Mark E. Buckley

Technology for Contractors

Several clients have mentioned their needing to get a laptop or a pda. I thought I should outline some of my general recommendations for what computer related equipment contractors should have.

My primary advice regarding technology is to wait as long as possible and be as cheap as possible. The price for new technology generally goes down over several years. Also the initial release of a new product usually comes with several product defects. You should wait for other people to waste their money and then jump in. While this is not the ‘cool’ thing to do, it is the smart thing to do.

Computer

Go cheap. Do not buy the absolute cheapest PC but maybe something in the middle. Computers are more expensive if you buy more memory and higher processing speeds. Unless you are on the computer all day, you might not need this extra power. You might consider buying a used computer. However, most computers that are five or six years old simply do not have enough memory to handle the current crop of software.

Printers

I recommend a Laser Jet printer. They print in black and white and are more expensive. You might pay $500 or so for one. However in the long run you will save money. The cost with printers is not the printer itself but the ink cartridges. Cartridges can cost $50 a shot. If you use a small color printer that costs only $150, you might end up spending $200 per year in ink. Meanwhile the Laser Jet cartridges, while expensive, generally last quite a while.

You could consider having a laser jet print for a majority of your printing. Then also get a combination scanner, copier, color printer. Then if you have the occasional need to print something in color you can use that.

Scanner

Do not spend money or occupy extra space with a scanner. Just get a combo deal.

Copier

Do not spend money or occupy extra space with a copier. Just get a combo deal. For situations where you need a large volume copied, just go to Kinko’s.

Internet Connection

Get broadband. If you are on dial up and using the internet for two hours per week, you could accomplish the same amount in 30 minutes with broadband. That means you are saving your self 90 minutes per week or 4500 minutes per year. That savings of 75 hours per year could amount to $3,000 if your billable rate is $40.

Networking

If you decide to get a laptop as well as a PC you will want to network your computers. I recommend a hard wired network. You just attach a gateway hub to your modem and then configure the computers.

Laptop

If you start using your PC a lot then consider getting a lap top to take advantage of the mobility that lap tops offer.

PDA

If you use it past the first month I would be shocked. It seems that every contractor has bought one and now has it buried in their kitchen drawer.

Cell Phone

What a great invention. Now your phone bill is three times what it used to be and your work day is four hours longer. What a deal.

Software

The most important software is anti virus. Install them on your PC and lap top and keep them updated. Buy word processing software so you can write letters. Buy email software so you can email your customers. Buy a spread sheet program so you can do estimates and create lists of clients or materials. Buy accounting software to keep track of your finances. You could also buy Publisher or a similar program so you can do your own business cards and flyers.

Summary

My bottom line advice is that something is useful if you use it. If you buy a tool it is because you will use it several times and it is necessary to get the job done. You would not buy a tool that you will only use once. That would be a waste of money.