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For one it's going to be free and for small businesses that is always a really key thing Your questionnaire on registration asked for how much I was prepared t

by yannis 17y ago

For one it's going to be free and for small businesses that is always a really key thing Your questionnaire on registration asked for how much I was prepared to pay a month. This threw me out :) Perhaps you need to say so somewhere. I also must state that I don't believe that free is the key thing for a small business. I've seen too many small and one large business fold due to not having the right accounting systems in place. In many instances your market actually will be the external Accountant of the business. He will set it up for the Company and maybe give them a bit of a quick training of what to do - rather than keep everything in a shoe box. A lot of the hassle of accounting systems is set-up and statutory returns, end of year wrap-up and so on. You need to bring the features out more prominently.

simonk 17y ago
Thanks, that questionnaire really cemented the idea that free was the good way to go. The problem with selling to the external accountant is usually they try and sell Quickbooks or something and get money from doing that as well. Looking into this though.
- yannis 17y ago
  You should allow me to give you a bit of a background. In the eighties I got involved with a Package called Pastel (previously known as Pink Software), the external Accountants created most of the demand for it (they never actually sold it or made money out of it), but it made their job easier. You will also be surprised as to how many small businesses need sophisticated accounts. Take for example a pharmacy they probably have more stock items than a supermarket, all with expiration dates etc. Very different for a software start-up or a webshop but that is where the market is. One good selling point is to have good looking paper prints. There is no such thing as paper-less accounting. Please don't take my comments as negative. I think the concept of attacking an established field is a very good one, but you need to give it a hard kick. You don't want to lose the battle. As for free ask any Accountant if he can do your books for free, why should a programmer's time be given out for free? Free trial period, limit accounts to a certain volume etc, I would agree as a marketing strategy.
  - simonk 17y ago
    I take all the comments as constructive, you've been a great help. The good looking paper prints is going to be a big focus. I understand the free vs paid discussion but there is so many great things to sell people on top of this like custom reports, payroll, and taxes to name a few.

by yannis 17y ago

simonk 17y ago

Thanks, that questionnaire really cemented the idea that free was the good way to go. The problem with selling to the external accountant is usually they try and sell Quickbooks or something and get money from doing that as well. Looking into this though.

yannis 17y ago
You should allow me to give you a bit of a background. In the eighties I got involved with a Package called Pastel (previously known as Pink Software), the external Accountants created most of the demand for it (they never actually sold it or made money out of it), but it made their job easier. You will also be surprised as to how many small businesses need sophisticated accounts. Take for example a pharmacy they probably have more stock items than a supermarket, all with expiration dates etc. Very different for a software start-up or a webshop but that is where the market is. One good selling point is to have good looking paper prints. There is no such thing as paper-less accounting. Please don't take my comments as negative. I think the concept of attacking an established field is a very good one, but you need to give it a hard kick. You don't want to lose the battle. As for free ask any Accountant if he can do your books for free, why should a programmer's time be given out for free? Free trial period, limit accounts to a certain volume etc, I would agree as a marketing strategy.
- simonk 17y ago
  I take all the comments as constructive, you've been a great help. The good looking paper prints is going to be a big focus. I understand the free vs paid discussion but there is so many great things to sell people on top of this like custom reports, payroll, and taxes to name a few.