JIAN TOOLS BizPlanBuilder 2003 (Windows/Macintosh)

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Summary: Stay away from JIAN!
Review: First, I'm not a competitor-- I'm an end user-- and found Jian's programs to be kludgy, full of bugs, highly overpriced, does not deliver what is promised, and with exceptionally bad customer service. I am in the process of suing them to get my money back-- they are utterly unscrupulous, and I strongly advise you to do business with other software companies.

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Summary: Fast and easy
Review: For me writing a business plan is like pulling teeth. But I need the investment capital for my business and my investors want a good plan. BizPlan made it all sooooo much easier. The financials alone are worth many times this price. A consultant wanted to charge me $3,500 for the plan and twice that for the financials. I've done it myself in a few days and more important, BizPlan helped the numbers make sense so I could talk intellegently to my investors. Awesome product...I'll be checking out your other tools in a few weeks.

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Summary: Beware - 2004 New Version Does Not Work
Review: I purchased the newest version of BizPlanBuilder on 1-09-2004 and I have been unable to open the Word documents to edit. I've tried this software under Windows 98SE and Windows XP Home. I updated Microsoft Word to the SR-2 version as per the authors web site and the software still does not work. I was surprised to find a company which is supposed to know so much about business does not have a patch or update availabe on it's web site. You have to email the company and ask for the update (if available).
It could be an anti-virus software program is interfering with BizPlanBuilder. But again, how much can they know about business if they don't understand how many people have anti-virus programs running nowadays.
If I could make my purchase all over again, I would go with another program. I'd rather pay $99.00 for a program that works than $49.00 for one that does not.

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Summary: Used the BizPlanBuilder 2004 version
Review: I've just used the BizPlanBuilder 2004 version and it is the best business planning software out there. (I purchased the leaders and found this one to be the most flexible, usable and real.) I was also blown away by how much is included to help me implement my plan, as well as the extra info is available on their website! I even called a few times with some questions and they were always right there. (Even one time on a weekend!) After I watched th evideo, I was convinced that the JIAN people really know what they are doing and are solidly behind their products (looks like an entire suite!).

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Summary: Entrepreneurs hate to plan
Review: Planning is that which many entrepreneurs like least to do as they feel it is confining and subjects them to the rigidity of a fixed projections. Unfortunately, it is the lack of disciplined planning which is responsible for the failure of many projects which might otherwise have succeeded. The Jian BizPlanBuilder is an excellent product and I have found it useful...