Open Source Business Tools for Accountants

OPEN SOURCE BUSINESS TOOLS FOR ACCOUNTANTS

700+ Free or Nearly Free Online Resources to Help Accounting Professionals Cut Costs and Boost Productivity

Level: Intermediate

Course duration: Half day

Overview:

What’s the money-saving secret weapon for more than one million North American companies from Intel to Procter & Gamble during these hard economic times? Answer: open source business tools — free or nearly free web-based applications that replace traditional (and much more expensive) desktop software. Based on industry awards, customer feedback, and interviews with hundreds of accounting and management professionals, the seminar spotlights 700+ “best of the best” open source tools worth more than $100,000. From web-based office suites to Ivy League e-learning to free online call centres, you’ll get a crash course on the most practical and proven cost-cutting e-tools on the Internet today.

Topics include:

• The seismic shift now underway away from desktop applications to open source business tools or “cloud computing.”
• Why more and more organizations are exploring alternatives to Windows and Microsoft Office.
• The “free-conomics” business model (which states free doesn’t mean no money; it just means you don’t charge the customer).
• The challenges and downsides of open source.
• How to boost your online presence using free or nearly free tools ranging from Internet access to web security to online note-taking.
• Blog, brochure and store builders
• Communication enablers from online phones to faxes.
• Productivity boosters from office suites to e-utilities.
• Management e-tools for personal, business and project planning.
• Collaboration software for virtual offices, group websites and social networking.
• Commerce e-applications for buying, selling and financing.
• Training and recruitment resources.
• Market intelligence tools from electronic books to satellite imagery.
• Multimedia tools for music, photos, video and print applications.
• Lifestyle applications that improve your home and personal life.

On completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Access online e-tools for free or nearly free that would normally cost $100,000 or more as desktop applications.
• Use the open source applications to expand their online clout and presence, boost productivity, cut costs, increase revenues, better collaborate with customers and suppliers, test drive new online business models and transform how they work and play on the Internet.
• Access 50+ gigabytes of online storage for free.
• Obtain free technical support 24/7 for most computer and Internet questions.
• Build a blog or website from scratch for free.
• Create an online shopping cart and e-commerce site at no charge or nearly free.
• Use free search engine optimization (SEO) software to boost their search engine rankings.
• Install and use website traffic measurement and analysis software for their website.
• Create free favicons for their website.
• Use online ad networks to earn money from their website.
• Use web widget builders to create their own custom web applications at no charge and with no programming knowledge.
• Make free or nearly free telephone calls from their computer or cellphones.
• Use their mobile phone to create podcasts, send bulk text messages, schedule online reminders, turn cell-phone pictures into pdf’s, track someone’s location using their cell phone, and create their own mobile information service.
• Send free faxes to anywhere in North America.
• Host online conferences for fee or a modest fee.
• Translate text and entire websites in dozens of languages.
• Create their own instant messaging network and live streaming Internet broadcast for free.
• Use more than a dozen free alternatives to Windows Office.
• Create documents using nine online word processors at no charge.
• Develop presentations at no cost using more than a dozen e-presentation tools.
• Use five free or nearly free online spreadsheets that allow real-time collaboration.
• Develop online databases for free or nearly free from among six open source database creators.
• Create diagrams and mind-maps at no charge using free chart creators.
• Develop and email invoices at no cost.
• Add an online booking, appointment scheduling and reservation system to their website at no charge.
• Convert text, presentation, spreadsheet and photo files to pdf format for free.
• Use digital assistants to “outsource” their life at minimal expense.
• Use online calendars, task managers and auto-reminders at no charge.
• Access thousands of videos and tutorials on starting and growing a small business.
• Create legal documents, incorporate a new U.S. company, and manage business contracts online for free or huge discount.
• Use open source customer relationship relationship (CRM) software for sales pipeline management at no charge.
• Coordinate projects and teams online using free project management software.
• Create online timesheets using no-charge employee management e-tools.
• Develop a call centre or live chat support for their webpage at no charge.
• Conduct opinion polls, brand awareness, customer satisfaction and other market research on the web or using mobile phones for free or modest subscription.
• Create a virtual office that allows real-time document, video and image sharing for free or modest subscription.
• Develop a free wiki – a group editable website – at no charge.
• Create a profile on one or more of dozens of free online social networking services.
• Create their own customized social networking website from scratch at no charge.
• Promote their own products or services on an e-marketplace for free or modest fee.
• Post request-for-proposals or hire freelances on e-marketplaces around the world for free or nominal fee.
• Use Do-It-Yourself web services to create an online retail store or manufacture apparel and machinery for a modest fee.
• Use online financial solutions to pay bills and manage personal finances online.
• Lend to or borrow money from peers and family at discount rates.
• Participate in online funding pools to make purchases or raise money.
• Use free calculators to analyze exchange rates, shipping costs and their carbon footprint at no charge.
• Connect with leading online philanthropic organizations.
• Access thousands of course materials from Ivy League universities and hundreds of other educational institutions for free.
• Tap hundreds of leading online job search and employment services at no cost.
• Subscribe to scores of free business magazines that are available to qualified professionals at no charge.
• Download more than 50,000 e-books at no charge.
• Access the latest satellite, aerial and street imagery of the Earth for free.
• Use real estate directories that list leading properties around the world at no charge.
• Self-manage their real estate holdings, compare rental rates, and create property promotional videos online at no charge using web-based tools.
• Use free photo-sharing, desktop publishing, image editors, music sharing, music production, video sharing, video production, virtual broadcasting, graphic design and other resources to create and share creative works.
• Know and use the best travel sites which compare the latest rates and fares at no charge.
• Access the leading online health services including symptom checkers, medical manuals and fitness planners at no cost.
• Know and use the most popular online dating services at no charge.
• Play sponsor-supported online poker at no charge and with zero risk.
• All participants receive a free 80+ page Open Source Business Tools manual (a $200 value) that highlights the 700+ resources and strategies discussed in the seminar.

Who will benefit:

CAs, CPAs, CFOs, Controllers, CEOs, CIOs, senior managers, practitioners and other professionals who advise and assist their clients in improving business operations. The session will be especially beneficial if you’re shopping around for less expensive online alternatives to traditional desktop software, and seeking fresh ideas and examples of how to use the web in your business operations and professional and personal life.

Prerequisite:

You should have a basic understanding of the Internet and know how to use productivity software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint and similar desktop applications. The seminar is non-technical and jargon-free and has been especially designed for experienced accounting professionals (ages 35 years and up).

Comments from past participants:

• “Outstanding in content and delivery and a great value for anyone working with the Internet.”
• “Saved my firm thousands of dollars.”
• “After seeing your presentation, my mind is spinning with business possibilities.”

Accreditations:

The following organizations have accredited the course as part of their professional development programs:

• Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta

How to order:

Call 778.898.9059 or e-mail me today to order the seminar for your organization.