SMB Software Market - the trade rags have been doing good spot coverage of the whole SMB craze (Small to Medium Business). This article from USAToday (shudder) is the first, good holistic overview type article I've seen. It's got stories and comments from actual SMB's, not just companies selling to them or journalists speculatin', e.g.:
So two years ago, the small-business owner nearly shelled out $100,000 for high-powered accounting software. At the last minute, Gordon learned that Intuit was about to roll out a juiced-up product for $2,500. He jumped on it and hasn't looked back.
. . .
"To me, $100,000 was three delivery trucks," Gordon recalls. "I was trying to find a way to use that capital to generate more revenue."
Also, this on one shop's dealings with Microsoft and the interesting packaging-partnership MS did to bag 'em:
He balked at the $15,000 price [for the MS software suite] but signed up when he learned Microsoft would finance it and help him slash credit card transaction fees 35% via a partnership with Citibank. Microsoft has made such assistance available for all SMBs.
Based on that savings, Oscar expects the new system to pay for itself in 36 months, a decent return on an investment. Any efficiency gains are a bonus, he says.
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