Free office software
for your small online business
Check 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

I'm amazed that more people don't know about Openoffice yet, it is quite
simply, a fully featured alternative to Microsoft Office.
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

Here's another great, free alternative to having to spend your
hard earned cash on Microsoft products.
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

Zoho
is a more functional version of Google Docs, and because of this, some
of its services are paid-for.
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:
- Online business solutions - Online invoicing, quotes and
customer payments (5 invoices free)
- Online customer relationship manager - with sales and marketing,
customer support, inventory management and so on (3 users free)
- Online planner - with to-do lists, organiser,note-maker and
storage
- Online wiki - create your own wiki for your business (2 free
wikis)
- Online project management software - plan, track, collaborate
and manage your projects online (1 project free)
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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