Readme for Biz-Plan - Freeware Release

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Contents
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1. Introduction to Biz-Plan
2. Registering Biz-Plan
3. Other Business Planning Help
4. Revision History
5. Contact Details

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CAUTION:

If you acquired Biz-Plan from an unknown third-party, we

recommend that you check the file BIZ-PLAN_TEMPLATE.DOC
for viruses before loading it. This file is suuplied as a
read-only document and should NOT contain any macro or
auto-loading programs.

This message is intended to encourage safe computing practices

and should not be a cause for alarm.

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1. Introduction to Biz-Plan
===================

Biz-Plan is a detailed Guide and Template for preparing a

business plan. It has been compiled and distributed as freeware
by PlanWare.

The Word-based Template (48 pages) contains a detailed framework

and structure for writing a business plan. It is complemented by
a comprehensive Guide (supplied as a 90+ topic Help file and as a
100+ page PDF file for printing) which offers extensive
section-by-section help related to the Template.

Biz-Plan is aimed at new and established businesses

seeking to expand, raise finance etc. which need to produce a
comprehensive business plan for internal/external use. While
Biz-Plan is not intended for very small businesses (e.g.
annual sales under, say, $250,000), it does contain many ideas
and issues which could be adopted to produce a shorter,
simpler plan as explained in the Guide.

This freeware release of Biz-Plan is freely distributable

but refer to the file LICENSE.TXT for full details.

The Template requires Microsoft Word 97, 2000 or XP. It will

NOT run with Word 6 or 95. However, you will find a version of
Biz-Plan suitable for these versions of Word at the PlanWare
site <www.planware.org/busplan.htm>.

For latest information about Biz-Plan, visit our web site

at:
 <http://www.planware.org>

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2. Registering Biz-Plan
=================

The supplied Biz-Plan Template is a protected, 'read-only'

document for Microsoft Word. Upon registration, this protection
can be removed and the Template can be freely modified by the
registered user.

Biz-Plan registration is completely free and there are no strings

attached ! You will not be added to any email list as a result of
registering. Check our privacy policy at
<www.planware.org/privacy.htm>.

To register, simply e-mail <bizplan@planware.org> quoting

within its body the serial number displayed in the table/box
located in the middle of the first page of the Biz-Plan Template
file (BIZ-PLAN_TEMPLATE.DOC).

You will be e-mailed back a password with simple instructions

to unprotect the Template. Once unprotected, you are
licensed to use it as an outline structure & guide for your
business plan. It can be freely modified and there are no
restrictions on how and where you distribute your completed
plan based on the Template. (A little mention would be nice <g>
but that is at your complete discretion).

Registered, unprotected copies of the Biz-Plan Template

are strictly for personal use. They must not be copied, distributed
or circulated to unregistered users as any form or type of
business planning template or guide without prior permission from
<bizplan@planware.org>.

However, copies of the original unregistered, protected files can be

freely circulated provided that they are not changed in any way
and distributed as a complete package within the supplied archive
file (*.ZIP or *EXE).

See LICENSE.TXT for details of permissions and restrictions.

See "Start Here" in the Guide for further help with registering
and getting started.

When registering, make sure that your e-mail address is valid.

We receive a large number of defective addresses and
consequently replies containing passwords cannot be delivered.
If you don't receive a password from us within a reasonable
time (e.g. 24 hours), the most likely reason is a wrong e-mail
address. Double-check your address and submit a further
registration request.

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3. Other Business Planning Help

=======================

The PlanWare site <www.planware.org> contains extensive

assistance on business planning and related matters.

It offers freeware, shareware & commercial software packages for

preparing business plans, making financial projections and
assessing business ideas including:

- Exl-Plan range (Basic, Micro, Lite, Pro, Super, Super Plus, Ultra
and Ultra Plus) of fully-integrated 1-3-5 year business financial
planners for use with Excel.

- Exl-Plan Free, a freeware 2-year integrated financial planner

for Excel.

- Cashflow Plan range (Micro, Lite, Plus, Super and Ultra) for
generating rolling 12-month proforma projections.

- Cashflow Plan Free, a freeware 6-month cash flow planner.

- Plan Write range of 'standalone' business plan writers.

- Insight range of 'expert-system' software for evaluating business

ideas and strategies.

- On-line strategic and financial planners and other useful planning

tools.

It also contains a series of 'white papers' covering:

- How to write a business plan.

- Insights into business planning.
- Getting new business ideas.
- New venture strategies.
- Developing a business strategy.
- Preparing financial projections.
- Making cashflow forecasts.
- Managing working capital.

... and much more.

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4. Revision History
=============

March 1999
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Release 1.1
First general release freeware version for Word 97.

June 1999
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Release 1.2
Updated for Word 2000.

June 1999
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Release 1.3
Minor changes made to 1.2.

July 2000
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Release 1.4
Fixed erratic problem with bullet styles.

August 2001
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Release 1.5
Added further guidance and advice.

September 2003
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Release 2.0
Extensive updating of text and separation of the "template"
and "guide".

April 2006
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Release 3.0
Complete rebuild of the Template and creation of separate
Guide in CHM and PDF formats.

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5. Contact Details
=============

Contact details for the author of Biz-Plan are as follows:

PlanWare - Invest-Tech Limited

27 Ardmeen Park
Blackrock
Co Dublin
Ireland

Tel: + 353-1-283 4083

Fax: + 353-1-278 2391
(Replace + by international access code)

E-mail: <info@planware.org>

Web: <www.planware.org>

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End of Readme