Business information CD

Midland Bank

This CD-ROM is designed by Midland to help managers of small businesses with access to PCs to manage their businesses more effectively. The CD contains the Midland Business Plan software, a Local Area Directory of support services, an interview with Jackie Stewart and video case studies of business start-ups, a special offer for the Pegasus Lite accounting package, a preview of the Midland Internet site, an introductory offer for the BT Internet service and an interactive business game. The CD is also packaged with a (print) version of the Starting a business pages of the Internet site.

While it's wrong to look a gift horse in the mouth, the range of materials on this CD are substantial enough to make it worthwhile to review it, to save readers time in working through the full CD. Amongst the most useful items is the free Business Plan software, which is comprehensive enough to offer users a valuable plan as an outcome. Given the importance of bank finance for small businesses, having a good business plan is vital. The questions are demanding but not over powering, and the structured approach enables you to work though it at a pace that suits you. The guide to starting your own business supports this well, and as a package, they work well.

The Internet preview and case studies are interesting and the special offer of Pegasus software is good value (a trial version can be downloaded from the Midland website). The BT Internet offer may be of some interest, although a more valuable service to users might have been to offer advice on choosing an ISP which serves the user best, and the Local Area Directory is a little bit of overkill -the technology is more impressive than the content.

All in all, this is a worthwhile package which any small business owner, especially a start-up, would do well to look at as first step to planning a business, especially as it is at no cost. You don't even have to be a Midland customer - although they may well encourage you to consider becoming one!

by Midland Bank (Free - Call 0800 404142)

Review from 'Progress' published by NEBS Management, October 1998