Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to BizPlanner.ai, an innovative platform designed to assist entrepreneurs, startups, and businesses in crafting comprehensive and professional business plans. Our primary goal is to facilitate the planning process, helping you transform your visionary ideas into well-structured documents that effectively communicate your business strategy, objectives, and operational plan.

At BizPlanner.ai, we deeply value and are committed to protecting the privacy and security of our users’ information. We understand the sensitivity of the data you provide while generating your business plans, and we take substantial measures to ensure that your personal and business information is kept confidential and secure.

This Privacy Policy is crafted to transparently communicate how we collect, use, share, and protect your personal information when you use our platform. It also outlines the choices and rights you have concerning your personal data. We encourage you to read this document thoroughly to understand our practices regarding your information and how we will treat it.

By accessing or using BizPlanner.ai, you agree to the terms and conditions outlined in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, your choice is not to use our platform. Your continued use of BizPlanner.ai after we make changes to this Privacy Policy is deemed acceptance of those changes, so please check the policy periodically for updates.

We are dedicated to maintaining an environment of trust and safety, and we are always available to address any questions or concerns regarding your privacy. Do not hesitate to contact us through the contact information provided in the later sections of this policy. Your privacy is paramount to us, and we are committed to protecting it diligently.

Thank you for choosing BizPlanner.ai. We are excited to be part of your entrepreneurial journey and are here to support you every step of the way.

2. Information Collection and Use

At BizPlanner.ai, we collect various types of information to enhance your experience and to provide you with the best possible service. Below, we outline the types of information we gather, the purpose behind collecting it, and how we use this data to improve our platform.

2.1 Personal Information

  • Registration and Profile Information When you create an account or update your profile on BizPlanner.ai, we collect personal information such as your name, email address, and other contact details. This information helps us to personalize your experience and to communicate with you effectively.
  • Business Plan Data:As you use our platform to generate your business plan, we collect the data you input, including but not limited to, your business name, industry, mission, products, services, and financial projections. This information is crucial for generating your business plan and providing recommendations.

2.2 Usage Information

  • Activity Logs:We collect information about your activity on our platform, such as the pages you visit, the features you use, and the time you spend on BizPlanner.ai. This data helps us to understand user behavior, improve our services, and enhance user experience.
  • Device and Connection Information:We collect information about the device and internet connection you use to access BizPlanner.ai, including your IP address, browser type, and operating system. This information aids in ensuring the compatibility of our platform with different devices and in maintaining the security of our services.

2.3 Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Cookies:We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect information about your interaction with our platform, preferences, and settings. Cookies help us to improve our services, provide personalized content, and analyze platform performance.

2.4 How We Use Your Information

  • To Provide and Enhance Our Services:The information we collect is vital in generating your business plan, providing personalized recommendations, and ensuring the optimal functionality of our platform.
  • For Communication:We use your contact information to communicate with you, respond to your inquiries, provide updates, and offer support.
  • For Security:We use collected information to monitor and analyze activity on BizPlanner.ai, identify unauthorized access, and protect the integrity of your data.
  • For Analytics and Improvement:We analyze usage data to understand trends, user needs, and areas of improvement, aiming to continuously enhance our platform and services.
  • For Marketing and Promotions:With your consent, we may use your information to send you promotional materials, updates, and other information about our services. You have the right to opt-out of receiving these communications at any time.

By using BizPlanner.ai, you consent to the collection, use, and sharing of your information as described in this section and the rest of this Privacy Policy. Our aim is to be transparent, responsible, and respectful in handling your personal data, ensuring your privacy is safeguarded throughout your journey with us.

3. Legal Basis for Processing

In accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other applicable data protection laws in the Netherlands, BizPlanner.ai ensures that the collection, use, and processing of your personal information are grounded in lawful bases. Below, we outline the legal grounds on which we rely to process your data:

3.1 Consent

We process certain types of personal information based on your explicit consent. This includes, but is not limited to, sending marketing communications, personalized content, and promotional offers. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time, and we provide easy means for you to do so.

3.2 Contractual Necessity

We process personal information as necessary to fulfill our contractual obligations to you. This includes generating your business plan, providing requested services, and ensuring the proper functioning of our platform. If you choose not to provide the required information, we may not be able to deliver the full scope of our services.

3.3 Legal Obligations

We may process your personal information when required by law, such as in response to legal proceedings, to comply with tax obligations, or to cooperate with regulatory authorities and law enforcement agencies.

3.4 Legitimate Interests

We process certain information based on our legitimate interests, provided that these interests are not overridden by your rights and interests. This includes improving our services, ensuring the security of our platform, conducting analytics, and managing our business operations. We take careful measures to balance our interests against your rights to ensure your privacy is protected.

3.5 Vital Interests

In rare circumstances, we may process your personal information to protect the vital interests of you or another person, particularly in emergency situations.

Compliance and Cooperation

As a company operating in the Netherlands, BizPlanner.ai is committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations governing data protection and privacy. We cooperate fully with data protection authorities and are transparent about our data processing practices.

By using our platform, you entrust us with your personal information, and we take this responsibility seriously. We are dedicated to processing your data lawfully, fairly, and transparently, ensuring your privacy rights are upheld.

This section provides a clear overview of the legal basis for processing your personal information at BizPlanner.ai. If you have any questions or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us.

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

At BizPlanner.ai, the privacy and security of your personal information are of paramount importance to us. This section provides detailed information on how and when we might share your personal information.

4.1 Service Providers

To enhance the efficiency and quality of our services, we partner with several third-party service providers, each specializing in specific functions. Below is a list of our primary service providers and the roles they play:

  • OpenAI / ChatGPT: We use OpenAI’s advanced language models, including ChatGPT, to generate business plans and provide related services. These models process the input data to generate text responses. We ensure that all interactions are anonymized and do not contain personally identifiable information to maintain privacy and data protection.
  • MongoDB: We use MongoDB as our database service provider to store and manage the user data securely.
  • AWS (Amazon Web Services):AWS hosts our application, ensuring it is accessible and operates smoothly for all users.
  • Google Analytics, Posthog and HotJar:These tools help us understand user behavior on our site, allowing us to improve user experience and optimize our services.
  • Stripe and LemonSqueezy:These financial services are integral for processing payments, managing subscriptions, and ensuring secure transactions.
  • Mailgun:We utilize Mailgun for sending transactional emails and other communication to our users.
  • Crisp Chat:We use Crisp Chat for providing online support through live chat, enhancing user support by facilitating immediate communication.

These service providers are given access to the personal information they need to perform their specific functions. However, they are contractually obligated to secure your data and are prohibited from using the information for any other purposes.

4.2 Legal Compliance and Protection of Rights

We may disclose your personal information if required by law, such as in response to a court order, subpoena, or other legal processes. We also reserve the right to share your information if we believe it is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others, and to prevent fraudulent activities or respond to a government request.

4.3 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of BizPlanner.ai or its assets, your personal information may be transferred to the new entity. In such a case, we will ensure that the new entity adheres to this Privacy Policy and maintains the confidentiality of your personal information.

4.4 Aggregate and De-Identified Information

We may share aggregated, non-personally identifiable information, or de-identified information with third parties for industry analysis, demographic profiling, marketing, advertising, and other purposes.

4.5 With Your Consent

In some cases, we may seek your consent to share your personal information with third parties. In such instances, you will have the option to agree or decline.

Security Measures

We are committed to ensuring the security of your personal information. We employ various security measures including encryption, firewalls, and secure server facilities to protect your information from unauthorized access and disclosure.

Changes to this Policy

We reserve the right to update this Information Sharing and Disclosure policy at any time. Any changes will be posted on this page, and if the changes are significant, we will provide a more prominent notice.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about our information sharing practices, please do not hesitate to contact us at bizplannerai@gmail.com.

Your use of BizPlanner.ai constitutes your acceptance of this Information Sharing and Disclosure policy, as amended from time to time.

5. Data Retention

At BizPlanner.ai, we are committed to ensuring that your personal data is kept no longer than necessary. This section outlines our policies and practices regarding the retention of your personal information.

5.1 Duration of Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you services. This includes data you or others provided to us and data generated or inferred from your use of our services.

5.2 Criteria for Data Retention

The duration for which we retain your personal information depends on the purposes for which we collected it, as well as our legal and regulatory obligations. We consider the following criteria to determine the retention period:

  • Purpose of Collection: If the data serves an ongoing purpose, such as providing access to our services or customer support, we retain it for as long as it serves that purpose.
  • Legal Obligations: We may be legally required to retain certain information for a set period. For example, financial records may need to be held for tax purposes.
  • Contractual Obligations: Our agreements with third-party service providers may include data retention requirements.
  • User Requests: If you have requested account deletion or data anonymization, we will retain your data for a shorter period.

5.3 Data Deletion

Upon request, we will delete or anonymize your personal information so that it no longer identifies you, unless we are legally allowed or required to maintain certain personal information, including for the following purposes:

  • Ensuring Security: We may retain personal information as necessary to prevent fraud, enforce our agreements, and resolve disputes.
  • Compliance with Laws: We may retain personal information to comply with our legal obligations, protect our rights, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.
  • Backup Systems: Residual copies of personal information may remain in our backup systems for a limited period.

5.4 Data Anonymization

Where applicable, we may choose to anonymize your data rather than delete it, meaning the data will be stripped of personal identifiers and aggregated with other non-personal data.

5.5 User Responsibilities

You may also play a role in managing your data. We provide tools and settings within our service to help you access, rectify, delete, or export your data.

5.6 Policy Updates

We may update this Data Retention policy periodically. When we change the policy in a material way, a notice will be posted on our website along with the updated policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions about our Data Retention policy or practices, please contact us at bizplannerai@gmail.com.

By using BizPlanner.ai, you acknowledge and agree to our data retention practices as described in this policy.

6. Data Security

Maintaining the security of your personal information is a top priority at BizPlanner.ai. This section outlines the comprehensive security measures we have instituted to protect your data from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction.

6.1 Implementation of Security Measures

To safeguard your personal information, we implement a variety of security measures, including:

  • Proactive Security Practices: We continuously monitor and analyze our security protocols to ensure they are up-to-date and effective.
  • Data Encryption: All sensitive information transmitted between your browser and our servers is encrypted to protect your data.
  • Secure Storage: Personal information is securely stored within our controlled databases.

6.2 Limitations of Security Measures

While we strive to protect your personal information, it is important to note that no security system is infallible:

  • Potential Risks: Despite our efforts, we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information. The nature of the internet means that there is always a potential risk that your data could be accessed, disclosed, altered, or destroyed by a breach of our safeguards.
  • User's Responsibility: We encourage you to take steps to protect your personal information, including using strong passwords and ensuring a secure internet connection.

6.3 Consultation with Security Experts

We are proactive in maintaining the security of our platform:

  • Regular Consultations: We regularly consult with our development team and external security experts to address urgent issues and to review our security practices.
  • Collaboration with Hosting Provider: Our cloud hosting provider may access data only when necessary, such as during server issues or platform downtimes.

6.4 In Event of a Security Breach

In the unlikely event of a security breach, we are committed to taking immediate action:

  • Prompt Notification: You will be notified promptly if your personal information is compromised.
  • Investigation and Remediation: We will investigate the breach thoroughly and take all necessary steps to prevent future occurrences.

6.5 Confidentiality of Access Links

Each user receives a unique link to access their business plan, which remains accessible online at any time. This link may also be used to share the business plan with others for collaboration purposes. It is the responsibility of the user to protect the integrity and confidentiality of this link. We recommend treating this link as sensitive information and refraining from sharing it with anyone who should not have access to your business plan. The company is not responsible for the privacy or content of any business plan accessed through a shared link.

6.6 Contact Us

For any security concerns or inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us at bizplannerai@gmail.com. Your safety and trust are of paramount importance to us at BizPlanner.ai.

By using BizPlanner.ai, you acknowledge the inherent risks associated with online data transmission, and you agree to take personal responsibility for securing your account. We are dedicated to continuously enhancing our security measures to provide a safe and trustworthy platform for our users.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

BizPlanner.ai uses cookies and other tracking technologies to enhance user experience, analyze site usage, and for marketing purposes. This section outlines our practices and your choices regarding cookies and tracking technologies.

7.1 What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help in identifying your browser. They are used to store user preferences and track user trends.

7.2 Types of Cookies We Use

  • Essential Cookies: These are necessary for the website to function properly. They enable basic features like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.
  • Analytical/Performance Cookies: They allow us to recognize and count the number of visitors and see how visitors move around our website. This helps us improve the way our website works.
  • Functionality Cookies: These are used to recognize you when you return to our website, enabling us to personalize our content for you.
  • Targeting Cookies: These cookies record your visit to our website, the pages you have visited, and the links you have followed. We use this information to make our website more relevant to your interests.

7.3 Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies on our website are set by third parties who are delivering services on our behalf:

  • Google Analytics: For tracking website usage and user behavior.
  • Hotjar: For providing insights into user interactions with our website.
  • Stripe and LemonSqueezy: For processing payments.

7.4 How to Manage Cookies

You have the ability to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer:

  • Browser Settings: You can set your browser to reject all cookies, accept only specific cookies, or notify you when a cookie is set.
  • Third-Party Tools: There are third-party tools available online that can help you manage cookies.

7.5 How We Use Tracking Technologies

  • Analytics: We use analytics tools to collect information about the use of our site, such as the pages visited, time spent, and interactions.
  • Marketing: We may use tracking technologies to deliver targeted advertising based on your interests.

7.6 Your Choices

You have control over your cookie settings and can opt out of certain tracking technologies:

  • Opt-Out Options: There are opt-out options available for certain tracking technologies, such as Google Analytics and Hotjar.
  • Do Not Track: Some browsers offer a “Do Not Track” feature that signals to websites you visit that you do not want to have your online activity tracked.

7.7 Contact Us

If you have any questions about our use of cookies and tracking technologies, please contact us at bizplannerai@gmail.com.

By using BizPlanner.ai, you consent to our use of cookies and tracking technologies in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree to our use of these technologies, please do not use our services.

8. User Rights

At BizPlanner.ai, we are committed to maintaining transparency and giving you control over your personal data. However, it is important to note that while we strive to facilitate your rights to the best of our ability, there may be limitations based on legal and operational constraints. Below is a description of the rights available to you:

8.1 Access to Information

You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you. We will provide this information within a reasonable timeframe, subject to verification of your identity. Please note that there may be situations where we are unable to provide access to certain pieces of information if it infringes on the rights of others or is not permitted by law.

8.2 Correction of Information

If you believe that any information we hold about you is inaccurate or incomplete, you have the right to request its correction. We will respond to your request in a timely manner after verifying the accuracy of the modifications you propose.

8.3 Deletion of Information

You may request the deletion of your personal information in certain circumstances, such as when the information is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected. However, we may be required to retain your information to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, or enforce our agreements.

8.4 Restriction of Processing

You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal information in specific circumstances. However, restricting processing may affect your ability to use certain features of our services.

8.5 Data Portability

You have the right to receive the personal information you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format. You also have the right to request that we transmit this information to another data controller, where technically feasible.

8.6 Objection to Processing

You have the right to object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances, including processing for direct marketing purposes.

8.7 Automated Decision-Making

You have the right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing, including profiling, which produces legal effects concerning you or similarly significantly affects you.

8.8 Withdrawal of Consent

If we are processing your personal information based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. However, the withdrawal of consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.

8.9 Right to Lodge a Complaint

You have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority if you believe that the processing of your personal information infringes on your rights under data protection law.

8.10 Exercising Your Rights

To exercise any of the rights mentioned above, please contact us at bizplannerai@gmail.com. We may require verification of your identity before processing your request.

8.11 Limitations and Disclaimers

Please note that your rights are subject to limitations and exceptions as allowed by applicable law. In some instances, fulfilling your request may not be possible, or may require us to delete information that is necessary for the provision of our services. BizPlanner.ai reserves the right to charge a reasonable fee or refuse to act on a request if it is excessively repetitive or burdensome.

By using our services, you acknowledge and agree to the terms outlined in this User Rights section, understanding that while we are committed to upholding your rights, there may be limitations and exceptions that apply.

9. International Data Transfers

At BizPlanner.ai, we are dedicated to providing top-tier services to our users, and part of this commitment involves processing and storing your personal information in secure environments. However, it's essential to understand how international data transfers work and their implications:

9.1 Data Storage Location

Our primary data storage is with MongoDB Atlas, which is located in the United States. Consequently, when you use our services, your personal information may be transferred to, stored in, and processed in the United States or any other country where we, our affiliates, or our service providers maintain facilities.

9.2 Data Protection Standards

Although data protection laws and other regulations may vary by country, we take steps to ensure that your privacy is protected. We endeavor to apply suitable safeguards to protect the privacy and security of your personal data and to use it only in ways that are consistent with your relationship with BizPlanner.ai and the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

9.3 Compliance with Legal Frameworks

BizPlanner.ai aims to comply with the data protection laws of the jurisdictions in which we operate. However, understand that the United States might not have the same level of data protection as your home country. By using our services, you acknowledge that your personal information will be transferred to our servers in the United States.

9.4 User Consent

By choosing to use BizPlanner.ai and providing us with your data, you expressly consent to the transfer, processing, and storage of your information in the locations outlined above. We encourage users to remain informed about where their data is stored and to be aware of the relevant laws in those jurisdictions.

9.5 Limitation of Liability

Despite our efforts to provide a secure environment for your data, no system can be 100% secure, especially with international data transfers. While we strive to protect your personal information, BizPlanner.ai cannot guarantee or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us, and you do so at your own risk. We are not liable for circumventions of any privacy settings or security measures contained on the platform.

9.6 Changes to Data Storage Locations

In the future, BizPlanner.ai may decide to change or add additional data storage locations. We will update this section accordingly and notify our users of any significant changes that might affect their personal data.

By continuing to use our services, you acknowledge and agree to the terms mentioned in this International Data Transfers section, understanding the implications of storing and processing your data in the United States or any other location where we might decide to maintain our data infrastructure.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

At BizPlanner.ai, we continuously strive to improve our services and enhance user experience. This commitment to progress may necessitate periodic updates to our Privacy Policy to reflect new features, services, or changes in legal or regulatory requirements. Below are the key aspects of how we manage changes to this policy:

10.1 Right to Modify

BizPlanner.ai reserves the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time and without prior notice. Any changes made to our Privacy Policy will be posted on this page and, if the changes are significant, we will provide a more prominent notice.

10.2 User Responsibility

It is your responsibility as a user of BizPlanner.ai to review our Privacy Policy periodically and stay informed of any updates. Your continued use of the website and our services after any changes or revisions to this Privacy Policy will indicate your agreement with the terms of the revised policy.

10.3 No Guarantee of Constant Policy

While we endeavor to keep our Privacy Policy up to date and reflect our current practices, we cannot guarantee that the policy will remain unchanged over time. The terms of our Privacy Policy are not intended to and do not create any contractual or other legal rights in favor of any party.

10.4 Limited Liability

BizPlanner.ai is not responsible for any failure to receive notice of any changes to this Privacy Policy, whether as a result of technical problems, human error, or any other cause. Moreover, we are not liable for any damages or losses stemming from your failure to receive notice of changes to the Privacy Policy.

10.5 Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns regarding our Privacy Policy or the way we handle your personal information, feel free to contact us. Our contact information is provided on our website.

10.6 Effective Date

The Privacy Policy as posted at any given time will take effect immediately upon being posted on our website, and it will govern the use of your information from that point forward.

By using BizPlanner.ai, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Privacy Policy as it is posted at the time of your use. It is your responsibility to ensure that you agree with the terms of this policy, and if at any point you do not agree with any part of the current version of this policy, you must immediately stop using BizPlanner.ai.

11. Contact Information

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, or if you need to update, delete, or change any personal information we hold, or have a concern about the way in which we have handled any privacy matter, please use the contact form on our website, or email us at bizplannerai@gmail.com. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe.

12. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

This Privacy Policy is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Netherlands, without regard to its conflict of law principles. You agree to submit to the personal jurisdiction of the courts located in the Netherlands for any disputes arising out of or relating to this Privacy Policy or your use of the Service.

13. Children’s Privacy

BizPlanner.ai is not intended for use by individuals under the age of 16, and we do not knowingly collect Personal Information from children under 16. If we become aware that a child under the age of 16 has provided us with personal information, we will take steps to delete such information from our files as soon as possible.

If you are under the age of 16, please do not submit any personal information through our Service. We encourage parents and legal guardians to monitor their children's Internet usage and to help enforce our Privacy Policy by instructing their children never to provide personal information through our Service without their permission.

Parents and legal guardians who believe that their child has submitted personal information to us and would like to have the information deleted may contact us at bizplannerai@gmail.com.

By using BizPlanner.ai, you are representing that you are at least 16 years old, or that you are at least 16 years old and have your parents’ or guardians’ permission to use the Service. We take children's privacy seriously and encourage parents and guardians to play an active role in their children’s online experience at all times.

16. Your California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act ("CCPA") provides you with rights regarding how your personal information is treated. In accordance with the CCPA, this section describes our practices regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information of California residents, as well as the rights you have with respect to that information.

California residents have the right to request access to their personal information, additional details about our information practices, and deletion of their personal information (subject to certain exceptions). California residents also have the right to opt out of sales of their personal information, if applicable. However, please be aware that BizPlanner.ai does not sell personal information as defined by CCPA.

To exercise these rights, you may contact us at bizplannerai@gmail.com. Please note that we may require you to verify your identity before fulfilling your request.

17. GDPR Rights

If you are a resident of the European Union or European Economic Area, the General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR") grants you certain rights regarding your personal information. You have the right to access, correct, delete, or restrict the processing of your personal information. You also have the right to request data portability and to object to the processing of your personal data.

To exercise these rights, please contact us at bizplannerai@gmail.com. We may need to request specific information from you to help us confirm your identity and ensure your right to access your personal data (or to exercise any of your other rights). This is a security measure to ensure that personal data is not disclosed to any person who has no right to receive it.

18. Conclusion

BizPlanner.ai is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is handled in a safe and responsible manner. We encourage you to carefully read this Privacy Policy and contact us if you have any questions or concerns about our privacy practices.

19. Effective Date

This Privacy Policy is effective as of 22 October 2023, and will remain in effect except with respect to any changes in its provisions in the future, which will be in effect immediately after being posted on this page.

20. Consent

By using our Service, you hereby consent to our Privacy Policy and agree to its Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree to this policy, please do not use our Service. Your continued use of the Service following the posting of changes to this policy will be deemed your acceptance of those changes.

Please note that we reserve the right to update or change our Privacy Policy at any time, and you should check this Privacy Policy periodically. Your continued use of the Service after we post any modifications to the Privacy Policy on this page will constitute your acknowledgment of the modifications and your consent to abide and be bound by the modified Privacy Policy.

If we make any material changes to this Privacy Policy, we will notify you either through the email address you have provided us, or by placing a prominent notice on our website.