Baby Business Boomers – Alan Richie

Alan Ritchie, managing director, PC World Business reveals his top tips for mumtrepreneuers looking for the right technology to kick-start their business venture.

Mumtrepreneurs currently contribute around £7.4bn a year to the economy, but the average start-up cash they require is only £500 – a low-risk, high-reward ratio that’s very attractive to parents. With the back-to-school season now in full swing, it’s the perfect time to kick-start a home business.

However, choosing the right tools and technology can be daunting. Here, Alan Ritchie lays out a few of the best options for mumtrepreneurs to make a go of their new business.

To PC, or not to PC

Despite the popularity of tablets, many entrepreneurs still find laptops provide the functionality, mobility and familiarity they need for everyday tasks. The growing popularity of web apps and cloud data storage hosted online rather than on the device, reduces the need for internal memory and enables entrepreneurs to pick lighter and cheaper options than traditional laptops and PCs. For example, HP’s Chromebook 11 is larger than most netbooks with an 11.6″ screen, but still weighs less than 2.5 lbs. Also, despite the device running all of its applications through the Chrome web browser, it provides a handy offline mode so you can continue working even when it’s not possible to get online.

Tablet entrepreneurialism

Whilst laptops are better suited for everyday tasks, tablets are increasingly used by businesses. This is partly because they’re designed to be lightweight and slim, making them a very portable, flexible option. They also tend to have an impressive battery life, crucial for busy entrepreneurs who might not have time to stop and charge their tablet during the day. For example, the Google Nexus 7 has up to nine hours’ battery use. With both WiFi and 4G connectivity, email and the internet can be accessed instantly, regardless of whether you’re at home or out and about.

Staying secure

Another important consideration for every mum setting up a new home business is staying secure, particularly when on the move. Most mumtrepreneurs will store sensitive business information across multiple devices, accessing their data from a smartphone, a tablet and a laptop. To stay secure whilst doing so, entrepreneurs must ensure that their mobile network has the right precautions in place to keep them, their business, and their clients safe. For example, management services for mobile devices mean business owners can secure, control, and manage access to business content.

Adapting to your business needs

These are just a sample of the ways aspiring mumtrepreneurs can work effectively from anywhere. Every small business is different, and everyone will have their own way of working, so of course some hardware and software will be better suited to some businesses than others. Any entrepreneurs who feel they need bit more support can get in touch with the PC World Business team, which can help them find and buy the right tech for them.