Computer hardware and software
60 OVERDRIVE OCTOBER 2008 I t's still possible to track an owner-operator business with paper and pencil. But with the improvements in owner-operator soft-ware, computer prices and Internet access, the benefi ts of tracking your business via computer make more sense than ever. You can outfi t yourself with a power-ful laptop, already equipped for wireless Internet access and software designed to manage your business, for less than $1,200. New desktop computers with basic specs can be bought for well under $1,000. The savings from analyzing, managing and monitoring your business will net you a speedy return on the investment. Most any computer with the right software will allow you to track and analyze your data in much the same way that a good business service provider will do for you evaluat-ing your costs, revenue and per-mile comparisons. But be prepared to spend hours throughout the year or-ganizing your paperwork and enter-ing the data. And depending on your expertise with the program you use, you could meet some frustration in crunching the numbers and making sense of them. HARDWARE The type of hardware to buy depends on what you want to accomplish. For example, if you want to run trip-planning software, receive and send e-mail, keep track of your own fuel tax and scan your receipts to retain electronic copies, a laptop with a scanning device would be a wise choice. When considering a computer purchase, determine what functions you want to do on the computer. What is the return on investment? Can it be justifi ed fi nancially? Don't forget to include other costs, such as monthly Internet access fees. Computer hardware and software This is excerpted from the 2008 Partners in Business manual for owner-operators. The next Partners in Busi-ness seminar will be held during the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky., March 19-21, 2009. To order a manual, call (800) 633-5953, Ext. 1301. Visit www.PIBlive.com for more excerpts and information. The seminars and the manual are brought to you by , ATBS and Castrol. Don't overlook these tools for business, communication and entertainment (Continued on page 85)