If you have finally made the big decision to set up your own business, you’ll be understandably excited and eager for it to succeed and grow. For many entrepreneurs, a new business is a little like a new child. They want only the best for it, and money is no object. It’s an understandable enough emotion, but a dangerous mindset. Yet as is so often the case, someone else can do it, and you see the train wreck approaching, but it doesn’t stop you from blindly doing the same thing.
The point is that having the right IT resources in place is enormously important. However, there are ways of achieving that without draining your bank account dry by looking at the What, Where and When. This often involves investing in tools like purchasing software to better control spending and optimize resource allocation.
Unnecessary equipment
It is easy to be swayed by preconceptions of what a business is supposed to look like and create a facsimile. For example, you might be thinking you definitely need a server; everyone has one of those, perhaps just a small one, at least for now. Moreover, a laser printer of course. Then you’ll need at least four PCs and a couple of laptops…… Just stop.
By using cloud-based resources, you might well find that a server is entirely surplus to your requirements and aside from anything else, do you have the technical know-how to set it all up, or is that just another cost you are creating for yourself regarding consultant fees or recruiting a full or part-time IT technician?
Purchasing through the right medium
Most businesses set up a trade account with their local IT supplier and simply place an order. That might make sense if they are offering some big discounts, but check to see if there is a cheaper strategy. Shopping online is usually more cost-effective in a whole lot of ways, websites like the Probrand marketplace and modern suppliers offer one-stop shops where you can buy all your IT hardware refurbished and new.
Buy the equipment you need
You have almost certainly spent long hours writing and rewriting your business plan. Chances are you have been dreaming about it. Now is the moment to look at it again with a fresh pair of eyes. Reread those projections and growth plans for 12 months, 24 months, 36 months.
Now, look at that IT shopping list again. What do you need in the here and now, today, to get the business off the ground? Sure, in six months time you might need those PCs you were talking about, and maybe even the server. However, take care of today, protect your cash flow and let the business get off the ground (if your needs outstrip your finances, you might also consider asset financing depending on the situation).
