TC> I couldn't agree with you more on "Making Money with your BBS". I've
 TC> been on-line for over 10 years with a fairly large system, and with
 TC> all I've got to offer, the modeming plblic today REFUSE to subscribe
 TC> for any thing since there are soo many "other free systems" out there
 TC> for the calling. It just ain't worth the effort to attempt to even
 TC> regroup "expenses" let alone make a "profit" with a BBS. 
Sue's gonna dun me but good... !
There never really was a way to "make money" by running a BBS, UNLESS
this activity was done with the _option_ of providing support for an
existing business, and done, at that, for internal reasons. Example: as
a means for road sales force personnel to call a central number and
upload files containing customer orders or for email to appropriate
personnel. Doesn't make money _directly_ but can go a ways towards
generating cash flow for the future. And, obviously, not meant to
_directly_ support the cash outlay for (a) suitable PC(s) and ancillary
support equipment.
I've seen a number of well-meaning individuals attempt to "line their
pockets" by setting-up a BBS with the intent of "getting rich fast" -
and fail, some quite miserably. Incomes had always lagged outlays, and
the rewards being nothing short of being problematic, even at the best
of times. Mind, there _are_ some truly altuistic souls out there that do
well _because_ they don't expect anything in return ! Some of the most
successful BBS'es I've had the pleasure of accessing have been around
for years on end, and usually they were operated as small, personal
"community service" efforts (in their places, within a growing number of
communities, we now have the Freenets, and these have come to take the
place of the traditional BBS). SysOps begin to get into trouble financially
when they try to please every User, and every wish and whim that they might
have: in essence, they over-extend themselves...and their bank accounts !
BBS'es works best for a small biz that wants growth within a larger
(geographical) region, but against an international, national, state/
province-wide scale, it's a pathetically expensive method to implement.
For this, you'd want a web site, _especially_ if the intent is to create
"consumer awareness"; a simpler email system using the Internet itself is
often the "improved" alternative to a BBS for those with greater expansion
considerations and needs.
Semper Fi
RTP
~~~ PGPBLUE 3.0 
... Let's Do Something Cheap and Superficial
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