Flory Center granted 100 licenses for BizGear financial planning tool

The Flory Small Business Development Center, Inc. will receive software specifically designed for small businesses and worth nearly $20,000 as a result of an offer made by Rhonda Abrams at the national America’s ASBDC Conference held in Orlando, Fla. At this event, Ms. Abrams, author, entrepreneur, and USA Today columnist, generously offered 100 BizGear licenses for one year.

BizGear is a cloud based, interactive business financial planning tool. Ms. Abrams is widely recognized as one of the nation’s foremost experts on small business, entrepreneurship, and business planning. Through her books, writing, and speaking, she has helped millions of entrepreneurs launch and grow their own businesses.

Linda Decker, the Flory Center’s President and CEO, attended the 25th Annual ASBDC Conference that provided dynamic professional development through workshops, general sessions, and trade shows. Linda Decker, and Flory Center staff members Donna Flory and Mary Loose DeViney attended the ASBDC’s first national conference in Burlington, Vermont in 1991, just a few months after the Flory Center opened in Prince William County.

The Flory Center received the national ASBDC’s President’s Award in 1995, the first such award ever given to a local center. There were 1,000 local centers at that time. The ASBDC President, Gregory Higgins (the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania), presented the award to Mrs. Decker for her “contribution to the advancement” of the Association.

During the course of last week’s ASBDC Conference, Ms. Abrams stated that small businesses throughout the country had been good to her and her publishing company, PlanningShop, and providing the 100 BizGear licenses for one year was her way of giving back. The BizGear product was developed by PlanningShop to assist entrepreneurs in a wide range of businesses to make their financial projections. The licenses allow both start up entrepreneurs and existing business owners to make projections, learn fundamental concepts, and create critical financial reports that funders expect through a series of steps that are easy to use and understand.

Ms. Decker expressed her appreciation for the licenses stating, “we are grateful for the opportunity to utilize the detailed BizGear software with our small business clients and look forward to seeing how this innovative product will enhance client’s ability to forecast sound financial projection through user-friendly software.”

The licenses cost $199 per license per year, making her gift worth nearly $20,000.

The Flory Center plans to participate in the pilot program for evaluation purposes beginning in November and will be part of the official product launch in January, 2017 when the licenses will be available for use with the Center’s small business clients.

The Flory Small Business Center, Inc. was created by the Prince William County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) in 1991 and the IDA continues to provide over 50% of the Center’s funding with non-taxpayer dollars. The Center’s 25 year old program is based on the needs and requests of the small businesses they serve and is the recipient of national, state, and local awards. The Flory Center is funded by the Prince William County IDA, Prince William County, and the Cities of Manassas Park and Manassas. As a 25 year resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Flory Center utilizes SBA programs as appropriate.