Small Business Ideas – FreewareSuccessful small business ideas mean minimal start-up costs. That traditionally translates into low infrastructure, minimal initial investment, and low fixed costs. In today’s world, starting a business requires huge investments in technology. Computers, software—it all adds up. The basic Microsoft Office Online package costs about $400, depending on what you need. The Small Business Edition offered by Microsoft Office costs $50 more than that. Do you need Quickbooks to manage your accounting? That’s at least another $100—probably a couple hundred dollars, in reality. You see what happens here. Your “necessities” start to add up. Your return on investment for these products may be amazing. For example, the time and money you save using Quickbooks instead of paying an accountant or wading through paper records is probably worth the hundreds of dollars. But are there any savings or discounts from which small business owners can benefit? The answer is a resounding “YES!” Financial expert Clark Howard points out some alternatives on his website. For example, he highlights that OpenOffice.org offers “the newest version of its office suite-style software for free.” But the world runs on Microsoft Word…is OpenOffice.org’s software compatible with Word? If used correctly, it most certainly is. Do you spend a lot of time and energy making appointments? Networking can be easier. Howard recommends Genbook.com. It provides online appointment scheduling software…for free. With Genbook.com, customers can make their own appointments with you online. Genbook.com then sends automatic confirmations. You provide flexibility to your clients while working fewer hours and requiring fewer employees. Here are some more examples of “freeware” that can help you to implement your small business ideas: 1. Open Source Web Design – Provides free web design templates for you to download 2. Visual Studio Express – Provides free programming software 3. MindMeister– Provides free online brainstorming and mapping tools 4. NaturalReader– Provides free text-to-voice software 5. PLCash – Provides free software to manage your personal finances 6. Media-Convert – Provides free software to convert video, image, or audio files 7. ByteScout– Provides free internet research software 8. H-Lounge – Provides free music production software 9. Photo-Freeware.net– Provides free image software 10. Envisioneer Express– Provides free architectural design software 11. Urban Fonts – Provides free font downloads 12. Evrsoft – Provides free website builder software 13. Rainlendar – Provides a free customizable desktop calendar 14. GnuCash– Provides free accounting software 15. Free Conference Call– Provides free conference call technology These are just a few examples of free computer products that can support your small business ideas. Check out Clark Howard.com for more “freeware.” REDUCE ENERGY COSTS! Click Here!
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