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With the right tools, an economic recession can translate to an entrepreneurial opportunity for out-of-work professionals.  Despite the down economy, interest in starting businesses has gone up 25% in the last year, according to the Small Business Administration (SBA).  If you're a go-getter who has been affected by these leaner times, now may be your chance to launch the business you've always wanted. Adopt alternatives to traditional software, switch to a digital workplace, embrace social marketing, and you'll be well on your way to a powerful, cost-effective success strategy.  Though modern technology can be intimidating, today's options offer complete, effective, and easy-to-use business solutions that won't break the bank. 

Open source: The Business Geek's Best-Kept Secret
Overhead expenses add up quickly when starting a business, and oftentimes the sheer cost of software can deter an aspiring entrepreneur from getting started.  What most people don't know is that there are free or low-cost alternatives to virtually every essential business software solution in the form of "open source", including staples like the Microsoft Office Suite.  Open source software is built and distributed in respect to an ideal that the best products come from collaboration and a devotion to quality, and should be distributed free of the licensing fees, marketing costs, and commercialization that make popular products so expensive.  Because open source software is not made for profit and most don't have a branding budget, many professionals have not heard of these superb tools.

If you're (understandably) nervous about relying on a product you may have never heard of, try the following risk-free experiment: Microsoft offers a trial version of their Office Suite for 60 days.  Download it simultaneously with OpenOffice.org, Sun Microsystem's award-winning free alternative, but only turn to Microsoft if you feel that OpenOffice isn't powerful enough.  There's no risk or delay to your business, and chances are that you'll be so comfortable and satisfied with OpenOffice that you won't need to spend the $500 to purchase Microsoft Office once your trial has expired.  You've got nothing to lose!

Your Business On Demand: Cloud Computing and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
Perhaps the most prominent recent trend in business computing is the shift from working on one's own computer to working in the "cloud", a new IT metaphor for the Internet.  Instead of installing CDs onto one particular computer, today's professionals often rely on web-hosted software that can be accessed from any machine with Internet access.  Software companies have turned to the Software-as-a-Service (or SaaS, pronounced sass) model, in which they license their product to the user as an on-demand service - the idea is that a user should be able to get access anytime, anywhere.

For example, you may be familiar with QuickBooks, the Bookkeeping and Accounting software that many small-business owners turn to in lieu of a formal accounting department.  Ten years ago, the only way to get QuickBooks was to go to the store, buy it for a few hundred dollars, and install it on your computer.  It required hard-drive space and could only be accessed from the computer on which it was installed.  Today, QuickBooks has online software that ranges from a free version for start-ups to a full-featured enterprise edition for $34.95/month.  FreshBooks - part of the Stay Comm toolkit - is another great user-friendly option

Work From Anywhere with a Digital Workplace
Save money on rent, furniture, and supplies without compromising efficiency by switching to a virtual office.  Today's tech resources offer the ability to be productive from anywhere, and more and more organizations are switching to a Results-Oriented-Work-Environment (ROWE) that lets employees work from anywhere, anytime, as long as they meet their goals.  Even big companies like Best Buy are adopting this practice which rides on the theory that a flexible work environment creates happier, more productive employees.  There's even software that allows for virtual meetings and collaboration free-of-charge.  Try Google Docs for real-time co-editing and viewing of documents and spreadsheets (compatible with both Microsoft Office and OpenOffice) and DimDim for live meetings and desktop sharing.

If your business requires you to spend a lot of time online, invest in one of the many netbook and mobile broadband options available today!

BONUS TIP: Check out Go2Web20 for an index of hundreds of online solutions to make your life easier!

To learn more, sign up for a FREE one-hour consulting session with Stay Comm.