Guides7 min read
How to Choose a Business Operating System: A Practical Checklist
Ten questions to ask before you commit your business to a platform — from provider lock-in to who actually supports you.
Start with how your business really works
List the tools your team uses every week and what each one costs. Note which ones share data and which ones don't. That list is your baseline, and it tells you which parts of a business operating system you'll use on day one.
The checklist
Ask every vendor these questions:
- Who am I buying from — the company that builds the software, or a reseller?
- Who supports me, and does support cost extra?
- Can I bring my own VoIP, SMS, email, payment and payroll providers?
- Are calls, texts and emails marked up, and by how much?
- Can I add and remove applications without migrating?
- Can I put my own brand on it, and is that included for me as a client?
- Do SI capabilities work inside every app, or are they a separate product?
- How are seats priced — and are SI seats priced differently?
- Can I request features, and what does custom development cost?
- Can I talk to someone with the authority to fix a problem?
Watch for hidden costs
Per-user resale fees, stacked usage markups and paid support plans can double what a platform really costs. Use our savings audit to add up your current stack with your own numbers.
