Is Linux Truly Small Business Ready?
Submitted by srlinuxx on Wed, 10/29/2008 - 07:51.
Nearly everyday we hear about how the modern Linux distributions are not only ready for the home user, they can even meet the growing demands of many small businesses as well. But rather than debating this point, I’ll examine the tools that would potentially mean that more small businesses would feel the confidence to take the open source plunge.
Let's get started with a suite of tools that all small businesses will likely need to have access to: A usable office suite.
Office applications
There is an old saying that goes something like; "Applications make the operating system." Whether you agree or not, the fact is that most businesses feel very strongly that adequate software does matter. And this is certainly true of a modern office suite.
One of the first software suites that a small business looking to switch to Linux finds themselves wrestling with will likely be Open Office, sponsored by Sun Microsystems. The application suite itself is free to use and simple to understand. And with the exception of relying on its own FoSS (Free Open Source Software) friendly file extensions rather than those used by the rest of the world (Microsoft) by default, there is more than enough functionality provided to get the job done for most small businesses.
Defining smallest business ? Credit card facility or Paypal ?
The smallest business is done on Ebay? Credit card facility cost $1700 per year. Paypal cost nothing except per transaction fees if applicable.
Its often mistaken, that internet can do business. There is no way to get customers to come to your website. search engine is too big to have your website stand out. Product search may land with millions of choices, unless you pay advertizing fees.
So, you have to end up with local searches, where competition may be far less. And your business may have to be more specialized for a specific group of customers.
If you think Linux can do business, you are thinking of book keeping to run your financials in your business. Unfortunately free Linux accounting software does not exist. You have to use MySql to run as book keeping accounting software. You also need taxpaying software. So, you end up needing a CPA to run your accounting procedure and to set up book keeping accounts.
Linux needs more CPA(certified public accountants) to be able to run small business on Linux operating system.