Indispensable Business Software...

By Barbara Weltman November 11, 2004
Barbara Weltman Software has become a vital component of any business operation. Software saves you time by automating various business functions. It also makes things easier and safer to do. Here are some basic software applications you should consider.

Financial software
Keeping books and records needed for accounting and tax preparation is easy to do with software. These programs let you reconcile bank statements, print invoices and checks, track inventory, prepare payroll, keep timesheets for professional services, generate financial reports and more.

  • MYOB Plus (MYOB at www.myob.com/us/products/plus). Cost: $174 ($119 for an upgrade of the prior edition); special support package is available. Note: The newest version is expected to ship on November 11.

  • Quickbooks Pro (Intuit at http://quickbooks.intuit.com). Cost: $300 for a single user ($200 for an upgrade of the prior edition). There is a five-user pack for $750 ($600 for the upgrade).

  • Small Business Manager (Microsoft at www.microsoft.com/BusinessSolutions/smallbusinessmanager/default.aspx). Cost: Varies with the applications selected and the number of people who use them.

    All these products offer a trial version (30 to 60 days) to test run the application. See if you are comfortable with the product before you purchase it.

    Security protection
    Today, you can’t rely on hope to protect your computer system from outside interference or damage; you need software for this purpose. The software automatically updates our system against the newest viruses, blocks infected e-mail and offers solutions (e.g., repair, quarantine or deletion of corrupted files and e-mail).

  • Active VirusScan SMB Edition (McAfee at www.networkassociates.com/us/products/mcafee/smb/antivirus/active_vs_suite_smb.htm). Cost: $43 for up to 10 users.

  • Norton Antivirus (Symantec at www.symantec.com/smallbiz/index.html). Cost: $50 (volume licensing available).

    Norton also offers a firewall program and a complete personal security program that provides antivirus protection, a firewall and anti-spam protection.

    Note: These programs are sold with one-year subscriptions. Renewal is necessary to continue receiving live updates to keep pace with new viruses.

    Office suites
    Bundle your software applications by purchasing a suite of programs that enables you to do word processing, sales tracking, budgeting and more. Each suite contains a spreadsheet program, word processing, database management and some graphics capability.

  • Lotus SmartSuite (IBM at http://lotus.com/products/product2.nsf/wdocs/sshome). Cost: $194 ($153 for upgrade).

  • Microsoft Office Small Business Edition (Microsoft at www.microsoft.com/office/editions/howtobuy/smallbusiness.mspx). Cost: $449 ($279 for upgrade). Volume licensing for five or more computers.

  • WordPerfect Office (go to Correl at www.corel.com and click on WordPerfect Office Suite). Cost: $314 ($163 for upgrade).

    Other software
    Automate your business planning and marketing plans using software.

  • Business Plan Pro (Palo Alto Software at www.bplans.com). Cost: $100 ($199 for the premier edition).

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