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It seems that not even the Open Source
industry can escape the financial turmoil. The web is full of Open
Source projects, “back tracking” on the revenue model, even a
rift between the Free Software Foundation and the Open Source
movement. TurboCASH has introduced a Commercial
Licence at $ 100 per year, $300 with support.
“I came here thinking that this was
all for FREE. What are the hidden costs?” Philip Copeman, Project
Leader of the TurboCASH project takes us through the costs one
can expect in running a TurboCASH System.
Why do I have to pay for Open
Source?
The first step in understanding the
TurboCASH project is understanding who we are. It is a romantic idea to beleive that we are group of enchanted bookkeepers out to save the world and provide free bookeeeping. Alas it is not to be. We are a loose
collection of users, developers and consultants, who share the
benefits of the Open Source process. There is no massive “central
system” and the core team is a development and marketing group
of a few individuals, mostly one man businesses spread across
multiple countries. There is no cost to join and no one is excluded
(unless of course you behave badly once inside the project – this
has yet to happen). The exe and source for TurboCASH can be downloaded by anyone
from a public place.
The Open Source process is an
astounding one. Software can be made and distributed with amazing
productivity. However this benefit is not limitless. It is close to zero but not exactly. AS the numebrs of users rise, liek any business the cost of maintaining this rises. If you are unhappy to be
charged for software or services, you are welcome to download the source, employ a team of develoeprs, compile and maintain it and give away your own free accounting system. It
is a much more expensive business process than first
appearances amy suggest.
If you are not used to Open Source
projects, it can appear that there is no help customes and no one making you
feel important. This is not the case, we have hundred of consultants
willing to help you - this is their living. Consultants are coin
operated, pay in the money and this project lights up. It is
worthwhile reading There
are no salesmen in a Open Source Project
What is a Commercial Licence?
Users are free to download the Software
in exe and source form. The source is only valuable if you are going
to commit upwards of $ 50 000 to compiling and maintaining it. In single user TurboCASH, the
software is Free to use. Copy it and distribute it. In multi user
the cost is $ 100 per year and $ 300 per year with support.
If this is your first TurboCASH
system and you are serious about using it in a mission critical
situation, then we really do recommend a support contract. Pay $300
and you will be assigned to a consultant in your area that will take
you through the installation and basics of the software. This is not
an unlimited support agreement, merely what is in our experience
enough to get you up and running. You can get additional help form
consultants Costs vary with consultants, but expect to be paying
around $ 50 per hour.
If you are a single user in a mission critical situation, and you need the support of our community, we will also ask you to pay $ 300 per year. This will enable us to put into place the necessary services and structures to give you the support that you want.
If youa re a consultant taht want s to support users, we will give you a portion of this annual fee and will provide secondary backup to yor problems. Our experience of this shared cost and the power of Open Source, make TurboCASH acheaper more effective solution adn will save all of us Millions.
Please do not pay $ 100 and demand $ 300 in support.
Can I use TurboCASH
without paying any money?
Yes this is possible for Single user.
Use TurboCASH Freely. Even use the Forum for free support. However
please do not harrass our consultants without paying. This is they
business. If you have a problem that needs human intervention,
respect them in the same way as someone asking you for help with your
expertise.
Multi user requires a Commercial
licence and generally requires support. If this is your first time using the multi user software, you are unlikely to get it right on your own. Under version 4 this is a
full SQL database and is very powerful. We are not in the Free multi
user business. It is just too complicated and requires expertise to
keep up a working database. If you have this expertise, you can use
Muli user for as little as $ 100 per year. Please do not expect to
pay $ 100 and then get free additional support. In the same way as
you would not want to work on someone elses accounting for free.
What if I get bad service from a
consultant?
Please note that Consultants are third
parties. We do not pay or control them. If you are unsatisfied with
their work, write a nasty note on the forum and change to another consultant. This is a free market and there are hungry consultants out there. Historically, bad consulting experiences have not been a problem for us. This is a well connected open communtiy, bad service would ring down the corridors of the web site. Consultants are there to help you - that is their
business. They work off your recommendations.
Consultants do not work off “results” -
They do not guarantee the TurboCASH system. Like a dentist
they expect to be paid if the toothe still hurts or not.
But don't you want to promote
TurboCASH?
We love people using TurboCASH,
but we have been in this business for some time now (over One Million
downloads). Multi user and mission critical accounting requires
plumbing and someone has to pay the plumber. So yes we do want users,
but we do not want users blocking the plumbing and not paying to have
it cleared. If the price of $ 100/$300 is too much for a multi user
or mission critical system, it may be better to go try a non Open
Source product – costs are usually abetween $1000 to $ 3000 per
year and coem back once you have seen the other side.
Does this mean that everytime I want
something I have to pay?
If you are used to commerical software,
it work like this: You purhcase a licence up front and then register
with the vendor. At that point someone is willing to give you “Free”
help. However they are already holding your money, $ 1 000 Plus for
multi user software.
Our consultants are differnent, you
downloaded the software for free. Yes they will help you, but you
need to pay them up front. They do not want to be “negotiating”
afterwards about if they delivered or not.
I bought a CD, can't I get help?
TurboCASH is a Free download off the Interent. It is big and it is complicated. We provide CDs in retail to make the aquiring process easier for users. Waht si on the CD is the same as what is on the Internet, just easier to install. You pay for manufacture, shipping and retail display. If you want support, please buy a commercial licence and take out a support contract.
Am I really in here for hundreds of
Dollars?
Your first option is free. If youa re
familiar with TurboCASH use it single user Free, Multi user $ 100. If
you want a simple tutorial and no human help buy the
Accounting Made Easy Ebook. for $30. This is good enough
for most.
I want to be a consultant – what
will this cost me?
There is no fee to join as a
consultant. You would do well to purchase the
Accounting Made Easy Ebook. for $30. this will give you a
ground work for helping others. The best way to learn the software is
to offer free support on the Forum. You wil be amazed how few
problems there are in TurboCASH and simply working the forum will
help you understand them and pcik up genuine customers.
As a consultant will I have to work
for free?
Absolutely not. Follow the text above.
This is a business opportunity for you, you obviously have skills in
Accounting or computer technology. We do not expect you to help
TurboCASH users fro free. Your fees are at your discretion, we
recommend $50 per hour.
Now we do not ask you for a share of
your billings, but similarly we do not offer to train you. If you
need human help learning the TurboCASH program, then you are
in the same position as a user. Like we would not expect you to train
new consultants for free, we ask you not to expect to get this from
the current consultants. If you are struggling with concepts, you may
have to pay someone to help you get to grips with it.
If you are going into a multi user
installation for the first time, you would be well advised to take an
experienced consultant in with you.
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