Product Reviews

So you want to start your own business - but where are you going to get the cash? If you're trying to persuade people to lend you money, or your bank manager to advance you credit, you'll need a business plan that outlines what you intend to do, and why you're the right person to do it. Clearly, it isn't something you want to go at half-cocked. Business Plan Pro 2004 aims to help you get it right. It provides templates, tips and step-by-step help with writing the perfect business plan.

Most business plan software is based around spreadsheets, leaving you to do the hard work of defining and structuring the plan on your own. Business Plan Pro takes a different approach. Its EasyPlan wizard uses a framework of a dozen relevant topics to guide you through the process. To make the job even easier, the wizard is arranged as a questionnaire. By asking pertinent questions, it prompts you for relevant information, and ensures you don't miss anything important.

You can also work from one of over 400 ready-made plans available at www.bplan.com. This site is owned and operated by the program's maker, Palo Alto Software, and is well worth a visit in its own right. The plans cover several industries and different types of business.

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They're aimed at an American market, but you can modify them to suit your own needs.

Unlike most business plan software, which is invariably US-based, Business Plan Pro can handle UK VAT calculations. It can also work in euros and dollars. Even more useful is the fact that when you've entered your projected sales and expenses into the program, it calculates your break-even point, sales forecasts, cash flows, milestones and other important points in your plan. If you're baffled by all this business-speak, don't worry! The program provides explanations as it goes. EasyPlan Wizard even helps you review your plan, checking your figures and comparing your data against more than 8,000 industry-standard profiles.

Once you've finished your plan you can publish it, fully formatted, in finished chapters. The software writes each chapter in properly constructed sentences and paragraphs, complete with automatically merged text, tables, charts and a table of contents. You can export to Word, Excel, PDF and HTML, and even publish the plan to a secure Web site, which Palo Alto will provide for you.

Business Plan Pro's impressive resources include two dedicated Web sites and links to many others. Along with the program's thick paper manual, you get two books on disc that deal with Business Planning and Marketing Plans.

The 2004 version includes tools for importing and exporting plans from Microsoft Word, and has its own editing tools. You can format tables in various colours for easier reading, and extra charts are available. The program's main toolbar has been made easier to use.

Few business plan programs offer as many features as this, giving you total control over input and output, and allowing you to produce your personal plan. At this price, it should be part of every business's kit.