How to buy landscape business management software, part two: Cost

T his is the second, in a five post series written to help landscape contractors buy landscape business management software. You can see part one here .

What Should Your Landscape Business Management Software Cost? The cost of business management software is not just the quoted price tag. Without knowing all the cost details, you can pay too little as easily as you can pay too much. That’s because software is relatively inexpensive to write, but very expensive to support for the software company. Your cost is like an iceberg; most of it is below the surface.

"Price is what you pay. Value is what you get." - Warren Buffett

Questions you should ask during your selection process. What is included in the quoted price, and what is extra? What additional costs might I incur for hardware and servers? What additional costs might I incur for support? Are there additional costs for upgrades or new releases? What is your product plan for upgrades over the next two years? Will I need to add staff to manage your system? What set-up costs might we experience in addition to the quoted price? Will I be charged for on-site training visits? It's Important You Understand "The Real Price" Of Your Software Every software company must price for current staffing to support the software, as well as future costs to keep up with client needs and changing technology. Make certain you understand the real price.

Finally you need to consider the Opportunity Cost of not purchasing...

Ask yourself, “ How will this landscape business management software help my landscape company make more money?”

Besides the expenses, also get a handle on the return on invest you might expect. Any vendor must justify their price in terms of dollars gained for dollars invested.

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