Andrew Thomas offers the following royalty-free article for you to publish online or in print. Feel free to use this article in your newsletter, website, ezine, blog, or forum. ----------- PUBLICATION GUIDELINES - You have permission to publish this article for free providing the "About the Author" box is included in its entirety. - Do not post/reprint this article in any site or publication that contains hate, violence, porn, warez, or supports illegal activity. - Do not use this article in violation of the US CAN-SPAM Act. If sent by email, this article must be delivered to opt-in subscribers only. - If you publish this article in a format that supports linking, please ensure that all URLs and email addresses are active links. - Please send a copy of the publication, or an email indicating the URL to [email protected] - Article Marketer (www.ArticleMarketer.com) has distributed this article on behalf of the author. Article Marketer does not own this article, please respect the author's copyright and publication guidelines. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use this article. ----------- Article Title: Advantages of Automating Business Plan Writing With Professional Software Author: Andrew Thomas Category: Tools and Resources, Home Business, Strategic Planning Word Count: 491 Keywords: business plan, business strategic planning, business plan software, business plan template Author's Email Address: [email protected] Article Source: http://www.articlemarketer.com ------------------ ARTICLE START ------------------
Everyone knows that to be successful in business you must have a business plan. The share volume of traffic on the internet searching for business plan examples and templates is an indication that many people do not know how to put together a winning business plan. Your business plan is important not only for steering your activities in the right direction but also for acquiring financing. Whether it is start up financing or further down the track when you need development financing, you will need to present your business plan. Many templates for business plans do not include financial forecasting or cash flow management. Yet it is here, where small businesses in particular can get stuck. It is all very well putting together your forecasts, however cash flow management is another thing altogether. Rarely do people factor in taxes, sales tax and contingencies. Given that many small businesses fail within their first two years of opening their doors, getting to grips with the cash flow management and having good strategies to deal with cash flow shortfall before you begin the game is advisable. Putting this into your business plan also shows your lending institution that you have a sound grasp on the pitfalls of running a business. Because acquiring finance is a very big part of the success of businesses going forward, many owners may choose to use an agency or service to put your plan into some kind of format. I think this is a very expensive way of doing it. I personally automate anything and everything I can from the onset and use software that already has the templates set up. The advantage of using professional software, not the cheap or freeware you get online, is that you often get added market research and financial reporting as part of the package. This is invaluable as well as time saving. The printed version of your business plan generated by the professional software look as if it has been done by an agency, which in turn looks impressive to lending institutions. Yet you have saved a few pennies for yourself investing in the business plan software rather than an agency or consultant. The proper allocation of funds at the beginning or development phase of any business is critical. Many people spend far too much money on operations rather than marketing. And lets face it, without sales you are not in business. Getting this relationship right is key to your success. Once again, going back to your financial forecasting and cash flow management of your business plan will help you see how this balance can best be implemented at all stages of your companies life. If you spend too much money on agents and consultants in the beginning, especially when you can purchase software to automate that process for you, you may not have enough for the critical needs of sales and marketing your product or service. Automation, in all aspects of business, is key. Andrew Thomas is an entrepreneur and business owner who writes about many aspects of internet marketing, business and finances. Andrew can provide additional information about Business Plan Software @ http://www.womensbusinessplan.com/women-small-business/business-plan-software ------------------ ARTICLE END ------------------ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
