Free office software for your small online businessCheck for free office software as one of your first jobs when you start your home internet business. Whatever you do, don't launch into buying lots of kit without checking the freebies first. There are some excellent free products available these days and you really don't have to splash out on Microsoft Office unless you really want to. As with all things to do with your new online business, don't spend money if you can avoid it, particularly in the early days when you'll be struggling to bring any money in. Openoffice.org
With the Openoffice.org software you can create Word, Excel, Powerpoint documents ... or to be more accurate, you can open Word, Excel and Powerpoint documents using this software, as well as creating Word, Excel and Powerpoint documents which Microsoft Office can open. I think the posh phrase is 'it's fully backwards and forwards compatible'! I've used this free office software download for a couple of years now and I've found it to be a completely satisfactory alternative to Microsoft Office, which I use at work regularly. It's a big download so don't even think about it if you're still on dial-up, download it to a pen drive at the local library if you don't have broadband access. Google Docs
Google's free office software - Google Docs - offers a web-based word processor and spreadsheet, which allow you share and collaborate online. The advantage of this system is that you can access your accounts and business documents wherever you can get on the web. They're securely stored and linked to your Googlemail account, and you can download hard copies to your PC or laptop anytime you want to. I use this system routinely, and have set up Googlemail to allow me to pick up emails wherever I'm connected on the web from my online business email accounts. Zoho
However, all the basics are usually free in Zoho, so it's well worth being aware of this website when you start your search for free office software. You can use Zoho for your spreadsheets and documentation, but they also offer many more services tailored to small business like online forms, surveys and so on. I would recommend that even if the first two products meet your needs, you give Zoho the once over. It has all sorts of wonderful utilities for small businesses and may be the difference between you having to splash out for an expensive service or paying very little to get the same thing. Here's a list of Zoho's more appealing features - there are many more:
Plus documents, spreadsheets,notebooks, presentations and so on. See what I mean? Do make sure you check it out when you're sampling free office software and even if you don't need Zoho now, it might come in handy in the future.
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