1. Open Source Heavy hitting software like Contact Relationship Management (CRM), Accounting, Invoicing and Enterprise Management Systems usually come with heavy hitting price tags. The same is true with things like Operating Systems, Office Suites and Graphic Design software, unless you know where to look. Welcome to the world of open source. The idea behind it is sort of like sticking it to the man: a group of uber talented people get together and hammer out free alternatives to the mainstream counterparts. Before you cringe, let me assure you, a lot of the time their products are more stable than their expensive alter-egos (can we say “Vista” anyone?). Let’s take a look at some of our options:
Operating Systems: So if you think Windows and Mac are your only alternatives, take a look at Linux (www.linux.org/). The interface is just as user friendly. Bonus: They have programs you can download that also allow you to run the programs you have that currently work with your current O/S, so no need to buy a new build of your current accounting or photo suite if you have one.
Office Suites: The only problem with NOT using MS Office is everyone else uses MS Office, right? That is not a problem with the OpenOffice Suite (openoffice.org), where not only can you open most MS Office files (including that annoying 97 .docx with a plugin) but you can save in those formats as well.
Photo Manipulation: A gazillion dollars for the latest Creative Suite from Adobe? Try Gimp (www.gimp.org) first. Set up a lot like Photoshop, Gimp even handles CMYK files (for traditional printing).
For more information on other programs you can use to start your business for free, check out www.sourcer.us.
2. Freemiums
Oh freemiums, you know the classic: Free Business Cards from Vistaprint.com (with stipulations). There are tons of these out there, you just have to know where to look. Believe it or not, it will usually be at the places you would spend the most. HP offers special deals and savings inside their ink cartridges (ad sales, another way to generate revenue from already sky high ink prices, genius). But you don’t need to buy their ink to cash in. Visit http://www.hp.com/sbso/special/ for their current partnerships. Other places to look include groups you are part of like AAA (http://www.aaasouth.com/Savings/savings.aspx) and memberships to discount stores like Sam’s Club (http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?catg=12551&atg=521)
Other than where to look is what to look for, how to judge if they are worth it or not. If you don’t need a big screen TV, it isn’t really worth buying one just to get the free printer.
3. Scholarships
Business scholarships? What are these things you speak of? Business scholarships are created by companies who either franchise or license their products/brands out to help aspiring businesses get started. They are different than grants, business scholarships help offset the start-up fees associated with building a relationship with their company. So where as franchising a company can start at an average $50,000, a business scholarship allows you to waive a large portion and pro-rate the rest.
SolLuna Guides offers business scholarships through their Partner Publisher Program. Awarded quarterly, the scholarship offsets the start-up cost of licensing their regional guide. Find out more at www.sollunaguides.com/startasolluna.
4. Do It Yourself
Virtual: Lots of sites out there allow you to set up your own website for free. One of our favorites is Yola.com. Be sure to check up on the free social networking options out there: blogs (from services like wordpress.com or blogger.com), twitter.com, facebook.com and myspace.com. Looking for a free ecommerce solution? Try ecrater.com, but the built in communities of etsy.com and ebay.com will save you hours of marketing leg work in the end. Google the term “banner generator” for easy (and free!) sites that allow you to make banner advertising for your business.
Reality: There are lots of DIY sites out there where you can learn how to do almost everything from making your own business cards and desks to the more bizarre like a potato clock. Try instructables.com, ehow.com and etsy.com/storque/ to name a few.
5. Begin with a Service
Even if you’re eventually planning a business to launch a product or product line, launching a service (like consulting!) first may be the solution for a few reasons.
First and foremost, product start-ups are not cheap. Creating and testing a product takes time and money. Services are less expensive to start and generate income faster than the business models for most products, allowing you to invest in the product development without missing necessities. Start up in steps, not in lump sums. Start up financing exists, in the form of loans and investors. Loans will cost you money in the end and both carry a huge risk. A lot of the time we are lead to believe starting a business requires lots of money, we write business plans largely for the purpose of seeking out that money. Yet we often times overlook the solution to our problems buried deep within those pages: cash flow analysis. Instead of looking at business start ups as a desperate, often futile search for funds, if we begin to look at start up in terms of baby steps, especially in funding, the pressure begins to dissipate. Services allow us to fund our own start ups, allowing us to invest gradually without going into an immediate debt without testing the waters first. Testing the waters. You have a great idea for a line of green cleaning products. By launching an affiliated service first, you put yourself at a number of advantages. Say you start a cleaning service, where you can use your own products in homes and businesses. This allows you to tweak the formula for better performance and less expensive ingredients. It allows you to brainstorm new products for your line. It allows you to think from the customer’s point, which will help you position your product in the marketing phase. It also allows you to get much needed material like reviews and photos that you would otherwise be spending money on. And most importantly, it allows you to generate word of mouth from clients who would love to know what you are using. The service-to-product phase doesn’t have to be permanent, just a few weeks or months until things come together.
Not all situations are right for all of these suggestions; it may be more beneficial to finance the computer system tailored to your business model from the start to save valuable time and money in converting information later. Your product may be time sensitive and needed to hit the market yesterday. Each situation should be analyzed based on your own unique situations, these are just starting off points.
For more information on starting a free business, go to: www.howtostartafreesmallbusiness.com
by Michelle Greenier.
