Computer Information Series No. 4

:: Home > Library > Business Ideas/Section-9

Select your software carefully. One easy way to do that is to purchase SHAREWARE and FREEWARE before investing the big bucks. WordPerfect software for instance retails for around $300, but you can purchase PCWrite, a shareware word processing software for $3 from Software (800)243-1515. Use PC Write and see if you really need a word processing program. It might be all you’ll ever need and you saved $297. Remember that everyone has different and specific needs!

There are some DISADVANTAGES when purchasing shareware and freeware though. Some of them are really good while some of them are really lousy. That’s why it’s important to rely on a good shareware distributor (a company that only deals with selling shareware) that is very selective in the programs they include in their catalog. One such company is The American Shareware Network, 250 Arlington Street, Marshfield, MA 02050, (617)834-9208.

The American Shareware Network carefully installs and operates the software program before it is listed in their catalog for sale. They only choose top-of-the-line programs that are popular and worth the money. They also are honest in making sure the diskettes they send the programs on are full. Some rip-off shareware distributors will take a program that will fit on 1 or 2 disks and split them up into 4 or 5 different ones. Then they’ll charge you $.99 per disk and make you think you are getting a bargain. But in actuality - you would have been better off purchasing from the shareware distributor that advertises at a price of $3.49 per disk.

Also, don’t make the mistake of going crazy ordering lots of shareware. You don’t want to have 100 different software programs on your computer that do 100 different things. This would make life too confusing and you’d have to learn them all. You’d never know any of them well enough - just a little bit about each one. The whole idea here is to try out several different shareware programs in the particular software category you need before you invest money into the commercial software programs.

You should streamline your needs and the functions you want your computer to perform. Most of us will be buying a computer for our home-based business. Therefore, you need to find a good software program that will do the job you need for your particular situation. If you’re going to be a typesetter, try out a variety of desktop publishing software until you find the one that does everything you want it to do and more. One fantastic look-alike of the popular PageMaker software (retails: $549) is a program called PagePlus. In 1993, the price was only $60 - a 90% savings over its counterpart. (Purchase from Serif, Inc., P.O. Box 803, Nashua, NH 03061 (800)869-8909.)

In addition, if you will be selling mailing lists, concentrate on a good database software. If you will be writing and selling reports, concentrate on finding a good word processing software. If you plan to draw and create art, find a good CAD or drawing software program.

After locating the right software for your particular business, go through the same procedure in finding a good business accounting software you feel comfortable with so you can keep accurate records of your daily business transactions.

Do your best to narrow the different software programs on your computer down to as few as possible. This way, you can really learn each one of them and become an expert much quicker than trying to learn a whole bunch at once - thus, creating confusion rather than knowledge.

Have fun! This step will keep you busy for a few months. Below are some other software companies you may want to contact for a current catalog: Hot Software (201)585-0662; WinXpress (800)859-8500; Surplus Software (800)753-7877; CompuClassics (800)377-2001; Crazy Bob’s (800)425-2627; MultiMedia Perfection (800)936-5000. And if you want to get in touch with other computer owners and experience the new wave of electronic publishing, I advise you to consider getting in touch with Jim Wellstood, P.O. Box 365, Medford, NY 11763. Jim runs a service whereby you can immediately be advertising to 1,000’s of computer owners within a few days. It’s called “Jamie’s Classifier.”

You can also learn a lot from Pat Flanagan, P.O. Box 281, Granger, IN 46530 who publishes information data to help you in any small business on computer diskette. Write for more info!