The ##VALUE! error in plan tables indicates that one or more cells that should contain number values are blank or are being read as text instead. The ##VALUE! is generally caused by blanks in table cells, errors in data entry, or errors in user-entered spreadsheet formulas.

The numbers may look like numbers to you, but the software is interpreting them as text. Often cells have been left blank, no numbers at all, which the software interprets as a space, not a number.

The software formats numbers automatically, such as the "$" for currency or "," for thousands. Therefore, when entering numbers into cells, enter the NUMBERS ONLY, with no formatting characters or spaces. Manually entering formatting codes or pressing the spacebar while entering numbers causes the program to "see" the data as text.

To test a value that looks like a number but seems to be interpreted as text, re-type it beginning with an equal sign and numbers only. For example, if the problem seems to be with a cell showing "$999,999", type =999999 into the cell and see what happens.

The financials are linked, so that a bad cell in one table may create the same error in other tables. To assist you in locating where the error occurs, try the following:

1. Look first at the Profit and Loss table.
• If the error shows up in sales or cost of sales, then your error originated in the Sales Forecast table.
• If the error shows up in interest expense or taxes incurred, the missing value is probably in either the Start-up table or the Past Performance, because these set opening values of your debts and interest depends on debt. If ##VALUE! doesn't start in the first month, then look in the debt-related rows of Cash Flow. If not there, then look at the interest rate rows of General Assumptions.
• If the error shows up in a personnel line in the P&L, then the error originated in the Personnel Plan table.
• If the error shows up in any other part of P&L, its source is probably right in the P&L table.
2. Next, look at the Balance Sheet table.
   • If the error shows in any of the starting balances, then the source is either the Start-Up table, Start-up Funding or the Past Performance table.
   • If it shows up anywhere else, look for a blank cell in your General Assumptions table or your Cash Flow table.
3. The cells which are most commonly left blank are:
   • In the Cash Flow table
     - Current Borrowing (repayment)
     - Long Term Borrowing (repayment)
   • In the StartUp or StartUp Funding (2005)table
     - Other Expenses
     - Investor 1
     - Investor 2
     - Short Term Liabilities
     - Long Term Liabilities
     - Starting Cash
     If your value for any of these items is blank type 0 into the cell. Don't leave it blank.

4. For further help, study the linked table relationships in the following diagram:

Finally, we offer a ##VALUE! error diagnosis service for a fee, as a convenience to our customers.