How To Use Cheap (But Good) Technology For Your Startup Business

As you know, starting a new business means that you have to spend as little money as possible during those crucial early stages. If you’re extravagant at this point, you will end up running out of cash. And that could potentially mean “game over” for your new enterprise!

I would hate for your new company to be over before it’s even had a chance to begin. So, on that note, I want to help you spend as little as possible. The focus of today’s article is to show you how you can get the computer and telecoms equipment you need without going into the red.

These handy ideas will save you potentially four to five-figure sums and slash your operating costs down. Intrigued? Keep reading to learn more!

Stick with used computers

There is no rule in business that says you must always buy brand new items. I know that you will doubtless need to purchase new consumables. But when it comes to things like PCs and laptops, second-hand systems are just as good as new ones.

All you need to do is make sure that the kit you buy is in excellent working order. Believe it or not, even six-month-old systems can save you up to 50% off the cost of new items!

The thing about IT is that hardware goes obsolete rather quickly. But it’s a reason that you can take advantage of for your new enterprise.

Use VOIP telephone systems

What some people don’t realize is that they don’t need to spend thousands on PBX systems for their offices. As long as they have a high-speed Internet connection, they can use VOIP (Voice Over IP) technology.

You can still have individual telephone numbers and extensions. The only difference is that inbound calls get routed via the Internet to a particular computer or VOIP phone. And when you need to make outbound calls, you do so through your ‘net connection.

Buy refurbished smartphones and get SIM-only contracts

It’s likely that you will need to make and receive business phone calls on the go. You’ll also need the facility to email when you’re not at the office. Smartphones are the weapons of choice that serve both those functions.

Don’t get tied into expensive business mobile contracts. Instead, you can buy refurbished (and cheap) smartphones. You can then use them on SIM-only contracts. Following those steps will mean that your cash flow is healthier. Especially if you need to equip an army of workers with smartphones!

SIM-only deals usually incorporate high-speed mobile broadband access too. That is useful when you’re trying to download emails with large attachments while stuck on a train somewhere!

Use cloud storage

Some IT firms might try to convince you that you need an expense server on your premises. Or that you need one or more network storage drives. But what if you want to avoid those costs? And what if you need the flexibility to access your files wherever you are in the world?

Cloud storage providers like Dropbox offer cheap (and often free) ways of storing your data in the cloud. Your files are backed up often, and you can even access revisions of files in case you make a mistake and need to revert to an older backup.

Now that you’ve read these money-saving tips, it’s time to put them into action!

Source: Wikimedia Commons