(Eugene, Ore., Aug. 14, 2001) – Palo Alto Software unveils its newest and best product yet—Business Plan Pro 2002^TM. The software is a landmark step forward in business-planning creation, making the development of a business plan easier, quicker and smoother than ever for entrepreneurs, owners, and managers everywhere. This latest release of the award-winning Business Plan Pro is packed with new features, including an entirely wizard-driven interface, over 200 sample business plans covering a myriad of industries, and over 2000 industry reports giving entrepreneurs a powerful edge while accessing the information needed to write a successful plan.

One of the most significant advancements in Business Plan Pro 2002 is the introduction of the EasyPlan^TM Wizard. This dynamic tool offers an extensive wizard-driven experience enabling users to create their plan with greater ease and speed. Based on the responses to a series of "yes or no" questions, the EasyPlan^TM Wizard automatically selects the plan outline, reports, charts and tables. This feature simplifies the plan creation process and is unique to any other business planning software available. With the EasyPlan^TM Wizard and the "Plan Review" process ensuring that a plan is complete, Business Plan Pro 2002 provides users the easiest most effective tool available to create a business plan.

Business Plan Pro 2002 also has more than 200 sample plans, acknowledged as the most extensive library of sample plans available. This diverse selection of business plans offers examples for service and product-based business, consumer and business-to-business, and nonprofits. In addition, the product includes a unique "Sample Plan Browser ^TM" that allows users to immediately find the sample plan that best matches their business idea, based on key words, making getting started easier than ever before.

Additional resources allow users immediate access to industry profile information for more than 2,000 industries. Based on the Standard Industry Code (SIC) system, a search engine assists users to find their "SIC" code and provide current information specific to their industry and business. This can then be automatically imbedded into the business plan, allowing entrepreneurs to compare their planned performance with businesses like theirs. The data can be just as valuable for business owners and managers who can compare their results to standard industry data for their type of business. Banks often require this information as part of the loan process.

Business Plan Pro 2002, like no other business planning software, assists entrepreneurs, owners, and managers in achieving the steps towards business success once the business plan is completed. An extensive integration of Web resources assists users with funding, research, and distributing the plan, plus it contains easy access to Small Business Administration (SBA) loan documents. With a library of impressive MS PowerPoint^TM templates, users can easily turn their business plan into an impressive presentation.

Business Plan Pro brings the user the most impressive financials available in any business planning software package on the market. Row-by-row help guides the user through every financial entry and actually does the math for them to provide complete financial statements. The software also alerts users when there are problems with their numbers, such as a negative cash balance, and the "EasyPlanÔ Wizard" help feature then offers ideas on how to address and correct this issue.

Additional Business Plan Pro 2002 resources include the hard copy and Portable Document Format (PDF) of Hurdle: The Book on Business Planning and Business Plan Pro 2002 Manual. On Target: The Book on Marketing Plans is in PDF format on the CD and InSite: The Book on Web Planning is an e-book available online.

Business Plan Pro 2002 is available in all major office and computer retail outlets ($99.95) or directly from Palo Alto Software as a download ($99.95) or full product ($99.95 plus shipping and handling).

More information is available online at www.paloalto.com.

Palo Alto Software, founded by president Tim Berry in 1988, develops, publishes and markets software products for use with personal computers. Business Plan Pro is the best-selling business plan software in the U.S. retail market, according to NPD Intelect (formerly PC Data). Palo Alto Software’s other products include Web Strategy Proä , Marketing Plan Proä , Cash Plan Proä , and Business Plan Toolkitä for Mac. Palo Alto Software’s product line offers "know how" solutions that has made it the market leader in its category. Palo Alto Software’s award winning site www.bplans.com continues to be one of the highest traffic sites in the small business arena, offering numerous business planning resources. Palo Alto Software is a privately owned corporation based in Eugene, Oregon. More information about Palo Alto Software’s products is available on the company website, www.paloalto.com.

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doug@paloalto.com or 1-800-229-7526, ext. 104