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Ask Slashdot: How To Run a Small Business With Open Source Software?

Posted by timothy on from the with-nothing-but-emacs-extensions dept.

First time accepted submitter ahree writes "I'm starting up a restaurant with my wife and a few friends and, well, I'd like to support the OS community and hope that this is a way to do it. Simply put, we need to take care of bookkeeping, accounting & payroll and I'd rather not use QuickBooks. I've heard of some options that are open source (GnuCash), some that are cheaper & simpler (WaveAccounting), but I'm wondering what your experience with them (and others) has been like."

2 of 195 comments (clear)

  1. Think Ahead by clinko · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Advice on Restaurant Ownership... It's going to be tough, long, and either the wife or friends won't be a wife or friend by the end.

    Consider the future, you or someone will bow out. Accountants and/or Lawyers will be involved and they don't know GnuAnything. They know QuickBooks.

    You may sell your restaurant as a group, the buyer will likely want to see the accounts in QuickBooks.

    You may be successful! congrats! you can now hire an accountant, they'll want QuickBooks.

    In short, pool the wife & friend's money, pay the minor entry-fee for QuickBooks and save yourself the time (which you'll need the most now).

    Good luck!

  2. Risky Investments by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "I'm starting up a restaurant with my wife and a few friends

    I don't know if it's wise to risk your investment in your restaurant for the sake of supporting the OS community. When I recommend software, open source or otherwise, I always suggest the very best software available to do the task at hand. It sounds like you are looking for a shortcut and that never pays off.

    Here are the steps you should be following:

    1) Find best software
    2) Is it open source? Then support the product. If not, then buy a license.
    3) PROFIT$