Automate Your Business Plan
What's New in Version 11.0

Integrated (Linked) Spreadsheet Workbook:
For the first time our users will be able to create a linked set of financial spreadsheets that is completely customized to their own charts of accounts. In the past, the spreadsheets have been separate files that had to be customized by the user. Now our Chart of Accounts Wizard will take you through the setup process and your workbook of linked spreadsheets will instantly be completely customized to your business. Numbers input in one spreadsheet will automatically be input in all related spreadsheets. When you update information, it will also be updated throughout the workbook.

Charts & Graphs Included:
We have also added a charting and graphing component to the Integrated Spreadsheet Workbook. It will automatically generate six graphs and charts reflecting your financial information. They can then be pasted into the text part of your plan or used in your presentations for added effect.

Financial Statement Analysis is Auto-Generated:
Financial statement analysis will now be much easier to perform. The spreadsheet workbook contains four separate quarterly budget analysis spreadsheets (one for each quarter). All of the information will be auto-generated from cash flow and profit & loss statements, making it easy to perform a quarterly review of your company's profitability. Critical ratios will also be auto-generated in our ratio table making it easy to measure your business against industry standards.

Separate Spreadsheet Option:
For those users who want access to separate spreadsheet files (cash flow, profit & loss, etc.), we have maintained a separate set of spreadsheets with instructions and examples. In fact, if the user chooses, he or she can de-select the integrated spreadsheet workbook and choose to work entirely with separate customizable pre-formatted and pre-formulated spreadsheets.

New Business or Existing Business Option:
When a user enters the software, he or she will now be able to select the type of plan to be written.... one for a new business or one for an existing business. After choosing, you will automatically be in the right environment for your type of business and have the appropriate spreadsheets for your financial plan.

Save Plan to Zip File:
Because some of our users have queried us as to the best way to email their business plan files or to upload them to a website, we have added a new menu: "Save Plan to Zip File" You will be able to select the pieces of your plan that you would like to send electronically, move the selected pieces to the right window and click on "Save Plan to Zip File" Your business plan pieces will then be saved and zipped into a single transportable file. (Read more about this in the Readme File and in the Help File.)

Content Revision:
The entire business planning content was revised in 2002 to reflect the most current trends in business planning and to match the 5th edition of our book, "Anatomy of a Business Plan." The content has been further updated this year in Version 11.

Marketing Plan Content:
You will find that the most significant change from earlier versions is in the marketing plan content. You now have the option of creating either a basic or advanced marketing plan. The basic marketing plan option may be the best choice for a smaller business or for students completing a class project. The advanced marketing plan should be especially beneficial to larger and more aggressive businesses. It guides the user through the development of both an on-line and off-line approach to market planning.

New Tool Features:
In our latest versions, we have added new features to both the word processor and spreadsheet tools. Most significant are:

Word Processing:
The most notable additions to our word processor tool are capabilities to create tables and to add bullets to lists.

Spreadsheet Tool:
We now have a charting and graphing tool called First Impressions. It is an excellent tool and you will find that it is very easy to use. The spreadsheet tool also now has a Print Preview menu.