new ventures business development provides resources for starting and growing businesses
Computer and LAN services
As your business grows, the need to share resources with coworkers is critical to productivity and success. Whether it is your customer database, order and inventory tracking, proposal files, or simply the need to use the one color printer in the office, a Local Area Network makes your individual pieces into one whole. It also allows all the users to share access to a high-speed Internet connection.
Running from one machine to another, manually switching printers and sharing fax machines is a sign that technology has left you behind – and more importantly, your competition is eating your lunch.
Small businesses usually start with one or two PCs and add networking as the business grows. Finding a vendor to maintain and troubleshoot that small network often is difficult or very expensive.
New Ventures Business Development is your networking and technology consultant. It also provides network and computer management and troubleshooting. Contact Chester Caulder for more information or a project consultation.
Please note, New Ventures Business Development does not sell computers, accessories, or software. The center does not perform bench work on PCs (i.e., repairing hardware). We will analyze your needs, make recommendations, and help you select a vendor. We also implement and maintain peer-to-peer networks.
Common myths about LANs
- LAN wiring and equipment costs 1,000's of dollars to implement...
- False. Costs per connection to a private LAN run between $50 and $125 per seat and when your company runs CAT-5 (or better) cable for the LAN, new phone wiring to the same location adds just a few extra dollars. Typical hub and switch pricing for SOHO operations range from $60 to $450 each for 5-port mini-hubs to up to 24-port 10/100Mbps Ethernet switches, respectively.
- Only my main people need LAN connections...
- False. As a rule, if your employee is important enough to need access to a telephone, they need access to a LAN port too. And since per seat costs drop based on quantity, it makes more sense to add an extra port now than to add it later.
- Once I add a LAN, I need to hire someone to run it...
- False. Given today's technology, LANs work much like your telephone system, connecting you with your peer and clients. A properly setup LAN rarely needs maintenance and full-service monthly service contracts can cost as little as $50/month.
- I need specialized printers and computers to make a LAN work for me...
- False. Most PC's are made network compatible with the simple addition of a $15 network interface card (NIC) and printers can be shared several ways: through server connections, through peer-to-peer connections and through printer sharing adapters (around $150/each).
- Peer-to-Peer networks can't work for me...
- False. Most SOHO networks revolve around inexpensive peer-to-peer networks where each machine shares disk or printer resources with other machines. It is the most cost effective solution from an equipment point of view. Real bottlenecks need to be designed out of peer-to-peer network for maximum productivity (i.e. replacing a peer printer with a dedicated network printer where high printer loads are common, etc.).
- It takes weeks to rewire and install the equipment...
- False. For most small projects (less than 50 seats) the work can be done in one day or staged by department over 2 or 3 days to minimize work flow disruption.
Rates
| Service | Rate |
|---|---|
| Web Hosting | $35 per month |
| Website Development | quoted per project |
| LAN Management | $65 per hour |
| Computer Training | $30 per hour |
| Telecommunications consulting and bill analysis | quoted per project |
Members of Union and Anson County Chambers of Commerce receive discounts ranging from 10 to 40 percent.
What is a LAN?
A local area network (LAN) is a group of computers and associated devices that share a common communications line or wireless link and typically share the resources of a single processor or server within a small geographic area (for example, within an office building). Usually, the server has applications and data storage that are shared in common by multiple computer users. A local area network may serve as few as two or three users (for example, in a home network) or as many as thousands of users.
Peer to peer
Peer to Peer Network - A network in which there are no dedicated servers among the computers. All computers share resources such as files and printers therefore acting as both client and server.
A glossary of other networking terms is available.
Do I need one?
Below are articles that define the business case for a local area network in small businesses.
Planning your small business network