NFIB

Programming Your Small Business for Success
04/ 15/ 2002

By Tamara Holmes

Software and technology systems play a key role in the success of many small businesses, but what do you do when you can't find the perfect piece of software to solve your business's needs?

You might try turning to a programmer, a technology professional who can create a custom piece of software or a unique system that's designed with your business in mind.

"When a small business is unable to achieve what it wants to achieve with the systems it has, it's time to look for a programmer," says DeMarcus Robinson, director of production for CreateHope, Inc., in Bethesda, Md. Robinson, who hires programmers as part of his job, says a programmer can make or break a project.

"You should definitely consider the person's experience level," Robinson says. The ability to work independently is necessary, as are self-discipline and creativity, since the programmer is likely going to have to steer the project from conception to realization.

Unless your small business is a tech-oriented company, chances are you don't have a fountain of knowledge about programming. But that's okay, Robinson says.

"You just sit down with a [prospective programmer] and specify to them what you want to achieve and the time period and budget you're working with," he says. "At that point, the programmer should be able to offer you suggestions on the best way to handle that."

There are a number of ways to find programming candidates, says Dwight Campbell, a senior information technology consultant for Information Engineering Services in Alexandria, Va.

"A small business might want to consider posting their needs on career sites like monster.com or hotjobs.com," he says. "Also, word of mouth tactics work well when looking for resources to complete work. There is great value in verbally expressing the need for [programmers], especially when it is done with entities that can be trusted. It could lead to fostering relationships with other companies that could result in additional business."

Both Campbell and Robinson agree that you should do your research before hiring a programmer. They suggest talking to multiple people to find out what the job would entail. If ten programmers would approach the project one way, but one would approach it entirely differently, you probably should steer clear of the one whose solution seems to be off base.

Another reason you should do a little research is so you can tell whether a prospective programmer is qualified to do your particular job. There are a number of different programming languages, and a good programmer is likely to know many of them.

"You want people who know many different programming languages, particularly the newer ones," says Robinson. "It shows that they can keep up with the times."

Other factors you might want to consider when selecting a programmer are the candidate's ability to work within a team environment, whether or not he or she is certified in technology and the candidate's role in his or her previous job.

Finally, the cost of the programmer is likely to sway your decision. A full-time staff programmer can cost about $80,000 per year, Robinson says.

If that's too much money for your small business to handle, you can hire a contract programmer for about $100 an hour.

"For the small business owner, [hiring a contract programmer] would alleviate such concerns as offering company benefits," says Campbell.

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