Open source business software

Open source software has a lot to offer to businesses. To begin with, it is generally cheap. Most solutions are available to download and run for free, or under a low-cost commercial licence. As well as this, open source software is often more agile and customisable to your needs. In many cases, it is considered more reliable and more secure than the proprietary software.

From accounting packages to full enterprise solutions, it is nowadays entirely possible to run your business safely and efficiently on open source software alone. This can potentially save your business a lot of money.

This guide describes what open source is, how it works and what advantages and disadvantages it can bring to your business. It gives examples of popular open source products and types and information on common open source licensing and legal issues.

Finally, since tech support isn't usually bundled with free software, this guide also explains where to find support for open source software.