Business Software » Business Owners

Streamline Your Business With Small Business Management Software

admin — Tue, 11 May 2010 17:37:53 +0000

Small businesses often face a multitude of day to day problems and one of them is having difficulty in streamlining business procedures to maximise their potential. Without procedures and processes that are streamlined a business owner can find that a disproportionate amount of time is wasted each day. Whilst this can sometimes be through no fault of a particular individual it is still time during the working day that is lost and can never be retrieved.

In order to streamline a business and its processes and procedures it is wise to look into small business management software. With this management software it is possible to run most aspects of a business through one single software application. Not only does this provide a single interface for employees and business owners to perform work tasks through, it also helps to cut down on the amount of time spent switching between various applications.

Small businesses that opt to use small business management software soon see the benefits of doing so in terms of increased productivity and lowered inefficiency. Both of these combined can make a real difference to a small business’s bottom line, something that all business owners and managers are all concerned about.

Integrating small business management software into a business is also very straightforward, which means that managers will not have to face loosing too many working hours as their staff learn to use it. In fact as soon as you have been set up with a password and ID it is possible to be up and running with small business management software in a matter of minutes. Obviously users of this type of software will learn more about how to get the most out of it as they are using it and develop their own style.

Streamlining a small business means that all employees will be using the same efficient means of completing work related tasks and so on. By only using one application to create and save customer contacts, create work rotas, assign individual tasks, create quotes and invoices and much more a great deal of time is saved.

Traditionally, these tasks would have been completed through separate applications which meant waiting for each one to open every day and then having to swap between them during the working day. Over time this can lead to poor working practises and even lost documentation – which has to be avoided at all costs. In fact by only using one application it can enable a business to refine their processes to such an extent that there is little room left for error.

Any business owner or manager who wants to create a more positive working environment and increase productivity in a very short space of time should look towards small business management software. It is the practical and simplistic way to streamline a business and increase revenue. So rather than trying to change internal processes and retain the same software choose small business management software and you will soon see the results.

By: Devllin Walker

How to Choose the Right Accounting Software for Your Business

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 17:38:43 +0000

With any good luck and a good amount of hard work, you’re
having the same problem many business owners today are
facing. Your business is growing rapidly and you’re having
problems controlling your finances. Time and time again,
that Microsoft Excel spreadsheet you’ve been using just
isn’t getting the job done for you.

So, you’ve decided that you’re ready to take the next
step, and buy a full-featured accounting software program.
Many options are available to choose from, but I believe
the best solutions to be Quicken Premier Home and Business
by Intuit, QuickBooks Pro also by Intuit, and Peachtree
Accounting by Sage. In order to decide on the right
package for you, you need define the type of business that
you operate.

With the rise of self-employment (businesses with one or
more owners but no paid employees) a need has arisen to
manage business and personal finances on one platform.
Intuit has released Quicken 2005 Premier Home and Business
to fill this need. This software is perfect for the small
business owner who receives income from investments, real
estate, and/or internet marketing. Also, Quicken 2005
Premier Home and Business is well priced at only $89.95.

For more typical brick-and-mortar business owners, you
will usually need a more robust solution like QuickBooks
Pro or Peachtree Accounting for functions like payroll
reporting and check producing. Each piece of software has
its advantages, but don’t forget that QuickBooks has been
the standard in business accounting software for many years
now. As for features and basic operations, both
applications will provide you the same functionality and
convenience for your business.

One additional factor to consider in your decision is that
Peachtree Accounting is less expensive than QuickBooks.
Both starter versions of Peachtree and QuickBooks are
priced at $99.95 each, but the full-featured version of
Peachtree is priced at only $199.95 while the full-featured
QuickBooks Pro is priced at $299.95.

At the end of the day, the biggest advantage QuickBooks
offers over Peachtree is compatibility with other
applications. For example, most commercial banks (Bank of
America, SunTrust, etc…) provide you with files designed
to work directly with QuickBooks, so that you can read,
study, and decipher transaction details. Also, some banks
will allow you to update account information in real-time
with QuickBooks. Check with your bank to see what
accounting software their online services support, and you
should be able to make your decision.

By: Brandon Hall

Benefits of Hosted Software For Start-up and Small Businesses

admin — Thu, 06 May 2010 23:23:01 +0000

Introduction

According to research carried out by UK Online, a business broadband supplier, two thirds of small businesses defined as those with 1-10 employees and clearly this includes start-ups, do not yet have an internet connection at all. Further analysis shows that of those that do just over half do not have a company website, almost 20% are using a slow dial up network and 20% do not take basic security precautions such as using anti virus software. With this group representing something like 3.5million businesses in the UK the scope for growth and increased opportunities for these businesses by increased use of IT and the internet is enormous. We need to ask ourselves why so many people are shy of using the internet for business when something in the region of 61% of households have internet access according to the 2007 Office of National Statistics report?

Some answers can be found in the complexity of the business requirement, faster speeds, greater bandwidth etc., which in turn leads to cost implications. In addition the purchase and maintenance of complex business software such as databases is a challenge for small business. Finally many business owners in this category have little understanding of computers, the internet and the benefits that can accrue from this technology. In a small business start up, many owners give little thought to the IT and software requirements they need going forward except perhaps for a simple PC or laptop and some standard office software. Anything more complex is too expensive and because of lack of knowledge they have little idea of the benefits it could provide for the future. However the solution to this conundrum is at hand in the form of hosted systems.

Hosted systems

To outline what a hosted system is, we need to understand how most companies operate their standard IT systems. For very small companies any IT system they have is likely to comprise a laptop and some standard office software on which it would reside. For larger companies they will have a server which provides additional facilities for the PCs connected to it, may have software resident on it in addition to local software that may reside on individual PCs. A hosted system on the other hand has what ever software the company is supplying, often bespoke for a particular function, on servers many miles distant, access being achieved by way of an internet connection. Why is this beneficial? Well typically payment for this type of system is on a monthly rental model based on the number of people who use it. This means that the initial cost of using this software is substantially lower than otherwise would be the case. There are many more benefits of using hosted systems. These include:

Automatic (and usually) free upgrades keeping you up to date Scalability – so you do not need to buy additional software licences Low cost Secure – most companies use the very latest spam filters, firewalls and antivirus software to protect you and your data Back up – the majority of businesses are at great risk as they do not back up their data on a regular and consistent basis. Hosted systems automatically provide back up. Redundancy – Hosted system suppliers usually have multiple servers, in multiple locations with multiple communications to ensure availability better than most systems in an office. Reliability – Part of the service these companies provide is an IT support function that only large companies can normally afford. Availability – Being internet based your data and applications are available to you at anytime (not just office hours) and in any part of the world – very useful if you are travelling.

So what sorts of applications are available from hosted systems? The typical office software such as spreadsheets, word processors and presentation software are now all available for use free from Google from its Google Labs web site. Google have committed a great deal of resources into the hosted software market and we are sure to see more coming from them in the not too distant future. Highly featured CRM (contact relationship management) systems are also available and these systems are essential for any business wishing to develop prospects and customers in the medium term. Intranets have tended in the past to be for large companies and are usually bespoke and in house costing large amounts of cash. Yet increasingly these are being used by small companies with remote workers or partners. Other applications are websites and in particular e-commerce websites. Typically these have been extremely expensive to design, set up, maintain and regularly update the range of products sold, which is probably why many small businesses have not fully embraced the technology. Now however there are hosted systems available which reduces this cost to a small monthly amount. (Further details of these last two applications are in the next section)

Examples

The first example of hosted solutions is supplied by Intranet Works which provides intranet services to small and stat up businesses. It has ten applications all of which can be configured to the users’ requirements. In addition to an online diary and task list (which can be synchronised to MS Outlook) it has a series of database templates including a CRM package. Documents can be stored and viewed by any user who has the right permissions at anytime and from anywhere where there is an internet connection. This is an ideal product for companies with an extended supply chain, project management businesses, and those with remote workers, salespeople and service engineers.

Conclusion

For start ups and small businesses hosted systems are an ideal solution to the need to have and use software applications but at the same time to keep the costs of the business in the initial stages as low as possible. There is no doubt that in the future there will be a massive explosion in the number and type of applications available and if companies like Google have their way will end up dominating the market.

By: Bob Francis

Painting Business – Make the Process of Estimating Job Costs Easier With Software Programs

admin — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 07:13:30 +0000

One of the least favorite aspects of owning a painting business is estimating the costs of the projects. If you are placing bids on particular jobs it is essential because you want to be competitive enough to get the work. If you are doing the estimates for homeowners or business owners you want to give them a fair deal.

Yet at the end of the day you have to make sure you are charging enough for you to make a profit after you have covered all of the various business related expenses. Offering free consultations is a big part of a painting business as people want to have a good figure of what the work is going to cost them. Therefore if you aren’t careful you can spend too much of your time on these estimates and less on the actual work that does make you money.

The use of an effective software program can help you get very accurate estimates for your painting business though. At the same time it can significantly reduce the amount of time it takes to come up with those figures. You can break down the costs too so that customers can see what you are charging them for various supplies and for the labor involved. Should they want some changes it is very fast to go into the computer and change those things to come up with the new estimate.

You will find that the initial investment in such a software program for your painting business estimates pays for itself in no time at all. Not only will it save you money but it will provide you with professional looking estimates your customers can easily read. You do want to take your time to find the right software program for your needs though. It should also be simple for you to navigate.

By: P E Cavanaugh

Accounting Software for a Small Business

admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 11:39:08 +0000

Can you do your accounting the old fashioned way with a ledger book? Yes, you can, but with all the accounting software out there, why would you?In general, you probably wouldn’t, but I do know of a number of small businesses that have tracked their accounts in Excel for the first few years while waiting for the company to generate enough cash to buy an accounting package.I don’t recommend this strategy because basic accounting software is not that expensive and keeping appropriate track of your accounts is important for your business. Keeping a good account allows you to track your profitability by customer, allows you to understand how your employees spend their time, and allows you to understand how your marketing dollars drive your sales.Make sure when you get your software that you are able to: Track every revenue item and every expense by customer or job type.You are able to customize your expense categories.The reports that you can run will give you a good understanding of how money flows through your business.Keep time by employee and run reports showing time by customer.Download your data to your accountant’s software system.Have more than one seat license to use the product.The three packages often recommended for small businesses are QuickBooks Pro 2008, Peachtree Complete Accounting 2008, and for Mac users: Myob Accountedge 2007 for Mac Also Includes Network Edition. (QuickBooks Pro also has a Mac addition and MYOB has a PC addition).From my discussions with business owners, the majority start out with QuickBooks, but don’t like it that much. Peachtree seems to be the favorite, but it is not available on the Mac. Any of these packages are fine for a small business, but please make sure that you have an accountant help you set up your accounts if you do not understand accounting yourself. The software will only benefit you if you understand what it is telling you.Another note: if you are doing Department of Defense contracts, you must comply with the DCAA (Defense Contract Auditing Agency) accounting rules. A lot of specialty accounting firms would have you believe that you must have special software to be DCAA compliant. In many cases, special software will make it easier, especially if you have multiple contracts over multiple years. If you are just going for an SBIR or two, the above mentioned accounting packages can be used and can be DCAA compliant. Go to the DCAA website and click on the menu item: Standard Audit Programs. About half way down is the Preaward Survey of Prospective Contractor Accounting System. The DCAA will do an audit of your accounting system prior to beginning an award and this is the check list they will use to make sure your accounting system is up to their standards.

By: C. Worrall

Mind Mapping Software – The Benefits to Business

admin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:35:21 +0000

The practice of creating mind maps to help organize thoughts has been around for a while. However, until just recently, the thought to use this technique for business purposes was not very widespread. As technology has evolved, so has the interest in mind mapping software. Mind mapping software can be used in a number of ways to benefit virtually any business.

Beginning any business-related project can become a daunting task, but by using mind mapping software, it will become much less stressful. This software is designed to enable users to record their thoughts and ideas in a way that brings them to life visually. This is an incredible tool for business owners because the human brain is designed to process visual information more efficiently. Therefore, by having the ability to visualize their thoughts, employees will be able to problem solve much more quickly, thus, increasing productivity.

Not only does the software give your employees the ability to visualize their thoughts and ideas, it also allows them to organize their thoughts and ideas by arranging them in whatever ways are the most useful to them. Users are able to attach notes, to do lists, Word or Excel documents, links and other data to the related topics within the map. This feature will save a lot of time during research, brainstorming sessions, and presentations as the user will not have to worry with flipping through numerous documents to find the relevant information. Instead, all of the information is just a click away on the software-generated map.

The visual map has the ability to be continually changing as you add information to it with the mind mapping software. It is not something that cannot be altered once it’s up and running. By frequently adding relevant information, users easily can track the status of their ongoing projects from start to finish. Part of being able to update information at will includes being able to instantly add any comments to your presentation as they are brought to your attention by audience members. This feature makes a HUGE difference when comparing mind mapping software to PowerPoint in regards to giving presentations. PowerPoint simply cannot do it.

Finally, one of the best features this software offers is that it has the ability to be used in meetings with an LCD projector and screen! If you are presenting information to a group of colleagues, this will allow you to record and display ideas in real time all throughout your presentation. Using this tactic alone will help keep others’ attentions when they can visually see their suggestions on the projector screen!

By: Michael Masterton

Using Business Income Tax Software

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:16:08 +0000

It takes so much to build a business and so much more to make it a real success. They say that you have to be really cut for it in order to make it in any business venture because while some get lucky, businesses are all about time, effort and a whole lot of strategy.

When one has a business, one will realize that while it is primarily about gaining as much profit as you can there are many other things to take care of to ensure the continuing success or existence of your business.

Some of the factors that you have to look into are taking care of your employees after all employees are your real worth. It is only when you have the best employees can you assure yourself that even if you are not around to check on them everyday, your customers are safe in their hands.

Also, while you want to keep the profit all to yourself, there is a need to allocate to your human resources and other needs like marketing efforts perhaps to increase sales but more importantly you have to make sure that you are paying business income tax. Yes, the more your business earns the more business income tax you have to pay.

So just think of it this way, the more business income tax you pay the more successful you are. For sure there will always be that desire to cheat your way into paying lesser business income tax than you should really be paying. Most business owners even justify this by saying that there is no way they can earn if they pay the right amount of business income tax.

Bear in mind that the government tries to be fair in imposing business income tax. Read through the many laws about business income tax or if not look for a friend who is knowledgeable in tax laws so that you will be properly informed. You never know, there might be legal ways for you to contribute less business income tax.

In terms of preparing your business income tax, you can scour the net or ask around other people who have experienced filing a business tax for the correct business income tax software. The business income tax software will make it easier for you to go through the process of filling in details and finding out the precise amount of business income tax you have to pay.

By: Low Jeremy

Retail Business Accounting Software

admin — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 01:06:34 +0000

Imagine your favorite little retail shop. Think of how many people come in and out of that business establishment in an hour. Now think of the number of people that look at the shop’s products. Take into consideration the variety of products they buy, as well as the amounts they buy.

If you think about it, such numbers could reach hundreds, or maybe even thousands, during busy days. And the figures could double or triple easily if you take into account every single purchase made at the store.

To assist the owners and accountants of such retail businesses, computer techies and number wizards have come up with a great idea: retail business accounting software.

What is retail business accounting software? This kind of business accounting software has been specifically designed to make the numbers game much easier for business owners and accountants to play. For retail businesses, it is important to keep track of the shop’s stock and how many products are being sold. By identifying these factors, businesses are able to determine which products are the most profitable and which ones are draining them of resources. With retail business accounting software, processing these important figures becomes fairly easy.

Especially integrated into the program itself are important business criteria that are taken into consideration by the retail industry. All a person has to do is key in the required figures as well as other information or business data. Retail business accounting software does the rest of the work. The next thing that the user of the software needs to do is simply understand the statistics that have been summarized for him by the software. There is no need to manually tally laborious computations.

If you are interested in using retail business accounting software for your own retail business or for the company that you are working for, you can easily find one of these through the internet.

By: Elizabeth Morgan

Using Business Process Management Software to Improve Operations

admin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:17:02 +0000

A business is a conglomeration of many smaller operating systems. For a business to operate successfully, each of the smaller operating systems must be functioning correctly. If even just one of the smaller systems is not performing well, the entire business will feel the effect. One way to ensure that each aspect of the business is operating well is to use business process management software.

Business Process Management software works in many of the same ways that a human manager would. For example, for a manager to be effective in their jobs, they must know how to perform all of their duties as well as know how their job fits into the overall goals of the business. Using Business Process Management software will make this process much easier; however, the software must be able to operate on both closed and open systems.

An open operating system is one in which the daily activities of the business are constantly exposed to the outside environment. Various types of information will be exchanged with different areas of the environment, which means that the business process management software must be able to quickly adapt to changes in the environment to ensure that the business continues to operate efficiently.

A closed system is just the opposite of an open system. With a closed system, all of the daily operations that are performed are not affected by the outside environment. Instead, all of the parts of the business will continue to operate without regards to any outside interference.

Business Process Management can help business owners gain control over both the open and closed operations of the business as well as all of the sub departments of the business, which will allow the business owner to operate at peak efficiency.

By: Jack M Patterson

Small Business Inventory Software – The Wisest Investment You’ll Ever Make

admin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:31:25 +0000

Small business inventory software improves productivity by allowing business owners to keep track of all goods and items. Inventory is one of your business’s most critical assets, and properly managing that inventory enables you to serve your customers while also staying nimble, and not keeping too much of your cash tied up. Managing inventory can be a laborious task, but there are many affordable solutions.

Running a small business is never an easy task. According to statistics, the majority of new small business end up bankrupt and the main reason for this failure is attributed to poor record keeping, which results in out-of-stock merchandise, wrong invoicing and lost opportunities. If you don’t want this to happen to you, then you should consider investing in small business inventory software. It just might be the best investment you make within your business.

Just because it is a small business this does not mean the software has an easy task. Inventory control is more than just tracking stock levels. Small Business Inventory Software is a solution that tracks your merchandise from its purchase order to the supplier and all the way to invoicing and receiving payment from your customers.

A big advantage of running this type of software in your business is that it works directly with bar codes and serial numbers of every item that you have in stock. This means it’s easier to enter new items, as you can just scan them and the software will add the description of the product and it’s bar code in a database. There could also be a function showing you exactly what you can assemble with the items that are in stock and which items might limit the building process.

If you only have limited funds, then you could try working with MS Excel. Microsoft Office Excel 2007 can help you track the bottom line and generate reports. With Excel 2007, you can manipulate data, but you’ll have to enter everything by hand – which can lead to mistakes.

It uses a familiar Explorer-like interface for navigation between Vendors, Items, and Customers. SBIC allows you to create invoices, purchase orders, packing slips and ships with 20 standard inventory and sales related Reports that are only a click away. SBIC inventory databases are based on a Microsoft Access database and can be shared on a server to allow for multi-user access.

However, there are plenty of very good inventory control and tracking options available and small business software can be found for around $250. This should be able to handle everything you throw at it unless you have very specific tasks to perform in which case you may want to consider a customised option.

By: Dawn Smith