Some of you may be thinking there may be other benefits in being a subcontractor other than learning the ropes. Think again, if you're hoping that benefit is software and other equipment being paid by the contractor.

This will be the topic for August, "Software & Products Subcontractors Need."

Discussions will be to define freeware, shareware, web applications and sources where to find these products. We'll discuss what each software can help you to accomplish and if there are other similar versions. So if you like to give your feedback on what you use and how, this month will keep you busy.

If you are currently a subcontractor and your software is paid for please let us know. Also if you think it should be and why?

As a business owner, I feel obligated to purchase most of my own software (which, of course, is also a business expense write-off). I HAVE been given software in the past: once when it was not a 'standard' program but rather a proprietary program built for the other company and once when it was a really expensive program that most companies don't use (it was for data crunching and they paid for a 1-year subscription for me). The attorneys I with which I work will often provide me a login/password to access the legal databases but that is not technically 'software.'

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

A part of being a subcontractor is owning and knowing your own equipment and software. I do not believe as a business owner you can say your an independent contractor if you asking for other businesses to purchase your software and equipment. I would be offended if a subcontractor asked me to purchase their equipment or software for them.

Andrea~

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Action Jackson Virtual Assistant|

I agree with what's been said. As a business owner, I buy and own my own equipment and software that I need in order to run a profitable business. However, if there is a software program that is specific to a particular client, he or she will buy the software for me to use. Then if (or when) we end our partnership, I send it back to the client because it is essentially theirs.

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Blessings,
Carol