Archive for November, 2010

Computer Consulting: Should You Work With Micro Businesses?

When it comes to computer consulting with micro businesses, look at the margins issue. You will always have a certain amount of hours that you’re forced to eat because you can’t bill for it. When you have a larger base of computer consulting clients to spread it over, a loss is a lot easier to swallow.

“Eating” a Loss is Easier with Big Clients Than Small Ones

For example, if you have a customer that’s billing $2,000 a year with you and you’re forced to eat a $500 job, you’ve sacrificed 25 percent of your billing for that customer. If you have someone that’s billing $10,000 a year with you and you’re forced to sacrifice a $500 job once a year, that’s no big deal.

That’s a very small percentage. The bigger the client, the more you can afford to do things like that.

Are Micro Business Distracting You From Finding “Sweet Spot” Clients?

Is computer consulting for micro businesses taking away valuable time from cultivating more lucrative business? Only you can answer that question.

You have to make sure that you have enough time to go after the solid B2B small businesses where there’s at least 10 systems, a real server and they can afford at least $5,000 to $10,000 in IT services a year on an ongoing basis.

Focus On The Larger Computer Consulting Clients

Phase out your dependence on micro small businesses. As you start taking on additional larger clients, you’re going to find you have to make tough decisions anyway.

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Business Analyst Job Description

The job description of a business analyst is rather extensive. He or she must first determine the needs for a company by using many tools. The business analyst may conduct interviews with management and other department leaders. He or she must analyze documentation, facts and figures. The analyst should incorporate a site survey to determine applications being used and what may be needed for superior quality performance. He or she will consider business applications currently being used which may or may not be working. The business analyst will do a business analysis and a work flow analysis to assess difficulties in reaching goals and to determine a better strategy.

A qualified business analyst will be able to ascertain the true needs to be met by the project. He or she will be able to transfer information from management into needed data. Statistics from other sources will be assessed and turned into usable information. The business analyst will be able to compile a report in an easily understood projected vision to be implemented.

The job description of a business analyst does not always but should include excellent communication skills. He or she needs to be able to address a diverse group of inside and outside personnel. He or she should be able to motivate the departments to challenge themselves and reach their goals. The business analyst will be required to relay information from the IT team or department to the clients in easily understood terms for both groups.

The business analyst should have past experience to draw from when processing data and information. He or she will possess knowledge used in case studies and transfer it into usable information. Prior situations should be able to be compared to avoid counterproductive actions.

The business analyst will be able to draw from known resources when outsourcing or external interactions are needed. He or she will be able to incorporate joint venture relations into the project scope when it is necessary. Determining this critical point is instrumental in the job of a business analyst.

Acting as a liaison between clients and development departments, the business analyst shall distinguish requests from needs. He or she will assess the proposed project plan to ensure all needs are met. The verifiable solution shall be one which guarantees success.

A statement of purpose will be proposed by the business analyst to ensure the end results are satisfactory to all involved. There will be a project goal integrating all data collected. Documentation will be provided by the business analyst to determine which aspects of the project will be handled by outside sources. These sources shall be listed with critical attention being paid to the specific task of each organization.

The business analyst will have a good understanding of what is expected. There are many aspects of the project proposal. He or she will involve themselves with each unit to instill continence and still maintain productive action. The professional analyst will be able to focus on each department independently and maintain a broad vision of the project scope. These are the duties of a business analyst.

Business Ideas For Home Based Business – Work At Home At Your Own Pace

Business ideas for home based businesses really depend on your area of interest. If you like selling door to door or organizing home parties, then you will find that there are many opportunities for you to operate your own business out of your home. This still means getting dressed and going out in all types of weather. However, there are also business ideas for home businesses where you can do everything online taking advantage of what the Internet has to offer and the options are many.

Most people think that in order to have an Internet business, they need to take a computer course, which only adds to the expense of setting up a business. All you need to operate a work from home Internet business is your own personal computer and an Internet connection. Once you have that then the world is at your feet when it comes to business ideas for home based businesses.

You don’t necessarily need a website of your own to do business on the Internet. It all depends on what you are interested in doing as part of your work at home Internet business. If you have a flair for writing, then you will find a wealth of business ideas for home based businesses by searching the Internet. Those who do set up websites are always looking for writers for their articles and you can register with either elance or Guru, or both. These companies allow you to bid on writing once you pay the subscription fee, which is very reasonable – from $75 to $90 every three months.

If you do not want to pay anything at all to set up a work from home Internet business, then this possible as well. There are many sites that advertise work that you can do from your own home, using your computer and the Internet for your research. Write articles for magazines and if you have an education background, you can develop lesson plans for various publishers. As long as you can send and receive email and have a word processing program on your computer, then you can avail of many different business ideas for home based businesses.

When you want to work from home, the Internet is the best place to start searching for business ideas for home. Here you will find opportunities that require small or no investment to get started. When you take advantage of business ideas for home business, then the sky is the limit. How much money you make depends on how much time you want to devote to the Internet business you create.

There are plenty of business ideas for home based businesses, and some of the best are on the net.