Business Start Up Proposal

Bill, a close friend of your parents wants to start a business. Your parents refer him to you since you are presently working on a technology related degree. In your first discussion, you discover the following facts:

• Bill has been a sales representative for a major restaurant supply company for many years.
• His prior skills are very low tech. He drives from city to city, visiting restaurants and either provides his customers with supplies, or visits new restaurants to try and convince them to purchase supplies from him exclusively. He phones his orders in to the manufacturer, and other than accounting for his expenses while on the road, he does no record keeping.
• Other than basic email skills and a vague familiarization with Microsoft Word Bill has little or no experience with existing communications technologies or software applications.
• Bill’s business plan is to start a new restaurant supply business in his home. He wishes to spend more time at home and travel much less than he did in the past. He knows he will sometimes be required to travel to negotiate deals or meet with clients, but he would prefer to be able to do all this at home whenever possible.

Bill has already implemented the following actions:

• He has found an accountant who has agreed to help him set up his accounting system. (Do not consider any accounting software for this assignment. The accountant will provide that.)
• He has contacted six different restaurant supply companies and negotiated a fee and commission arrangement that will allow him to represent them and sell their products.
• He has found local training and certification company that has classes in all the major software packages (Apple OS, Windows 7/8, Word, Excel, etc.), which will allow Bill to start classes immediately.

Although Bill has minimal technical skills, he does know what he wants. As the discussion proceeds, the following items are added to the plan:

• Budget: Bill has funds for the start up, but the budget has some limits. He doesn’t want the fastest, biggest or best, but he will spend what it takes to have equipment that will suit his needs.
• Security: Bill has heard horror stories about computer information being hacked, and he wants your assurance that his business information will be secure, if he follows your suggestions.
• Hardware: Bill knows of no special requirements for hardware, but he does know he will need to store somewhere between two and three terabytes of catalog information from the companies with whom he will be working. He needs to be able to access this info at all times from any location. He has no knowledge or preferences about hardware and says he will go with what you recommend.
• Operating System and Software: Bill feels comfortable with the Windows environment, and prefers not to learn another operating system.
• The Cloud, Wi-Fi, Mobile Computing: Bill has no idea how these technologies tie in to his business, but he does know he needs to be able to do the following from his home office, from his car, or from any remote location: Check his email and compose/send emails at any time, place a supplies order via the Internet to any of his suppliers, be able to answer phone calls, and be able to set up video conferencing phone calls.

The Proposal:

Prepare and submit a proposal to Bill that gives your suggested solution to his business plan. Provide Bill with the details of what he needs to purchase in order to have what he needs to conduct his business using today’s technology. Make sure you include the following items in your report:

1. Hardware: What items of hardware (computer, laptop, tablet device, telephone, etc.) should Bill purchase. For items like a computer, include minimum specifications for all major internal components. Justify the need for any major hardware items recommended.
2. Operating System: With the recommended hardware, what operating system choices are available and which would be best? Why?
3. Other Technologies: Include the details on any peripheral devices and technologies that you propose (“The Cloud”, mobile computing devices, Bluetooth, wireless networking, etc.) and explain how they fit into the business plan.
4. Software & Training: List the software applications that should be purchased. Include the training courses that Bill should attend to gain basic skills in the software packages you recommend.
5. Cost: Provide Bill with an estimated cost for him to implement all of your suggestions.

Your proposal will be evaluated using the rubric below. Make sure you read the rubric and have a clear idea of what is expected. If there are any additional questions that you would have asked Bill be sure to note them as you explain to Bill what networking options he has so that you can explain what additional information could change your suggestion if any.

Solution

Business Start Up Proposal

Bill’s business plan

Hardware:

Hardware is import if you are going to start a business from home. The first thing you are going to need is a good PC.  I recommend the following:

Dell Optiplex 3010. This desktop has a Dell Data Protection Encryption solution that keeps your sensitive data secure and enables you to meet compliance mandates with the broadest encryption coverage in the industry. It quickly and easily protects data across all your devices and in the cloud with support for PCs, Tablets, mobile devices and external media, as well as, cloud services like Dropbox, Box and SkyDrive. The cost of this desktop is $489.00

The Operating System for this PC is the Windows 7 Home Premium. It comes with standard safety software, since it is one of your main concerns and it is a great price for a PC if you are just starting off your business. You can upgrade the Home Premium to Windows 7 Professional.

Windows 7Premium from $52.90 bottom range to $269.69 for the full spectrum.

Extra security: You will need to install McAfee, Webroot or Norton to protect your data from viruses and worms, especially since you will be using the internet.

• Norton $40.00 per annum,
• McAfee $40.00 per annum, and
• Webroot $30.00.

Other Technologies: I would recommend for you to get a laptop for on the road purposes. You are going to need a portable Wi-Fi connection so that you can send emails and do quotes. You will also add Microsoft office for your PC and laptop since you will be using Word, Excel, Power Point and other office applications.

Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E431.This is a great laptop for starting a business. It operates with Windows 7 Professional; this means it has a 192GB of physical memory. This feature also has a Remote Desktop Host, which means Windows 7 Professional can host a remote desktop session. Basically if you were on the road you can connect and take control over your PC at home, as if you were actually sitting in front of your PC and using it. This is handy if you forgot important information at home when you are seeing customers. This laptop will cost you $527.12

Portable Wi-Fi: Unit Pro Mobile Hotspot. The Unite Pro is two devices in one with the ability to set up a mobile hotspot and keep your devices charged on the go. This unit is available on a 2-year contract and it will cost you $49.99.

As a business executive it is imperative to be equipped with a modern smart phone. All modern smart phones have a “hotspot” function; which allows you to connect your laptop wirelessly onto the smartphone. By connecting onto the smartphone you can use the smartphone as a modem; thus utilizing the data service of your smartphone. Cost for “hotspot”: free

Software and Training

I recommend Microsoft Office 365. “Office 365” refers to Office applications plus other productivity services that are enabled over the Internet (cloud services), such as Lync web conferencing and Exchange Online hosted email for business, and additional online storage with SkyDrive and Skype world minutes for home. This will cost you $79.99 per year or $7.99 per month.

If you log onto the Microsoft website, there are many training videos that can help you get started with the basic knowledge on Office 365 and for in depth knowledge. This is a free service and you may do this in your own time.

The total cost on the option of purchasing everything top of the range is

$ 1455.79

References

Dell (2014). Dell. Retrieved from the Dell Website             http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=spctsbd1&model_id= optiplex-3010&c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&

FindTheBest website. CNET, PC Mag, PC Antivirus Reviews, LAPTOP Magazine. Compare.

http://antivirus-software.findthebest.com/compare/144-159/Norton-AntiVirus-vs-McAfee-Internet-Security

Microsoft office website (2014). Office. Retrieved from                                                  

http://office.microsoft.com/en-001/office365-suite-help/training-courses-for-office-365-for-business-HA104031723.aspx

PC  website (2013). Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E431. Retrieved from                                               http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2424287,00.asp?tab=Specs