Smart Purchasing for Small Business

Question: Our business is just starting out and we want to make purchasing decisions very carefully. Saving money is important, but we also want to make smart choices - a cheapie phone system that breaks down, or PCs that lack features we need, for example, won't do us any good. Shopping for equipment and services is time consuming. Where can we turn?

Answer: For just about any type of small business, and no matter where you are located, the action in business purchasing these days is on the Internet. Since the advent of Web-based business buying in the 1990s, many sites offering to match your needs with eager equipment and service suppliers have come and gone.

The good news is that the survivors among the online business purchasing sites are better than ever. BuyerZone, for example, was launched in 1992 and has grown into a major hub that helps legions of small businesses save time and money on their most important purchases. The site covers more than 100 product and service categories, from payroll to forklifts, computers to paper and everything in between.

The BuyerZone site can link you directly to local and national suppliers, or you can submit a quote request and receive multiple bids as well as helpful purchasing advice. BuyerZone also has deals with Yahoo! Small Business, AllBusiness.com and other small business sites to deliver purchasing guidance and competitive quotes to business owners.

One especially helpful feature at BuyerZone is the site's extensive archive of vendor-neutral advice columns on dozens of product and service categories, from access controls and accounting programs, to Web hosting and workers' comp insurance. Category-specific tips can help you make the best choices.

You'll also find nifty "Industry Lingo" glossaries that can help you understand the terms salespeople are using to land the best deal for your business.

For the everyday goods a small business needs to grow and prosper, NEBS is a company millions of business owners count on to deliver. They've been doing it for over 50 years and they offer late night and weekend hours for phone purchases, as well as a well-stocked Web site. Included in their product offerings is a long list of business software titles.

For unbiased product reviews and side-by-side price comparisons of office equipment, get the buyer's guides published by Better Buys for Business. These ad-free booklets compare machine specs and show you the pros and cons of each model's performance, along with savvy buying advice that will give you an edge in dealing with sales reps. Plus they cover all the brands you're looking for.

For most items in the office equipment, office supply, furniture, software and many other categories, Staples and Office Depot can be an excellent resource. You can search, find and comparison shop items easily on their Web sites, and shipping is generally fast and free.

These supply resources can deliver just about anything your business needs:

• BuyerZone.com is completely free to use and is hard to beat for its extensive supplier network and easy-to-use request for quote system. Visit the site or call (888) 393-5000.
  
  
• Better Buys for Business office equipment purchasing guides are $29-$39 each by product category - and worth every penny for the information they delivery to help you make smart choices. Visit www.betterbuys.com.
  
  
• If you need specialized equipment or technology for manufacturing or other tasks, check out Dovebid. This site helps major corporations, financial institutions and government agencies auction off items they no longer need. Visit www.dovebid.com.
  
  
• Setting up accounts at both Staples.com and OfficeDepot.com (free) will give you quick online access to both major suppliers in case one does not have what you need. Order online today, receive your stuff tomorrow. Both sites offer advice articles to help small businesses make wise purchasing decisions.
  
  
• NEBS is especially noteworthy for supplying business and computer forms, checks and promotional products for some two million small businesses. Visit www.nebs.com or call (800) 225-6380.
  
  
• GoWholesale is a site that offers products in numerous consumer categories at wholesale prices. They also have a "Business Services" section that you might find helpful. Visit www.gowholesale.com.