Today's technologies have inundated consumers with facts, numbers, and records in a variety of forms: reports, plans, Web- or computer-based interactive tools, and more. Only if someone is willing to pay for a pool of "statistics" does informational value exist. As noted in Chapter 2, the market now assigns a significant premium to the preparation of information as compared with the production of data. A cursory review of Internet business websites reveals numerous financial reports, tools, and plans. As recently as five years ago, public dissemination of such products at little or no charge would not have been envisioned.

• PlanWare (http://www.planware.org). This website offers no-cost Excel-based tools for writing a business plan, making financial projections, business planning, and developing business strategies-software, shareware, freeware, white papers, samples, templates, and other useful features and resources.
  
  
• Excellence in Financial Management (http://www.exinfm.com/free_spreadsheets.html). Excellence in Financial Management provides a wealth of business planning tools. This website provides free downloadable templates and guidance for the preparation of pro forma financial statements and various analyses.
  
  
• Liraz.com (http://www.liraz.com/profit.htm). This website outlines the advantages and limitations of profit planning. The authors offer tips for start-up business to help them avoid the typical pitfalls of profit planning. The website includes a detailed list of important factors to consider when developing a profit plan.