History

In 1983, Tim Berry left his vice president job at a Silicon Valley high-tech planning and research firm to do business plans for startups and major tech manufacturers. He developed the initial business plan and was one of the founding directors of Borland International, which started in 1983 and went public in 1986. He was a planning consultant for Apple Computer for 12 years, including for Apple Japan while it grew from $180 million to $1.5 billion annually in four years. Over his career, he billed more than $2 million for business plan consulting.

He came to believe that every business, small or large, deserves good business planning to optimize management and accountability. So in 1988, he incorporated as Palo Alto Software, and set out to create business planning tools that were accessible and affordable for small businesses everywhere. Palo Alto Software grew from Tim's desire to help others succeed in business, and that is the goal our company continues to pursue.

Today

Outpost launched

2018

Outpost Logo

Outpost launches—the next generation replacement to Email Center Pro, our successful email collaboration product. Outpost is a team email inbox for small and growing businesses, which makes it easy for teams to efficiently respond to customer emails from a single inbox.

Palo Alto Software rebranded

2015

Palo Alto Software logo

To better represent the mix of small business products and services offered, we update our branding.

Lean Business Planning published

2015

Lean Business Planning book

Palo Alto Software moves to 44 Broadway in Eugene, Oregon

2013

LivePlan launched

2011

LivePlan Logo

LivePlan launches to reinvent business planning, embracing modern theories of planning, accountability, and implementation. The new cloud app simplifies business planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance tracking for small businesses and startups.

Small Business Boost

2009

Program participants with Tim Berry

With small- and medium-sized businesses struggling to remain open during the Great Recession, Palo Alto Software commits to helping by giving away over $3 million in free software.

Email Center Pro launched

2008

Email Center Pro Logo

Sabrina Parsons succeeds Tim Berry as CEO

2007

Sabrina Parsons

In 2007, Tim transferred responsibility for daily operations to his daughter Sabrina. Sabrina is a successful internet expert, having served as Director of Online Marketing at Commtouch, Senior Producer at Epinions, and founder of her own web consulting company, Lighting Out.

Palo Alto Software opens subsidiary office in London

2001

Adjuct Professor, University of Oregon

1998-2009

University of Oregon logo

In addition to the full-time effort of leading and growing Palo Alto Software, Tim teaches BA410 “Starting a Business” for 11 years.

Marketing Plan Pro launched

1996

Marketing Plan Pro Logo

Bplans.com launched

1995

Bplans Logo

We launch Bplans.com, a free resource of guides, plans, articles, and more to help entrepreneurs and small businesses get the information they need to succeed. Bplans goes on to deliver thousands of articles, over 550 sample plans, and become the leading free online business planning resource.

Business Plan Pro launched

1995

Business Plan Pro Logo

By selling boxes of software instead of hours of consulting time, we found we could help small and midsized businesses do best-practice planning at a price they could afford. Business Plan Pro would go on to receive awards and positive reviews from The Wall Street Journal, PC World, Entrepreneur Magazine, and more, as well as from thousands of real-world startups and small businesses.

Palo Alto Software moves to Eugene, Oregon

1992

Business planning for Apple's international operations

1990-1994

Apple Logo

For over a decade, beginning in 1983, Apple contracts Tim for strategic guidance and research in their Pacific, Latin American, and Japanese markets. From 1990 to 1994, Tim consults for Apple Japan as its annual sales grows from $180 million to $1.5 billion.

Palo Alto Software's firest product

1988

Palo Alto Software's first product

Tim publishes the “Business Plan Toolkit” product, including templates to do business plan financials for Mac and PC computers.

Palo Alto Software, Inc. is born

1988

Old Palo Alto Software logo

Business planning in Silicon Valley

1983-1994

Tim Berry presenting in Silicon Valley

Tim writes the original business plan for Borland International, and joins the founding board of directors. He consults on strategy and business planning with Apple Computer's international groups, other computer companies, and startups. In 1984, he creates his first business plan software product: templates to go with a book titled, “How To Develop Your Business Plan.”

Tim Berry, Standford MBA

1981

Tim Berry, Stanford MBA

June 14, 1981. Tim graduates with an MBA from Stanford University.