IT Essentials for Business Start-ups

Posted by admin on November 11, 2010

Starting up your own business can be a daunting process. Hopefully this article will provide some basic advice with respect to the typical IT essentials for your new business venture.

Hardware

Personal Computer (PC)

Businesses today rarely operate efficiently without a basic personal computer either a normal PC or a laptop. While laptops are portable they are usually more expensive and less reliable, unless you have a mobile office or need a laptop to present information to clients / customers you should stick with a trusty PC. Today’s PC’s are made of very similar components whether you buy a well known brand or a custom built machine. We recommend custom built machines, and base our decision on the following facts

• Custom built PC’s are cheaper than brand name PC’s
• Custom built PC’s basically use the same components as the big brands.
• Most warranties offered by the big brands are not suitable for businesses that are relying on their PC day to day. If something goes wrong, “We need it fixed today and I want my data back.” Unfortunately very few if any can deliver either with any sort of reliability and the minute anyone else opens the PC to fix the problem your warranty is voided.
• IT technicians are proficient and cheap who can fix or upgrade your custom built PC and unlike the return to base attitude of the big brands your local IT technician will come to you.

Recommendation :

Middle of the range, custom built PC. Contact Us for more details.

$800

Backup Drive

There are many options for backing up data and many reasons to do it. See out main article for further details. The one thing you will need is an alternative media source, this may be a DVD, tapes or as we reccomend here an external Hard Disk Drive (HDD).

Recommendation:

Any one of a dozen external Hard Disk Drives available on the market today.

$100

Printers

Printers are where the big brands have advantage, Cannon, HP, Epson all have readily available ink cartridges. Fortunately printers are cheap however it’s the ink that costs a fortune. While you can obtain non-proprietary cartridges we don’t recommend them. Not even the suppliers will guarantee they work on your printer. The word is that it is pretty hit and miss.  These days printer/copier/scanners are cheap and effective for $20-30 more than the printer alone you can get a three in one.

Recommendation:

Cannon Multifunction colour Printer/Scanner/Photocopier

$130

Software

Operating System

Operating systems are what make your PC’s function. If you buy a brand name PC it will come with an operating system. If you buy a custom one, make sure it is included in the price. Our recommendation above has the operating system included in the price. The most common operating system is Windows. Windows 7  being the latest and perfectly reliable.

Recommendation:

Windows 7

Price Included in the price of the PC

Office Software

Microsoft Office is without a doubt a one of the most brilliant and widely used applications in business world wide. Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook are essential however the basic suite is value for money and should be purchased when buying your PC for a massive saving.

Recommendation:

Microsoft Office Home and Business OEM Version (pre-loaded on your PC)

$250

Accounting Package

While the Australian Tax office used to provide ‘E-Record’ a free accounting package for small businesses; it was withdrawn as of 2010. Not surprisingly the ATO had too much difficulty understanding how to put their own legislation into a computer program and deliver reliable results. Consider this when you discover a bug in applications such as MYOB or Quickbooks and give a little credit where credit is due. Accounting packages save you time in recording and controlling business transactions, preparing your BAS, paying staff,
(yourself included) and preparing invoices for your clients or customers. Although quite expensive they probably are one of the best value for money investments you will make IF you take the time to learn its functions.

Recommendation:

MYOB

$650 (Though check for a current OEM version when purchasing your PC for massive savings)

Implementation Costs may be required depending on your proficiency with computers and accounting.

Contact Us for more information

Website

A website is the one piece of software that doesn’t sit on your PC. It’s typically hosted on a large server for a monthly fee. Your website is essential to promoting your business and allowing customers to find and investigate your products and services.

Recommendation:

Alocasia develops web sites built on software known as Content Management Systems that after implementation allows you to take command of your site and make updates as needed.

$495 (Contact Us for our Current Special Offer)

Antivirus / Backup Software

 Nothing is more essential than backing up your business data. See out main article for further details. Similarly antivirus software can save you a lot of hassles its cheap cost effective and essential to any business, dont risk being without it!

Recommendation:

Norton 360

OEM Version $40 purchased with PC

Non OEM Version $120

Services

Internet Connection

An internet connection is an essential communication tool and  your gateway to the internet which is one of the most valuable information sources ever to exist. Internet connections are via our telecommunications network, either through your land line or via the mobile phone towers.

Recommendation:

iiNet Broadband – For land lines

$29.95 per Month

Telstra USB Modem - For mobile

Pre-Paid while you work out your useage patterns. Recharge amounts range from $20-$150.

Website Hosting

Your website needs a home, typically a server with 24/7 reliability, that stores the software and information that make up your site. The specific requirements will depend on how your website is built so a little forthougth or advice may be needed before signing up with a web host. Our recommendation is based on the tools used by and experience of Alocasia’s Web development services. Contact Us for more information.

Recommendation:

Webcity Business Pro

$9.95 per Month