A business plan is often the first real test of a business idea. Whether you’re building the next big tech startup or launching a small consulting firm, that plan can be the roadmap to funding, focus, and growth. But here’s the big question—who’s really creating these business plans? Is it the visionary founder with a dream? Or is it a hired freelancer working behind the scenes?
1. 72% of startup founders personally create their business plans
Most founders still take the lead when it comes to writing their business plans. That’s because it’s more than just a document—it’s the DNA of the business.
The founder often has the clearest understanding of the problem being solved, the audience being targeted, and the vision that drives everything forward.
If you’re a founder, writing the plan yourself gives you clarity. It forces you to think deeply about each part of the business, from how you’ll make money to who your competitors are.
This clarity becomes incredibly helpful when pitching to investors, hiring early team members, or even making your first few sales.
That doesn’t mean you have to do it all alone. It’s smart to bring in others to help with research or financial modeling. But at the end of the day, the core story—the “why” and the “how”—should come from you.
Action step: Block out time on your calendar to write the first draft yourself. Even if you later bring in a freelancer to polish it up, your voice needs to be the backbone of the plan.
2. Only 27% of freelancers have ever created a full business plan for a client
While freelancers are skilled at many things, few specialize in business plans. That’s because creating a business plan isn’t just about writing well—it’s about understanding business deeply.
You need to know markets, customer psychology, pricing strategies, and financial modeling.
If you’re thinking about hiring a freelancer for your business plan, be careful. Don’t assume that a good writer automatically knows how to build a business strategy. Ask them if they’ve done full business plans before. Request samples.
Better yet, ask if their plans were used to raise money, launch a product, or guide an actual business.
Action step: When hiring a freelancer, look for those who have a background in business or entrepreneurship.
Even better, hire someone who’s built a company themselves. They’ll understand what really matters and what investors or partners are looking for in a plan.
3. 65% of business plans submitted for venture funding are written by founders themselves
When it comes to raising serious money, founders usually write their own plans. Investors want to see that the founder knows their stuff and isn’t just relying on outside help to tell the story.
This doesn’t mean your business plan has to be perfect. Investors don’t expect literary masterpieces.
What they do expect is authenticity. They want to see your understanding of the market, your strategy, and the logic behind your assumptions.
Writing it yourself also gives you an edge in meetings. You won’t get caught off guard when an investor asks about your growth projections or go-to-market strategy—because you wrote those numbers and strategies yourself.
Action step: If you’re planning to pitch investors, write the plan yourself. You can always bring in a consultant to review and refine it, but the original work should come from your brain and heart.
4. 48% of solo founders outsource sections of their business plan to freelancers
Even though most founders write their own business plans, nearly half still outsource specific parts. This makes sense.
You might know your product and market inside out, but maybe you’re not great with spreadsheets. Or perhaps competitor research isn’t your thing.
Outsourcing parts of your plan—like financials, market research, or graphic design—can save time and improve quality.
But it’s important to stay involved. Don’t just hand it off and wait for the final version. Collaborate, review every section, and make sure it still aligns with your vision.
Action step: Break your business plan into parts—executive summary, market research, financial model, etc. Decide what you’ll write and what you’ll outsource. Then find freelancers who specialize in the parts you need help with. Stay in the driver’s seat.
5. 89% of successful startups had their business plan written by one of the co-founders
Success leaves clues. In most thriving startups, at least one founder took the lead on writing the plan. That’s because writing it forces you to answer tough questions: Who exactly are we selling to? What makes us different? How do we scale?
When founders own this process, they end up knowing their business better. That knowledge becomes an advantage in every pitch, meeting, and decision they make.
If you’re a co-founder, this is a great chance to divide and conquer. Maybe one of you handles product while the other tackles the business plan. Or maybe you both write parts and combine them. What matters is that the founders are deeply involved.
Action step: As a founding team, assign ownership of the business plan. Even if you collaborate, make sure at least one of you takes full responsibility for completing it and deeply understanding every section.
6. 41% of founders with business degrees prefer to write their own business plans
Having a business degree can make founders more confident when it comes to writing a business plan. It gives them a base understanding of things like market analysis, financial projections, and strategic planning.
As a result, nearly half of these founders choose to take the reins themselves.
This confidence helps them avoid outsourcing too early or too often. They understand the language of business, which gives them an edge when they’re explaining their ideas to investors or partners.
More importantly, it helps them critically assess each part of their business—from pricing to operations.
But here’s the thing: you don’t need a degree to write a great business plan. What you need is structure, research, and clarity. There are plenty of tools and templates that can help you. It just takes time and effort.
Action step: Whether or not you have a business background, follow proven frameworks. Use guides like the Lean Canvas or SBA templates. Focus on clarity over fluff. Get your ideas down, then refine.
7. Freelancers are hired to write business plans in 36% of early-stage startups
When time is tight and resources are limited, some early-stage founders turn to freelancers to handle the heavy lifting of writing a business plan.
This is especially common when the founder is juggling product development, fundraising, and team building.
Freelancers can help translate rough notes or a deck into a polished plan. They can also speed things up if there’s a deadline looming. However, if the freelancer is writing the entire plan without the founder’s close involvement, it can become a problem.
The final product may sound nice but lack depth or strategic alignment.
A good freelancer should be treated like a partner in the process, not a ghostwriter. Provide them with clear input, insights, and direction.
Action step: If you hire a freelancer early on, make sure they work closely with you. Start by giving them a detailed outline. Meet regularly. Share your vision, strategy, and market understanding. Review every draft thoroughly.
8. 59% of business plans written by freelancers are for small businesses, not startups
Most freelancer-written business plans are for traditional small businesses—local cafes, online boutiques, service providers—not high-growth tech startups.
These plans tend to follow a predictable structure, focusing on operations, location, staffing, and local competition.
If you’re launching a startup that’s looking to scale fast or raise capital, make sure the freelancer understands this difference. Startup business plans are more dynamic. They focus on traction, scalability, burn rate, and investor ROI—not just opening day logistics.
Freelancers who mostly work on small business plans might not be ready for the strategic depth required for a startup plan.
Action step: Ask your freelancer what types of businesses they’ve written for. If your goal is to scale, raise money, or enter a competitive tech space, make sure they have experience with startup-style plans.
9. 78% of funded startups report that investors preferred founder-written plans
Investors don’t just look at the numbers—they look at the person behind the numbers. When they read a business plan, they want to see the founder’s voice, conviction, and understanding shining through.
Founder-written plans tend to feel more real. They’re grounded in vision and personal insights, not just polished language. Investors can spot the difference. They know when a plan is the product of deep thought versus something written to impress.
If you’re chasing funding, take note. You don’t have to write like a novelist. Just be clear, honest, and strategic.
Action step: Write the first version of your plan yourself. Be authentic. Tell your story and show your thinking. Then, if needed, bring in help to polish and clean it up—but don’t delegate the core content.
10. 22% of founders use freelancers for market research components of the business plan
Market research can be one of the most time-consuming parts of a business plan. That’s why some founders choose to outsource this section to experienced freelancers. It saves time and ensures the data is professionally sourced and structured.
But not all market research is equal. If it’s just a few generic stats pulled from Google, it won’t impress anyone. The real value lies in insights—things like emerging trends, customer behavior, competitive gaps, and pricing benchmarks.
Freelancers can help here, especially those with backgrounds in data analysis, marketing, or industry-specific knowledge. But make sure they go beyond surface-level research.
Action step: Give your freelancer clear instructions. Ask for specific data points: total addressable market, growth trends, top competitors, customer demographics. Then review it with your strategy in mind. Does the data support your plan? If not, dig deeper.
11. Only 9% of freelancers specialize in business plan writing
It might seem like there are freelancers for everything, but only a small number truly specialize in writing business plans. That means many who offer this service are generalists—writers or consultants who dabble in it occasionally.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it does mean you need to vet carefully. A true business plan specialist understands structure, tone, financials, and audience. They know how to tailor a plan for a bank loan versus a venture capitalist.
If you do hire a freelancer, try to find one with a narrow focus. It’ll make the whole process smoother, faster, and more effective.
Action step: When browsing freelancer platforms, look for profiles that show repeated experience with business planning. Ask for examples. Check reviews. Prioritize freelancers who’ve helped businesses raise money or launch successfully.
12. 63% of startup accelerators require founder-written business plans
Startup accelerators are serious about founder involvement. Most of them don’t just want your idea—they want to know you’ve thought it through. That’s why a majority require the business plan to come from the founder, not a third party.
These programs are designed to help you refine your plan, not write it from scratch. If you show up with a freelancer-written plan that you don’t fully understand, it’ll hurt your chances.
Remember, accelerators are investing in people, not just products. If you can’t clearly explain your strategy, your numbers, and your go-to-market plan, they’ll pass.
Action step: Before applying to an accelerator, write your own business plan draft. Use it to clarify your thinking. Then, use the accelerator program to stress-test and refine it with mentors.
13. 44% of founders revise their business plan at least 3 times post-funding
Getting funding isn’t the end of the business planning process—it’s just the beginning. Almost half of all funded founders go back and revise their business plan multiple times as they learn more, get feedback, or pivot.
This shows that a business plan is not a static document. It evolves. It should reflect new information, updated goals, and fresh insights about the market or customer.
Founders who wrote the original plan themselves tend to find it easier to revise. They know the structure, the assumptions, and the logic behind every section.
Action step: Treat your business plan like a living document. Set reminders to review it quarterly. Update your financials, strategy, or team plans as your business grows or changes.
14. 26% of business plans on freelancer platforms are for side hustles
A lot of people writing business plans through freelancers aren’t full-time entrepreneurs—they’re side hustlers. They may have a 9-to-5 and are exploring a small business idea on the side.
That’s not a bad thing. In fact, starting with a side hustle is smart. But it does change the tone and structure of the plan. These business plans tend to focus more on part-time operations, lean marketing, and minimal upfront investment.
If you’re writing a plan for a side hustle, be honest about your time and budget limitations. Don’t copy startup plans built for full-time teams.
Action step: Write a plan that fits your life. Be realistic about how much time and money you can commit. Focus on profitability, simplicity, and automation if you’re working nights and weekends.
15. 71% of successful founders say writing the plan helped refine their vision
Writing a business plan isn’t just about putting words on paper—it’s a process that shapes your thinking. Most successful founders say they became clearer about their goals, strategy, and audience through the act of writing their business plan themselves.
It forces you to think critically. When you’re outlining your revenue model or analyzing competitors, you uncover gaps in your idea. You see what’s solid and what needs work. That kind of clarity isn’t easy to get through talking or brainstorming—it comes from writing.
Founders who take the time to write their plan often pivot or adjust their approach in subtle but powerful ways. They realize who their real customer is or discover a smarter way to go to market.
Action step: Don’t rush the writing process. Use it as a thinking tool. As you write each section, ask yourself: “Does this make sense?” “Would I invest in this?” If something feels vague, dig deeper. That’s where the real value lies.
16. 38% of startup failures cited poor planning—often with outsourced plans
A large number of failed startups point to weak or unrealistic planning as a reason things didn’t work out. Many of these startups had business plans written by freelancers or consultants without founder involvement.
When someone else builds your roadmap, you might not truly understand it. You end up following a plan that looks good on paper but doesn’t fit the real-world challenges your business is facing.
Founders who don’t own their planning process often miss red flags early. They may underestimate costs, misjudge the size of their market, or set unrealistic milestones.
Action step: Be deeply involved in creating your plan—even if you work with a freelancer. Validate every assumption. Make sure the numbers and strategies match your actual business environment, not a generic one.
17. Founders with solo backgrounds are 3x more likely to write their own business plans
Founders who don’t have a co-founder or founding team usually end up writing their business plans themselves. There’s no one else to do it, so they roll up their sleeves and get to work.
Solo founders tend to develop strong clarity because they go through every detail on their own. They wear all the hats, so they’re forced to understand finance, marketing, operations, and more. It’s not easy—but it’s valuable.
This also means their business plan is often more grounded in reality. They’re not writing for show. They’re writing because they need the roadmap to execute solo.
Action step: If you’re a solo founder, block out dedicated time for planning. Use tools like Trello or Notion to track sections and tasks. Writing your plan might take longer, but it will make you stronger across every part of the business.
18. 33% of freelance-written plans include financial modeling by a third party
Not all freelancers are comfortable building financial models—and that’s a problem. About a third of the time, the person writing the plan outsources the financials to someone else. That creates a disconnect between the words and the numbers.
Your business plan must tell one consistent story. The narrative and the numbers should support each other. When different people handle different parts without syncing up, things can fall apart.
For example, your revenue strategy might talk about landing 1,000 customers in year one, but the financial model only shows 400. That creates confusion and hurts credibility.
Action step: Whether you or a freelancer handles the financial section, make sure it matches the rest of the plan. Review everything side by side. Every assumption in the model should be explained in the written plan.
19. 90% of pitch decks are created by founders, even if the full plan is outsourced
While founders sometimes outsource the business plan, they almost always build the pitch deck themselves. That’s because the deck is what they actually present to investors, customers, or partners.
Pitch decks are short, visual, and high-impact. Founders want to control the story, visuals, and tone. It’s often their first impression with investors, and no one tells the story better than the founder.
Even if a freelancer writes the full business plan, the pitch deck is usually something the founder crafts or closely directs.
Action step: Treat your pitch deck like your business resume. Keep it short (10–12 slides), focused, and compelling. Use the business plan to inform the content—but make sure you’re the one shaping the narrative and visuals.
20. Only 12% of tech startup founders delegate the core narrative of the business plan
In the tech world, the story behind the product matters just as much as the product itself. That’s why almost 90% of tech founders write their own narrative—the core sections like problem, solution, value proposition, and growth strategy.
Tech investors are looking for vision. They want to know why the founder built the product, what unique insight they have, and how they’re going to win. Delegating this part to a freelancer can make the story feel generic or disconnected.
You can still get help polishing your writing—but the original story should come from your head and heart.
Action step: Write your own story. Why does your product matter? What do you see that others don’t? Once your message is clear, feel free to get help cleaning up grammar or structure—but don’t let anyone else shape your message.
21. 54% of freelancers use templates to create business plans
Templates are useful—they speed things up and provide structure. But when over half of freelancers rely on them, you risk ending up with a cookie-cutter plan that doesn’t reflect your unique business.
The danger isn’t in using a template—it’s in not customizing it. If your business plan sounds like a thousand others, it won’t stand out. It may even miss key points specific to your industry or business model.
The best business plans are tailored. They use the template as a starting point, but every section is shaped by real thinking and real strategy.
Action step: If your freelancer uses a template, ask them to show it to you first. Work with them to customize each section so it reflects your specific business. Make sure the final version doesn’t feel like it could’ve been written for someone else.
22. 80% of plans that secured angel investment were authored by a founder
Angel investors often fund early-stage ideas, so they’re betting heavily on the founder. That’s why most business plans that lead to angel investment are written by the person building the company.
Angels want to feel your passion. They want to see that you’ve done the work, thought through the strategy, and are prepared to fight through challenges. A plan written by a hired writer—without your fingerprints on it—won’t send that message.
If you’re going after angel funding, your plan doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be real.
Action step: Focus on clarity and conviction. Show angels that you understand your market, your customer, and your numbers. Make the plan easy to read, but rich in insight. If you’re not confident in your writing, ask for editing help—but you lead the charge.
23. 67% of freelancers report clients not using the final plan actively
Most freelancers say their clients don’t actually use the business plan once it’s delivered. It gets written, approved, and filed away.
That’s a missed opportunity. A good business plan is a tool—not just a document. It should guide your decisions, help you prioritize, and keep you on track. If it’s collecting digital dust, it’s not serving its purpose.
Often, this happens because the founder wasn’t deeply involved. They don’t feel ownership, so the plan feels distant or irrelevant.
Action step: After your plan is complete, use it. Review it monthly. Compare your actual results to the projections. Adjust it as needed. Let it be your roadmap, not just your homework.
24. 58% of business consultants believe founders should draft the first version
Even professional consultants agree—founders should start the plan. Consultants can help refine it, fill in gaps, and add structure, but the first draft should come from the founder.
Why? Because you know your business best. You know the story, the market, the pain point you’re solving. Starting with your draft ensures the final product is authentic and aligned.
Consultants can then help elevate your thinking, point out weaknesses, and suggest better ways to present the ideas.
Action step: Don’t hand over a blank page to a consultant. Write a first draft—however messy—and use it as a foundation. Let them help you improve it, not invent it.
25. 35% of freelancers surveyed never met the client in person
Freelancer relationships are usually remote. In fact, over a third of freelancers never speak to their client face-to-face, not even on Zoom. While this works fine for many projects, business plans are different. They require context, discussion, and alignment.
When there’s no personal interaction, the freelancer may misinterpret your vision or goals. You might get a plan that reads well but doesn’t really reflect your strategy. Communication gaps lead to assumptions, and assumptions lead to weak planning.
This becomes even more of an issue if you’re depending on the freelancer to shape your pitch to investors or banks. You need a plan that feels like you, not a generic write-up.
Action step: Even if you’re hiring remotely, schedule a video call with your freelancer. Talk through your business, your audience, and what success looks like. Share examples, references, and personal insights to help them capture your tone and vision.
26. Plans created by founders are 2.5x more likely to align with actual business execution
Here’s something powerful—when founders write their own business plans, those plans are more likely to match what actually happens in the business. Why? Because the plan comes from their head, their vision, and their understanding of what’s realistic.
Outsourced plans often look good on paper but don’t reflect how things play out in real life. Founders tend to be more honest with themselves. They know what they can and can’t deliver.
When your plan aligns with your execution, you waste less time. You don’t chase impossible goals. You don’t blow money on marketing strategies that don’t fit your brand. And you can track progress in a way that feels meaningful.
Action step: As you write or review your plan, ask: “Can I actually execute this?” Be honest about your team, budget, and skills. Build your plan around what you can do, not what looks impressive.
27. 43% of business plans on freelance platforms are priced under $500
Business plans are often undervalued on freelancer sites. Almost half of all business plans sold there cost less than $500. While that may seem like a bargain, it’s often a red flag.
Creating a high-quality business plan takes time. Research alone can take hours. Financial modeling adds more. If someone is charging a few hundred bucks for all of that, they’re likely cutting corners or using templates without much customization.
`1wFor small businesses with very simple models, this might be okay. But if you’re building a startup, raising funds, or launching something complex, you’ll need more depth and strategy.
Action step: If you’re hiring someone to write your business plan, budget for quality. Ask how many hours they’ll spend on research, writing, and revisions. Don’t go for the cheapest option—go for the one who understands your business and your goals.
28. 76% of founders say writing their own plan increased confidence when pitching
There’s a direct connection between writing your plan and feeling confident when pitching it. Over three-quarters of founders who wrote their own plan say it made them sharper, more prepared, and better at selling their idea.
That’s because writing forces you to practice your pitch in slow motion. You anticipate tough questions. You explain your logic. You build a story that makes sense. By the time you’re in front of an investor, you’ve already walked through it dozens of times in your head.
It’s not about memorizing lines—it’s about internalizing your strategy.
Action step: Use your business plan as a training tool. Practice explaining each section out loud. Create a one-page summary. Turn key points into pitch slides. The more you rehearse with your own words, the stronger you’ll feel in real conversations.
29. 61% of investors prefer founder-written plans for due diligence
When investors are doing their homework, they want a plan that shows the founder’s thinking. It helps them evaluate the founder’s clarity, market understanding, and decision-making approach.
A founder-written plan is also easier to trust. It feels more connected to the actual execution plan. Investors don’t just want projections—they want to see the reasoning behind the projections.
This doesn’t mean the writing has to be flawless. But it needs to feel like it came from the person running the business, not just someone paid to write nicely.
Action step: Write your plan as if your future investor is going to read it and quiz you on it. Walk them through your thought process. Explain your assumptions. If you do get editing help, make sure your voice still comes through.
30. Only 17% of outsourced business plans get updated regularly post-launch
Once the plan is done, most founders never touch it again—especially if it was outsourced. That’s a huge mistake. The market changes. Your product evolves. Your customers teach you new things. Your plan should reflect all of that.
The best founders treat their business plan like a living document. They update it every few months. They use it to track progress, plan the next phase, and stay accountable.
Outsourced plans often feel “finished” when delivered, which makes founders less likely to revise them later. But business isn’t static—and your plan shouldn’t be either.
Action step: Set a recurring calendar reminder—every 3 months—to review and update your business plan. Keep a version history. Use the plan to make smarter decisions, not just impress stakeholders.
Conclusion:
The answer is clear—founders should. Even if freelancers help along the way, the best, most useful, and most successful business plans are driven by the person with the vision.
You don’t have to be a great writer. You don’t have to know everything. But you do need to own the process. That’s what makes your plan more than just a document. It becomes your compass.
