HELP MAKING A BUSINESS PLAN

If you are a new business you need a business plan to give you direction and let others know what you are doing, when you plan to start and how you plan to reach your goals.  If you have been in business for some time a business plan can be used to forcast the effects of new product lines or the elimination of one.


You can hire someone to creat your business plan or purchase a program that does nothing but creat a business plan.  These two solutions can cost $400.00 and more.  With QuickBooks® Premier you can write a business plan for an exhisting business or one you plan to start.  First open your QuickBooks® file (or for a new business setup your file).  Then click on "Company" at the top of your screen, select "Planning & budgeting" then "Use Business Plan Pro.

This will open the "Welcome" screen.

At the top of the screen are six tabs to guide you through the process of creating a business plan.

The Company tab is used to enter basic information about your business.  QuickBooks® will prefill some of this information for you.

Next is the Income tab.  Here, if QuickBooks® has data from your prior year it will be prefilled.  You can add or change any data.

Next is the Expense tab.  As in the Income tab you may add or change any data.

Next is the Interview tab.  The program will ask you questions about you and the business.  Your responces will be included in your business plan.

And last is the Plan tab.  Here you put the finishing touches on your plan.

Now, wait a day or two and review your business plan.  Once you are confident that it represents you and your business take it to your accountant and have him/her review the plan.  Now you are ready to give it to banks (to get loans), to creditors (to set terms for bills) or to track the progress of you business.