Clould Computing

The term 'Cloud Computing' originated from flow charts that demonstrated the use of the Internet. The word 'Cloud' is used as a metaphor for the way the Internet was viewed within these diagrams as a kind of cloud that concealed an infrastructure of software and programmes.

To help demystify the concept of how Cloud Computing can help your business, it is basically a way of avoiding huge capital expenditure on IT costs when your business is starting up. If you can not afford to employ your own IT department as of yet, and setting up and maintaining your own server would take too much time and money, then why not get one of the many providers out there on the Internet and via mobile Android technology to do it for you?
In many cases they will do it for free. The basic services will offer you advanced email accounts, calendars and diaries to help you keep in contact with clients easily, useful business accessories to help you organise your business better, and some providers will even offer software that can assist you with your accounting.

Read on to see Matt Forrest, Head of Commercial Marketing for Sage's Small Business Division, exploring the free software available to start-up businesses, and the latest published report from Easynet Connect which predicts 2010 to be 'The Year of the Cloud'.
It is a tough time to set up a new venture and one of the largest initial investments for businesses is the IT. Start-ups require software which can perform the normal daily tasks but also help to manage and maintain their business efficiently.

The good news is that there is now the opportunity to obtain the majority of these new business core software free online.

You've developed your business idea and know there's a market out there waiting to buy it. Now there's just that small question of getting everything in place to run your business and having the resources to fund it all. Matthew Forrest, Head of Commercial Marketing - Small Business Division, at business' software and services provider Sage, looks at the 'freemium' software available to start-ups.
In the past, the cost of setting up a brand new venture may have felt too overwhelming to face. One of the largest investments for any small business is information technology, with computer software a key part of that investment. Software not only enables your computer to perform important tasks, but also helps your business to function and work more efficiently. The good news is that in today's digital age it's possible to source the majority of your new business' core operating software online. And for free.

Business Planning
Drawing up an effective business plan is a critical part of starting-up any new company. It's also a key document when securing funding. Sage Planning for Business is a free download designed to help plan and launch your business. It combines easy-to-use software with links to expert advice which will help turn your idea into reality and enable you to compare your plans against your performance when you are up and running.

Developing and hosting an online presence
In today's digital world if your business is not on Google it may as well be invisible. Your website is the public face of your business and it is essential that you provide a fast, secure and reliable service. Several options exist for web hosting including in-house hosting, where the website is powered by your own company server. An alternative is to find an external internet service provider, but ultimately it is a decision that's dependent upon cost and the technical expertise within your business.
Free web hosting solutions are offered by a number of firms, including:
www.bravenet.com/webhosting
www.one.com/en_GB
1and1webhosting.biz

Design plays an important part in a website's usability. Content needs to be presented in an intuitive way that makes effective use of colour, layout and site organisation. Content needs to be about your customer rather than your company, with the technical side reflecting the purpose. So, if you're planning to sell via your web site, it must be user-friendly and resilient!
Business Link (www.businesslink.gov.uk) offers advice on involving third parties, such as web designers or digital agencies. But there is always the option to build your own site. Freegeardesign.com provides a free guide to designing, building and publishing your own web site, and directs you to free web page development tools and resources.
Free website design software can be found at:
netobjects.com/html/essentials.html
www.freeserifsoftware.com
www.bluevoda.com

Core business software to consider accounting
An imperative part of running a business is getting to grips with finances, and for a lot of start-ups this can be the making or breaking of their business. Accounting needs to vary according to the business size, type and sector, but the need to know exactly how much money you have in the bank and that the correct level of taxes has been paid is universally critical to all firms.
Financial accounts describe the performance of your business, while management accounts help you to plan and make decisions about key areas such as sales, margins and stock.

Free software/trials can be found at:
www.freeagentcentral.com
www.clearseas.co.uk
uk.feedmyapp.com

Invoicing
Your customers are the most important part of your business, and it's critical to keep track of who owes money, when to chase payments and who your best customers are.
Sageinvoicing.co.uk simplifies this task - providing all the tools needed to manage your income - without the accountancy jargon. It provides easy-to-use software that's free to use.

Business Reporting
Today's business needs intelligence, and it's all about turning data into useful information. Reporting tools are needed quickly and easily to help you make the best decisions with that information.
Free software/trials can be found at:
www.numbergo.com
www.mbmglobal.com
www.corda.com

Customer relationship management (CRM)
Contact management software is a vital part of your sales and marketing effort, and will help establish, manage and build business relationships, find new prospects and convert these into customers.

Sources for free downloads/trials include:
www.exchangewise.com
www.smallbizcrm.com
crm.zoho.com/crm

Security
IT underpins so many business operations today that it is vital you take appropriate measures to protect yourself from the threat of hackers and viruses. Security software helps to control and protect information from unwanted intruders.
Business link (www.businesslink.gov.uk) offers comprehensive guidance on all aspects of developing an effective information security policy. Free security and anti-spyware downloads can be found at www.download.cnet.com and www.which.co.uk.
For the latest on PC security terms, please visit www.which.co.uk.
Moneysavingexpert.com goes further with links to free back-up software as well as advice about the main threats to your PC and dealing with spam email.

Moving forward
The availability of freemium business software means that even in challenging economic conditions, there is one less barrier for entrepreneurs to overcome to turn their business dreams into reality.
As your business grows and its operations become profitable and more complex, it is likely that you will need to invest in more highly specialist software which offers increased functionality and support. But with so much free software and advice available to start-up organisations, it is possible to get your business up and running without having to make significant investments in IT software.