Software solutions for small business owners

While running your small business, you will find sooner rather than later that there is a lot to keep track of, from finances to receipts to organization. Most small home business owners turn to software to help keep their money and information accurate and on time.

What type of software do I need?
There are many different types of software that you could use to run your small business. The following are some of the basic types of software you might need:

• Accounting. Your accounting software will help you to keep track of ins and outs, budgeting, and is useful for tax preparation as well. There are many different types of accounting software available, Quicken being one.
• Microsoft Office. This is the most popular, and features Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook for email and organization.
• Desktop publishing software. If you plan on doing your own brochures and ads, this type of software is useful. Adobe's line of products, such as Pagemaker, is very popular.
• Web publishing software. Most small home businesses will and should have websites. But if you don't want to spend hundreds on a web designer, you can do it yourself fairly inexpensively with web publishing software like Dreamweaver.
• Adobe Acrobat. This will help you to create PDF documents, which are very useful in business.

Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind when choosing software:

• Have an idea of what you want. There are thousands of types of software made specifically for business, but they do not all have the same features. Make certain you know exactly what you need before you start shopping around. Small business software at electronics stores will probably cost a couple hundred dollars, much cheaper than specialized software that begins at several thousand. However, it may not have the features needed for your growing business. On the other hand, don't waste money by spending $5,000 on accounting software that has features you won't even open. By knowing what features and applications you need beforehand, you'll save time and money.
• Take advantage of demos. Not all business software is made alike, so make sure it actually has the features you need before you purchase it. Ask the salesperson to show or send you a demo. Many websites and most companies will also allow you to try their software for free for a specified period of time.
• Read reviews. Get online and read reviews for the particular types of software you are thinking of purchasing. This will give you a good idea of other business owners' opinions of its usefulness before you buy it.
• Consider other costs and factors. You may get a good deal on small business software only to find that it requires expensive updates every six months, or that you will be charged for tech support. In addition, make sure the software has a tech support number that is easy to reach and doesn't require hours on hold.

You will find that running your small home business will go by much smoother with helpful software. This software can help you keep track of expenditures, calendaring, publishing, and much more. These are a few tips for finding the best software solutions for your small business.