Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Anybody know of any software aids to help with the completion of the bizplan?

Please advise.

Thanks!

Sean

Hi Sean,

If you are creating a business plan to present for funding requests, you want to be careful to create an original plan. It is ok to view and follow sample plans, but you don't necessarily want to use the software version to create the whole thing. Lenders and the SBA reps can spot a canned business plan a mile away. They much prefer original plans. Be sure to follow the SBA preferred format.

I agree with startuphelper. Create an original plan using Word & Excel or your preferred substitutes. If you follow a template, remember that not everything in the template will necessarily apply to you. Have a friend with business plan experience read it and give you feedback before you give it to a lender.

Espee,

I recommend you pick up some respected books about creating a successful business plan, and like Scottk suggested, have a friend that has experience with business plans look over whatever you come up with.

-Ryan

Hi all,

I have software called Cortext Business Plan Deluxe.  It has tutorials to follow and templates you fill in.  It's designed for the person wanting to create a professional looking business plan.  But, to be honest, I've never used it to actually develop a plan.

I used a very simple business plan approach I found on line several years ago.  There are 4 questions to the plan.  Each question has eight to ten sub parts that need to be answered.  By the time I finished the plan, I had a business plan unique to my business.

Check out Score.org and they have plenty of templates for the whole thing or individual sections.  I don't think you need to pay for software to fill in blanks.  Plus if you start with a template, you can customize it to a degree.

Frankly I'd not buy any software. Buy a good book, then check out lots of other business plans especially ones in your industry, you can actually find example plans by googling them.

Starting a business takes much more than just a good idea. It takes a lot of planning, finance and factors to manage it properly for growth in future. Few years back, it wasn't an easy to create a business. However, today with the help of business plan software, creating a business plan has never been easier.

There are tons of different ones, i think it ultimately depends on what you're looking for here!