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What makes you think a web-based system is best for this? Here are some problems that have prevented me from pursuing this market: 1. Perceived security ("My in

by dcurtis 19y ago

What makes you think a web-based system is best for this? Here are some problems that have prevented me from pursuing this market: 1. Perceived security ("My information is out there in cyberspace? Won't it be hacked?") 2. Offline usage ("What happens when the internet/power is out?") 3. Speed and technologies (Is web-based better than local application, i.e. MYOB/Peachtree?) Most of the problems are probably in customer perception, but because you're dealing with small businesses, perception is really hard to overcome. They presumably don't have IT people to talk sense into them.

edw519 19y ago
"What makes you think a web-based system is best for this?" Doesn't matter what I think. Only matters what they think. I am building a business in response to a tremendous demand. There seems to be a low level theme running here that the <enterprise><small business><IE using><anyone over x years of age><you name it> crowd is missing the <Web2.0><social networking><everything cool> boat. Don't you believe it! They're not all PHBs. (Most of the smartest people I know run small businesses.) They see what's happening. And they don't understand why there's so much going on these days and they're still stuck with garbage business software that costs a fortune, is hard to use, and doesn't serve their needs. So who to they complain to? Me! "Give me something that does business the way we do, make it simple, price it right, and put it on the web so I can stop paying XYZ Systems a small forture to never be available!" Every demo I give ends the same way, "Finish that and I'll buy it in a minute!" (Needless to say, I do know the difference between a promise and a check, so we'll see...) Hopefully it won't be too long before I post one of those "How Do You Like My App" posts.
- DanielBMarkham 19y ago
  I think you're on a hot trail, edw519! An interesting thought is what kinds of standards you can hook into. Perhaps stuff for tax file exporting, calendaring, sales /product channels, etc. The standard formats might be easy to provide and could increase the value of your pitch.
  - edw519 19y ago
    Yes. No need to replicate the horizontals. The verticals are what everyone is clamoring for. Hooks into existing horizontals seems to be the way to go.
- dcurtis 19y ago
  Yeah, I find it ridiculous that MYOB and Peachtree are the best small business apps out there, because they're horrific monstrosities. Please make awesome small business software!

by dcurtis 19y ago

edw519 19y ago

"What makes you think a web-based system is best for this?" Doesn't matter what I think. Only matters what they think. I am building a business in response to a tremendous demand. There seems to be a low level theme running here that the <enterprise><small business><IE using><anyone over x years of age><you name it> crowd is missing the <Web2.0><social networking><everything cool> boat. Don't you believe it! They're not all PHBs. (Most of the smartest people I know run small businesses.) They see what's happening. And they don't understand why there's so much going on these days and they're still stuck with garbage business software that costs a fortune, is hard to use, and doesn't serve their needs. So who to they complain to? Me! "Give me something that does business the way we do, make it simple, price it right, and put it on the web so I can stop paying XYZ Systems a small forture to never be available!" Every demo I give ends the same way, "Finish that and I'll buy it in a minute!" (Needless to say, I do know the difference between a promise and a check, so we'll see...) Hopefully it won't be too long before I post one of those "How Do You Like My App" posts.

DanielBMarkham 19y ago
I think you're on a hot trail, edw519! An interesting thought is what kinds of standards you can hook into. Perhaps stuff for tax file exporting, calendaring, sales /product channels, etc. The standard formats might be easy to provide and could increase the value of your pitch.
- edw519 19y ago
  Yes. No need to replicate the horizontals. The verticals are what everyone is clamoring for. Hooks into existing horizontals seems to be the way to go.
dcurtis 19y ago
Yeah, I find it ridiculous that MYOB and Peachtree are the best small business apps out there, because they're horrific monstrosities. Please make awesome small business software!