This is my updated list of the best open source tools compiled together for you to effectively run your business. Thanks to the many open source projects covering all sorts of different topics, small businesses now have the opportunity to compete against their larger competitors. They can utilize very technical pieces of software that before would cost them thousands of dollars. These open source tools help a small business compete and in many instances take a step ahead of the competition.

This list has been and is constantly being updated from hours of research and practical business application.

Content Manageable Website

A content management system to be your website with a blog included. Drupal is a perfect fit when you want to have an SEO friendly website. It also allows you to manage content without having to be a “programmer” to figure it out.

Blog I suggest to all small businesses to actively promote and run a blog that covers topics within their industry. This is a blog entirely separate from the company website, but that links to it often. Wordpress is by far the most popular blog software and it is simple to use, and has the ability for complex plugins and features.

Company Documentation MediaWiki is perfect for all company documentation of process and procedures. If you are attempting to create a real business then you need to create company manuals and document your expectations for yourself and your employees. MediaWiki is perfect for this.

Office Software Don’t even bother paying the $2-3 Hundred dollars for Microsoft Office. Waste of money and time. Open Office is the open source competitor and it gives you everything you will ever need. And it’s free. This alone saves your company big bucks.

Email Client Again don’t pay for another Microsoft piece of software, in this case Microsoft Outlook. The Thunderbird email client is better and cheaper (free). Plus you have the option of tons of addons that you may need in the future but in no way will get with Outlook.

Calendar Sunbird is a top of the line calendar and task software that integrates perfectly into Mozilla Thunderbird. These two softwares combine eliminate the need to ever use Microsoft Outlook.

E-Commerce Zen Cart is currently the e-commerce system of choice. There are however many competitors up and on the rise. But right now, Zen Cart gives you a complex and highly scalable shopping cart for your online business with almost every feature imaginable.

Customer Relationship Management Tracking your Accounts, Customers, Leads, and all that goes on with all 3 can be extremely complicated. CRM software can cost thousands of dollars that small businesses usually do not have the luxury of. Now they do. Thank you SugarCRM!

File Management A fantastic open source tool that allows you to use an easy to use web based application to store and organize company files. Your files are kept secure and on your own server and easy to access from anywhere. A great open source tool for companies of all sizes! Thank you KnowledgeTree!

This list is continually evolving as research continues. Feel free to contact me to add to this list or let me know your opinions.

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