Making Money from MS Access?

Benjo_2

Apologies if this is the wrong Forum

Does anybody know if it is possible to make money from Designing Databases in MS Access for Personal or Business users?

I have quite a vast knowledge on Access and would like to utilise it to make that little bit more money that we all need

Any advise/opinions are welcome

Benjo

geordie_joe

Yes, many people do it.

I don't know what it's like now, but there used to be a lot selling them on ebay. The problem is there are also a lot who give them away too, mainly because they are crap and anyone buying one would be disappointed.

Well maybe that's a bit harsh, but most of them never quite do all of what you want them to do.

If I were going to do it I would construct a few databases to give as "examples" and offer to customise them for a fee.

Grab any free business databases you can get, look at them and then make a one that is ten times better.

Frequent_Flyer_UK

Access is to me the package most people struggle with in business and many of my colleagues avoid it using Excel instead to do the task in hand.

Problem with "doing" databases for companies is that once you have delivered it the user finds it difficult to modify it unless they have also the skills

My suggestion would be look at developing a training course for Access users that pass on the knowledge you have gained. Typical course would be £200+ per person per day as well as offering a design a database service

Other thing to consider is teaching evening classes at local college IT courses always in demand

Martinslovechild

I work in database design and we generally stay away from Access because of its performance limitations (i.e. file/server).

I would suggest you download Microsoft SQL Server Express Edition - it's what most businesses prefer - and it's free. Of course, being free, there are some general size constraints on a SQL Express database, but if a business is using a database application in anger, they can always upgrade to SQL Server Enterprise Edition later on.

As you already probably have Structured Query Language (SQL) skills, you'll be up-and-running in no time and find that your skills are in much more demand.

Good Luck.

hayley11

I wondered about doing this but for MS Excel, I created a wedding planner a couple of years ago and sold loads on ebay for a couple of quid. I'd love to get into this, I could create excel spreadsheets all day long, as sad as that sounds!!

Jon_Mills_Murphy

Doesn't sound sad at all, it's what I do at work most of the time!

A way I make money using Access is designing databases for people I already know, these are contacts I have made through business/my working life and they know of my skills. For one guy at the moment I work on his stuff for £10.00 an hour. It all adds up.

guyrulius

Further to Martinslovechild's response, check out Mysql. It's free (as is the new sql server desktop version) and in my view the support for learning is better because of the open source community.

Good luck - there is a huge demand for people with DB skills and salaries can be sky high.