It seems to be a pretty good site to ask questions on various fields related to startup. Whether you are looking for answers to your question regarding startups, finance, home-based work, entrepreneurship, legal, technical or others, you will find the answers here.

See some of the sample questions available on www.startups.com. Not all questions have anaswers right now, but KillerStartups CEO Gonzalo Arzuaga hopes that you will soon.

If you want to ask questions via Twitter, you can do so by sending a Tweet to @askstartups , or you can follow different tags such as taxes, advertising, and management.

The questions asked are placed in the queue.  Visitors can vote them up or down. All the questions are tagged so you can see all questions about marketing or copyright by using the tags. You can earn reputation points and badges when you fill out a profile and answer questions.

The site was built on StackExchange .

It is good to see a Q&A site aimed only at the startup community?

Some of the questions you will find in Startups.com

How to find a good contractor for Marketing/Website Content Creator?

How do I offer Outsourcing services?

When should I start looking for capital?

Which is the biggest mistake of an entrepreneur?

According to what criteria would YOU judge if a startup will be a successful or not?

How do I find the right lawyer for my technology startup?

How do I make revenues out of a blog?

How to edit a business video before uploading it to YouTube?

Where can I find accurate data on the most popular startup blogs?

I want to promote my blog without increasing my budget, how can I do that?

How to make my blog/site succesful… and how to promote?

What Blogs + Websites Have Provided the Most Help for Your Startup?

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Please find the next 10 free applications to improve your productivity.

Let’s see know about programs which can help you to become more productive. Please note that these are not arranged according to their importance or rating.

11. Foxit PDF Reader

Foxit PDF Reader is a small PDF reader that loads in seconds. This can be regarded as an alternative to Adobe’s slow PDF Reader.

12. FileZilla

FileZilla is a fast and reliable FTP client. It also offers several other useful features. It is a popular and free.

13. 7-Zip

You need to have file compressors so as to reduce the size of files and folders you want to attach to your e-mail and send. 7-Zip is one of the best file compressors present today. This is an Open source software. It can compress a number of different file formats.

14. Audacity

Audacity is a software for recording and editing sounds. It is open source and free. Using Audacity, you can record live audio, edit sound files, mix sounds together, and others.

15. CCleaner

CCleaner is a simple and free program. This can help you to run your computer at its peak. It removes unused files from your system, and thus frees up valuable hard disk space.

16. Skype

If you need to talk to people around the world for your business, then Skype can help you in faster communication. You can use it for your personal use or even for your business. 

17. OpenOffice.org

If you hate Microsoft Office and want an alternative, then OpenOffice is there. OpenOffice is the number one open source alternative to Microsoft’s Office Suite. OpenOffice offers a word processor, spreadsheet software like Microsoft Excel, web page editor, photo software and a presentation program like Microsoft Powerpoint.

18. Gmail

Well, nothing much to say what Gmail as already people know about it. This is the best email client available. It offers 2.6 GB storage, built-in Google search technology and a number of excellent features. You can create filters, see and store your e-mail messages as threaded conversations, apply labels and more. One of the fastest loading e-mail clients.

19. Better Gmail

If you want to enhance your Gmail for optimum productivity, then the Better Gmail Firefox extension can help you. Better Gmail adds a number of features, including:

• Google Calendar in the folder list
• Several new Gmail skins
• Saved searches and
• Additional macros

20. Google Calendar

Google calendar can help you to organize your personal and business life. You can set up automatic reminders for events, add important events to the calendar with a click, and use the inbuilt search tool to find out about your events.

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Let’s see know about programs which can help you to become more productive. Please note that these are not arranged according to their importance or rating.
1. AutoHotKey

This is a software which can automate anything you do by capturing your keystrokes and mouse clicks. This is a free utility. You can define your own hotkeys. So, just by pressing a single key you can launch an application.

2. AVG AntiVirus

This is a free antivirus and this is good (you have other options such as McAfee, Kespersky etc). Try this out and keep your computer in the best condition.

3. Ad-Aware

Ad-Aware works hard to keep your computer protected. It destroys harmful spyware. I also use Spyware Doctor.

4. SpyBot Search and Destroy

This is another good spyware destroyer. Spyware can destroy your computer and can steal your important passwords. Use SpyBot Search and Destroy to destroy spybots and to keep your computer running smoothly.

5. Launchy

Launchy is a very good and free program launcher. Using this software, you can launch documents, files, folders, and bookmarks with just a few keystrokes. There are many keyboard shortcuts available:

• To search Google
• For checking the weather
• Searching other sites
• To browse your computer
• Built in calculator
• Indexing music, pictures, bookmarks, and folders

6. RoboForm

RoboForm remembers your passwords, personal information and fills various forms for you. It maps browsing faster and smoother. With this you can browse the Internet faster.

7. Free Download Manager

IF your downloads are very sluggish, then use this tool .Free Download Manager is a download accelerator and manager. You do not have to wait for files to download.  With this Free Download Manager you will be able to increase your download speed by up to 600%.

8. Google Web Accelerator

Using Google Web Accelerator you can speed up the Web. It will help you to get faster web browsing in seconds.

9. BK ReplaceEm

Replacing a certain string of texts in several files can be a pain. There is several free search and replace software available which will do your job quickly. BK ReplaceEm is a very powerful search and replace tool, which allows working on multiple files at once.

10. CamStudio

If you need to create online tutorials, demonstrations videos or offer any video based information product, then you need a good recording software. CamStudio is a free recording software that does all of these. This is a professional software which is available free.

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Eyedropper Firefox extension

Paparazzi

Take screengrabs quickly and easily with just one window. I like that it’s a stand alone app & it runs quickly

Textmate

Code/text editor, simple!

Zendesk

Keep track of emails, feedback, requests & helpdesk system. This is one amazing tool and I will be writing a review on it within the coming months.

Curdbee

Web based billing via PayPal or Google Checkout. Free and simple!

Delicious

Organize all your bookmarks in one place and never lose your local bookmarks

Netnewswire

RSS Reader for the mac. Nice UI.

Yammer

It help you to connect and share with the people in your group, company or organization. It’s a tool for companies. Anyone in a company can start their Yammer network and begin inviting colleagues. For using it you will need a valid company email address, which ensures the privacy of each network.

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Screenshots right from your desktop. Easily share, tag and upload!

Firebug

Web development within Firefox.

Transmit

Best FTP client ever. (In my opinion of course!)

Coda

Just getting into using Coda: CSS, text editor, file transfer and integrates nicely with Transmit.

CSSEdit

CSS Editor with live preview built in.

Wufoo

Great way to keep track of forms in a database.

DropBox

Dropbox syncs your files online and across computers. Up to 2GB for free.

Things

Task management for the mac.

TweetDeck

TweetDeck is an Adobe Air desktop application for twitter.

Skype

Free calls, video calls and instant messaging over the internet.

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Recession is difficult for everybody. It is also difficult for all the businesses. During recession and down economy, making money becomes difficult and people lose their jobs. Many people think that such a time is not the ideal time for starting a business. But if you look carefully, tough economic conditions such as recession and down economy can bring you great money making opportunities for people who prepare for it and are ready to take risks.

Here are 5 recession resistant, money making home business ideas to consider

1. Internet Marketing Services

Internet marketing services are always in demand. During recession, advertising and marketing may seem very costly. During such times when the cash is tight, Internet marketing can do the much needed promotion for any business. Whether online or off-line both types of businesses need Internet marketing because it is less costly and more effective. That is why businesses need Internet marketing services from expert Internet marketers.

Whether it is creating a traffic flow, getting subscribers and prospect or simply building the brand name, Internet marketing can help in everything. Small and large both businesses need Internet marketing services even during recession.

2. Medical Billing

You can start medical billing as a home business or a work from home job. Medical billing is such a business that allows you to do everything from home and offers chance to you to do it from your home as a home business or otherwise working for independent physicians. You can work for larger health care firms that make and track medical billing work assignments electronically.

Healthcare needs will not go down even during recession. This is an industry highly resistant to recession. As the need of handling billing and health-care for doctors and healthcare professionals increases, the demand for your medical billing home business also increases.

3. Home Staging Home Business

Recession brings in many business opportunities, one of which is home staging business. For this business, you will need to have an eye for interior decorating. Home staging home business is a great, low-cost startup business for anyone who wants to make money during recession. You can also start this business as a part-time business while you’re still employed.

During recession or down economy the real estate market is flooded with homes for sale, which include foreclosed properties. To avoid foreclosure, people need to sell their homes. You can help your client by showing him how to improve the condition of the house and make it stand out from the competition. A house that stands out can be sold easily and at a higher price. The more you succeed in helping your clients, the more clients you will have. Real estate agents and home lenders can be your primary source for business and prospects.

4. eBay Trading Assistant

According to recent reports, during recession activities in eBay increased a lot. People want to sell their excess bags and baggage, and eBay offers them a great platform to sell their products. It also offers them the chance to buy product at a cheaper rate. As an eBay Trading Assistants, you can help people sell their items on eBay. This is a business that you can start within no time. As an eBay Trading Assistant, you can go out to client’s homes or businesses to photograph and pick up items and then sell them on eBay on consignment. You get a commission for every sale you make. W

As during recession people want to sell more of their belongings through eBay. Not all of them know how to deal on eBay. You can help them as an eBay trading assistant and create a resistant proof home business.

5. Virtual Assistant

The Virtual Assistant (VA) industry is growing fast. Virtual assistants are very popular today who handle many core activities for the clients. It is very simple to get started as a virtual assistant and within no time you can start your home business.

During recession, owners, small businesses and large businesses, everyone wants to cut costs by laying off people and reducing the payment. Virtual assistants from different countries cost less than a full-time or part-time employee in most of the developed countries. It helps businesses to cut costs and keep floating in a time when the demand for their products and services are decreasing and their cash flow is plummeting.

A virtual assistant business is a recession proof, low cost, money making business that can help you to create your dream home business, about which you have been dreaming for a long time.

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Do less, be happier.

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” - Antoine de Saint Exupery

Most of the time in your life, you will find people talking about how to do more, produce more, to get done more things have become more protective. It’s about more. People want to do more things, achieve more things, perform more gigs, get more money and so on. The list is never-ending.

But is doing more the ultimate goal? Well, the answer is- NO.

Let’s learn how to do less, get less done and be less productive.

This approach to do less will change your work life and your life as a whole.

However, let me be clear here. Doing less does not mean being lazy. Rather, I want to concentrate on “focusing more on quality rather than quantity.”

I always hear productivity gurus finding out ways for us to do more and more in lesser time. This creates lots of tension, stress and derails our normal life. I don’t want to be a productivity tool just creating a lot of the things without any meaning. I would like to create something great rather than keep doing something all the time and just being busy.

The more emphasis should be on quality because we have been created to do some things spectacular and not just a lot of things which nobody remembers. A few examples will help you to understand this point.

• 1. A writer may be writing for years creating thousands of pages with mediocre and low quality. There is no point in creating thousands of pages which have no good value. Another writer may create just a few e-books and blog posts and articles, which are read by everyone and spread around the world. Which one is better?
• 2. A programmer may create thousands of codes for hundreds of programs, which are just mediocre in quality. At the same time, another programmer may write just a few lines of codes of program which is sought after by millions of people.

In both the cases, even though less is produced but the quality is highest. As the impact on the (smaller) work is higher, the time worked is better spent.

That is what I have done. I have cut back on my working hours and have been able to produce better results than the time when I didn’t have time.

The impact is more important than the time spent on it. Pareto’s 20:80 principle is a very helpful tool in your journey to better quality with lesser time.

Shed off all the old ideas of working hard and working more to become more productive. The most important point is impact. Forget about the general work habit and what other people think about your work habits. Focus on quality and impact achieved in lesser time with lesser work in hand rather than lots of work and no impact.

Get a life.

To much of work and too busy people lose a lot in life. So much a work and extended walking time often kill your personal and work life.

So how do you change your working habits and your life?

Here are some ways this philosophy can change your life and work:

1. Less hectic, busy schedule means less stress and more peace.
2. More ability to focus, to find Flow, to work in the moment.
3. Work has more impact and spreads further and wider.
4. Find more pride in your work, which feels good.
5. Do less and create higher quality because people appreciate higher quality.
6. Find more time for family and loved ones.
7. Get more time for other things you enjoy and always wanted to do.
8. Free yourself up to create amazing things.

How to Do Less

Doing less is the solution, but not everybody knows how to do less. So here we share a few tips with you. Remember one thing-change is slow. It doesn’t happen over night; it comes gradually.

• Slowly cut back on non-essential commitments. (emails, chat etc.)
• Have fewer meetings.
• Set limits on your work hours.
• Learn to say no to requests, so you can focus on doing something great.
• When you find yourself doing busy-work, stop, put it off, find ways to cut that out of your life.
• Emphasize on single-task and focus.
• Create something you will be proud to claim credit for.
• Edit some more. Make it beautiful and minimal.
• Whatever blocks you from doing your great work, kill it.
• Set limits on how many things you do each day.
• Focus on the most important tasks first, before you get distracted.
• Throw distractions out, especially unnecessary email and Internet.

Zen Habits or Simple Productivity! You tell us.

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We have written about oDesk, the freelancer jobs mega portal. This is a startup with an innovative workplace platform.

ODesk has launched  a new iPhone application which will allow project administrators to monitor the work stream of their team members when they are on the go.

oDesk’s “oConomy” meter,  which is the amount of money that is earned from workers on oDesk, hit $100 million. There are 350,000 oDesk users from over 150 countries are working through oDesk.

ODesk offers a “marketplace for talent” which is available for employers to hire workers remotely. This has a specific and unique system in place, which allow employers to hire people for a part hour basis.

The company currently has over 350,000 providers, with 12,200+ open jobs. oDesk has recently launched an API Center which will allow developers to create custom workspaces around oDesk tools. The API let users log-in from outside of oDesk’s applications, search oDesk’s provider data and profiles, and retrieve snapshots of worker activities.

A very good business idea of making money from freelancers working on different projects and connecting both freelancers and project owners.

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1. Copyblogger: For the last four consecutive years, copyblogger has been winning it. This is the top blog of the list. The brain-child of Brian Clark, his blog keeps winning because of its insightful articles.
2. Men With Pens: James Chartrand and Harry McLeod maintain the number two position. Find their inspiring content and rich community discussion in this blog.
3. Write to Done: This blog contains some excellent articles for all writers and is the product of top blogger Leo Babauta.
4. Editor Unleashed: Maria Schneider explores writing, social media and community on her excellent blog.
5. Freelance Writing Jobs: If you are a freelance writer and looking for new work and great articles, then this blog is for you. Blogger - Deb Ng!
6. Confident Writing: Joanna Young delivers rich and useful articles that will help you take your writing to the next level.
7. Urban Muse: Susan Johnston offers a wide range of excellent topics that all writers will enjoy.
8. WordCount: Journalist Michelle Vranizan Rafter explores the challenges freelance writers face on her excellent blog.
9. Quips & Tips for Successful Writers: A true reservoir of ideas for writers. Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen provides endless content and freelancing tips.
10. Fuel Your Writing: Michelle Krasniak Oxman and her huge team of contributors provide great content for writers. A great read. 

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Do you know how to prepare a concrete business plan? Preparing a business plan is not at all hard if you follow the right procedure. Here we present a simple presentation from

Business Plan for a Startup Business by Ewmew Fudd

Business Plan for a Startup Business -

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