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39 Great Business Bargains (4)

Website Hosting and Design

Some broadband providers offer free hosting with their service. If yours doesn't, consider one of these low-cost options, all of which include easy-to-use design and e-commerce tools and templates to get your site up and running quickly.
Yahoo Hosting and domain registration: $12 per month and up
E-commerce: $40 to $300 per month, depending on sales volume




Homestead Hosting and domain registration: $20 to $50 per month (plus $20 setup fee)
E-commerce: $7 to $60 per month

Microsoft Office Live Hosting and domain registration: Basic service is free; added features cost $30 a month
Web Traffic Analysis

Google Analytics is a free and useful Web analytics tool--if you can get it. Right now there's a waiting list that doesn't seem to be budging. Fortunately, Google is far from your only affordable option. Check out ClickTracks' Analyzer, a basic hosted service that charges $49 per month (or buy the software for $495); Web analytics program SmarterStats 3.0, free for use on a single website (available at download.com); StatCounter, free for up to 250,000 page views; and Site Meter, which starts at $9.95 per month. Numerous free trial versions of other programs are available, too--which can at least hold you over if you decide to wait for your Google spot to open up.
Industrial Space

Even in the information age, manufactured goods can't telecommute. That's why industrial space--factories, warehouses, distribution centers--always costs more the closer it is to large population and transportation centers. Prices decline the farther out you move, but then transportation costs go up--so what appears to be a bargain often is not. The right balance is easiest to strike in less pricey "second-tier" cities such as Columbus, Indianapolis, and Louisville, as well as on the fringes of primary markets--places such as eastern Pennsylvania, lower New York state, and northern Los Angeles County.
Aeron Chairs

Go to authorized Herman Miller dealers first and think of the advertised price as a starting point. Even if you're buying just 10 or 20 chairs, you can bargain. "Every contract is individually negotiated," says Herman Miller spokesman Bruce Buursma. Dealers often have used chairs coming back from leases, which can cost 20 percent less than new ones. Consider lower-cost models too--Herman Miller's basic Celle chair, for example, offers Aeron-like features for about $499, compared with $699 for a basic Aeron. If you're not making progress with the brick-and-mortar dealers, go online. Here's what a recent price comparison turned up (all prices include shipping):
New Aeron Chair $699 at officedesigns.com, ultimatebackstore.com, sit4less.com, homeofficesolutions.com (volume pricing available)

"Like New" Aeron Chair (floor models or returns) $519 at luxurychair.com, $560 at trendychair.com, $539 at sit4less.com's clearance section

Aeron Look-alikes Sit4Less "E" Chair, $399 at sit4less.com
Ergonomic eChair, $319 at luxurychair.com
Mesh eChair, $269 at designerseating.com
A serious coffeemaker--and serious coffee

If you consider a super automatic espresso machine to be a super productivity booster, check out the "outlet" section of wholelattelove.com, which sells manufacturer-refurbished machines at deep discounts--a Jura-Capresso Impresa S9 (list price, $2,400) goes for $1,399, shipping included. As for beans, get the gourmet stuff from old-school coffee roaster D'Amico Foods, which ships nationwide from its store in Brooklyn--at great prices ($6 a pound for the house blend espresso).

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  1. Hello, How do I get in touch with you? There is no email or contact info listed .. please advise .. thanks .. Mary. Please contact me maryregency at gmail dot com

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