[AccessD] The Business Side Of Databases

One advantage we have is city and county government is a very specific
client range.  And they have very strong statewide associations, of which we
are associate members and attend all the meetings.

We send letters and get referrals from current clients.

To be honest, I'm glad I'm not dealing with private industry for the exact
reason you are concerned.  Basically we just keep trying.  We aren't in
their faces all the time, but we try to target new clients at least twice a
year - usually three or four times a year.  And we don't try to sell the
entire state all the time.  We typically target about 10-15 clients to shoot
for at a time.  That way we can focus very specifically.

Reuben Cummings
GFC, LLC
812.523.1017


> -----Original Message-----
> From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
> [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com]On Behalf Of Dan Waters
> Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 10:56 AM
> To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'
> Subject: Re: [AccessD] The Business Side Of Databases
>
>
> Hi Reuben,
>
> I also would be happy to sell this for $1, if I had some other source of
> income!
>
> My question is - what did you do to acquire 60 clients?
>
> Dan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
> [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Reuben Cummings
> Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 9:23 AM
> To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
> Subject: Re: [AccessD] The Business Side Of Databases
>
> I don't do any custom programming.  We have some apps that we
> thought up on
> our own or requested by clients or potential clients.  We create apps and
> sell them to local government (cities and counties).
>
> Now were I differ from a lot of people is I don't care about the
> sale.  I'd
> be happy to sell it for $1.  Actually I don't sell anything - I license it
> all.  I live on the service contracts for each app.  We charge
> anywhere from
> 600 to 1200 per year based on which app.  I have some clients
> paying as much
> as 4000/year.  The average is about 1000/year/client.  Doesn't sound like
> much, but with about 60 clients it's pretty decent income.
>
> And that doesn't include the consulting part of the business which is all
> done by annual contract.  The key is I only assume the 60k as my
> income and
> everything over that is a "bonus"
>
> On our flagship app which is by far the biggest and has the most clients I
> only spend about 40 hours/year in service work TOTAL - for all clients.
> They don't mind the fee because support calls, on site visits, and all
> future upgrades are included in the service contract.
>
> If the client chooses not to pay for the service agreement on an
> app the app
> gets removed.  The can keep the data, but there isn't much to do with it
> without an interface.
>
> Reuben Cummings
> GFC, LLC
> 812.523.1017
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
> > [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com]On Behalf Of Dan Waters
> > Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 9:15 AM
> > To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'
> > Subject: [AccessD] The Business Side Of Databases
> >
> >
> > To Everyone:
> >
> > It's always interesting to see how people who work
> independently (like me)
> > are making money from developing databases or doing something related to
> > databases.
> >
> > This has been my major problem - I can make a great Business Process
> > Management System, but getting companies to pay for it is a real
> > challenge,
> > even though their return on investment is probably 2X to 8X in the first
> > year!
> >
> > I do wonder if we could begin an ongoing discussion on the
> > business side of
> > what each of us does.  I think we could all benefit!
> >
> > Does anyone have some thoughts or ideas on how we could do this?
> >
> > Thanks!
> > Dan
> >
> >
> >
> > --
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> > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd
> > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com
> >
>
>
>
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