LeadSure - Free Expert IT Advice for Your Business - If software is free why do I have to pay for anything? | John McCarthy

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If software is free why do I have to pay for anything?

In my last blog I talked about free software and how it can help reduce costs in your business. This led me to ask the question.

“If all of this great software is free why do I need to pay for anything?”

Good question

I think the best way to answer this is to look at an example. If you run a business you submit accounts to the Inland Revenue and you probably pay VAT. If you run a small business you probably do some of the book keeping yourself, if not you may well pay a book keeper to record sales, salaries and expenditure. Then once a quarter you calculate your VAT and once a year balance your books. In the vast majority of cases I would guess your accountant does the final accounts. I am sure that most of you could actually do this yourself but you choose to pay your accountant to do this.

So why do you do this if it is something you can do yourself?

Well, there is probably more than one answer. You may feel it is good to get your records and calculations checked by someone else. You may also feel that dealing with regulatory bodies could be stressful and having your accountant at hand may help if there are any problems. If you are like me then when you do your end of year and hand over your books your accountant looks for ways to save you money. They may sometimes make you aware of new tax breaks you did not know about and changes in regulations that can have an impact upon your business. So you begin your relationship with your accountant as a means to balance your books but what actually happens is far more than that. You rely on their expertise to help you save money and make you aware of the latest budget changes etc. They become your advisors. Just as you have your areas of expertise in running your business they are experts in the field of financial management. You already own a pencil and paper so you could balance your books and submit your returns, but you gain so much more by engaging the services of an expert. This is equally true in the world of computing and e-business.

Ask yourself this question

Is your business computer driven, do you feel they dictate to you what to do and how to do it?
Or is computing and e-business a bolt on extra to your daily activities?

If you have answered yes to either of those questions then I would suggest that you need expert advice. Computers are just tools to help you run your business. E-business develops on this by the addition of a range of communications methods and Internet based activities. They should all stem from and be deployed via the planning and strategies your business has developed. By planning I do not mean the rigid fixed ideas of a stodgy business plan. I very much doubt you work like that. Fortunately e-business is highly flexible and can very quickly adapt to change and development in your business. So we are back to the beginning free software is great but working with partners to help drive and develop your business makes it truly effective. Use your accountant to help with your books and at LeadSure we are very happy to help to develop your IT business needs.

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