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The Basics December 1999 • Vol.5 Issue 12	Add To My Personal Library
Ease The Logistical Nightmare The Internet Offers Plenty Of Services For Small Businesses

Small-business owners generate more than half of the country's gross national product and more than half of its innovations. Those of you working in a small office/home office (SOHO) environment know that although the business of business may be business, your business is first to conserve the time and money necessary to find and serve your customers or clients. Fortunately, the Internet makes it easier to devote more time to business and innovating and less time to the logistics of running a SOHO. Let's take a look at some of the sites that are making it possible to do more in less time and with less money. The logistics of running an office are being made easier every day by the advent of Internet printing, shipping, mailing, online training and application rental, along with Internet services.

Office Logistics.

Printing. Remember what you once had to go through to get business cards, letterhead and other business printing done? You'd spend hours with the printer or on your PC turning out camera-ready copy, visiting the printer, checking blueline, then picking up the job. Well, you can mouse those days away forever.

PrintOnTheNet.com provides you with the pleasure of designing from templates.

A variety of online sites make it possible for you to select from a range of templates for items such as adhesive notes, business cards, labels, letterhead, mousepads, and so on. Select a template and add graphics, experiment with fonts, check the results, and make the changes you need. You can experiment with any of these sites since the job is not finalized until you enter your credit card information and submit your order. Some of the better sites that we visited were PrintOnTheNet.com (http://www.printonthenet.com), Printomat (http://www.printomat.com), and eprintpress.com (http://www.eprintpress.com). Like most of the previously mentioned sites, iPrint.com (http://www2.iPrint.com) lets you select an item to design, play with elements of that design, and order online. For example, go to iPrint and click the Business & Stationery tab, then check the list in the right box for the product you want. We explored memo pads and were offered options such as humorous, personal, and lists, to name a few. We selected a starting design and went to a page where we could make changes in that basic design. This site lets you save a work-in-progress. You can change fonts, alter graphics, decide on a color, and more.

Several sites specialize in just business cards. Biz Card Pro (http://www.bizcardpro.com) is a homespun site that offers a range of styles and stock for your selection. You can play with designs and read the proof online 24 hours later. A slightly more puzzling site is V&V International Corp. (http://www.colorbc.com), which lets you design a business card from a selection of photo backgrounds and then download the file to print in your office. The site states that something is free, but it is difficult to tell what the freebie might be. This is not an intuitive site, but it may appeal to some users. BusinessCards.com (http://www.businesscards.com) produces business cards in English, Korean, Chinese, or Japanese. You can use the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) to send and receive graphics or design materials or select from those on the site. This site is fairly simple to navigate and includes a wide selection of stock, card designs, and inks.

For more complex jobs or when you want to print from your own files, the Internet makes it easy to upload your material to a printshop site and receive the finished work in an amazingly short time. For brochures, posters, catalogs, and other pieces, check into AlphaGraphics (http://www.alphagraphics.com), Pressnet Express (http://www.pressnetexpress.com), ImagePro (http://www.imagepro-inc.com), Fast color.com (http://www.fastcolor.com), Sir Speedy (http://www.sirspeedy.com), or Kinko's (http://www.kinkos.com). Fastcolor.com (http://www.fastcolor.com) offers you a free color printing Survival Kit. ImagePro (http://www.imagepro-inc.com) lets you upload files to this Houston-based company for output. Full FTP directions are onsite, along with output forms to send with the files. Don't forget to check out the Tech Tips for valuable information on preparing your files. All of these sites offer online quotes, and several let you check the progress of your job once you have uploaded the files.

Postage. Once the material is printed, how do you get it to your current and potential clients or customers? You could make 16 trips to the post office or turn to the Internet and make use of the plethora of online postage and shipping services.

If you want to develop a conventional mailroom in your office, consider Pitney Bowes (http://www.pitneybowes.com). You can rent a postage meter unit or purchase postage online. We liked the quick survey that lets users find out if Internet postage is the answer to business mailing needs. Check out ClickStamp.Plus to print from your printer or ClickStamp.Online for printing while on the Internet. For those of you thinking about direct mail, look into DirectNet (http://www.directnet.pb.com), the Pitney Bowes direct mail marketing site that lets you download and complete a mailing template, which they then send to your recipients.

Forget about those long lines at the local post office. Instead, buy your postage online at sites such as e-stamp.

For those basic postage needs, there are a host of excellent sites from which to purchase postage. You can order good old paper stamps from StampsOnline (http://www.stampsonline.com), which is the U.S. Postal Service site. For automatically adding postage to your envelopes as you print them, look into e-stamp (http://www.estamp.com) and Stamps.com (http://www.stamps.com) for software and a device to add to your printer that produces approved postage. PC Stamp (http://www.pcstamp.com) was in testing when we visited and is offering a special that includes free hardware and software plus $10 of free postage a month. Finally, Simply Postage (http://www.simplypostage.com) invites you to "escape mail jail" by downloading postage 24 hours a day, seven days a week as you need it. You can send express mail, weigh packages, and lots more. As you can see, it's quite easy to order postage online.

Need to send secure documents with haste? Visit the U.S. Postal Service site (http://www.usps.com) and discover more about their electronic delivery system.

Download free software and track packages online at Internet shipping sites such as Airborne Express.

Shipping. If typing labels and making phone calls to see if your packages have arrived are not favorite pastimes, you will definitely want to check out some of the Internet shipping sites that we visited. The United Parcel Service site (http://www.ups.com) lets you check costs and transit times, print mailing labels, and lots more. FedEx (http://www.fedex.com) has a rate finder and some e-business tools that are helpful. Airborne Express (http://www.airborne.com) lets you download free Lightship software to prepare labels, track your shipment, and project the cost. And DHL Airways (http://www.dhl-usa.com) provides you with worldwide express service, a rate calculator, a drop box locator, package tracking, and more. You can download free DHL shipping software, review international shipping services, and handle tasks such as account setup and billing inquiries. For a one-stop shopping for anything mail related, don't forget the U.S. Postal Service (http://www.usps.com), where you can buy stamps and shipping supplies, check rates, and even track Priority Mail and Parcel Post packages. Also available: ZIP code lookup, downloadable forms, and a mailbag of similar goodies. SchedNet (http://www.schednet.com) lets you track cargo for major companies, get current shipping news, and search two databases for sea and air schedules, as well as send queries.

Don't forget DigitalWork (http://www.digitalwork.com). Select Shipping from the drop-down menu of the Business Owner's Toolkit. You will be taken to the SmartShip page, which lets you find the best price from among several major package-shipping companies. One other nice feature is that SmartShip also lets you craft and send out press releases.

Online Applications & Office Services.

If your budget does not permit purchase of a host of necessary business applications, look into some of the application rental services available on the Internet.

Rent financial and human relations applications online for a monthly fee from sites such as Corio.

Apps Online (http://www.appsonline.com) lets you rent and use various applications online. Click on the AppsCatalog to review the applications available. The pricing is by application and number of users. Corio (http://www.corio.com) offers financial and human relations software for online use for a monthly fee. USInternetworking (http://www.usinternetworking.com) can provide you with human resource, messaging, financial management, and e-commerce packages from Siebel, Microsoft, PeopleSoft, and others. Read about the various applications and send e-mail for more information. You can check out EDS (http://www.eds.com) for similar services. From this site's home page, use the drop-down menu to go to Topics, then to Internet Computing from the directory list. Check in the left menu to explore features and benefits. If you want to know more, e-mail the contact person. Oracle (http://www.oracle.com) and Qwest (http://www.qwest.com) offer similar services with contact directions for additional information. Watch for Microsoft to offer its Office suite via the Internet soon. MyWebOS.com (http://www.mywebos.com) already lets users use Microsoft Officelike programs on the Web.

We bet you weren't aware that you could rent entire business services online. Siebel (http://www.siebel.com) offers software suites for sales, marketing, and customer service organizations of all sizes. You can run a demo onsite. Works.com (http://www.works.com) acts as your purchasing agent. For $1.50 per order and average monthly savings of 15 percent, use this site for comparative shopping and place your orders for office supplies and items. You can create a file cabinet of repeat order items to speed up subsequent ordering and check orders from the approval queue depending on the specifications you initially set up. You can track orders, review order history reports, and more. Finally, when it comes time for you to look for government business, sign up with Bidcast (http://www.bidcast.com) to automatically track government announcements as they arise.

Those who need transcripts of materials but hate to key them in should try MobileWord (http://www.mobileword.com). For a one-time sign-up fee, you can call in, talk over the phone, and get typed text back. Send recorded tapes and have transcripts sent to you. Fax in business cards and receive a file ready for import to personal information managers (PIMs) and document image managers (DIMs).

You can even find an Internet site that will handle all of your accounting and tax matters. Visit The Accounting Department (http://www.tadepartment.com) for complete bookkeeping services, including tax preparation. You e-mail documents and then reference them online using your e-mail and browser to access encrypted accounts, print checks, and so on. The onsite demo was not working when we went to press.

Training & Professional Development Online.

What about training your staff or yourself on the use of some crucial software packages? If neither your budget nor your calendar permits bringing in trainers or going off for classes, consider these nifty opportunities for training over the Internet.

Schoollink University (http://www.schoollink.net ) offers online classes in a variety of Microsoft programs such as Excel, PowerPoint, and Word. For a larger annual fee, you can sign on for a variety of technical courses in programming. If you want an even wider range of course options, check out Schoollink's partner, DPEC (http://www.dpec.com) for over 400 Internet-based courses. Call for pricing.

Don't forget to visit the Microsoft site (http://www.microsoft.com). Click the Small Business button to move to a page that lets you select online training courses. Several more clicks will take you to an awesome list of online providers of courses for those learning to use such Microsoft applications as Access, Excel, Office, and others.

If you have a staffer who you want to train quickly and economically in accounting or software packages, try Magellan University (http://www.magellan.edu). For training in popular software, there is the Big Planet Education Network (http://bpen.bigplanet.com) for affiliate IBM Learning University where you can purchase courses in Office, Excel, Access, and Front Page.

For technical questions about graphics cards, operating systems, and hardware issues (among other things), you can always hire a technician, or you can explore the online tutorials at Click And Learn (http://www.mkdata.dk). The site is neither splashy nor elegant, but the information is worth examining.

Networking & Marketing Online.

Want to talk with other SOHO-ers around the country? Go to Liszt (http://www.liszt.com) and click the Business link. You'll find nearly 200 mailing lists you can join that deal with various aspects of business; small businesses are the topic of 13 of them. If you have a question that needs an expert answer, try SOHO America (http://www.soho.org). Go to this site and click Reference Tools (It's the first bullet point.) Then select Experts On Tap. You can get feedback by e-mailing a question to the experts.

Try the Virtual Consultant at Inc. Online (http://www.inc.com). Click the VC bar on the left of the opening screen for searchable databases on a variety of issues important to small-business owners. Better yet, click Worksheets on the Virtual Consultant page to bring up a list of worksheets that will let you gauge the cost and wisdom of business decisions ranging from the cost of a service or client to evaluating personal finances and long-range financial goals. The SCORE site (http://www.score.org) offers e-mail consulting along with a page of excellent business hyperlinks from the Service Corps Of Retired Executives.

Looking for marketing lists of consumers or businesses? Try MyProspects.com (http://www.myprospects.com) for downloadable lists of names sorted according to your needs. You can register as a guest to get a feel for the services before registering as a member. You can get 200 free sales leads free.

When it's time to let the world know about your business, think of the Internet News Bureau (http://www.newsbureau.com). This site lets you select targeted media, worldwide delivery, and more. Also, for $225, you can send e-mail to 1,200 online media outlets.

Credit Checks.

Need to check the credit of a customer or client? Try America's Small Business Center (http://www.smallbusinesscenter.com), where you can also apply for a loan and get a quick response or do some comparative insurance shopping. NetEarnings (http://www.netearnings.com) also provides credit checks, as well as online loan applications.

Need to check the credit of a small business? Try CreditFYI (http://www.creditfyi.com) to run an online credit report for less than $15. If you have clients who left you with outstanding bills, try tracking them through the Skip Locator at Experian (http://www.experian.com), where you can also run a credit report on yourself. Another good spot for running your own credit report or checking a potential client for reliability is Equifax (http://www.equifax.com). Check out Fraudscan on the right side of the Equifax home page. This section provides a means of guarding against customers and clients who may be poor credit risks.

Loans & Online Banking.

American Express Bank (http://home.americanexpress.com/banking) offers online bill payment, small-business accounts, and online loan applications. For a really speedy response to a loan application, try Wingspan Bank (http://www.wingspanbank.com). For similar services, visit the OneCore.com (http://www.OneCore.com) site or try the AT&T Universal Business Card (http://www.att.com/ucs/business/index.html) for a no-fee credit/cash/calling card. For a variety of online loan, insurance, and credit services, look to America's Small Business Center (http://www.smallbusinesscenter.com), where you will find links to sites that let you check customer credit online, apply for a small- business loan, and get a fast response. You will also be able to compare insurance costs.

A must-see site for those interested in a business loan is LoanWise (http://www.loanwise.com). This site lets you find business loans fast, apply online, and get a response within five minutes. After the site runs a credit report on you, it will suggest an appropriate lending source from one of its affiliated lenders. If you are looking for a line of credit, spend some time at the Costco (http://www.costco.com) site. Use the dropdown menu of member services to select Business Line Of Credit and explore how to apply online for a credit line of up to $50,000.

As you can see, some innovative small-business folks have made it possible for you to carry on a good portion of your business over the Internet. One of the best investments you can make is to surf regularly, looking for additions to those we have listed above.

by Sharon Shaw

Business Travel Made Easy

Business travel is easier if you incorporate the Internet into your travel plans. For example, you may already be familiar with MapBlast (http://www.mapblast.com) and its nifty quick maps to locations you feed into the site, but do you know other ways to simplify business travel?

The Internet Travel Network (http://www.itn.net) lets you fill in some preferences when you register free, and the site remembers them as you make plans, look for great deals, and develop your itinerary. Use the drop-down menu to select travel planning or browse tools that let you convert currency and other clever things.

Those making reservations should try the Internet Travel Agency (http://www.InternetTravelAgency.com) or check out the Oracle site for the newly acquired eTravel (http://www.oracle.com) whose Web site was being constructed as this article went to press.

For hot deals and booking, look into Global Online Travel (http://www.got.com) or book travel and make air, auto, and hotel reservations at Uniglobe.com (http://www.uniglobe.com).

Don't miss Travelocity (http://www.travelocity.com), which recently merged with Preview Travel (http://www.previewtravel.com). Book a flight, rent a car, sign on for a cruise, find special deals, and lots more. Check the drop-down menus in the lower left screen for a wealth of options from travel guides to maps to checking fares or ticket status.

Buy a membership in Air Travel Manager (http://www.airtm.com) and download software that locates the lowest fares and lets you set the preferences for your air travel shopping. You become your own travel agent. Or try biztravel.com (http://newhome.biztravel.com) to book trips, check out travel tips and news, look for great deals, and more. This site also keeps track of members' points and miles.

Planning to take clients out to dinner when you arrive? Want to check ahead to learn about cuisine, prices and accepted credit cards? Here are a couple of excellent sites for the business diner who plans ahead.

RestaurantRow (http://www.RestaurantRow.com) lets you fill in the name of a restaurant, city, or ZIP code. You can read reviews written by users and make reservations from the site.

If you are looking for a site that evaluates restaurants, as well as provides information, try Zagat.com (http://www.zagat.com). Join free and access thousands of reviews and information about restaurants in a list of large cities in the United States and around the world. Select an area and search by restaurant name or by a set of criteria based on menu, cost, popularity, and more.

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