There can be enough to worry about when you are starting or expanding a new business without having to spend time analyzing your hardware and software needs and fretting about the latest versions of this tool and the functionality of that one. The size and scale of your enterprise will, of course, determine your actual requirements but fundamentally a small business needs:

Communication software.

Few companies rely on “snail mail” these days as technology demands that we communicate almost instantaneously. Desktop e-mail software products provided by companies such as Eudora help to compartmentalize, project your brand image and save you from the dreaded spam mail all at the same time. An increasing number of companies are looking at “voice over Internet” protocols to cut down on hardwired land line phone costs and companies such as Skype provide web based software applications. Mozilla’s Firefox is now well known as a provider of an alternative to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, but we have not had the chance to evaluate their e-mail platform, Thunderbird.

Accounting software.

There are a huge variety of excellent accounting software packages available and they can directly interact with tax preparation software suites. These days you do not need to be a CPA or have a degree in accounting as the software is very user-friendly. At tax time, products designed for corporations, LLCs or sole traders walk you through your liabilities. Freshbooks offers a new twist to this arena and the “fastest way to track time and invoice your clients.”

Productivity software.

Microsoft’s Office software suite was once the dominant player in the sphere of office productivity, with word processor, spreadsheet and various other functional templates available to help you write letters and crunch numbers. Other players are available in the market today, including Open Office, whose products are free.

Security software.

In terms of security, the very least that you will need is a working and constantly up-to-date virus protection product. Norton and McAfee may be the most well known, but AVG has a growing reputation and is free.  Also, if you feel that your premises are vulnerable you should also consider surveillance cameras linked to security software to record anything untoward

You may also need:

Database software.

There are many excellent software programs available to help you manage leads, import databases and generally interact with potential clients. These programs can be worth their weight in gold if you have an active salesforce and want to avoid duplication and confusion, to say nothing about maintaining your professional image. They may be highly rated, but would you choose a time management software product called Chaos?

E-commerce software.

If you don’t have a physical storefront, you may want to conduct some form of e-commerce. If you have a website and wish to sell your products and services, software providers can set you up with a shopping cart linked to your site and provide a gateway to credit card processors. There are dozens of options and ecartsoft is one of the most visible, offering easy setup “within seven minutes.”

DTP software.

Just as snazzy accounting software products emerged to relieve you of the burden of dealing with an accountant, so the latest desktop publishing software packages can bring out the creative graphic artist in all of us. Hundreds of different product developers are waiting to serve you, including some of the better-known ones, Adobe and Corel. Scribus is open source and has solid reviews.

Tell us about a particularly helpful software product in your office?

Matthew Toren