A business plan does not need to be a 40 page document written for a bank.

For most small business owners, a good business plan is a clear, honest document that answers the questions that matter: what are you selling, who is buying it, how will you reach them, and will it actually make money.

This guide walks you through every section of a small business plan, explains what to write in each one, and gives you a free template you can use right now.

This is one of the most common questions we get asked, and the honest answer is: neither is objectively better. They’re different tools with different strengths, and the right choice depends entirely on how you work.

But that non-answer doesn’t help you decide. So this guide breaks down both options honestly — what each does well, where each falls short, and how to choose based on your actual planning habits, not someone else’s opinion.

One of the best things about the Onyx Boox is that you can load any PDF template onto it and start writing immediately. But finding templates that actually work well on e-ink — and for serious planning, not just note-taking — takes more effort than you’d expect.

Most templates floating around online are designed for iPads. They use colour-coded sections, tiny text, and layouts that look great on a retina screen but fall apart in greyscale. On an Onyx Boox, you need clean lines, high contrast, and enough writing space for a stylus.

This guide rounds up the best planning templates for Onyx Boox in 2026 — both free and paid — and explains what to look for so you don’t waste time downloading things that don’t work.

Every Monday morning, before I open my laptop, I pick up my Onyx Boox and spend about 15 minutes planning my week. No apps. No notifications. Just the planner, a stylus, and a clear head.

This is the single habit that keeps my business moving forward. Not a to-do list app. Not a Notion dashboard. A simple weekly planning session on an e-ink screen that forces me to think before I start doing.

Here’s exactly how it works.

Why I Plan on Onyx Boox Instead of My Laptop

I tried planning digitally for years — Notion, Google Calendar, various task apps. They all had the same problem: I’d open my laptop to plan, then get pulled into emails, Slack messages, or a browser tab I’d left open. The planning session would dissolve into reactive work within minutes.

There’s a growing trend of people switching from iPads and laptops to e-ink devices like the Onyx Boox for focused work. The pitch is simple: no distractions, no notifications, just a clean screen for reading, writing, and thinking.

But does it actually make you more productive? Or is it just another gadget that ends up in a drawer after two weeks?

This is an honest review of using Onyx Boox specifically for productivity and business planning — what it does well, where it falls short, and who it’s actually for.

If you’re looking for an e-ink device specifically for planning — not just reading or casual note-taking — you’ve probably narrowed it down to three options: Onyx Boox, Kindle Scribe, and reMarkable 2.

All three have stylus input, e-ink screens, and long battery life. But they’re very different devices when it comes to actually using them as a planning tool. What works for reading a novel doesn’t necessarily work for managing your business week.

This guide compares all three from a planning perspective — not specs and benchmarks, but the things that actually matter when you’re trying to stay organised and get things done.

If you want to start a business with no money, a service business is the fastest way to get there.

No stock. No warehouse. No upfront investment. Just a skill, a customer, and the ability to deliver. You get paid for your time and expertise, and you can start earning from week one if you move quickly enough.

This guide walks you through choosing your service, finding your first clients, setting your prices, and building something that can grow — all without spending money you don’t have.

A business plan is a written document that describes what your business does, who it serves, how it makes money, and how you plan to grow it.

But here's the honest truth most business advice glosses over: you don't need a 40-page document with financial projections and market analysis charts to start a business.

What you need is clarity.

Clarity on:

• What problem you're solving

• Who you're solving it for

• How you'll reach them

• How you'll make money

• What you need to do first

Starting a business is exciting. The first few weeks are full of energy, ideas, and momentum. You’re researching, planning, building, and it feels like everything is moving.

Then week four hits. Or week six. Nobody has bought anything. Your content isn’t getting traction. You’re tired from working on this alongside your day job. And that voice in your head starts: “Maybe this isn’t going to work.”

This is where most businesses die. Not because the idea was bad, but because the founder stopped.

This guide is about making sure that doesn’t happen to you. If you’re building from scratch, read this alongside our full guide: How to Start a Business with No Money.

You’ve bought a digital planner for your Onyx Boox. Now you need to get it onto the device and set it up properly so the hyperlinks work, the writing feels right, and you can actually start planning.

This guide walks you through the entire process — from downloading the file to navigating your planner with the stylus. It takes about five minutes, and once it’s done, you’re ready to go.

If you haven’t chosen a planner yet, read our guide on the best planner for Onyx Boox first.

Before You Start

Quitting your job to start a business sounds bold. It also sounds like one of the fastest ways to put yourself under financial pressure and make terrible decisions.

The smarter move? Keep your job. Build alongside it. Let your salary fund your business while you figure out what works, what doesn’t, and whether this thing has legs.

Millions of successful businesses were started exactly this way — evenings, weekends, lunch breaks. You don’t need eight hours a day. You need one or two focused hours, used consistently.

This guide shows you how to build a real business around a full-time job without burning out or staying stuck. If you’re starting from zero, read the full guide first: How to Start a Business with No Money.

Why You Shouldn’t Quit Your Job (Yet)