How to Write a Business Plan

258 | HOW TO WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN

2. Go to the File menu and choose
   the Open command. This opens a
   dialog box.


3. Select the location and name of
   the file. (You will navigate to the
   version of the Business plan Forms
   folder that you’ve installed on your
   computer.)

Editing Your Document

Here are tips for working on your
document.
Refer to the book’s instructions and
sample agreements for help.
Underlines indicate where to enter
information, frequently including bracketed
instructions. Delete the underlines
and instructions before finishing your
document.
Signature lines should appear on a page
with at least some text from the document
itself.

Printing Out the Document

Use your word processor’s or text
editor’s print command to print out your
document.

Saving Your Document

Use the “Save As” command to save and
rename your document. You will be unable
to use the “Save” command because the
files are “read-only.” If you save the file
without renaming it, the underlines that

indicate where you need to enter your

information will be lost, and you will be

unable to create a new document with this

file without recopying the original file from

the CD-ROM.

Using the Spreadsheets

This section concerns the spreadsheet files,

which are in Microsoft’s Excel format and

have the extension “.XLS.” For example, the

Cash Flow Forecast spreadsheet discussed

in Chapter 7 is on the file “CashFlow.

xls.” They can be opened and edited with

Microsoft’s Excel and other spreadsheet

programs that read XLS files.

The following are general instructions.

Because each spreadsheet program uses

different commands to open, format,

save, and print documents, read your

spreadsheet program’s help files for specific

instructions. Nolo’s technical support

department is unable to assist with your

spreadsheet software.

To complete a spreadsheet,

1. open the file in a spreadsheet
   program that is compatible with XLS
   files;


2. fill in the needed fields;


3. print it out;


4. rename and save your revised file.