Hidden Costs of Tech SMEs ( Part 1)

In the middle of a tragic week in which the whole thing was almost taken on project closure meetings and paper work, as a kind of retreat I am trying to mention some advantageous items here. I hope it can help.

Infrastructure

Mostly seen as a tiny unimportant cost on the list. It is imperative because it could grow exponentially. Whether you use AWS or you host the services on your own machines, for test or product deployment, be aware that the best time to calculate this cost is before releasing the product.

Support

SME's totally bypass this from their list and mostly their mind, especially when they are in survival mode. Though it directly related to the quality of product and whether you follow QA routines seriously or not . When you right it down on paper and agreement, and you want to grow your business you are condemned to have support team.

Release a lovable product, make it as stable as possible and support like a lion. But calculate the cost initially!

HR

It sometimes takes reviewing more than 200 resumes and taking part in more than 50 interviews to pick from the candidates. Then you have to train them, make them fit in the team culture and ... but he/she might not be proper for that job position.Boom, you have failed and have wasted your time and money. Though you can use technology to make it more efficient, do not forget to calculate this cost.

Public Relations

You have done the project well or your enterprise b2b product is working in customer organization. You have signed the contract at the beginning of the project and the whole process is legal. And you ask them to pay the bill, but they don't. It might seem weird or improbable. I was punched in the face that way.

Wellness of your relationship with the customers is important. In particular when you are working with huge companies and public sector organizations. Usually they are much stronger weather and experienced that you. Usually you do not sue them because you prefer to have more deals . So, when you start the project know people in contractee well. Know their tastes, benefits and preferences. When it comes to public scores, it is more complex as sometimes there are multiple parties in a contract.

What I have brought above is based based on my personal experience as a founder and CEO.

In the part 2 some more items will be mentioned.