How Much Can I Earn for Making a Business Plan for a Company? (30 Pages)

Introduction: The Harsh Truth About Business Plan Earnings

Let’s get one thing straight — writing a business plan doesn’t make you rich overnight.

You can pour weeks of work, research, and late-night edits into a 30-page business plan and still earn less than you deserve. I’ve written more than 240 business plans in my career, and if there’s one lesson I’ve learned, it’s this: the quality of your work won’t automatically translate to the income you expect — your pricing strategy will.

Many freelancers and consultants enter the business plan niche believing that “great work sells itself.” Unfortunately, the market doesn’t always reward effort; it rewards strategy, positioning, and knowing when to say no.

So, let’s unpack what you can truly earn from writing business plans — and how to make that work sustainable, profitable, and worth your time.

The Truth About Earning from Business Plans

Here’s the reality: the earning range in this field is wide — painfully wide.

At the low end, you’ll find freelancers charging $300–$500 per plan. They’re often competing on price, reusing templates, and delivering cookie-cutter documents. These plans are usually worthless to investors, but they exist because there’s always a market for “cheap.”

At the high end, accounting firms charge up to $50,000 for research and development. Ironically, most of those plans are written by people who’ve never started a business themselves — yet companies pay the price because of the firm’s reputation.

In between those extremes are consultants and independent professionals — people like you and me — who know how to combine real-world strategy with storytelling. If you position yourself correctly, you can easily charge between $2,000 to $5,000 per 30-page plan.

The key is not the page count. It’s the insight behind those pages.

Why a Business Plan Isn’t a Success Guarantee

Here’s something clients rarely understand: a business plan doesn’t guarantee business success.

A business plan is a roadmap, not a crystal ball. It looks great on paper until it collides with reality.

I’ve seen this happen countless times — founders spend weeks polishing their plans, presenting perfect projections, only to hit their first operational bump and realize the market doesn’t care about their spreadsheets.

There’s an old military saying that fits perfectly here:

“No battle plan survives the first 24 hours of combat.”

The same goes for startups. Your plan will change the moment your business meets the real world.

But that doesn’t make business plans useless. They’re powerful communication tools — meant to show investors, partners, and banks how you think, not just what you expect.

Your job as a business plan writer isn’t to predict the future; it’s to help your client justify their concept credibly and logically. That’s what people pay for.

What Clients Really Pay For

When a client hires you to write a business plan, they’re not paying for 30 pages of text — they’re paying for clarity, structure, and credibility.

They want:

• A document that sounds like they know what they’re doing

• Numbers that make sense to investors

• A narrative that explains why their idea is viable

Most clients can’t articulate all that. That’s why they need you.

I once had a potential client who proudly showed me a $500 plan she bought online. The plan claimed that her small store in Bedford-Stuyvesant would attract tourists because of “seasonal tourism patterns.” Anyone who knows New York knows that’s nonsense.

That plan was recycled from a gas station business plan written for a resort area. It was utter garbage — but she only wanted to pay $500, so garbage is what she got.

Moral of the story: people get what they pay for. If a client insists on paying less, let them. Don’t compromise your standards to fit their budget.

When to Walk Away from Low-Paying Clients

Every freelancer has to learn this lesson the hard way: not every client is worth keeping.

If someone argues about your price before understanding your value, walk away. Because even if you agree to their rate, they’ll still find ways to demand more for less.

Think of it this way — if a client can’t afford to pay you for a solid business plan, how will they afford to fund their startup?

And if they can’t pay you what you’re worth, they’re not likely to grow — which means there’s no long-term relationship or add-on work waiting down the road.

As a freelancer, one of the smartest things you can do is say, “No, thank you.” It frees up your time for clients who actually value what you do.

Lessons from Writing 240 Business Plans

After writing around 240 plans, I’ve seen it all — from ambitious founders with great ideas to clueless dreamers with unrealistic fantasies.

When I first started, I underpriced myself constantly. I charged whatever it took to “get the client,” thinking that experience alone would lead to higher-paying work later. It didn’t.

Then I started specializing — focusing on industries I understood deeply. I spent time researching trends, studying competitors, and building my credibility. Slowly, I began to charge more.

And something interesting happened: my clients became better.

People who pay more tend to be more serious, more respectful, and more professional. They understand value. They ask smarter questions. They trust your process.

Today, I’d rather write 4 high-quality business plans a month for $3,000 each than 12 rushed ones for $1,000 each.

You can’t sustain 12 plans a month anyway — and your quality (and sanity) will suffer.

The Psychology of Pricing — Why Charging More Works

Here’s a fascinating truth about human behavior: people respect what they pay for.

When clients pay you $500, they treat you like a freelancer. When they pay $5,000, they treat you like a consultant.

The difference isn’t just money — it’s perception.

Pricing is psychological. The higher your rate, the more confidence you project. And confidence attracts serious clients.

But here’s the catch — you have to back that confidence with results. That means delivering plans that feel insightful, tailored, and strategically sound.

Your clients aren’t buying a Word document; they’re buying the peace of mind that they can walk into a bank or investor meeting and look credible.

Once you understand that, pricing becomes easy.

What Makes a Business Plan Writer Worth Top Dollar

If you want to move into the higher-income bracket of business plan writing, here’s what sets you apart:

1. Industry Focus: Specialize in one or two industries where you can show real understanding.

2. Storytelling Skills: Make numbers and strategies compelling — not dry or robotic.

3. Research Depth: Go beyond surface-level data. Investors can tell when a plan is recycled.

4. Consultative Approach: Ask the right questions. You’re not just writing — you’re strategizing.

5. Confidence in Pricing: Stop apologizing for your rates. You bring value; act like it.

Conclusion: Charge What You’re Worth — Always

So, how much can you earn for writing a 30-page business plan?

It depends — on your skill, your positioning, and your willingness to value your own time.

You can earn $500 per plan or $5,000 per plan. The work is the same; the difference is how you frame your worth.

A well-crafted business plan isn’t just paper — it’s a blueprint that gives entrepreneurs clarity and investors confidence. That’s not a small service. That’s a cornerstone of business success.

The next time a client hesitates at your price, remember:

You’re not selling a document. You’re selling insight, experience, and strategic direction.

Charge accordingly. The clients who understand your value will gladly pay for it.