Business Products & Services

There are an abundance of business products and services out there to help the entrepreneur. Maybe you are using some already. I have made a selection of the ones that I consider good value for money and effective.

You need to know that in some cases I am an affiliate of the products that I recommend, but the recommendations are made whether or not I stand to gain anything. In any case you will get the same service level, whether I am an affiliate or not.

Many of the activities covered by these products can also be managed by professional service providers, consultants and other specialists. The sensible cash-preserving startup can use these business products at a much lower cost that going to the bespoke provider. I wish they had been around when I started my first business in the 1970s.

Make a point of retuning to Startup Savvy later, when your business has moved on. The chances are highly likely that I will have ferreted out some other good or new products that will be useful and cost-effective.

Advice Manuals on Business Startup

  • Nolo publishes a whole range of inexpensive guides and manuals on many of the subjects that strike fear into the hearts of would be entrepreneurs. They offer a really useful place to start on questions of incorporation, legal matters and much more. I use their products myself.

Bookkeeping Software

  • QuickBooks is the software for small business bookkeeping. Not only do the many versions meet different specific needs, they all have functions that go beyond strict bookkeeping. You can monitor your late receivables, design your own invoice stationery, and use several other tools to make your business more financially effective. I do my accounts using QuickBooks.

Business Incorporation

  • BizFilings makes business incorporation easy for entrepreneurs. BizFilings professionally forms corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs). Though not for company formation which I did myself, I have used other BizFilings products.

Business Planning Software

  • Biz Plan Builder is business planning software from JIAN (say gee-on). I think that Biz Plan Builder is the best planning software available. It is very practical and down-to-earth coming from Burke Franklin, who developed it from his own startup experience and much enhanced since. I work with JIAN.
  • GoalEnforcer is goal setting and monitoring software that is both intuitive and visual, as well as a lot of fun to use. It comes with several very handy tools for ensuring you meet your goals. Quite different to the other programs and more effective. I use Goal Enforcer.

Business Savings

  • ING Direct offer business savings accounts offering rates of interest way better than you can get at the bank where you have your checking account. They are very easy to use. INGDirect also offer online checking accounts. I save with ING Direct both in the business and personally.

Collaboration and Communication Products

  • Dimdim is an amzing tool, either paid or free, that enables online collabioration and web-conferencing, with the ability to share documents. Video and voice of participants means that it is almost like being in the same room.
  • PrintingForLess is an amazing eco-friendly company in Montana that can print almost anything you will need for business communication: stationery, brochures, catalogs, cards and the like.
  • Phone.com provides effective VoIP telephone services for small businesses. For a relatively small cost you can ensure that you don't drop balls on account of an ineffective phone system.

Computer Back Up

  • Mozy offers remote back up for all your computer files. The service is free 2 GB of storage or cheap for more and it covers both Mac and PC environments. Pre-Mac OSX Leopard (that has Time Machine automatic external hard drive backup), I used Mozy.

Legal Services

  • Legal Zoom helps you quickly and affordably incorporate a business, register a trademark, apply for a patent and draw up personal legal documents like wills—from the convenience of your home or office.

Marketing

  • Zoomerang Online Surveys are free or inexpensive surveys that you can use for a variety of market research and customer satisfaction purposes.
  • PR Web issues press releases online and gets both direct inquiries and links back to your website or blog, and results in press mentions.
  • LogoYes is a custom-built design tool that was created for the busy entrepreneur. Three easy steps enable you to create your logo.

Person-to-Person (P2P) Business Loans

Web Hosting

  • InMotion Hosting You have probably heard of many webhosting businesses, but none is better than this one—the host of this site. Their tech support should be the model for any business offering this service. It is an employee-owned business, so you do not just speak to a geek, you speak to an owner.

 

Iris Lines, LLC