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In
the News
 Main
Line Chamber of Commerce NewsLine
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March/April
2005 Issue, featured article: "TechXpo 2005"
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Attendees
Learned What's HOT in the World Of Technology
at the
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The third annual TechXpo was held Thursday,
February 3 at the Microsoft Center in
Malvern. Designed to meet the needs of
small and medium sized business owners,
the event combined technologyoriented
exhibitors with seminars and networking
opportunities.
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Exhibitors at the show represented all
aspects of business-related technology.
There were web designers, internet service
providers, "WiFi" (wireless)
suppliers, hardware repair specialists,
software suppliers, networking services,
and disaster recovery experts. The event
was also a networking opportunity and
our Business Card Exchange for February.
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Seminars
covered the subjects of "Experience
more with Windows XP Media Center Edition
2005," presented by Microsoft; "Old
School Meets New School: Direct Marketing
and Your Website," presented by Synaptech
Marketing Group; "Selling Your IT
Services: Best Practices for a Tough Challenge,"
presented by theLINDERgroup; "Disaster
Protection and Business Continuity for
Small Business," presented by 123
File-It; and "Commercial Internet
Service for Small to Medium Businesses,"
presented by Comcast Cable Communications,
Inc.
Many, many thanks to Mary Duff, Duff
Accounting Solutions, and Patti Cataldi,
TechWise Group, the co-chairs of
this year's event for a job very well
done.
The Main Line Chamber and the attendees
who learned state-of-the art technology
for business wish to thank the sponsors
of this event. We'd also like to share
with you an idea of how much larger a
place we may have needed to accommodate
a TechXpo in 1954!
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From a 1954 edition of Popular Mechanics
Magazine scientists from the RAND Corporation
created this model to illustrate their
vision of how a "home computer"
could look in 2004.
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Main
Line Chamber of Commerce NewsLine
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December
2001 Issue, featured article: "Choosing Accounting
Software"
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CHOOSING ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE
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By
Mary E Duff, CPA
mduff@bkicpa.com
BKI Solutions, Inc.
Accounting
software is a critical com-ponent of any business.
There are a number of things that you should
con-sider before selecting an accounting software
package. Think about all the things you don’t
like regarding your current system. For instance,
you may not be getting the proper reports or
information that you require in order to efficiently
run your business. You should put together a
Wish List of things that you want out of an
accounting system. packages.
Here are some ideas to consider when making
a wish list:
•
What are you looking for in an accounting
system?
•
What do you want your reports to look
like?
• How can data entry be made easier?
• Do you have specific layouts for
forms?
•
What don’t you like about your current
system?
• Do you need remote access?
•
Will you be using the internet to service
your business?
• How many users do you have?
•
What kind of budget do you have for the
new software? |
After you have put together a Wish List you
will then be able to start look-ing at all the
available software. The website that I have
found helpful is www.accountingsoftware.com.
You can go to this website, fill in the crite-ria,
and it will help you select the best accounting
software that will fit your needs. On the website
you will find pricing comparison charts and
the pros and cons for a lot of software.
When selecting the accounting software you should
consider the following:
•
Identify all possible accounting software
solution.
•
Identify
all possible accounting software solutions. |
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•Identify
the hardware needs of the software.
• Eliminate inappropriate accounting
packages.
•
Compare your unique needs against the
remaining accounting packages.
•
Narrow
down your selection to a few accounting
software packages.
•
Gather
information and review the packages you
have selected by doing the following:
- Contact area resellers
- Have area consultants come
in to do a demo (most internet
demos are not full working
copies)
- Read product literature
- Contact similar local business’s
that are using the software
and ask them question
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After
you have selected the software you now have
to evaluate the soft-ware dealers. The dealer
is the one that is going to make your software
choice a great success or failure for your company.
They are the ones that will implement the system
and pro-vide all the training and support that
you need to run the system efficiently and effectively.
When selecting a dealer you should consider
some of the following things:
•
Is the dealer an accountant or just a
computer specialist? Sometimes you may
want the dealer to be both an accountant
and a computer special-ist because if
they know the account-ing side of things
it will be a lot eas-ier to explain to
them what you are looking for on the financial
side.
• The experience and competence of
a dealer. Make sure that you get refer-ences.
• The services that the dealer firms
provide. What kind of training is there
and what kind of support plan do they
have?
• Consider the location of the dealer,
how soon will they be able to be respond
to your needs and calls. |
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Choosing
accounting software can be a very timely, but
important project. It is the core of your business
and without the appropriate software package
you could be making decisions that might be
very costly to your company. Also make sure
that you are selecting software that your business
can grow into, since you do not want to be going
through this process again in a couple or months
or years. If you have any questions, please
feel free to give me a call (610) 995-0776.
Choosing accounting software can be a very timely,
but important project. It is the core of your
business and without the appropriate software
package you could be making decisions that might
be very costly to your company. Also make sure
that you are selecting software that your business
can grow into, since you do not want to be going
through this process again in a couple or months
or years. If you have any questions, please
feel free to give me a call (610) 995-0776.
| Street
Locator Atlases of the Main Line Available
by the Copy or Case |
The Chamber has copies and cases of the
Street Locator Atlases of the Main Line
available at special prices for members.
The atlases are 64 page booklets covering
the Main Line and surrounding communi-ties.
They were published for the Chamber by
Franklin Maps and include ads from a variety
of Chamber member companies and organizations.
The retail price of an atlas is $12.95.
From now until the end of January members
can purchase individual copies for $10
each or three for $20 including sales
tax and shipping. Or, if you want to sell
the atlases as they do at Borders Books
& Music, Seidenburg Luggage, and else-where,
or would like a useful holi-day gift for
employees or clients, cases of 50 atlases
are available at only $150 (that’s just
$3 per copy). Case lots are available
for pick-up only and are subject to 6%
sales tax unless they will be re-sold.
Supplies are limited! Call the Chamber
office at 610-687- 6232 to order your
copy or your case today.
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Main
Line Midweek
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May
24, 2000, featured as "Merchant of the Week"
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| Merchant
of the Week |
BKI
Solutions, Inc.
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BKI
Solutions, Inc., located in Wayne, is dedicated
to providing companies with accounting systems,
information and services, whether your company
is just emerging or is solidly established.
BKI Solutions also provides computer and technology
consulting for small businesses. In business
since January 1999, BKI Solutions, Inc. also
specializes in installation, training and ongoing
support for QuickBooks, Peachtree, Business
Works and MAS 90. Also, the business is a certified
professional advisor for QuickBooks. At BKI
Solutions, Inc., clients receive individualized
attention and prompt assistance with accounting
systems.
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| Mary
E. Duff, president of BKI Solutions, Inc.,
ensures that clients receive individualized
attention and prompt assistance with accounting
systems. |
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BKI
Solutions, Inc. is located at 125 Strafford
Ave., Suite 116, in Wayne. Hours are Monday
through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Phone: 610-995-0776. |
Main Line Midweek profiles
a selected mer chant each week as a service
to our advertisers. This is promotional
copy and does not imply endorsement by
the Midweek or its staff. For more information
on this service, call 610-630-8401 ext.,
10. |
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