Interactive Export Planner

The Interactive Export Planner (IEP) is a computer software program that uses the capabilities of the Internet to assist you in preparing an export plan or an export-focused business plan for a new or existing business. With the IEP, you will:

• be guided through each section of your plan using a question and answer format;
• learn definitions and tips, and view sample plans to help you to write your own plan;
• have financial projections prepared for you, based upon the information you provide; and
• use the power of the Internet to assist you in researching your export plan or business plan.

The IEP is a planning tool targeted at Canadian businesses interested in developing either export plans or business plans with a strong export focus. The IEP contains information on export-related issues and includes links to additional information on export markets, regulations and activities.

How will the IEP assist you in preparing an export or business plan?

1. The IEP will show you what to include in your plan.
   The first step in preparing a plan is to figure out what questions you have to answer. The IEP has eleven sections and each section has several topics. Through this series of sections and topics, the IEP will walk you through what should be included in your plan.
2. The IEP will help you identify where you can get the information you need to write your plan.
   You will likely already be in a position to address many of the topics in your plan. For example, you may be able to describe your company, your products and services, and your employees. However, there will be issues that require further research. The next step, therefore, is to find where you can get the information you need to answer these topics. For example, you may want to know where you can get market information or information on how to determine your costs. For each section and topic, we have developed a list of information sources that may be of help to you.
3. The IEP can help you collect the information.
   It is one thing to figure out where you can get information, it is another to collect it. Unlike traditional planning software programs, the IEP operates on the World Wide Web. This means that it can help you collect some of the information by linking you directly with key sources of information on the Internet.
4. The IEP will help you write and print your plan.
   The IEP provides a format for writing and printing your plan. In addition, it will take the information you enter and prepare financial projections for you.

What are the key features in the IEP?

The Interactive Export Plan questions are arranged in sections and each section has a number of topics corresponding to the parts of a plan. A plan consists of text, such as sentences and paragraphs, where you describe your plan and numerical tables containing your financial data and projections. You enter the text part of your plan through text screens and the financial data for your plan through numerical screens. In the IEP, you have the option of preparing a full set of financial statements or an export budget. Your plan is automatically saved and accessible on our system under your username and password or you can download it to your own system, import it to a word processing or spreadsheet program and then delete it from ours. An online help function assists you when you have questions.