organic
What do you like best about LivePlan?

Forecasting from QuickBooks, various models Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about LivePlan?

Adding a variation of revenue forecasts to expense forecasts Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is LivePlan solving and how is that benefiting you?

I can easily get to the forecast Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.