Running your own business can be very trying. Managing any enterprise properly is not an easy task. However, you're not worried because you've made a great start. You have a well thought out business plan. You've purchased your own computer. And now, presto chango you're an entrepreneur with a well equipped business -- or so you think.
Once you begin to organize your daily tasks you quickly discover that running a small business requires you to constantly multitask. You must perform the duties of an accountant, marketer, sales representative and human resource manager. This quickly leads you to another discovery, that you need not only a computer but also a vast array of software to operate and manage your business. You need to write letters, store addresses and personnel information in a database and maintain financial records in a spreadsheet. You also need software to help you create web pages for your new site.
No problem, you say. You know that business software can be used to reduce the workload and improve the efficiency of your business. You're already looking at the standard software, Microsoft Office and Adobe Dreamweaver. Unfortunately, you've also discovered that you don't have the spare capital required to make all the purchases you require.
Take heart. There is an inexpensive alternative to both Microsoft Office and Dreamweaver -- OpenOffice and Amaya. In fact, they're free.
OpenOffice Suite -- the free office suite
OpenOffice, a suite of desktop applications, has practically the same features and functionality as Microsoft Office, and, is compatible with Microsoft Office, i.e. it can open Microsoft files. OpenOffice distribution is unlimited. You can use it anyway you want, use it anywhere you want and give it to anyone you want. For example, if you have three employees you can give it to each of them because there are no licensing restrictions of any kind.
In addition, OpenOffice provides excellent support services plus the following documentation:
Release Notes
Product information
System Requirements
Installation Instructions
User Guides
OpenOffice contains
Word processing software (Writer) -- compatible with MS Word
Spreadsheet software (Calc) -- compatible with MS Excel
Presentation software (Impress) -- Compatible with MS PowerPoint
Vector drawing software (Draw) -- compatible with all vector applications
Database system software (Base) -- compatible with MS Access
Open Office works on Windows, Mac and Linux platforms and it also allows you to create PDF files easily.
W3C Amaya -- the free browser and web page design tool
Amaya is a W3C web editing tool that lets you create web pages and also browse the web. Like Dreamweaver, Amaya provides the tools you need to create a viable website without having to become an IT expert developer. Amaya is produced by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). W3C establishes the standards used for web development.
Amaya has a vast array of features that allows you to write code in HTML, XHTML, XML, and CSS. It also provides a means of validating your code so you can quickly find errors.
Final Word
With the tools described here, you can do business without prohibitive cost and overhead. There is also free project management software and web collaboration software that you can use to manage your business. Searching on Google and reading articles on Wikipedia will help you identify other open source products.
So, what are you waiting for?
Grace Walker is an IT professional with an artistic soul. As one of the original partners in Walker Automated Services, http://www.walkerautomated.com, she provides business and technical consulting advise to many Fortune 500 companies.
Her artistic soul has also led her to create websites that speak to culture, http://www.culturalview.com, and to create culturally based designs that are sold on apparel and home decor items through Cafepress, http://www.cafepress.com/cultper
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