Business Planning

[matt4]

So, What do others use to business plan? Do you use a software program such as business plan pro or go down the old fashioned route (paper and pen, or word processor)?

Matt

 

[Gill]

Hello Matt
In answer - both - old fashioned pencil and paper, plus calculator, then transfer to laptop and word and excel, then print and show to friends (first) and family, then business advisor - if everyone is still smiling (not in sarcastic manner) you are probably ok- at the end of the day you answer to you - scary but true.
Good luck.
Gill

 

[Gill]

Oh and it is a 'working' document - you have to plan time to revisit to see how accurate it was (is I mean) and then celebrate wildly if you are ahead and blame everybody else if you aren't up to the figures. Think that is how it goes.
Gill

 

[stephendoyle]

good old pen and paper for me.

regards
steve doyle

 

[becker]

If you have access to the basic MSOffice or similar software you will be able to create a Business Plan.

The only additonal thing that would help is some templates and guidelines to give you the framework. Most of the major banks offer free "Business Plan software" - which is often just a series of templates.

The bottom line is: its not what you create it with, but what you put in it (or leave out) that makes a good business plan.

 

[Aspire]

Hi Matt

There are a few free templates out there (im sure i can find the links if you like).

It helps to see a few from other trades, to give you a sense of what has worked for other people. Also it helped me think outside the traditional insurance broker box and really brought new things to the table.

Tris

 

[matt4]

Would like to see a few templates if possible.

Maybe from others in the webhosting industry. Its the structure I want to see really. Right now I am adding my ideas in the wrong sections of the plan I think.

Matt

 

[Astaroth]

Use a combination of Word, Excel and Project from MS mainly unless wanting to include analysis on existing data in which case generally export from its database for analysis in Excel

 

[Sally@CC]

Pen and paper for me, then transfer over to pc.

Although if I'm honest most of it is just in my head and I make it up as I go along. :redface:

 

[Gillie]

I have a business plan template you are welcome to that includes a cashflow that banks like, if you pm you email addy to me, I will forward it to you ....

 

[matt4]

PMed you. Thanks for the information everyone

 

[buhh]

Barclay's Bank offered me a free business plan software but I didn't really used it. Mainly did my planning using Word. Research was the main thing..visiting competitions, trying to decide the price, thinking different styles of trading what people in the same business haven't use before etc

 

[miketombs]

Business Plan Pro is useful for their examples and suggestions, but for presentation purposes it has to be dumped into Word or something to get it looking right.

 

[W3LCOM]

paper and pen are well to know what you project exactly, aren't you?

 

[matt4]

Business plan pro is great. However when exporting it though, graphs and pictures etc they have to be realigned. I done my first business plan using it and it was a bit of a pain in that sense.

Of course the pen and paper is great but it doesn't help you with the structure of a plan if you know what I mean

Thanks,
Matt