Business Planning FAQs from BusinessPlanWiz

Business Plans

• Don't like planning?
  

  Let us help you! Have a look at "Why do you need a Business Plan?", answer some questions and you'll have a plan before you know it, without the headache.  Better than that, as well as being specific to your business, the plans are easy to follow and use.  And they don't end up at the back of the filing cabinet, because they're designed as working documents that you can add to and change, even after you've finished here.

• Don't know how to write a business plan?
  

  You don't have to if you use BusinessPlanWiz.  Just provide answers to the questions.  Our carefully constructed questions make sure that you end up with a professional business plan (and a Cashflow Forecast when you buy your plan) that will stand up to all of your business requirements and help you to achieve your goals.

• Haven't got time to write a business plan?
  

  With BusinessPlanWiz you can produce your plan in a professional format that can be used anywhere on the day you started, if you have all your information to hand.  To build your plan, you just need to answer a series of questions in 11 steps and then you're finished!  Your Cashflow Forecast spreadsheet becomes available when you buy your plan.

• Worried that paying for a plan means you can't change it later?
  

  Absolutely not the case.  Your final plan can be saved as a Microsoft Word document (.doc) so that you can add your own logos, or tweak it until it suits your purpose (we give you tips on how to do this).  Or you can choose to have a PDF file (but please note, unless you have Adobe Acrobat you will not be able to edit it).  At BusinessPlanWiz we believe your plan really should belong to you!

Doing the plan

• I haven't started my business yet. Can I use BusinessPlanWiz?
  

  If you are pre-start, please feel free to use our site. We know it will help you with your general business planning and provide you with an opportunity to consider all aspects of your intended business in a structured way.  Even though not all areas of the questionnaire will apply to you, you will still create a useful document.

• How do I start?
  

  You will need to complete as many of the sections as possible to produce your plan.  To get started, click on the “Sign Up” button.  All we ask you for is your name, email address and a password.  This ensures that your Business Plan can only be accessed by you.  After that, just follow the on-screen guides and answer the questions presented to you.

• How easy is it?
  

  The process is really simple.  All you need to do is provide answers to the questions that are asked of you in each step.  In most cases you will be presented with a series of choices that have been especially designed, not only to make things easier for you, but also to ensure that all the important points are addressed.  Hints and Tips are provided with each question.

• Do I have to do the plan all at once?
  

  No.  Initially you have Free 28-day access from your Sign Up, during which you can return to your plan and edit it.  When you have paid for your plan you will have a further eleven months use and you will be able to download your final version at any time when you are happy with it.  To ensure security of your Business Plan you must register to use BusinessPlanWiz and you will be asked for your email address and password whenever you return.

• How long will it take?
  

  There are no hard and fast rules for how long it will take you to create your professional business plan.  Some of our customers can complete a plan quite quickly and others take longer.  It doesn’t matter if you don’t complete it all at once.  Often, our customers find doing the plan so thought-provoking that they return and change it several times before they download their final plan.

• Can I preview my plan as I am working through the questionnaire?
  

  Yes!  We provide you with a BusinessPlanWiz preview that you can access at any time while you are working on your questionnaire.  In fact it's a really useful tool: we suggest that you preview your plan as you complete every step, just to make sure that you are happy with your responses and the way that they will look in your final plan.  Don't forget: you can always change your responses in the questionnaire if you want to, then preview your plan again.

• How do I access the cashflow template tool?
  

  BusinessPlanWiz comes with a unique cashflow forecast tool in the form of an MS Excel spreadsheet template.  You get access to the cashflow tool as soon as you have paid for your plan and will see the link to it in your "my account" page along with the links to "save my plan", you can also get to it in step 11.  Paying for your plan means you can save it as an MS Word document and continue to edit the finsihed document, you can also save it as a PDF.  Then it's easy to add in graphics, charts and the cash flow if you choose to do it.

• Why is my plan preview a JPEG?
  

  Your plan preview is designed so that you can see what your plan looks like at any stage during the 11 Steps questionnaire and it gives you the opportunity to see any changes that you may want to make to it.  However, it isn't a good idea to edit an actual plan while you are still working on the questionnaire as it would not be the final version and it would take you away from the questionnaire.  Any amendments that you want to make can be made by going back to the relevant part of the questionnaire, so that your final plan is correct.

• Can I edit my plan after it has been downloaded?
  

  Yes.  Your final plan can be in the form of a Microsoft Word document (.doc) that you can edit at your leisure (and we provide you with tips to help you to do this).  It can also be saved as a PDF file but unfortunately, unless you have Adobe Acrobat you will be unable to edit a PDF file; however, you can read it with Adobe Reader.

• What will my plan look like when it's finished?
  

  Your plan will be available to you in the form of a Microsoft Word document (.doc) or PDF file.  Typically, the plan will be between 12 - 15 pages in length.  The preview feature allows you to see what it will look like and the "How it Works" button on the Home Page gives you an idea of a finished plan.  Our plans are designed to be professional and easy to follow.

• Can I add pictures/logos/graphics to my finished plan?
  

  Yes.  If you are using Microsoft Word we'll give you tips on how to do this.  If you choose the PDF file, you will need a copy of Adobe Acrobat.

• Why have I only got twelve months to complete my plan?
  

  BusinessPlanWiz is so easy to use that we are confident that you will not need a total of twelve months* to complete it.  We want you to benefit from using your plan as soon as possible so that you can make fantastic changes to the way that you operate your business.

  * 28 days Free access, then a further 11 months access if you have paid for your plan.

• What can I use the business plan for?
  

  You will find that your plan can be used for several purposes.  It is a necessary document, especially if you are seeking funding for your business or looking for support from your bank.

  If you're looking for investors it is a useful selling tool which demonstrates that you've thought through your plans for the future.

  We are sure that you will find your Business Plan useful all through the year as a working document for your business, especially as it has been designed to be easy to follow and understand.

   

• Should I renew my plan?
  

  Business Plans typically cover anything from 1 up to 5 years.  However, your business will change and grow over this period so we recommend that you return to complete a new one each year as your business moves on.

Money matters

• Is my payment secure?
  

  Yes - all payments are made through PayPal using your usual credit or debit card.  This ensures that your payments are secure.  We do not view or keep your card details on our servers.

• How much will my business plan cost?
  

  You have 28 days FREE access to your plan from your Sign Up date.  After that, if you decide to pay for your plan, it is £19.95.  This gives you a futher 11 months access to your Business Plan.  Once you've completed the BusinessPlanWiz process, your Business Plan is yours to edit and print as many times as you like within that 12 month period if you have opted for the Microsoft Word format, or have Adobe Acrobat.

Security/Privacy

• Is my plan secure?
  

  Yes, you are the only one who has access to your Business Plan.  However, we have access to your email address in order to provide support.  Any information that you submit on our site will never be provided to a third party. Please remember to sign in and out to keep your details secure.

• What is your privacy policy?
  

  View our Privacy Policy

Business matters

• Can I offset the cost of my plan against tax?
  

  The cost of your plan is a cost to your company and as such can usually be offset as legitimate company expenditure.  Before buying your Business Plan from BusinessPlanWiz, please check this is the case with your accountant or financial adviser.

• Do you supply business consultancy?
  

  We do not offer business consultancy at BusinessPlanWiz.  If you are in the UK, please contact your local Business Link; they may be able to put you in touch with your local business consultants or provide any other business support that you may require. Visit www.businesslink.gov.uk.

Contact details

• How can I contact you?
  

  If you do have any feedback or need support that you cannot find on our site, we would be delighted if you would contact us. We promise to respond. 

  For feedback on our website, you can contact us at: info@business-umbrella.com

  For general BusinessPlanWiz enquiries, you can contact us at: info@business-umbrella.com

  For press enquiries, please contact our marketing team at: press@business-umbrella.com

  BusinessPlanWiz's parent company is Business Umbrella Ltd. For more information, please see www.business-umbrella.com.

  or write to us at our registered address:

  Business Umbrella Ltd | 72 Coptleigh | Houghton-le-Spring |  Tyne & Wear | DH5 8JE

Other

• I've forgotten my password what should I do now?
  

  Simply click the Forgot your Password? link on the Sign In to your Account page, click the "Click here" link beside "Forgot your Password?", enter your password and your password will be e-mailed to you.

• My question hasn't been answered here. What should I do next?
  

  You can contact us via e-mail at info@business-umbrella.com