Masterplans.com review: Scam 22

What did your research reveal?

I’m curious about the negative reviews as well. I made contact with Brent this afternoon and he was friendly, knowledgeable and applied no pressure whatsoever. I do my homework too and although the most expensive service so far, I felt better and more confidence about their abilities to fulfill my needs than the other services I’ve contacted. They’ve been in business for 16 years. You don’t last that long with shady or illegal business practices. I will continue to research but won’t be going by the scattered negative reviews on this site by what appears to be people failing to use spell check and inserting words in all caps. Just sayin’, y’all. Details matter as a business owner and as to your experiences, a quick look in the mirror may be warranted.

I have just looked up the BBB website and masterplans is BBB rated. They were never pushy or rude salespeople. They e mailed me and I responded. I have talked with Miri and she has changed the contracts to fit my liking, and as requested, clarified some of the issues that people are having. I cannot find anything on the supposed cases against the company. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Logan.

It wasn't a case of being misinformed though; 3 months ago they were listed as an A+ BBB accredited business, I read it with my own 2 eyes. Now details for the Masterplans.com/Sente Inc. come up as "! BBB Business Review on Sente Inc is being updated by BBB !".

In any case, I'm glad I opted not to take my chances with them. And just the same, I do with people would use BBB more often than finding other sounding boards to voice their complaints. The Bureau isn't good for much, but at least it can be utilized as somewhat of a valid complaints department. Especially for companies like this who apparently write and post so-called "reviews" on their own webpage.

~V.

Vinny - your confused because your misinformed.
http://alaskaoregonwesternwashington.bbb.org/Find-Business-Reviews/name/masterplans/97086/

Masterplans.com is NOT accredited by the BBB what so ever.

Its totally false listing and they are have no integrity.

I am so confused... how come none of you people went to BBB?
Master plans has an accredited BBB A+ rating with only 2 complaints listed which were resolved. Other than 3 somewhat weird posts on [redacted], this is the only forum I found with negative reviews, albeit most other so-called "review" sites are affiliated with the company in some way. Nevertheless, if they suck so bad and are such scam artists, why the A+ BBB rating?

I hope the next person who complains here also files an official complaint with the Better Business Bureau as well.

The service really sucks. I should of did my research. Instead I bought into all of their smart sales tactics. After my plan was completed and the full amount was paid, it seems all they wanted to do was get me to go away. I was very patient while they were writing my plan. I didn't bug them, trusting that they knew what they were doing. Thought it was a little odd that they didn't ask certain questions. They told me that they had written many plans for my industry and are professionals. After I received my first draft, I realized that their claim wasnt true. I had to ask for more information and question them. Even when I tried to ask for advice on if I should include something or not, I got a "What do you think?" in response. Which I did not like at all because I trusted them as professionals to tell me if something didnt look right. When I received my financials on CD, Paige (who wrote my plan), failed to properly explain everything to me. I specifically asked her if there is anything I needed to know before editing the spreadsheet. She said no. Which I found out when all my financials were messed up that there were certain cells I was not supposed to alter. She also didnt send me information or explain to me where all of the figures came from. It was after 5 emails of the same question that she finally sent me a word document. Pretty much saying "Leave me alone and read this". Note that this was during the 21 days after my completed first draft. I really should of did my research. I needed people who I felt really cared about building a great plan for me. In the end my plan turned out great but I dont feel that I paid for a service of value. There's more which I'm leaving out.

It's a shame one bad apple sheds such a dark shadow over an innovative creative little cottage industry. Not knowing that they are professionals business plan writers on the internet I found some I was interested in and did all my research just like you. I went through the same thing you did basically, passed on masterplans and ended up going with a company i was very happy with and they brought a lot of experience and guidance. You have to take complaints on the internet with a grain of salt but when people talking class action lawsuits, fraud, and scams and over a long period of time it makes you wonder if there's some truth. I give just about everybody a chance until they prove me wrong. I'm that kinda person. What really took the cake, but I had already made my decision to say "NO", was all the employees who shared a lot of facts logically put together.

Datson

I just contacted Masterplans.com and I spoke with a nice lady who explain me what they offer, the price $4, 400.00 (50% at front and the other 50% at the end). Always I do researching before giving money out to a company. My present husband was scammed several times and I told him that we have to be careful. The first image of masterplans.com was a professional company. They have so nice designed business plans online. When I started opening the samples they sent by e-mail and research for the websites mentioned in their plans, they didn't exist. I made more investigation regarding masterplan.com and scam. For sure I will not move forward with this company. Thanks for all this complaints I am able to open my eyes. I have been doing research for years after I hired a company that scammed me . Hopefully someone can stop this fraudulent companies. They still doing dirty businesses and is sad that they still in the market.

I've never been so appalled - my loan officer told me the plan I submitted them was unacceptable and Masterplans refused to revise my draft to their liking. Scammers, indeed.

These people totally copied and pasted everything I submitted them. Their writers are awful; their project managers don't provide adequate customer service; and Bryan Howe is probably one of the most pompous business owners Iv'e ever come into contact with.

I signed a contract with Masterplans and received unrealistic numbers and financial statements. I took the plan to a group that works with individuals to get SBA loans. They told me the numbers were very unrealistic. I complained to the individual writing the plan for me, Paige, and received and answer that completely made no sense as far as the numbers. I never received a revised draft and had to call and complain after waiting for two months!. I finally received a revision which contained the exact same information as the original draft. I spoke with Bryan and he said he would get back to me but never did. It was a simple daycare business plan and they couldn't even get it right. I spent $1200 and don't have anything. I would have been much better off purchasing Business Plan Pro or some other software for $99. They are a complete rip off!

I agree with Phil and everyone else about the negative comments made about masterplans.com I always do a search for a company with the word scam and find out whats really going on. I was so caught up with my business startup and the need for funding, I got fooled by their website and advertising and process overall that I bought into it and threw away $900. Now that could have been used for so many other important things I need right now for my business especially with the upcoming holiday season. Now I have a bunch of financials, that even if I wanted to modify myself, I cant because I cant even export them to excel from the word document they gave me. I'd have to do it myself, and after spending $900 for 27 pages of garbage. UNREALISTIC NUMBERS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, like everyone else has said. If you are reading this and thinking of using Masterplans.com - DO THE PLAN YOURSELF! I PROMISE YOU

These guys are scammers and play off of hard working business people's emotions. They have a rigid templated process that will never get anyone funded. My Accountant and banker looked at the rough draft and said, you paid how much? And if Bryan thinks he's such a tough guy, he'll get what's coming to him, just wait and watch. I don't like bullies. And he's a bully. And now he has met his match. They won't be in business for much longer. You cannot simply run a company of lies and maintain that for very long. BTW, is there any information on how many of the plans they write actually get funded?

Miguel,

Master Plans, masterplans, masterplans.com and owner Bryan Howe, of Portland, Oregon are under investigation in several states and ripped off clients are filing law suits against them, going to the BBB, attorney general and law enforcement. They're trying to get as much money out of people through high pressure sales tactics before they're shut down. You are very fortunate and smart to have avoided getting scammed. Which scammer kept calling you Bryan Howe or Rick Nischelke?

I like to tank each of you for taking the time to write about this company they have done many calls to try to get me to do business with them but I like to read the blog sections on what is the performance of the company when comes to what they say they do. I my self do marketing and promotions for music artist and believe me when I say this if your company names is dirty no one is going to want do business with you. That is just the nature of the load!

Miguel Marrero CEO
PIRULO MUSIC PROMOTIONS, INC.
New York City

I too came to dislike masterplans.com. After they got the first half of the money, i got the "plan" which made no sense #'s wise and when the corrections were submitted evrything got quiet. No phone calls returned or e-mails answered. Then they took the second half. The first phone call they insisted that i had signed a contract and had no legal standing cause i got my plan as contracted . Which was untrue. There was no record of me approving the draft or a record of the post office or ups, etc delivering it. Once this was pointed out and i explained to them that i was not litigating but that i expected my AG to prosecute this is when i got my money back. It took eight months. I have to agree that this is a company to be avoided.

Wow, I am amazed I thought we were the only ones that got scammed. We paid $2000 for a 27 page "business plan" full of useless numbers and completely unrealistic goal target, ect. After I tried to work it out with them, they requested a letter from the bank that clearly states loan denied based on business plan. The thing is WE WERENT LOOKING FOR A LOAN. Business plan was intended for sponsorships potentials as we have a TV Show. But even if we needed a loan, banks don't approve/deny based on any business plan, and such letter is impossible to obtain.

I was so frustrated with this company. they claim to be professionals, but based on the "work" they did its just a whole bunch of nonsense hoping that someone real dumb, and has no sense of logic in their own business, will fall for it.
Dont throw your money away.

Let me guess - Bryan offered to pay you in full for your comment on this board! By the way - that's the definition of deception!

As for ...a singular break down in their process and not the norm... I would humbly like to remind you that every break down is singular and looking at number of break downs in past 3 years - I would call it a norm.

I have nothing personl against the company. They refunded my money in full as well. However, the only reason I am posting this feedback is becasue I want the future customers to know the truth that MasterPlans plan is not something that can be taken to VCs. I am now working with a CPA, and yes it's costing me significantly more, who is atleast setting my valuation tables, CAP tables correctly.

My CPA looked at my bank accounts, my 3 year Tax Payments, and audited my entire financial plan before even looking at my business plan. Furthermore, he was very clear in that he will have to do extensive research to make sure that the plan is correct.

The only reason I selected MasterPlans was becasue they told me that they had done 100s of plans like mine. They were familiar with VCs requirements and Level 2 plan would be a perfect plan for me.

I just wanted to update my situation with Masterplans. After more communication with the company founder, Bryan Howe, I don't believe this company is in any way fraudulent or deceptive, but rather my engagement with them was a singular break down in their process and not the norm. In the end, they did right by me and I'm happy.