Tim BerryTim Berry

Tim Berry

Founder and Chairman

Tim Berry is the founder of Palo Alto Software, a co-founder of Borland International, and a recognized expert in business planning. Tim is the originator of Lean Business Planning. He has an MBA from Stanford and degrees with honors from the University of Oregon and the University of Notre Dame. Today, Tim dedicates most of his time to blogging, teaching and evangelizing for business planning. His full biography is available on his blog.

Recent Articles Published by Tim Berry

managing

In a Crisis, Planning Matters More than Ever

To help your business mitigate the effects of COVID-19, you need to review and update your business plan. See how some simple adjustments can help you minimize loss and avoid lay-offs. Read more »

managing

How to Manage Cash Flow in a Crisis

Cash flow management in a crisis is absolutely vital. Check out our five tips to improve your cash flow and help your small business survive and thrive. Read more »

planning

10 Cash Flow Rules to Live By

I learned the hard way, when my own business suddenly took off, that even growth can stifle cash. In my specific case, it was a matter of building physical products for inventory, selling through channels, and waiting to get paid by distributors. Don’t let this happen to you.  Here are my favorite 10 rules for managing cash flow.  Read more »

planning

How Long Should a Business Plan Be?

Don’t make your business plan longer than necessary; think about the reason you’re writing the plan in the first place. If you want to revise it regularly, the shorter it is, the more manageable it will be. Read more »

planning

Tools and Resources to Help You Write Your Business Plan

Working on writing your business plan and looking for some tools or resources to make it easier? You don’t have to start from zero or reinvent any wheels. Here are some tools and resources that can help.  Read more »

planning

How to Write About Sourcing and Fulfillment in Your Business Plan

The sourcing and fulfillment section of your business plan explains how you build that product. Here's why this section matters, and how to write it. Read more »

funding

How to Land Funding From Angel Investors

If you're starting a business with high-growth potential, finding investment may be an important item on your to do list. Here's how to find angel investors. Read more »

funding

Ask Yourself These 5 Things Before You Seek Angel Investment

Not all businesses are good candidates for angel investment. If you're wondering how to get angel investment, ask yourself these 5 questions first. Read more »

funding

10 Tips for Finding Outside Investors for Your Business

Do you know how to get outside funding? Here are 10 tips to maximize your chances of success and figure out what kind of funding is best for your business. Read more »

funding

Why Bootstrapping Might Be the Best Way to Fund Your Startup

Most startup funding resources focus on getting investment or loans—but the reality is that the majority of startups are bootstrapped. Here's what bootstrapping looks like, why it's a good thing for startups, and where the money actually comes from. Read more »

planning

Is Cash or Accrual Accounting Best for Small Businesses?

Would you rather keep track with records in your books, or just in your head? That, in a nutshell, is the difference between cash-basis and accrual accounting. Here's an overview of cash accounting and accrual accounting, to help you decide which is best for your business. Read more »

funding

5 Things Startups Can Learn From Angel Investors

Angel investors can teach you a lot about what it takes to start a successful business. Whether you're seeking angel investment or just looking to grow a better, stronger business, they're people worth listening to—and here's their best advice for startups. Read more »

funding

10 Things I Hated About Your Business Pitch

Business planning expert Tim Berry has over 20 years of hearing business pitches as a judge of business plan competitions and as an angel investor. Here are the things he hates to see in a business pitch, so you can avoid making these key mistakes. Read more »

starting

Industry Analysis: Know Your Industry Before You Start Your Business

You need to know the industry you're starting a business in and the kind of business you want to start before you begin. Plus, if you're writing a business plan to present to outsiders, you'll need to explain the type of business you're in. Here's how to get to know your industry by conducting industry analysis. Read more »

planning

How to Create an Expense Budget

Being right on budget is usually a good thing, but good management involves regularly reviewing your budget to check on the timing, efficiency, and results of what your business spends. Read more »

starting

How to Define Your Target Market

One of the most powerful tools of small business marketing strategy is defining and addressing your target market—the audience that you think is most likely to buy your product or service. Here's how to define your target market for your business. Read more »

planning

Start With an Initial Assessment

Start the business planning process with a quick initial assessment. Even for an ongoing business, take the time to step away from the business and assess your business opportunity. Read more »

planning

Should You Stick to the Business Plan or Change It?

One of the hardest parts of business planning is answering this question: Do we stick to the business plan, or do we change it? Here's how to decide if you should stay the course, or revise your business plan. Read more »

planning

The Different Types of Business Plans

Business plans go by many names: Strategic plans, operational plans, internal plans, and many others. Here's a rundown of the different types of business plans, so you can decide which one is right for you. Read more »

planning

A Simpler Plan for Startups

What kind of business plan do you need? It depends on the size of your business, and what you're using the business plan for. Here's how to determine what kind of business plan is right for your startup. Read more »