Business Plan Software Then and Now

By Tim Berry

I was shocked, over the weekend, to discover that it’s been more than 10 years since I posted The Future of Business Planning Software here on this blog. I wrote then: As time goes on, more people are going to use planning as process to manage their businesses better. More will see the power of regular plan... Read More »

The Lean Business Plan for Small Business Owners

By Tim Berry

“What? No, I don’t have a business plan. I’m not a startup.” Too bad so many small business owners think that way. A good lean business plan for small business owners ought to be a great tool for running a business. Set strategy, tactics to match, major milestones, metrics, tasks, responsibilities, and essential business numbers.... Read More »

I’m Loving the New Version of Business Plan Pro

By Tim Berry

If you’re a regular reader you know I don’t normally do sales pitches here on this blog, but this is special. Last week Palo Alto Software introduced a brand new version of Business Plan Pro incorporating (finally) my Plan-as-You-Go Business Planning ideas into the mainstream of the software. With this new version, when you start... Read More »

10 Lies About Business Planning (Video)

By Tim Berry

Business plans are a waste of time? That’s a dangerous lie. Don’t bother, because nobody’s going to read it anyhow? That’s another lie, because it’s about running your company, not whether somebody else reads your document. The lies matter because they interfere with business planning, which ought to be part of your management. Planning is... Read More »

Business Plan, Marketing Plan, or Both?

By Tim Berry

“if I have a marketing plan, do I need (or want) a business plan too?” Good question. And so is its opposite question too, “if I have a business plan, do I also need (or want) a marketing plan?” As for a lot of these planning questions, you’re going to get different answers from different... Read More »

When Brainstorms Fizzle

By Tim Berry

I just read Is Brainstorming a Waste of Time? on Lateral Action. Consider this quote: I’ve heard similar complaints from quite a few creative directors and professional creatives - instead of seeing brainstorming as essential to the company’s creative process,... Read More »

Zen Habits to Autopilot to Business Planning

By Tim Berry

Dieting. Regular exercise. Investing. Planning. All of them so much easier said than done. Easy to know what to do, but hard to do it, because you have to actually do it, repeatedly, not just know what to do. Emphasize,... Read More »

The Planning Process 10%

By Tim Berry

Picture yourself in front of a group of 20-30 business owners. They are computer or software resellers, dealers of Progress Software, Autodesk, SolidWorks, or a personal computer manufacturer. They are mostly men in their 40s and 50s. Most of them... Read More »