   
                      -------------------------------------
                      B U S I N E S S  P L A N  M A S T E R
                      -------------------------------------
    
                                  Version 2.7a
    
     Please Note:

     Business Plan Master was originally designed and developed by David A.
     Works.   Mr. Works has turned  over the distribution of  Business Plan
     Master to  Versatile Software Solutions, Inc. (us)  in order to pursue
     other interests.

     We  have intentionally  left in much of the  original comments, humor,
     and dialogue that Mr. Works put into the documentation  (including the
     text to  follow in this  file),  as it  lends  a better  feel  to  the
     development and history of  Business Plan Master.   We do this also to
     continue  to give  him credit  for  the  original development  of  the
     product, as he put a tremendous amount of effort into it.



     By distributing  BUSINESS PLAN MASTER as  Shareware we  are expressing
     our confidence  in the public to "Do the Right Thing".   We would like
     you to evaluate  BUSINESS PLAN MASTER  for as  long as 10 days  before
     deciding whether  you want to keep it.  If you do decide to   keep it,
     you  MUST register (pay for) your copy.  Full  details on registration
     can be found in the REGISTER.ME file.  If you use BUSINESS PLAN MASTER
     to develop your  business plan and  don't pay for it,  you are already
     starting your business out on a bad note.


     ----------------------------------------------------------------------

                             WARRANTY  DISCLAIMER

     BUSINESS PLAN MASTER AND ALL ASSOCIATED PROGRAMS AND DOCUMENTATION ARE
     PROVIDED  "AS  IS".    VERSATILE  SOFTWARE  SOLUTIONS  INC.  MAKES  NO
     WARRANTIES,  EITHER  EXPRESSED  OR IMPLIED,   WITH  RESPECT  TO  THESE
     PROGRAMS    AND    DOCUMENTATION,    THEIR    QUALITY,    PERFORMANCE,
     MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.   IN PARTICULAR, BUSINESS
     PLAN  MASTER IS  NOT  GUARANTEED  AGAINST  ERRORS  IN  THE  TEMPLATES,
     DOCUMENTS, FORMULAS, OR ANY OF THE FILES PROVIDED.   IN NO EVENT SHALL
     VERSATILE SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS INC.  BE LIABLE  FOR ANY CLAIMS  FOR LOST
     PROFITS  OR  ANY  DAMAGE,  INCLUDING,  BUT  NOT LIMITED  TO,  SPECIAL,
     INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR OTHER DAMAGE.

     IF YOU USE BUSINESS PLAN MASTER,  YOU ASSUME EXCLUSIVE  RESPONSIBILITY
     AND LIABILITY  FOR ANY LOSS OR  DAMAGE DIRECTLY OR  INDIRECTLY ARISING
     OUT OF THE USE OF THE PROGRAM.

     IN NO CASE SHALL VERSATILE SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS INC.'S  LIABILITY EXCEED
     THE LICENSE FEES PAID FOR THE RIGHT TO USE THE LICENSED SOFTWARE.

     THE LICENSE  AGREEMENT AND  WARRANTY  DISCLAIMER  SHALL  BE CONSTRUED,
     INTERPRETED, AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF OHIO.

     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 

          BUSINESS PLAN MASTER will:
    
        *   Help you create a highly professional business plan.
    
        *   Save you many hours (even days!) of work.
    
        *   Let you compare your business with others in your industry.
    
        *   Give you buckets  of money,  Shangri-La,  a Rolls-Royce in your
            driveway, the perfect spouse,  wonderful children,  world peace
            and intergalactic harmony.  (just kidding!)
    
    Requirements
    ------------
    
        *   Any IBM PC or compatible with a word processing and spreadsheet
            program.   These files  are designed  for use by  those with  a
            basic   (not  advanced)   knowledge  of   word  processing  and
            spreadsheets.
    
        *   Preferred programs:
        
                 Text Files:
            WordPerfect 5.1 or greater
            Microsoft Works 3.0 or greater
            Word for Windows v2.0 or greater
            
                 Spreadsheet Files:
            Lotus 1-2-3 v2.2 or greater
            Microsoft Works 3.0 or greater
            Microsoft Excel for Windows v4.0 or greater

      The  text  files are in  WordPerfect 5.1 (*.WP),  Microsoft Works 2.0
      (.TXT files,  which Works will import)  and Word/Windows  2.0 (*.DOC)
      formats.   The  spreadsheet  files  are in  Lotus  1-2-3  files  v2.2
      (*.WK1),  Excel 4.0 (*.XLS) and  Microsoft  Works 3.0  (*.WKS).   Any
      later  versions  (as  well as  Windows versions)  and also many other   
      competitive programs such as WordStar, Word, or Quattro Pro should be
      able to import these files.
    
      Laser printers are best,  but are not a  requirement  UNLESS  you are
      planning  to  present  this  plan to  venture  capitalists  or  other
      sophisticated investors.
    
      A Macintosh version is also available.  It is located on  CompuServe,
      Ziffnet,  America OnLine, BMUG,  BCS-Mac,  and is also available from
      the Internet, several shareware vendors and direct from us.
    
    
      Purpose:
    
      Every business needs to have a  plan in order to  track its progress.
      There is no business too small,  too large, too complex or too simple
      to  avoid having a  business plan.   I  found that  many  businessmen
      assume that  the usefulness of  their business  plan is over once the
      business is up and running.   I have been  successful  using business
      plans not only to start businesses, but as important management tools
      in an going business.
    
      This program is designed for use by any size (small, medium or large)
      or type (product or service)  of business.   It also includes all the
      necessary information which most lenders or investors are seeking.
    
      I didn't write this program in an ivory tower some place,  but out of
      my  own business  experiences.   For seven years,  I imported  cuckoo
      clocks from  the Black  Forest of Germany,  so this  is  definitely a
      "cuckoo"  program!   I  have been  involved in  many  other  business
      ventures.  I'd be lying if I said I made money with all of them.  But
      I can truthfully say that all were successful, mainly because I wrote
      a plan and stuck to that plan.
    
      BUSINESS PLAN MASTER  supplies you  with complete  template files.  I
      give you professional formats  (footnootes,  tables of contents, some
      simple graphics),  some excellent sample text and several spreadsheet
      files for you to use.   Alone these  could save you many  hundreds of
      hours of work.   Because  of  the wide  diversity  of businesses  and
      business  ideas,  I have  tried to make  these  files as universal as
      possible.  Over time, you will incorporate your own language into the
      text and make modifications to the worksheets.
    
      Please  keep clean  copies of  these files in case you trash one.  It
      happens to all of us!
    
    
    
      -----------
      QUICK START
      -----------
    
      If you want to get started quickly, just read these few lines:
    
        FIRST, take a look at what is here.
        
        SECOND,  take  a look  at  the  Tutorial.   Simply  type  the  word
        "Tutorial" in the directory where you have BUSINESS PLAN MASTER.
    
        THIRD, Open the spreadsheets in your spreadsheet program.  The best
        file to look at first is BPMPROF.* (Proforma Financial Statements).
        I highly recommend  that you do your spreadsheet work first.   Make
        sure your  business idea  is  going to  be  financially  worthwhile
        before trying to write the text portion.
    
        FOURTH,  Get into your word processing  program.   Open  one of the
        BUSINESS PLAN MASTER files,  either BIZPLN27.WP  (WordPerfect 5.1),
        BIZPLN27.TXT (MS Works) or BIZPLN27.DOC (Microsoft Word).   This is
        the main  BUSINESS PLAN MASTER file which will contain the text you
        will use.
    
        If  you are now  hopelessly lost,  take a look at the User's Guide.
        By registering at the  *PROFESSIONAL* level,  you receive a printed
        User's Guide along with other valuable items.
    
   
        --------------
        List of Files:
        --------------
    
    
        The text  files  are  in  three  formats,  Word  for  Windows  2.0,
        Microsoft Works 2.0 and WordPerfect 5.1.  The spreadsheet files are
        in  Excel 4.0 (*.XLS), Lotus (*.WK1), and MS Works (*.WKS) formats.
        These  files  can  be opened  with  higher  versions.   Most  other
        spreadsheet programs can import these Lotus, Excel and Works files.
    
    
        BPMPROF.WK1, BPMPROF.XLS and BPMPROF.WKS

             BPM Proforma Financials
        
        A large worksheet which will chart your cash flow,  generate income
        statements,  balance sheets,  ratio analysis, asset use, chart EPS,
        and technical analysis.
    
    
        BPMBREAK.WK1, BPMBREAK.XLS and BPMBREAK.WKS

             BPM Breakeven Analysis
    
        A  simple  worksheet to  determine your  breakeven  point.   Either
        contains macros  (Lotus)  or has an accompanying  macro  sheet  (MS
        Works, Excel).   
    

        BPMHIST.WK1, BPMHIST.XLS and BPMHIST.WKS

             BPM Historical Statements
    
        For companies which  have been in business.   A way to compare your
        past performance to your planned future performance.
    
    
        BIZPLN27.WPS, BIZPLN27.DOC and BIZPLN27.WP

             Business Plan Master
        
        This is the main template document.   A ready-to-go form which will
        help you have  a business plan in  print in just a few hours.   The
        files  are  identical in  every format.   DOC = WinWord  2.0,  WP =
        WordPerfect 5.1, TXT = Microsoft Works 2.0.
    
    
        REGISTER.ME

             Registration Information
        
        This is a shareware program and this is the information you need to
        register the program.
    
    
        ORDER.FRM

             Order Form
        
        Use this form for ordering Business Plan Master by mail.

        GUIDE.COM

             User's Guide
    
        This  file can  be viewed  simply by  typing "GUIDE"  and  pressing
        Enter.  You may also print this file by pressing Alt-P to guide you
        in  filling out the file  "Business Plan Master"  and the worksheet
        files.  Or, you can order the  **PROFESSIONAL** version and we will
        send you a printed User's Guide designed to fit nicely next to your
        computer.
    
    
    
    --------------------------------
    How to Obtain Technical Support:
    --------------------------------
    
    All  users  can  obtain  Technical  Support  either  by  U.S.  mail  or
    CompuServe E-Mail (71154,2576).   We will try our best to fully support
    unregistered  users during their evaluation period,  but we  will  give
    priority to registered users, if necessary.    
    
    
    ------------------
    What SHAREWARE is:
    ------------------
    
    Shareware  describes a  method of distributing  copyrighted software in
    which  a  user  is  allowed  to  fully  evaluate  the  software  before
    purchasing  it.   After an  evaluation period,  the user is REQUIRED to
    register the product if he decides to keep using it.
    
    Shareware distribution addresses most of the legitimate complaints that
    users have with commercial software distribution.  

          o   Shareware allows a user to fully evaluate a product,  free of
              charge,  in his or her home or business,  BEFORE deciding  to
              buy it.
        
          o   Shareware programs  can circulate freely on  Bulletin Boards,
              through Shareware disk distributors, or through user groups.
    
          o   Because Shareware distribution reduces the need to advertise,
              Shareware is less expensive than commercial software.
        
    
    In short, Shareware is a user's dream come true.  In return, users show
    their  appreciation to  the shareware  developers  for  this  extremely
    flexible distribution scheme  by registering  their software.   Without
    user registrations,  shareware software would gradually disappear.   It
    is not sufficient to simply let the  "other guy"  pay the registration.
    You are the other guy's "other guy".
    

    ----------------------
    What SHAREWARE is not:
    ----------------------
    
    Shareware  is  not "free"  software.   Shareware  is not  Public Domain
    software.   The  fee that  you may  have paid  to receive  a  Shareware
    program does not mean that  the software has been paid for.  This money
    was  paid  to a  Shareware disk  vendor,  User  Group,  Bulletin  Board
    Service or  retailer to  cover  their  cost of  getting  the program to
    you.  Shareware software is paid for by registering your  copy with the
    author.
    


    
              
    Trial Use License:
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Business  Plan  Master is NOT a public domain program.  It is Copyright
    1994 by  Versatile Software Solutions, Inc.   All rights reserved.
    
    This  software  and  accompanying documentation are protected by United
    States  Copyright law  and  also  by  International Treaty  provisions.

    Versatile Software Solutions, Inc. hereby grants you a  limited license
    to use this software for evaluation purposes for a period not to exceed
    ten (10) days.   If you intend to continue using this software  (and/or
    its  documentation)  after  the  ten (10) day evaluation  period,   you
    MUST  make a registration payment to Versatile Software Solutions, Inc.
    
    
    Using  this software  after the ten (10) day evaluation period, without
    registering the  software is a  violation of the  terms of this limited
    license.
    
    All rights  not  expressly  granted  here  are  reserved  to  Versatile
    Software Solutions, Inc.
    
    
    
    ----------------------------
    Business Plan Master History
    ----------------------------
    
    BUSINESS PLAN MASTER has changed considerably since its conception, and
    it has been further enhanced since its Shareware release.  I originally
    wrote  BUSINESS PLAN MASTER for an import venture with Germany and that
    well-known  German perfectionism  has rubbed off on  me!   I have spent
    thousands of hours developing this program.
    
        Version 1 - released January, 1992.
    
        Version 1.2 - Released March,  1992 - Expanded  emphasis on service
        businesses, changes in User's Guide to make it clearer, addition of
        ASP required text.
    

    IF YOU LIKE BUSINESS PLAN MASTER, PASS IT ALONG TO FRIENDS AND BUSINESS
    ASSOCIATES, BBS'S OR USER'S GROUPS.
    
    Good luck and we wish you the best in your business endeavors.
    
    Versatile Software Solutions, Inc.
    Post Office Box 147
    Fairborn, OH 45324

    Internet:    71155.614@compuserve.com

    CompuServe:  71155,614

    Phone: (513) 878-0315
