It does not have to be, especially for a small business BUT there are standard steps required for its development. Cost is dictated by whether you require the business plan for financing or simply growth. A business plan for financing requires a lot of financial calculations and will definitely be more expensive - and , it does not have to be 200 pages long! Similarly a 2-pager business plan may not adequately address all the requirements of a business plan as well as a 10 or 30 page plan. Note, the number of pages in a business plan is determined by what is needed to create adequate content. To check on the health of your business with a Business Health Check Template, OR for assistance:  Go to contact page.