customer base     carrying accounts receivable or accounts payable     stocking many inventory items     ordering products frequently     advertising through the mail     tracking customers buying habits     frequently writing letters, reports, articles or other literature     making catalogs, brochures or other marketing materials     writing a large number of payroll checks (unless you plan to use an outside payroll service)     engaging in extensive financial analyses that would require the use of spreadsheets.     Its important to keep in mind that using a computer wont improve your efficiency one bit if what you really need is a change of management philosophy. For example, if youre having problems keeping financial records, a new or upgraded computer or cutting-edge software wont automatically solve your problem. Youll still need to get organized and make sure the data is entered correctly.     2. What Software Do You Need? Since the main reason to have a computer is to use various software programs, a good way to start figuring out which computer to buy is by defining which programs youll use.     Computer stores and software distributors can boggle you with the vast array of available software programs. Do yourself a favor and start by answering this simple question: What tasks do you want a computer to handle? Once youve made a list of tasks you want your computer to perform, you can go to a computer store to see which programs have the features you want. Bear in mind that your first visit to a computer store should be to obtain information, not to make a purchase. Find out everything you can about the different programs and what computer systems they run on.     Perhaps the most useful source of information about software is a business thats already doing the same computerized tasks that you want to do. Theyll probably be happy to show you how well -or poorly-their system works. Your computer store may be able to refer you to someone whos already using the program youre interested in.     Another excellent way to research your options is to look at computer magazines, which generally devote a large portion of every issue to a side-by-side comparison of specific programs, such as accounting or payroll software. (See Section F6, below, for some specific resource suggestions.)