Right, we are beginning to look as if we are in business here. We have found an efficient way to handle our customers' money. We have a website which can be found easily via search engines, so customers know we exist. We have a webshop so that they can buy our products. We have a computer to put those orders into, and the customer can get in touch in various ways - looking good, eh?

Clearly we would like to think in giving you this advice that one day you might seriously consider buying a software system to run your mail order business! I  believe that you will feel that we have gone to some length to make you aware  of most of the major matters that have to be considered in running a mail  order business.

We hope you have even enjoyed reading these pages?!

Obviously you recognise the content of these pages are our personal advice gleaned from our own and that of our customers experience. We have covered many topics as  clearly and succinctly as we could. We have given you the opportunity to  explore in greater depth - and no doubt you will feel in some areas that it  would be worth your while to investigate further - we recommend that you do,  as we can not pretend to be complete experts on each and every topic we have  covered!

As you will have discovered we are also a software producer. However, we are also a small business advice service and provide much of this freely to our  customers on an as-requested basis, potential as well as actual.

We are available to help you run your business successfully, not just to sell our software. However, we do hope that you have a look at our order processing software because we believe that it would offer you a real solution to solving  your small business management problems. You may find it especially helpful  if you are starting or setting up a small business.

Apart from our own advice there is Ernie Schell's excellent work - Ernie lives in America and has made it his life's work to evaluate all the major order  processing software products - he has two large loose leaf binders comparing  this subject in great depth - if you feel that you are in the market for spending  several thousands then do get hold of these tomes - £165

If you are planning to expand then you will find the government's Business Link website very useful. There is material here of value to the small mail order  business / sole trader as well, and you can register with them. However, you  may find that your Local Council or Local Enterprise Company (LEC) more useful - for example  we have gained great value from our relationship with Highlands & Islands  Enterprise.

To obtain more advice or be talked through using the TOPS © system or to make comments on these pages - we will be happy to adjust the content if your  experiences have provided fresh insight.

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or call me on 01854 613435