This presentation is based on http://www.thesmallbusinessweb.com The idea being that many online SaaS providers now have amazing solutions that don't require you to have servers and associated software to build and scale your business.

1. The Web Based Supply Chain
UTSA / MOT 5253 - Starting the High Tech Firm
March 23, 2010

2. Growth consumes cash.
Fast growth consumes cash -
fast

3. In start up mode...
• keep overhead low
• buy as you need
• go virtual as possible without having it
affect productivity
• show your investors that you spend /
invest their money wisely

4. Today
• You are in a unique position to focus
your resources on brains, will and
executing your business plan without a
huge amount of overhead to run and
maintain your business.

5. Before
• Office
• Furniture
• PBX - with
• Staff
• Computers
• Wired network
• Software

6. Office
• Rent
• Lease
• Does not allow room for rapid growth
• Fixed cost
• Hard to break a lease

7. Furniture
• Expensive
• Not flexible
• “Make a good impression”
• Sunk cost - you can recover 10% of what
you spent

8. PBX
• Sunk cost
• Even IP PBX systems can run 3- 10K
• Wiring additional cost unless your office
is wired
• Expensive add-ons

9. Permanent Staff
• Salary = x
• Benefits + 30%x
• Expensive to terminate

10. Today
• Virtual
• work from home, coffee shops, co-
working
• cell phone
• lease your hardware

11. Wired Network
• Glue the office together
• Expensive to build out
• Even small business need external
consultant to configure and maintain

12. Software
• Beyond “Office,”
• accounting
• invoicing
• email
• desktop publishing
• license
• upgrades

13. Budget for...
Rent =
Salaries =
Hardware =
PBX =
Software =
Phone Service =
IT Consultant =

14. New way to work
• Free Apps
• SaaS Apps

15. “Free” Apps
• Google Apps - $50 per user per year
• http://www.google.com/apps/

16. SaaS Providers
• The Small Business Web
• http://www.thesmallbusinessweb.com

17. Build Your Own
• http://thesmallbusinessweb.com/
directory

18. Build Your Supply Chain
Hosting Acct POS Mktg
e CRM Forms
Mail

19. What do you need?
• Make a list
• Build a budget
• Lease the hardware
• Switch to Mac (if you can)
• Get an iPhone / Blackberry

20. Scenario
• Build a budget -
• 4 person company
• computers
• cell phones
• service providers
• apps

21. Thank You!
• Alan Weinkrantz
• 210-410-3075
• alan@weinkrantz.com
photos (c) 2010