Free Business Templates & Resources from Microsoft
Anyone involved in a small business or start-up venture knows that saving money matters.
I’ve come across a great resource from Microsoft Office Online titled simply- Templates.
Make sure you bookmark this page.
What you’ll find there is a collection of business documents, forms, and templates from various sources like Findlaw, Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE®), BearingPoint and many others.
There is truly a treasure chest of tools here, all available for at no cost.
Check out some of the things that you can download:
Business and Legal
Annual Shareholders’ Meeting Minutes Articles of association Business corporation bylaws Shareholders’ proxy
Authorization for sale of assets Basic bill of sale Corporate bill of sale
Arbitration agreement Checklist for sale of business Commercial partnership agreement Indemnity agreement Joint venture agreement Partnership dissolution agreement Property management agreement
Bank loan request for small business Capital budgeting — return-on-investment (ROI) analysis Quarterly earnings presentation Start-up capital estimate
12 month cash flow statement Break-even analysis Profit and loss statement
You can even find templates PowerPoint Business Presentations or print your own stock certificates.
There must be literally 100’s of free resources available.
If all of this seems overwhelming, and you’re just trying to get some of the basics, there’s stuff here for you too.
Some practical items available include templates for business cards, letterhead and envelopes.
Generalized forms can be a great timesaver. I have seen many cases however where people use the wrong form or improperly use the right form. You should always consult a licensed attorney in these matters. Most of the people who look up forms don’t however. These folks, and their heirs, sometimes end up paying hundreds or even thousands more to fix their problem than they would have to have had their documents properly drafted from the beginning. For those of you who are penny wise and dollar foolish, thank you. Your contributions to my children’s college expenses are greatly appreciated.
You make an excellent point Larry. Templates are not meant to be a substitute for professional, legal advice. Anyone who considers drafting their own documents should have them reviewed by an attorney. Don’t underestimate the value of working with a good lawyer today to help plan carefully for the future of your business. After all, it’s your business. Isn’t it worth it?