Press Releases

Eugene, OR – October 13, 2009 – Palo Alto Software is pleased to announce the launch of its newest software package designed for entrepreneurs and small businesses, ‘Start, Run & Grow Your Business’ (SRG). The package contains over 45 “best-of-breed” software tools to help new small businesses and entrepreneurs get up and running, as well as to assist existing businesses with improving their practices, making it one of the most comprehensive small business toolkits ever assembled.

Designed to address the many needs of new, existing and growing businesses, the package has a broad range of tools and applications meant to help your business succeed.  The programs incorporated into SRG include software for bookkeeping, timesheet management, project management, storing passwords, creating press releases, and doing payroll taxes. Additionally, the package includes a full year’s subscription to Email Center Pro, Palo Alto Software’s leading customer service email management program. Other offers such as logo development from HP’s LogoWorks, a web domain from Network Solutions, and business cards from VistaPrint, will help new companies improve their visual identity.

SRG also comes with a free one-year subscription to Inc. magazine, one of the country’s leading small business publications. Free credits for online surveys and email marketing from VerticalResponse can help entrepreneurs carry out relevant market research and focused online marketing, while sales contacts from Jigsaw will assist in generating new leads.

“With the current state of the national economy, entrepreneurs and small businesses are vital to our economy, creating 60-80% of all net new jobs,” stated Palo Alto Software CEO Sabrina Parsons. “By giving new businesses the tools to get off the ground, and helping existing ones to become more efficient and effective, we hope to help not only them, but the wider economy in general.”

‘Start, Run & Grow Your Business will be on shelves starting October 1^st in Target stores nationwide.  Start, Run & Grow Your Business and Start, Run & Grow Your Business PLUS, which features even more functionality, will also be available at Amazon, Fry’s, Costco.com, J&R, Apple and other retail outlets nationwide.

www.start-run-grow.com

Tags: press release, Start Run and Grow Your Business
Posted on October 13th, 2009 | No Comments »

Eugene, OR (PRWEB) September 30, 2009 — Palo Alto Software is thrilled to be the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award recipient. The Business of the Year award is given annually to a Eugene-based business that excels across four categories: community caring, environmental values, growth and innovation.

“Palo Alto Software was named 2009 Business of the Year because of its focus on the triple bottom line of sustainability-financial, social and the environment,” says Dave Houser, chamber president. “Palo Alto Software truly demonstrates an outstanding contribution to the community in each of these ways.”

Palo Alto Software creates, develops and manufactures tools to help start-ups and small businesses succeed. Earlier this year Palo Alto Software launched the Oregon Small Business Boost program, providing $3.2 million of free business planning software to Oregon entrepreneurs. In addition, Palo Alto Software supports a host of community causes ranging from SCORE to the Nature Conservancy.

“With the current state of the national economy, entrepreneurs and small businesses are vital cornerstones in securing the financial futures of all of our families and communities,” stated Palo Alto Software CEO Sabrina Parsons. “We are delighted to be recognized by our home Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce for our passion to support these leaders.”

Palo Alto Software will receive the award at the Chamber’s 6th Annual Emerald Award presentation on October 6th at 5pm at the Hult Center in Eugene. Those interested in attending can reserve seats at http://www.theemeraldawards.org/.

About Palo Alto Software, Inc.
Palo Alto Software, Inc. develops, publishes, and markets software products for use with personal computers. Business Plan Pro is the best selling business-planning software in the U.S. retail market, according to NPD Intelect. Palo Alto Software’s marketing-planning product is Marketing Plan Pro powered by Duct Tape Marketing. This combined product line offers “know-how” solutions that have made Palo Alto Software the market leader in its category.

Palo Alto Software was founded in 1988 and is a privately-owned corporation based in Eugene, Oregon. For more information about Palo Alto Software products, visit, www.paloalto.com.

Tags: award, Oregon Small Business Boost, palo alto software, press release
Posted on October 2nd, 2009 | No Comments »

Eugene, OR (PRWEB) August 25, 2009 — Palo Alto Software is proud to announce the release of Business Plan Pro’s 15th Anniversary Edition. Business Plan Pro is the world’s most popular business planning software with countless repeat customers. In fact, over the past 15 years, over a million businesses have taken advantage of this industry leading business planning tool.

The release of Business Plan Pro’s 15th Anniversary Edition celebrates the program’s accomplishments in assisting businesses in planning for success. This has included everyone from first-time business owners to serial entrepreneurs to business unit leaders at more than half of the Fortune 500 companies.

“When Business Plan Pro was created, our goal was to provide software that would help businesses succeed through better strategy and planning,” stated Palo Alto Software founder and Business Plan Pro creator Tim Berry. “An entrepreneur’s most powerful tool is a detailed blueprint of when, why, and how to do things that make or break any business; not just when the business is starting, but as a continuous process. We believe that in business, if you plan for rain you will never get wet.”

Along with the release of the 15th Anniversary Edition, Business Plan Pro celebrates its crystal anniversary with the launch of an online ‘Customer Gallery’ to pay tribute to the many relationships that continue to inspire them to do what they do. The ‘Customer Gallery‘ invites everyone to hear the stories of some truly remarkable entrepreneurs. Visit www.paloalto.com/business_plan_software/customer_gallery.

About Palo Alto Software, Inc.
Palo Alto Software, Inc. develops, publishes, and markets software products for use with personal computers. Business Plan Pro is the best selling business-planning software in the U.S. retail market, according to NPD Intelect. Palo Alto Software’s marketing-planning product is Marketing Plan Pro powered by Duct Tape Marketing. This combined product line offers “know-how” solutions that have made Palo Alto Software the market leader in its category.

Palo Alto Software was founded in 1988 and is a privately-owned corporation based in Eugene, Oregon. For more information about Palo Alto Software products, visit, www.paloalto.com.

Tags: business plan pro, palo alto software, press release
Posted on October 2nd, 2009 | No Comments »

Eugene, OR (PRWEB)  July 7, 2009 — Palo Alto Software gave out copies of the Premier Edition of its best-selling business-planning software, Business Plan Pro, to any and all small businesses and entrepreneurs who stopped into any of 85 locations throughout the state of Oregon as part of its ‘Oregon Small Business Boost’ (OSBB) on July 1st. Approximately 16,200 copies of the software, which retails for $199.95, were handed out at locations throughout the state. This equates to over $3.2 million worth of software.

Events throughout Oregon helped to highlight the giveaway. In the morning in Eugene for example, around 100 people gathered at 9 AM to see Palo Alto chief executive officer Sabrina Parsons, and founder and president Tim Berry, launch the OSBB. Also present at the event was Kitty Piercy, mayor of Eugene, who commented at the launch, “The economic crisis we have been facing around the world and right here in Eugene has had enormous impact on us. We’re here today to acknowledge what Oregonians do best; we take care of each other in difficult times… This is what we call grassroots business leadership.” A video of the Eugene event can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxNiESvXMnI.

(more…)

Tags: business_plan_pro, chamber of commerce, Oregon Small Business Boost, Press Releases, SCORE
Posted on July 7th, 2009 | 1 Comment »

~Click-to-Chat + Email Management = A Powerful Combination~

Baltimore, MD and Eugene, OR (PRWeb) – June 15th 2009 — Velaro and Palo Alto Software announced today an integration between Velaro’s award-winning click-to-chat Software as a Service (SaaS), and Palo Alto Software’s Email Center Pro, a Web 2.0 SaaS email management tool.

“This partnership helps bring incredible value to online businesses allowing them to streamline their vital sales and support information.  Velaro and Palo Alto Software are both best-of-breed providers, in click-to-chat and email management respectively,” said Alex Bloom, President of Velaro.  “We’ve seen other click-to-chat providers attempt to build their own email solution and it’s never pretty.  Rather than go outside our area of expertise we choose to establish out of the box integrations with leading vendors who specialize in their field.  With the Email Center Pro integration, customers are now able to seamlessly manage their email from within the Velaro Desktop Agent.”

“We teamed up with Velaro because we’ve seen over the years that having live operators on our website is a critical component to a great customer experience. Velaro fits seamlessly into Email Center Pro’s mission of exceptional customer service.” says Sabrina Parsons, CEO of Palo Alto Software.

Velaro and Palo Alto Software will be attending the Internet Retailer Conference & Exhibition in Boston, Massachusetts at the Boston Exhibition & Convention Center from the 15th to the 17th of June showcasing their integrated solution.  You can visit them at booth #701.

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About Velaro
Founded in 2000, Velaro is an established leader in click-to-chat conversions. Velaro won independently rated live chat awards in ‘05, ‘06, ‘08, and ‘09. With 99.98% uptime guaranteed, Velaro is the solution of choice for leading companies such as LG, Blue Cross Blue Shield, MarketStar, Experian, Herbalife, Toro, Improvements Direct, Skillsoft, and Epicor. For more information about Velaro’s products, visit http://www.velaro.com/.

About Palo Alto Software, Inc.
Palo Alto Software, Inc. develops, publishes, and markets software products for use with personal computers. Business Plan Pro is the best selling business-planning software in the U.S. retail market, according to NPD Intelect. Palo Alto Software’s marketing-planning product is Marketing Plan Pro powered by Duct Tape Marketing. This combined product line offers “know-how” solutions that have made Palo Alto Software the market leader in its category.

Palo Alto Software was founded in 1988 and is a privately-owned corporation based in Eugene, Oregon. For more information about Palo Alto Software products, visit, www.paloalto.com.

Tags: business email, customer service email, email center pro, email management, palo alto software, Press Releases
Posted on June 15th, 2009 | No Comments »

Palo Alto Software teams up with leading Oregon organizations to provide free copies of Business Plan Pro Premier to entrepreneurs and businesses statewide

Eugene, Oregon (PRWEB) June 9, 2009 –Palo Alto Software (www.paloalto.com), creators of “know-how” business software solutions, is teaming up with statewide Oregon agencies including the Oregon Small Business Development Center Network (OSBDCN), Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN), The Oregon State Chamber of Commerce (OSCC), SmartUps.org, and many others, to organize a one-day giveaway of free copies of Business Plan Pro Premier.

Business Plan Pro has been helping businesses start and grow for over 15 years. As the world’s number one selling business-planning software, Business Plan Pro is used by over 50 percent of Fortune 500 companies, used at more than 800 universities, and trusted by federal organizations like the SBA and the SBDC network. In its 20 years of operation, Palo Alto Software has sold over 1 million licenses of Business Plan Pro.

The free software is not a trial version and there are no strings attached. Palo Alto Software is giving away the same best-selling software that sells for $199.95 nationwide.

WHY: Throughout Oregon, small- and medium-sized businesses are struggling to remain open, and continue to sustain growth. They are searching for ways to run their businesses smarter and stronger. As an Oregon-based small business itself, Palo Alto Software wants to support other Oregon businesses and help as many as possible get through the current tough times and succeed.

As supporters of entrepreneurship, Palo Alto Software believes in the value of business planning and is confident that Business Plan Pro can help give Oregon businesses a boost by making available a vital planning tool to better start, run, and grow their businesses.

WHEN: Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

WHERE: Pick-up locations will be spread throughout the state. Palo Alto Software intends to make this event accessible to all Oregonians by utilizing its relationships with Chamber of Commerce offices and the Oregon Small Business Development Center Network as giveaway points. This event will reach small communities and large cities alike.

ONLINE: More information and details at www.paloalto.com/boost

CONDITIONS: Palo Alto Software will institute the following conditions:

• The software or download certificate must be physically picked up at one of the sponsoring pick-up locations
• Only one unit per business/per person
  
• The software must be installed and registered within 48 hours of pick-up; otherwise the code given will expire (this prevents the software from being sold online)

People interested in more information, or community leaders who want to register for location status, can contact ‘Chelle Parmele at 541-683-6162.

Tags: giveaway, Oregon Small Business Boost, Press Releases
Posted on June 11th, 2009 | No Comments »

Business Plan Pro Standard Edition and Business Plan Pro Social Enterprise Edition Available as Donation for Non-Profits

EUGENE, OREGON – May 13, 2009 – Palo Alto Software (www.paloalto.com), creators of a product line that offers “know-how” solutions to help small businesses grow, and TechSoup Global, a nonprofit organization devoted to making technology and technology education available and affordable to other non-profits and libraries all over the world, today announced that donations of Palo Alto Software’s Business Plan Pro Standard Edition and Business Plan Pro Social Enterprise Edition will be available to non-profits that are registered with TechSoup Global.

Organizations can use Business Plan Pro Standard Edition to create business plans or funding plans for their own organizations or use Business Plan Pro Social Enterprise Edition to create a plan for earned income ventures or social enterprises to provide financial support for their main missions.

“At TechSoup Global, it’s our goal to bring essential technology solutions to the non-profits and libraries we serve,” said Roger Abraham, Vice President of Products at TechSoup Global. “Thanks to our partnerships with leading technology companies, nonprofit organizations in the US and NGOs in more than 20 countries can take advantage of these tools even during times like the present when budgets are shrinking. Business Plan Pro makes it easier for organizations to follow best practices and create a solid plan on which they can build their important work.”

“It is with great personal pride that we are able to continually help non-profits,” said Sabrina Parsons, CEO of Palo Alto Software. “Business Plan Pro has been an award winning tool for over a million for-profit and non-profit companies over the last 20 years and we believe that our donations and discounts through TechSoup Global will greatly help advance our efforts in the non-profit sector.”

Donated Business Plan Pro software is available to smaller organizations whereas larger nonprofits are eligible for substantial discounts. For details on the program, including eligibility requirements, go to TechSoup Stock, TechSoup Global’s product donation service.

Palo Alto Software’s Web site, bplans.com, offers many sample business plans plus a wealth of articles and tools related to starting up a business.

About Palo Alto Software, Inc.
Palo Alto Software, Inc. develops, publishes and markets software products for use with personal computers. BUSINESS PLAN PRO is the best selling business-planning software in the U.S. retail market, according to NPD Intelect. Palo Alto Software’s marketing-planning product is MARKETING PLAN PRO powered by Duct Tape Marketing. This combined product line offers “know-how” solutions that have made Palo Alto Software the market leader in its category.

With its most recent product, EMAIL CENTER PRO, Palo Alto Software has created a Web 2.0 “Software as a service” (Saas) email management tool.
Palo Alto Software’s award-winning site, www.bplans.com, continues to be one of the highest visited sites in the small-business arena, offering numerous business-planning resources.

Palo Alto Software was founded in 1988 and is a privately-owned corporation based in Eugene, Oregon. More information about Palo Alto Software products is available on the company website, www.paloalto.com.To access high-resolution images or further information, go to http://news.paloalto.com/

About TechSoup Global
San Francisco-based TechSoup Global (www.techsoupglobal.org) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that provides technology information to individuals and organizations in more than 190 countries, has provided consulting services in more than fifty countries and, through its global network of capacity building NGOs, manages product donations to more than 80,000 organizations in 22 countries. The product donations program has enabled organizations to save over $1.2 billion in expenses as of September 2008. TechSoup Global continues to innovate with a goal of bringing increased resources and capacity to organizations working diligently on their social missions. In addition to Palo Alto Software, TechSoup Global has a network of more than 35 corporate donor partners including Microsoft, Cisco and Symantec. For more information about technology donations and resources, visit www.techsoup.org.

Tags: palo alto software, partner, press release, techsoup
Posted on May 13th, 2009 | No Comments »

Palo Alto Software Ranks 15th on a Long List of Reputable Companies

EUGENE, OREGON – March 25, 2009 – Palo Alto Software, (www.paloalto.com) creators of a product line that offers “know-how” solutions to help small businesses grow, today announced that Oregon Business Magazine, the premier magazine for business and community leaders across the state of Oregon, honored the best-selling software company as one of the 100 best companies – with under 50 employees – to work for in Oregon.

“Thank you to both Oregon Business for running this survey, and thank you to all of our employees who diligently filled it out! We are recognized because all of our employees think this is a great place to work,” said Sabrina Parsons, CEO of Palo Alto Software. “I am beyond thrilled to have the company acknowledged in this way. There is nothing more important to me than the team of people who make Palo Alto Software what it is. Without them we would be nowhere.”

According to Oregon Business Magazine, “with the economy crashing and burning all around us, this was a record-breaking year for the 100 Best Companies to Work For in Oregon project: 372 organizations and nearly 30,000 employees took part in the16th annual ranking of the 100 Best.” Sectors prominent among the 100 Best this year include professional services (with a strong showing from law and staffing firms), finance, construction, technology and marketing/communications.

“Because our people are so critically important to our success, we do our best to make sure that we provide the best working environment, with the best benefits we can possibly afford,” adds Parsons. “Skimping on your people is just not smart. Before you know it, you are also skimping on your customers. I truly believe that being a healthy and profitable company goes hand in hand with providing a happy, healthy, productive work environment.”

About Palo Alto Software, Inc.
Palo Alto Software, Inc. develops, publishes and markets software products for use with personal computers. BUSINESS PLAN PRO is the best-selling business-planning software in the U.S. retail market, according to NPD Intelect. Palo Alto Software’s marketing-planning product is MARKETING PLAN PRO powered by Duct Tape Marketing. This combined product line offers “know-how” solutions that have made Palo Alto Software the market leader in its category.

With its most recent product, EMAIL CENTER PRO, Palo Alto Software has created a Web 2.0 “Software as a service” (Saas) email management tool.

Palo Alto Software’s award-winning site, www.bplans.com, continues to be one of the highest visited sites in the small-business arena, offering numerous business-planning resources.

Palo Alto Software was founded in 1988 and is a privately-owned corporation based in Eugene, Oregon. More information about Palo Alto Software products is available on the company website, www.paloalto.com. To access high-resolution images or further information, go to http://news.paloalto.com/

Tags: palo alto software, Press Releases
Posted on March 25th, 2009 | No Comments »

Email Center Pro Centralized Entire Customer and Business Email Messaging System

EUGENE, Ore. – December 17, 2008 – Palo Alto Software today shared that one of its Email Center Pro customers realized a 50-percent gain in email sales conversions by using the company’s online email response management and distribution service for small businesses. HerbalBuddy.com (a top distributor of Herbalife products in the United States) was faced with a big work flow efficiency issue. Its previous email management system left the company uncertain whether or not customer inquiries were slipping through the cracks, an especially harrowing realization in the midst of an economic downturn. The bulk of its business is handled online and accessibility to customers is vital to its success. HerbalBuddy.com chose to work with Email Center Pro, which centralized the customer and business email messaging effort and made it transparent to the entire organization. Messages sent to addresses like info@, sales@ and support@ are now accessible to multiple users inside one common interface. Once in this central location, users apply a host of collaborative features that truly differentiate the service.

“We are at least 50 percent more efficient than before we started using Email Center Pro,” said Daniel Lewis, HerbalBuddy.com Senior Partner. “The service has simplified things, streamlined our work flow and made us more profitable. In an (economic) time when you want to capitalize on every sale that you can, especially given the importance of the holiday retail season, Email Center Pro ensures that you’re not missing out on any customer interactions.”

Prior to using Email Center Pro, the company employed a makeshift email communication system that left serious holes in the customer service experience.

“We have far more control over our processes than ever before, and make use of the internal notes all of the time,” Lewis said. “For instance, I have some employees who work from Monday-Wednesday and some who work from Thursday-Saturday. Before Email Center Pro, there was no way for the Thursday team to know where the Wednesday team left off without making multiple phone calls, exchanging countless emails or going through the entire system. Now, because of the transparency, everyone knows where we’re at and there’s no duplication or overlooking.”

And Lewis is truly getting great value for his dollar.

“I use Email Center Pro to manage email across multiple domains, and to handle order fulfillment and voice messages — for the price of a few lattes,” Lewis said.

And in case there’s some concern over how much effort it might take to get up to speed as an Email Center Pro user, Lewis says it best.

“A few days ago I hired a new employee and spent about two hours taking her through Email Center Pro. On her second day she performed flawlessly in the service. It was refreshing.”

About Palo Alto Software, Inc.

Palo Alto Software, Inc., founded in 1988, helps people succeed in business. BUSINESS PLAN PRO is the best-selling business planning software in the U.S. retail market, according to NPD Intelect. Palo Alto Software’s other products include MARKETING PLAN PRO(R) Powered by Duct Tape Marketing and Email Center Pro. Palo Alto Software’s product line offers “know how” solutions that have made it the market leader in its category. Palo Alto Software’s award-winning site, http://www.bplans.com/, continues to be one of the highest trafficked sites in the small business arena, offering numerous business planning resources. Palo Alto Software is a privately-owned corporation based in Eugene, Oregon. More information about Palo Alto Software products is available on the company website, http://www.paloalto.com/.

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Posted on December 17th, 2008 | No Comments »

Palo Alto Software’s Strategic Alliance has helped make the Myrtle Beach SCORE Chapter Junior Apprentice Program a huge success

Eugene, OR (December 3 2008) – Palo Alto Software, Inc. received the ‘Exceptional Service Award 2008′ from the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina SCORE chapter.

Bob Checkaneck, SCORE University Chairman for Chapter 381, said, “We at SCORE Myrtle Beach want to present you with the attached award. Our Strategic Alliance with you has enabled our chapter to become a tremendous success! One of our major activities was our Junior Apprentice Program which you are an integral part of.”

The Junior Apprentice Program is co-sponsored by the Georgetown County School System, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, Palo Alto Software and SCORE. It’s a four-day program that teaches business principles, how to write a business plan and then how to present the plan to a local CEO. As part of their sponsorship, Palo Alto Software provided 10 licenses of Business Plan Pro software to load onto the GCSS school computers for the week of the program.

The target market is kids entering high school, freshmen and sophomores. The average student attends eight hours of classroom a day and completes six hours of self-assigned homework. Students participating in this program pay no fees except their time.

According to Checkaneck, the program is working. “So far we have done this with 160 kids and none of them have dropped out of high school. The school system has a 50% drop out rate.”

Checkaneck emphasized that the Junior Apprentice Program has helped put SCORE Myrtle Beach “…in the top 1% of all the SCORE chapters in the country in SCORE’s Chapter of The Year competition.” This award was to show their appreciation for Palo Alto Software’s continued support of the program and to the success of their chapter.
About Palo Alto Software, Inc.

Palo Alto Software, Inc. develops, publishes and markets software products for use with personal computers. BUSINESS PLAN PRO is the best selling business-planning software in the U.S. retail market, according to NPD Intelect. Palo Alto Software’s marketing-planning product is MARKETING PLAN PRO® powered by Duct Tape Marketing. This combined product line offers “know-how” solutions that have made Palo Alto Software the market leader in its category.

Palo Alto Software’s award-winning site, www.bplans.com, continues to be one of the highest visited sites in the small-business arena, offering numerous business-planning resources.

With its most recent product, EMAIL CENTER PRO, Palo Alto Software has created a Web 2.0 “software as a service (Saas)” email management tool.

Palo Alto Software was founded in 1988 and is a privately-owned corporation based in Eugene, Oregon. More information about Palo Alto Software products is available on the company website, www.paloalto.com.

To access high-resolution images or further information, go to http://news.paloalto.com/

Additional Resources:
blogs: http://www.businessingeneral.com/ | http://www.deadsimplesoftware.com/ |
resources:

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Tags: award, palo alto software news, press release, SCORE
Posted on December 4th, 2008 | No Comments »