Using Spreadsheet Creation

**sjwings3249** · 05-29-2008 11:43 AM

Hello all,

So after spending the last few days brainstorming, with alot of help from many of you, I think I found something I am good at to try and tap into.

I have always been very good with excel spreadsheet creation. I used to work in audit for a casino here and created/improved many of their accounting reconciliations.

I also pretty much make spreadsheets for anything I need to think out using excel.

Do you think this is a skill I can parle into a profitable business/service of some type?

Excel is a very in demand program that almost every place I have worked with in Buffalo, NY uses for their accounting needs and what not.

**rogercbryan** · 05-29-2008 12:01 PM

I think you need to kick it up a level and learn Access/SQL. I don't see how there would be demand for Excel SS's. There is significant demand for database creation and management.

**sjwings3249** · 05-29-2008 12:16 PM

I thought that too, then I found a site that auctions off jobs and many of them were business owners looking for automated excel spreadsheets.

Anyone can make a simple excel spreadsheet, but I think the opportunity might lay in making sheets that perform very complex functions while at the same time having a very easy interface that non-excel proficient people can use without issue.

**Mega B** · 05-29-2008 12:51 PM

I cant see the Demand for this service either,hope it works out for you though

**sjwings3249** · 05-29-2008 12:53 PM

GetAFreelancer.com - Outsourced Excel projects. Freelance Programmers and Web Designers.

is the site that offers a place for business's to put up the item.

**1337** · 05-29-2008 01:20 PM

Definitely you can. Learn XML (pretty straightforward, easier than HTML) and find an Ajax expert who'd be willing to work with you to make interactive/dynamic spreadsheets. This can be expanded to file storage, CSM with little effort and can prove to be very profitable. (from experience selling a Ajax chart. 5 hours of programming and sold for $300)

**capforge** · 05-29-2008 01:32 PM

A better idea is to find a common problem that you can solve using a spreadsheet you've created, and then sell the spreadsheet solution to that market. Of course, you need to dress it up a little, add a pdf user guide, etc. but basically, you can use the write once sell many times model to make way more than you can doing one off projects. I've made very good money selling spreadsheets as part of a package I created back in 2002- and they still sell well. I haven't had to do an update in years. The trick is to find the market willing to pay for a solution you can create for them- they are out there.

**sjwings3249** · 05-29-2008 01:42 PM

Capforge, that is an excellent idea. I currently work for a bank and am talking with my boss, the VP of accounting, and getting her opinion of where I can take this.

I know this next comment isnt regarding spreadsheets but another route I am thinking of taking is learning AS400 coding. I used to work for a casino and the system they use is something like 20 years old. Apparently its the standard system used by all casino's. So if someone came up with a new system they would have an entire market to sell to.

I think thats the kind of approach I would need to take with the spreadsheet design.

**jasaunders** · 05-29-2008 02:37 PM

Capforge has the best idea

I know when I create financial statements, I use an automated excel program that takes you step by step through everything and then completes all your statements and ratios. It's good stuff! Its a few years old and I don't remember how much it costs, but it is definitely worth it.

Also, I've been struggling with excel for the last hour for a stupid survey I need to send out. I can't figure out how to pull the right information using vlookup, I can't get all the results I need

**sjwings3249** · 05-29-2008 03:26 PM

jasaunders, not to sound sadistic, but hearing your having an issue with that is a good sign as it shows there is a need for this type of thing.

**JLeezer** · 05-29-2008 05:35 PM

I'd tend to agree with you about Joshua's problem. You might want to also consider a deal where if someone is having an issue with a spreadsheet they have created, possibly in the area of vlookup, you can finish it for a small fee. It might be easier to sell someone on paying $10-20 for a small portion of the spreadsheet than $50-100 for the same thing if you were to do it all, especially since most people can at least lay out and format a spreadsheet.

But I'm ultimately for the make-once-sell-a-million-times plan--the ROI (I = your time) will be much better, even if you charge just a tiny fraction of what it would cost for the same thing to be built for one customer.

**sjwings3249** · 06-02-2008 09:10 AM

So once I have actually made a spreadsheet such as described above, how would I go about marketing it?

Calling businesses and just asking if they would be interesting in it, or maybe ebay or something?

**matt_15** · 06-02-2008 10:34 AM

I know how you could make alot of money. There is a BIG demand for spreadsheets that are compatible with the typical ebay business. If you could create a standard spreadsheet that works with ebay businesses, then if you could market it successfully, you will make alot of money.