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Business idea for techies

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Contributed by: Gail Kirkegaard on 5/28/2008

I just read somewhere that over 90% of Colorado's businesses are classified as small businesses. What a huge market for an enterprising computer whiz!

I'm an entrepreneur. I absolutely love running my own business. I can get around pretty well with the computer; it's imperative these days for any business.

To earn my bachelors degree, I took a computer class in 1982. I learned about giant mainframes and punchcards. It has no relevance to operating computers in the 21st century.

Since then, I've taught myself everything I know. Over the past eighteen years I've gone through numerous computers and peripheral equipment. I've installed and set up all kinds of systems and software. Lots of companies will help me with hardware problems. I hardly ever need them. In fact, I can't remember when I last had someone out to work on my computer, other than the guy who set up my Comcast bundle for me last year.

Competent but challenged

Having been around the workforce for a couple of decades or more, many small business owners like myself have intermediate to advanced skills in the internet, E-mail, Word, Excel and Publisher. The free classes at the library are way too basic for us.

I'd like to learn Quickbooks, MS Access and Outlook - programs that are important for running a small business, and I'd like to learn them faster than I've learned things on my own in the past. I don't want to pay college tuition and spend several months in a classroom. That costs too much, takes too long, and gives me more information than I need. On the other hand, I want more than a book for dummies. A two-hour workshop would probably be perfect. Once I've got the basics, I can go from there. I think I speak for many self-employed.

As far as I know, nobody offers computer workshops for entrepreneurs.

My idea for technology majors is a workshop business for sole practitioners. You'll need a venue. You might ask SCORE, the SBA, and Chambers of Commerce if you can provide a few computer workshops under their umbrella.

Entrepreneurs have to wear a lot of hats: CEO, Accounting, Marketing, HR, and IT. While we don't need to know all the technology details, we do need to know a little about a lot in order to operate a successful business.

Best of luck, and let me know as soon as you're ready.

Gail Kirkegaard
gail@gailkirkegaard.biz
www.gailkirkegaard.biz
720-201-8743

UPDATE - Friday, May 30.
I just had a guy out yesterday to fix something for me on my computer! It's one of the things bugging me that inspired me to write this article.

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Gail Kirkegaard

Lakewood , CO

Gail Kirkegaard has posted 391 stories and 117 comments since joining on 3/2/2006. Gail Kirkegaard 's average story rating is 4.8.

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