What Small Businesses Need to Consider When Purchasing Their First Software Solutions
A fun milestone in every small business’s lifecycle is when your business outgrows your free and analog solutions. Your finances are too complicated to fit in a bookkeeper’s ledger, and your contacts can no longer be managed with just a spreadsheet.
This is an important milestone because it means your business is growing. However, it can also be confusing for businesses that aren’t sure about what comes next. Knowing which solutions to purchase and how much to spend are just a few of the questions you need to answer before purchasing new software.
Here are a few tips that can help your business find the right software project for you.
Define Your Budget
Before making any major purchase, you need to define your budget. If you’ve never purchased software solutions before, the cost can come as a major shock. Software packages can cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.
There are ways to find a solution that works for your business and will not damage your finances for the rest of the year. Trusted resellers posted on this website offer original software at lower prices than from the companies themselves. A software package that is a few years old is also going to be more affordable than one that just got published.
When you find a software package that seems to be within your budget, research any additional costs so you don’t get a nasty surprise when your billing period begins. Many software packages now sell annual subscriptions rather than letting customers purchase software outright, so check the terms to see if you have a mandatory renewal fee due.
Know What You Need From the Software
These days, there are software programs that promise to solve all of a business’s problems. From accounting to marketing to application management, some software programs can do it all. Of course, those that can do it all are usually incredibly expensive.
A general rule of thumb is that the more functions a software program has, or the greater its storage capacity, the more expensive it will be. Many businesses get taken in by software programs that promise to solve all of their problems with one download, then wind up overpaying for a program whose functions they don’t even use. That is one of the reasons why many companies overpay for software solutions.
Before you begin looking at software solutions, have a very clear idea of what type of software you need and where it will fit into your business. Decide on the basic functions you must have and some features that would be nice to have if they fit in your budget. With these constraints in mind, you’re more likely to find software that will actually yield the solution you are looking for.
Purchasing the First Software Solution as a Small Business
If you’re unfamiliar with the world of software packages, treating it the same way that you would any major purchase can help you make the right decisions for your business. Before you make a purchase, make a list of what you need from your software solution. Write down what you need your software solution to do, how big your technical constraints are, and your budget.
Once you know what you need, make sure that you compare options to find the best price before making a purchase.
