Business Plan Pro 2002 by Palo Alto Software, Inc.

Description

While computers still can't come up with winning business ideas on their own, they have become essential tools for turning ideas into profits. Business Plan Pro 2002 helps beginners and old hands alike devise professional-looking plans that show banks and investors exactly what they want to see: profitability estimates, cash flow, market analysis, and more.

Installation is simple, and the wizard-driven interface makes the process almost childishly easy, so the results are even more impressive. Of course, some details aren't for kids–financial information can be imported from popular software like Quicken, the plan and its details can be posted online, and the advice offered for particular business operations can be very precise.

Though a few may find it annoying, the software does expect a certain amount of Web and online savvy; one of the four supplementary books it offers is only available on the Net, for example. Still, even complete novices can create impressive plans–or find that their ideas might need some substantial tweaking in order to eke out a profit. Advanced users might find the sample plans interesting, but are more likely to drool over the thousands of possible reports, the error-checking tool, the funding search, and the wealth of additional resources.

The days of just talking banks out of money are over–now they want to see evidence of detailed thinking. Business Plan Pro 2002 makes the hard work easy and helps turn great ideas into reality. –Rob Lightner

Platforms

Windows NT, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Me, Windows XP, Windows 95