Side-Business Software: The Neglected Software Market
The most innovative software designed over the next 10 years will 1. be web-based, 2. will come from small teams, 3. will come from self-funded companies, and 4. will be for the “side-business” or 1-10 person business market.…
When you think small business, think 1-10 people not 50-100. There’s an endless supply of 1-10 person companies. Who cares about the Fortune 500? It’s time to care about the Fortune 5,000,000. Forget the enterprise market. Forget the mid-sized company market. Build for the smallest of small companies and you’ll find a thirsty, neglected market waiting for you.
via SmallBizTrends.
Ben on May 23rd, 2006 12:25 pm
One thing you may have not considered is that many of the “Fortune 5,000,000″ can meet their needs via “Open Source” software.
So, one one hand, I’d be competing with software that people work on for free and give away for free.
Additionally, good software is hard to make, and very expensive. Business with only 1-10 employees can’t afford custom software, unless they are already phenomenally profitable. If I don’t make custom software, I’d be making shrink-wrapped software, and there’s quite a lot of that on the market already.
Specifically, what software do you have in mind that these small businesses want but don’t have access to?
Bob Maeda on September 5th, 2006 1:07 pm
We manufacture a non-toxic compound in Japan that is widely used there for trucks, golfcarts, forklifts, marine type applications, automotive, etc.,etc.. We are looking for energetic distributors to call on potential users of our product, excellent side income potential.
Michael on November 2nd, 2006 8:16 am
I have to agree with Ben on the issue of open source, but at the same time, if you mean strictly web based solutions there are still a lot of custom made software to be made.
i did a few php scripts that i was going to sell for between $27 and $50, that i used myself and even found joint venture partners to promote them.
also sites like elance.com and rentacoder.com allow freelancers to bid on webdesign jobs.
if you are talking software applications i.e. desktop sofware, that’s another story
Jim Hedges on February 9th, 2007 12:03 pm
It is good to see a focus on home-based and side business. With there being a potential 18 million side businesses in this country, advertising your side business or finding someone who does work on the side can be a challenge. I have created a new website to bring side business operators and people looking to hire someone on the side together.
http://www.SideBizOnline.com
Free on July 27th, 2007 10:25 am
Interesting
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