[AccessD] OT: Selling an Access Application

I've been selling a vertical Access application for 5 years (Spec Book
Pro, for interior design firms).

After finding that one for the firms that bought my software was giving
it to other firms, I devised a licensing plan. They buy a license for
30, 90, 180, or 360 days for each workstation. Starting 15 days before
it expires, it warns the user and asks if an email should be sent for an
update.

I get the email and email back an updated license key; then I invoice
the firm for the license key. 

My software is mature so I get very few support calls. I don't charge
for bug fixes. Occasionally they corrupt the Access backend database. As
for training, I try to design my software to be so easy to use that not
much training is needed. I'm now using Glance.Net for demos, training,
and support.

Selling your application means you must wear many hats. In additional to
software development skills, you have to be competent in marketing and
selling, accounting and taxes, managing employees and subcontractors,
etc. It's not boring.

Hope this helps.

Myke
The Better Information Group

-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-admin at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-admin at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Hadyn Morgan
Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2003 5:46 PM
To: AccessD at databaseadvisors.com
Subject: [AccessD] OT: Selling an Access Application


I have an application that I want to be able to sell and support over
the web.  Does anyone have any tips, ideas for the following areas:
- Protection:  Demo versus Licensed version
- Online Purchase:  Best/cheapest to handle credit card payments and
annual support subscription
- Web Support: What is needed? Forum/Bug Tracker/FAQ?

For delivery I am using Wise and Sagekey (with and without runtime).

Is there anything I have missed?

Kind regards
Hadyn
___________________________________________
DATA CONCEPTS LTD
Enhancing Your Information Management
PO Box 1154, Hamilton 2001, New Zealand
Tel +64 7 855 9308    Mob +64 21 124 4488
Email: hadyn at dataconcepts.co.nz
Web: http://www.dataconcepts.co.nz


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