Business Plan Pro 2006 Premier Edition  

By Dale Farris, Secretary Golden Triangle PC Club August 2005 General Overview PaloAlto Software's Business Plan Pro 2006 provides a super software program that enables you to quickly create a business plan. Once you have installed the program, it gets right to work for you. Opening the program presents a prompt allowing you to choose from starting a new business plan, open a sample plan, or open a plan already in progress. Most new owners will likely want to jump right into creating their plan, and will be pleased that the program structures most of this with handy wizards to guide you through the initial setup process. For example, the EasyPlan Wizard will guide you though the steps to start a business plan with selections at the bottom of the screen, and a set of brief instructions at the top. The wizard asks you a series of questions dealing with whether you are going to sell products or services, and if you are running a profit or nonprofit business. The wizard will also present questions that are very specific to the type of business plan you want to set up, just like a consulting service. After the initial “Plan Setup” is complete, the program presents its concept kick-start. This section is where the basic business assessment is completed. Things like the mission statement, objectives, and keys to success are entered into this portion of the Wizard. Next, the program presents the “Your Company” part of the wizard, which lists a reference to one of the resource books Palo Alto includes with the software. The “Starting a Business” section of the book is meant to help users with filling out the next step. The program’s “Market” section allows you to input the customers you want to target, as well as the projected growth rate over the next five years. The sales forecasting section allows you to input some rough numbers as to your projected earnings. The marketing plan portion then prompts you to either create a new plan, or import an existing one from Palo Alto’s Marketing Plan Pro. The next few steps involve mapping the content to be included on your business’s Web page. More financial information was also provided, such as creating a break-even analysis and start-up costs. All these fields were handled the same way as the others. After completing the rest of this financial information, you are prompted to search for your company type in a database of profiles. Business Plan Pro will pull up a list of businesses related to your search term. The final step is the “Finish and Polish” portion of the setup Wizard. A section on business strategy and implementation will be presented, as well as one marking down important milestones for your business. At the end of the Wizard process there is an option to “Review My Plan.” This feature is intended to review the plan for any critical errors and possible problems. As the Wizard runs through your plan, it will check for financial statement errors and conflicts. It will also cross-reference things like company growth and sales forecasts with a database of the established industry standards, or common figures. If the review Wizard sees something that it does not like, it will throw up a red flag, represented with a large red X, and then offer a description of the problem and why it was flagged. Finally, the Wizard will bring you back to the section conclusion, and offer some suggested reading in the “Hurdle” book included in the product package. The descriptions of some of the more complicated financial sections will be helpful in deciphering what type of information is needed in that particular section of the plan. Reviewing the plan is just as easy as making it, as is exporting the plan to a print preview, or to PowerPoint slides. The main menu is exceptionally easy to navigate through, and you should have little trouble opening and editing a saved business plan. With Business Plan Pro 2006, you should be able to create a fairly detailed business plan for your business in under two hours and have it all automatically indexed for you. What's New in Version 2006? Included Free, "The Art of the Start" Guy Kawasaki's best-selling book provides an essential guide for anyone starting anything. Financial Planning Options Business Plan Pro helps you determine your strategy whether you want to sell your business, go public, or simply stay the course and grow. Some of the new topics include detailed Exit Strategy and Financial Risks and Contingencies. SWOT Analysis Develop a thorough and objective study of your company's internal Strengths and Weaknesses and external Opportunities and Threats so that you can determine the best strategy for success. Creates Five Different Document Types: Loan Document New Product or Service Description Financial Plan Marketing Plan Complete Business Plan Industry Insight Business Plan Pro now leverages more than 9,000 different industry profiles to give you insight into how your business compares to similar companies. The software will explain, step by step, what the data means and how you can use it to your strategic advantage. Improved Plan Review The automatic Plan Review included in the software now checks for even more of the common financial-planning mistakes by entrepreneurs, offering tips and suggestions on improving your plan. Improved Table Wizards Detailed table wizards walk you through the entire process of generating advanced financial tables for your specific business and industry niche. Integrated Resources Get the additional help you need directly from Business Plan Pro, including direct links to sources for market data, venture capital opportunities, and legal guidance. New Plan Setup Wizard Customize your plan to meet your needs with the new and improved Plan Setup Wizard. The Wizard will guide you through the process of configuring your plan outline, your financials, and other key settings to match your plan to your company and your industry. Improved Sample Plan Browser Open a sample business plan and view the Plan Setup summary to see if it's a good match for your business. You can then make specific changes to the sample plan in order to tailor the business plan for your particular business needs, goals and objectives. Improved Report Writer Based on your document type, the new and improved Report Writer will generate a finished report that includes only the data relevant to your business and planning objectives. Additional Add-in Components Additional add-ins for specific business needs are also available. Try our Sales Forecast-Subscription Model add-in if your business sells subscriptions, memberships or similar services that involve continuing payments. Premier Edition — Everything in the Standard Edition, plus: Payback Period Calculate not only your break-even but how long it will take to pay back an investment. This new financial table and chart provide information that investors want to see and is also a useful measure of the potential risk. Use of Funds Add specific details to your business plan regarding your use of potential investment. Use this table and text topic to detail where the investment will go: product development, marketing, new locations, or general operations. New Chapters Business Plan Pro Premier now includes specific chapters on Valuation, Exit Strategy, and Financial Risks and Contingencies. Use these topics to provide the details investors want to see. Each topic includes detailed instructions and examples. Business Background to the Program A classic learning step in all colleges of business, creating a business plan, is one of the many fundamental tasks students learn early in their business career. While the academic approach to learning how to prepare a business plan certainly is vital in a business curriculum, in the real world of business this process is obviously much more important. The key content areas of the plan are of course essential to any plan, but the eventual output product the company founders prepare for submission to potential investors is also highly important. The quality plan that is eventually provided can many times frustrate those who might not have ever prepared such a document, and when these folks are also not necessarily computer experts, using a computer to help produce their plan can also become a problem. To the rescue comes this super program from PaloAlto Software, Business Plan Pro 2006, that will guide you through all the essential steps in creating a business plan, as well as assist with the all important quality output for presentation. Even those less experienced with computers will find using this program to be very easy. While there certainly are other business plan software programs on the market, this latest 2006 edition of Business Plan Pro continues to shine as the most used and well known of the bunch, and for good reason. In Business Plan Pro 2006 you will find an assortment of tools not found in any other comparable product, along with some new features that highlight this 2006 edition. In the current economy, investors, bankers, and executive teams are looking for business plans that make sound financial sense. Business Plan Pro 2006 focuses on the financial components of a plan allowing entrepreneurs and business managers to demonstrate how their business strategies will lead to financial success. Whether you are starting a business or expanding your current organization, Business Plan Pro 2006 helps you create professional business plans that assures financial success. Keen Features Step-by-Step Help and Expert Guidance EasyPlan Wizard - The EasyPlan Wizard provides step-by-step guidance and asks you simple questions to guide you through the process of producing a complete business plan. Based on your answers, the EasyPlan Wizard selects the plan outline that is right for your business. Imports data from QuickBooks Includes PowerPoint templates Exports to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Creates PDF files 9,000+ industries profiles reveal trends you need to know Develop a Strategy - Business Plan Pro helps you identify keys to success and define your market. Expert guidance at every step provides the tools you need to make critical business decisions. Detailed Instructions and Examples - Every step includes in-depth instructions and multiple examples from real business plans. Wizard-driven Financials - Make sure your numbers work. Every financial table includes a built-in wizard to guide you through the process of creating solid business numbers. Row-by-Row Spreadsheet Help - You can't get stuck with the automatic row-by-row help system. It provides advice, information, and answers for every step of every spreadsheet. No template can give you that level of assistance. Tim Berry, the Wizard Behind the EasyPlan Wizard - Business planning expert Tim Berry is the author of Business Plan Pro. Use his experience to your advantage. 500+ Complete Sample Business Plans - Avoid writer's block with over 400 sample business plans. Use them for inspiration and research. Import sample plans directly into your own plan. 2 Business Books Included - Learn the fundamentals of business planning and marketing planning with the two books by Tim Berry, included with your software. Legal Tools & Business Reference Library - Get the ins and outs of small business legal issues and learn how to choose a legal structure for your business. Professional Financial Forecasting All the Spreadsheets you Need - The financial spreadsheets you need in a business plan are already linked together, financially and mathematically correct, and surrounded by easy to follow instructions and explanations. Just plug your numbers in and let Business Plan Pro do the rest. Works for Nonprofits - Create nonprofit funding plans quickly and easily. Select the nonprofit option in the EasyPlan Wizard and the financials are automatically customized for the specific needs of nonprofits. Works with QuickBooks - Save time with an automatic import from QuickBooks. Create your financial forecasts based on your historical data in QuickBooks. Plan Review Wizard - Present your plan with confidence. Plan Review double-checks all of your numbers to ensure an error-free business plan. Market Data Included - Includes market research on virtually every industry. Match your numbers to industry averages for an accurate business plan. Graphic Forecaster - Create forecasts visually with a "drag and drop" graphic forecaster, or apply a specific growth rate. Automatic Charts - Color charts and graphs are created automatically from your financial forecast. Customize them for a unique look. Download Free Add-ins - Expand your forecasting options with free, downloadable Business Plan Pro add-in components. Create a detailed depreciation analysis, a loan amortization schedule, and a sales forecast for a subscription model. Visual Cash Planning with the Cash Pilot - (PREMIER EDITION) - Create what-if scenarios by testing the key variables that effect your cash flow. Advanced Financial Spreadsheets - (PREMIER EDITION) - Monthly financials for 2 years, functional categories for expenses and payroll, more detailed personnel planning, and a long-term forecasting option for forecasting up to 10 years. Add Unlimited Spreadsheets - (PREMIER EDITION) - Customize your plan to meet your needs. Add unlimited custom spreadsheets for additional financial detail. Import from Excel - (PREMIER EDITION) - If you already have financial data in Excel, easily import it directly into Business Plan Pro and link it to your forecast. Quarterly Reports - (PREMIER EDITION) - Ensure your plan readers focus on the key information by printing your data in quarterly reports. Collaborate with your Team Collaboration Tools - (PREMIER EDITION) - Work with other Business Plan Pro Premier users. Assign portions of the plan to team members and then combine it all into a complete plan. Create Plan Templates - (PREMIER EDITION) - Customize the Business Plan Pro Premier outline, add custom financial tables, and insert standardized text. Save as a template to share with other Business Plan Pro users. NOTE: Collaboration features require each person on the team to have a copy of Business Plan Pro Premier installed on their computer. Print & Publish your Plan Professional, Preferred Format - Business Plan Pro uses a format that meets the most stringent requirements of banks, the SBA, Angel investors, and Venture Capitalists. Customize Your Plan - No cookie-cutter plan or template, Business Plan Pro creates a plan that is unique for your business. Rearrange the outline, add new topics, or delete what you don't need. Export to PowerPoint, Includes Templates - Create a PowerPoint presentation quickly and easily. Export charts, financials, and text directly to PowerPoint. Custom Reports - Print or export your plan into standard formats: loan document, summary memo, product description, marketing plan, and many more. Export to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe PDF - Export your plan to Microsoft Word and Excel, PowerPoint, or create Adobe PDF documents. Publish Online - 100% Secure - Publish to a secure website. Create logins for additional readers to view your plan. Get Funding VC Database - Over 1,200 profiles of venture capital firms worldwide included. Friends and Family Financing Guide - Includes a guide containing tips and strategies on how to successfully approach family, friends, and other private parties for financing. SBA Loan Application - Applications to all SBA (Small Business Administration) loan programs included. Business Valuation - (PREMIER EDITION) - Impress sophisticated investors with an Investment Analysis Table. Calculate valuation based on sales or earnings and calculate IRR and NPV. Investment Offering Table - (PREMIER EDITION) - Plan for outside investment and track investment amounts, ownership, shares, share prices, and stock dilution. Your prospective investors will want to see this information. Premier Edition Features & Benefits The Premier Edition of Business Plan Pro 2006 includes everything in Business Plan Pro 2006 plus: More Advanced Spreadsheets - Expanded sales forecast, an in-depth personnel plan, and detailed expense tracking produce powerful financial projections. More Detailed Cash Flow Planning - The improved Cash Pilot empowers you to test your assumptions and play out "what-if" scenarios with your key assumptions. Unlimited Spreadsheets - Add custom financial information from Excel by importing as many spreadsheets as you need into your business plan. Link Business Plan Pro's financials to yours for in-depth forecasting. Expanded Profit and Loss Table - Provides all of the power and flexibility you need for creating detailed financial projections. Business Valuation Help - Help is available through the expanded investment analysis table based upon respected industry calculations to determine the worth of your business. Assess Investment Performance - The software allows you to determine your return on investment (ROI) and analyze what you need to get your business off the ground or to the next level. Investor Offering Analysis - Show investors you mean business with a detailed Investment Offering table that shows share ownership, investor payout, Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and valuation. Manage multiple rounds of investments and plan your dilution strategy. Expand Your Team Planning - Create your own unique business plan template and share it with other Business Plan Pro users. Give a head start to your team members, divisions, or to satellite offices. Track Sources and Uses of Cash - New optional Sources and Uses Table shows the indirect cash flow method that some business planners and investors need. Email-Based Collaboration - Share business planning tasks with multiple Business Plan Pro users with email-based collaboration. Track changes and increase efficiency and work flow. Expert Analysis - A Plan Review wizard allows you to check your financials for accuracy and completeness. Chart Your Organization - Impress your audience with an organizational chart. Combined with the unique charts and graphs, your plan is sure to impress. All collaboration features require each team member to have a copy of Business Plan Pro Premier. Bplans.com Palo Alto Software has provided Bplans.com with sample business plans, marketing plans, web strategy plans, and advertising plans for you to learn from and apply to your business. Target Audience Business Plan Pro 2006 will definitely appeal to anyone needing assistance with creating a business plan, especially those who have never completed this important planning document. This is also an excellent example of the best of the software market all public libraries should make a point to add to their collection. While many libraries already do a super job of providing print material for use by job seekers, adding this vital business plan making program is a certainty in their effort to assist with this important process. Price $199.00 Business Plan Pro 2006 Premier Edition $  99.95 Business Plan Pro 2006 Standard Edition Note that this price includes one of the most thorough, complete documentation manuals you will ever see. When so many other software vendors commit to loading all their help on disc, it is a surprise to find that with Business Plan Pro 2006 you also get a superb paper-based manual. System Requirements Pentium PC or Higher Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP RAM - Operating system minimum requirements 100MB free hard disk space 70MB for IE 6 CD ROM drive Super VGA (800 x 600) with 256 colors display (1024 x 768 recommended) Windows compatible printer Internet connection required for Internet features About Palo Alto Software Palo Alto Software—The Planning People—develops, publishes, and markets software products for use with personal computers. Its products offer task-oriented, "know how" solutions for small-business and home-office entrepreneurs, professionals, and middle managers. The company is a privately-owned corporation in Eugene, Oregon. Palo Alto Software's Windows products include Business Plan Pro, Marketing Plan Pro, Web Strategy Pro and Advertising Plan Pro. For several years, Business Plan Pro has led its category (according to NPD Intellect, formerly PC Data), outselling all of its competitors combined. Palo Alto Software's Macintosh-based business-plan software is Business Plan Toolkit. Information on business planning and marketing planning can be found at www.bplans.com and www.mplans.com. These sites include sample business and marketing plans and scenarios, practical advise on planning, and a panel of experts who have answered more than 1,400 questions. Bplans.com has won awards as a valuable "plain talk" resource. Palo Alto Software's founder and CEO is Tim Berry, a renowned planning expert. He is listed in the index of "Fire in the Valley", by Swaine and Freiberger, the history of the personal computer industry. Tim's biography is at www.timberry.com. Palo Alto Software develops, publishes, markets, and supports personal computer software that incorporates task-oriented tools, techniques, and know-how in practical, easy-to-use products. Palo Alto Software, Inc., was founded in Palo Alto (CA) in 1983 as Infoplan, a sole proprietorship. In 1988 it was incorporated in California as Palo Alto Software. Palo Alto Software moved to Oregon in 1992 and was subsequently merged into Palo Alto Software, an Oregon corporation. During the 1980s, the company focused mainly on consulting and market research, with clients including Apple Computer, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Lotus Development Corporation, Ashton-Tate and others. Its forecasts of the personal computer market in Mexico became the standard source in that market until Select S.A. was established in 1988. Founder Tim Berry developed annual business plans for Apple Latin America from 1984 through 1987, during which time sales quadrupled, and for Apple Japan from 1991 to 1993 as sales increased tenfold. The business plan product evolved from extensive consulting in business planning for large and small companies. In 1984, Infoplan published a business plan template, which accompanied a book published by Oasis Press, and in 1988, the original version of Business Plan Toolkit was published. Since its release in 1995, Business Plan Pro has seen favorable reviews by numerous business and high-tech magazines, and Internet sites; it is regularly on Amazon.com's top 10 list of best-selling business software. Business Plan Pro has won many honors, and customized versions have been developed for corporations; regional version are available in Canada and the United Kingdom, as well as for Portuguese and Spanish speaking users. The most recent versions, Business Plan Pro 2003 and Business Plan Pro 2003 PREMIER, were released in September 2002. Marketing Plan Pro was first released in 1996 with version 6.0 and version 6.0 PREMIER appearing in October 2002; Web Strategy Pro debuted in September 2000, and Advertising Plan Pro became available in November 2001. Contact PaloAlto Software 144 E 14th Ave Eugene, Oregon 97401 541-683-6162 FAX 541-683-6250 Technical Support: 541-683-6162 FAX 541-683-6250 Sales: 800-229-7526 www.paloalto.com