MLM Directory

How many companies would agree to this?

I'm a web/software developer looking to get clients for my own business. I'd love to be able to talk to lots small-business owners/directors in any kind of industry, about what their business does, how it works, and where it's perhaps innefficient. My goal is to find some kind of business scenario in which a software product could drastically improve business efficiency. Once I have that, I'd develop the software for that company entirely free of charge, and once it all worked, get a testimonial from the client. After this, I'd make the product more general and market it to other companies in the same industry, and hopefully I could build a business around it. What do you think of this idea? Has anyone tried anything similar yet? Would there be business owners out there who don't mind having a quick meeting with me? (Completely free-of-charge, of course)

Public Comments

1. Free of charge? ok , but i think your business will go broke if you don't charge fees.
2. When you used the phrase "improve business effeciency", you must know a lot about a lot of types of businesses. Your chances, based upon that approach would be impossible. For example, can you sell me software that you design so that I may design the electrical system on a ship, hey, how about the controls? By the way, I'm having problems with my helicopter maintenance program. How good are you with associated problems? Best of luck SuperDuck!
3. I think there is a better way. First, you need to find someone that needs software created. Then write what they need but retain the rights to the software. They probably won't have a problem with this. So you will get paid while you write the software but make it clear that you intend to distribute the software under a free software license. Then you can put the software out there and provide custom programming and support on top of it.