Business
Plan Software
There is a lot of
business plan software on offer - ranging from simple
formats for lifestyle businesses through to
complex models for larger companies.
How do you choose
the right one? Here are some things to consider:
Format
Selecting the right format to suit the task is crucial
to a successful plan. The software needs to be adaptable
to meet your needs – so your plan is neither too
brief nor too complex. (See Business
Plan Template and Small
Business Plan). If you are a UK business, then you
need to select a plan designed for the UK market. Much
of the software on offer, especially on the Internet,
is based on US products and these tend to use styles
and terminology more suited to the American market.
Free
Software
You will see a lot of FREE software plans advertised
– though in many cases, when you get to the site
you actually have to pay for them! Whilst those that
are available may appear to be a convenient and easy
way to produce a plan, they do not offer the prompts
and guidance to make you really think about your business.
By ‘borrowing’ someone else’s plan
and trying to adapt it for your own use, you could be
in danger of missing some important elements.
Financials
Make sure the financial spreadsheets are easy to complete
and clearly laid out. If you are used to Excel, choose
one that is based on Excel. The figures are very important,
particularly if you are presenting the plan to an investor
or lender - if you present something that you don’t
properly understand, then the chances are they won’t
either.
Cost
Depending on the complexity of the product and the number
of user licences, this can vary from as little as £25
to over £1000. For the average small/medium size
business, expect to pay around £50 to £90
for a good single user/single plan product.
Recommendations
If you want some recommendations, read genuine testimonials
from other users or ask advice from a professional source
as to what might be the most suitable product for your
purpose. See User
Views on this site.
stepbystep business
plan software costs from £49 + VAT, for a comprehensive
package - see buy
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