for a final edit. Its wise to make a working copy of the entire plan that incorporates all the changes youve made so far, either from a computer print-out or by photocopying your earlier work. Read through everything youve written to spot any inconsistencies or obvious goofs. Make any necessary corrections.     WarningFirst impressions count. You wont have time to show your potential backers a rough draft, followed by a final edit and more revisions. Somebody said that you only get one chance to make a first impression; make your first impression your best.         1. Let Your Plan Rest     Put your completed and organized business plan aside for a day or two. You want to come back to it as fresh as possible.     Assess the overall business message of your proposal. Does it make sense? Would you lend money on the strength of it? Can you make it more convincing by strengthening some of its sections? Can you document all your claims? If someone asks you to elaborate on your plan, are you ready with facts and figures?     Check for consistency one more time. Your plan should say the same things in the financial section that it says in the business description, and so on. For example, if Antoinette says she will do free alterations, she must budget enough money for a sewing machine.     2. Final Details     Your plan needs a neat and businesslike appearance to give the best impression. If you are using a word processor, make sure it has a laser or letter-quality printer. Most low-cost dot matrix printers do not produce acceptable results. It should be placed in a three-hole binder or folio.     What about visuals, charts, colors and so forth? Simply watch the sophistication level of your business plan. If youre going to market a new laser printer, your plan will include elaborate visuals that demonstrate your products abilities as well as your ability to compete in a sophisticated market. On the other hand, if youre planning to establish a bait and tackle shop on Pier 37, your plan wont need fancy graphs and charts.     As one of the last steps, number the pages of the plan and place the numbers in the Table of Contents. If your report is thick, use divider pages with colored tabs to mark each major section, so readers can find what they want quickly.     It may seem obvious, but good writing, good organization and good spelling can make all the difference. If youre uncertain about your plan, have it reviewed by a professional writer. If you dont know a reasonably priced experienced writer, check the local newspaper, an ad agency or the English department at the local high school or college. For a modest fee, you may well be able to improve your work substantially. But dont go overboard-just make sure that your writing is clear and to the point.     You may want to check out a word processing service in your area if you havent already done so. Some of these services can offer effective and inexpensive ways to improve the visual appeal of your plan at a reasonable price. Also, they may be able to offer suggestions about binding your