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Authors: Inc The Staff of Entrepreneur Media

Start Your Own Business (70 page)

BOOK: Start Your Own Business
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A typical laptop will generally run a few hundred dollars more than an equivalent desktop model, but name-brand laptops can easily be found for as little as $500. Laptops suitable for serious business users typically range between $1,000 and $2,500.
The Well-Dressed Computer
 
The minimum you should look for in terms of technical specifications for a desktop or laptop changes constantly. As a general rule, look for a computer with a fast processing speed, graphics card, and DVD/CD drive; sizeable amount of memory; large-capacity hard drive; powerful sound card; and plenty of ports.
In January 2010, Acer (acer.com/us), for example, was advertising its Aspire Z56600—equipped with Windows 7 Home Premium Edition, an Intel Core 2 Quad Processor, a 23-inch wide touch-screen display with integrated speakers, 4GB DDRS SDRAM, a 1TB SATA hard drive, a Super-Multi drive, multi-in-one card reader, 802.11b/g/Draft-N wireless LAN, integrated webcam, wireless keyboard and a mouse—for just under $1,000. This would be plenty of computing power to satisfy the needs of most business users.
Every three to six months, Apple overhauls its lineup of iMac and MacBook computers with improved specifications. For descriptions of the latest desktops and laptops available, visit any Apple store or
apple.com
. Plan on spending between $999 and $2,000 for a MacBook or MacBook Pro laptop and between $1,100 and $2,500 for an iMac or Mac Pro desktop that runs both Windows and Mac-based software applications.
Office Productivity Software
 
A computer is useless without the right software to support your business activities. The most popular suite of business-related applications is, without a doubt, Microsoft Office. It’s available for both PCs and Macs. There are, however, other business application suites that also offer word processing, spreadsheet, database management, scheduling, contact management, and presentation tools, including Lotus SmartSuite (01.ibm.com/software /lotus/products/smartsuite), Corel WordPerfect Office (
corel.com
), and Sun StarOffice (star
office.com
).
 
TIP
 
Need it fixed? Most computer retail stores have on-site repair departments to fix or install new hardware, even if you purchased the original computer elsewhere. The price to have a professional debug your PC or install an ugrade is $50 to $150 per hour. For Apple users, the AppleCare program includes free repairs and maintenance for three years.
One of these software suites alone could cost $150 to $400 or more, depending on the components included. Computers are so cheap that not many computer manufacturers include an office suite on a standard hard drive, but most will offer Microsoft Office pre-installed as an upgrade.
After that, two other kinds of software you can’t live without are a security suite and accounting program. You’ll want an all-encompassing security suite, such as those offered by companies like Symantec (
symantec.com
), McAfee (
mcafee.com
), Zone Labs (
zonealarm.com/security/en-us/home.htm),
Trend Micro (
trendmicro.com
) and Panda Labs (panda
security.com/usa/
) that include a firewall, regularly updated anti-virus and anti-spyware definitions, e-mail scanning and other protections for $50 to $90. If you’re running Mac-based computers, different types of security software may be needed, depending on how you’ll be using the computer.
 
WARNING
 
Got a cash-flow problem? Who doesn’t? Don’t solve it by succumbing to the gazillion counterfeit software offers filling your e-mail inbox. If you get caught purchasing these low-cost knockoffs, you’ll be fined heavily and could face criminal charges. Instead, look into using open source software, which is just as powerful as the higher priced commercial software you pay for, only it’s 100 percent free, with no strings attached. SourceForge (
sourceforge.net
) is an excellent resource for finding and downloading a wide range of open source software for any operating system.
Whether or not you use an accounting professional, you also need a good basic accounting program, from a company like Intuit (
intuit.com
), Peachtree (
peachtree.com
) or Microsoft (
microsoft.com
) to keep up with your checkbooks, bank accounts, invoices, bills, taxes and inventory. Most of these programs let you pay bills and download bank account information electronically, use your printer to create checks, and link to tax preparation software so you can minimize your tax liability. (See Chapter 37 for a list of popular programs.)
Peripherals
 
There are any number of things you can hang off a computer these days—or, more likely, wirelessly connect to your office network. The basics include printers, scanners, copiers, webcams, external hard drives, thumb drives, digital cameras, speakers, and fax machines. If you have an iPhone or BlackBerry, you can also connect these devices to your computer to sync data.
Most businesses need at least one good-quality laser printer; however, if your printing needs involve color or photo-quality output, an inkjet or high-end photo printer will also be useful. When choosing printers, look at the unit’s resolution, print speed and paper-tray size.
For most small businesses, an all-in-one device that includes a printer, scanner, fax machine and copier is ideal. Plus, you’ll definitely want to invest in an external hard drive to back up important data.
Most peripherals these days connect to a computer via FireWire, or a USB or Bluetooth wireless connection. It’s common for a desktop computer to have up to ten or more devices and peripherals connected to it, all of which work seamlessly with your software.
As a general rule, focus first on your needs, and then shop around for the most advanced technology you can afford. If you don’t need a color laser printer, for example, opt for a less expensive black-and-white laser printer with a faster print speed and larger paper tray. Or if you’re choosing between laser printers and inkjet printers, consider not only the cost of the hardware (the printer itself) but also the ongoing cost of toner or ink cartridges, as well as the printer’s speed. If you’ll frequently be producing 100-page reports, a printer that churns out 15 to 30 pages per minute is much more useful than one that prints just 8 pages per minute with a feeder that holds just 25 sheets.
 
TIP
 
To buy online or to not buy online, that’s the question. If you’re not techno-savvy and need after-sales support, the superstores are a good option for purchasing equipment. If you’re looking to save money and don’t need support, buying online is the way to go.
Once you determine your needs, shopping for computer peripherals online will always save you a fortune. Reserve a visit to the local consumer electronics or office supply superstore to see and touch the latest technology firsthand before making your purchases.
In the past, any one of these peripherals could have been priced in the thousands, and, of course, you can still pay as much as you want to get all the buzzers and bells. But a personal laser printer will only set you back around $100—ditto for a scanner and a fax. And while a copier appointed for business can run into the thousands, you can find very capable ones for $200. But cash and space usually being at a premium for a startup business, there’s just not a good reason anymore not to buy a single multifunction device (MFD) that rounds up three or four of these peripherals in one convenient box.
Office Equipment Budget
 
The following are rough estimates for what it will take to outfit a single entrepreneur with basic computer and telecommunications equipment, along with related services for the first year. More expensive options are always available, and you may not need every item on this list. Plus, some items can serve more than one individual without additional cost.
 
Basic Office Equipment
First-Year Low Cost
First-Year High Cost
Basic office furniture and accessories
$1,000
$2,000
1 Desktop computer
1,000
3,000
1 Laptop computer
1,100
2,000
Printer, scanner, copier, fax combo
100
500
Label printer
100
300
Software (office suite, security, accounting)
Free
2,500
Remote data backup service
100
500
Uninterruptible power supply
150
500
Miscellaneous supplies
500
1,000
Three-node Wi-Fi wireless LAN
50
250
Internet access (low-speed vs. high-speed)
100
600
2 Telephone lines (including long distance)
200
1,200
1 Cell phone/smartphone
1,000
1,200
Website domain hosting
60
300
Website design (simple site)
500
1,500
Total Startup Expenses
$5,960
$17,350
 
 
 
MFDs didn’t used to be the best alternative for growing businesses when prices were high and the technologies of these devices were evolving at different rates. You could find yourself locked behind the curve on one or more, and, since MFDs cost in the thousands, their purchase became a complex decision.
 
SAVE
 
Printers are relatively cheap. What’s expensive is the toner or ink cartridges you must use with the printer. You can shop for name-brand cartridges at retail stores and pay a fortune, or you can shop online for compatible, no-name cartridges—that cost up to 80 percent less. Just go to a price comparison website, such as
Nextag.com
, and enter the make and model of your printer. Also check out eBay. In most cases, the cartridges are the same or better quality than their name-brand counterparts.
BOOK: Start Your Own Business
11.55Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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