In December 2008, Microsoft picked JM Web Designs for a video case study about the company and their use of Microsoft’s extensive small business applications. JM’s owner, Jonathan Patton, said, “We are excited to partner with such a great company and are honored that they saw value in our story. This is a great opportunity for both Microsoft and JM Web Designs, because it showcases that with the right ideas and products/tools, anything can be accomplished.”

In 1998, 14-year-old Jonathan Patton decided to turn his passion for computers, new technology, and the Internet into a part-time business. At first, Patton and his friend Michael Ratcliffe focused primarily on developing Web sites and graphics for friends and family, but as demand increased Patton saw an opportunity to become full-fledged entrepreneurs. Together they launched JM Web Designs, a one-stop shop offering complete Web site solutions that help businesses maximize their presence on the Web.

From the beginning, Patton realized that professional Web design and development would play increasingly important roles in the world of business, and he wanted to help people make the most of these powerful tools. His challenge was to convince business owners that even though he and his colleagues were young, they had the skills and integrity to do the job and do it well. “Just imagine 14-year-old kids in suits and ties, walking into companies with business cards and flyers in hand, saying, ‘Hey, are you in need of a Web site for your business?’” says Patton, CEO and Founder of JM Web Designs. “Credibility was a huge concern at first because a lot of people thought we were too young to be taken seriously. That was a big obstacle to overcome.”

At first, Patton operated the company out of his bedroom, with a small desk, a mobile phone, and an old computer running the Windows® 98 operating system and Microsoft® Notepad text editing software. “We used Notepad to record customer information and meeting notes, but we didn’t have a system for keeping track of that data,” says Patton. “Our files were scattered all over the place, so we spent a lot of time and energy trying to find the information we needed and figuring out how to share the information with one another once we found it.”

Patton realized that his team of young entrepreneurs needed to consistently exceed expectations in order to convince business owners of their professionalism. To do this, the company needed an affordable, simple solution for staying organized, improving communication, and enhancing connectivity. “We want our customers to be customers for life,” Patton says. “In order to turn them into raving fans of our work, we needed to make sure we used the latest technologies and that we chose a complete software solution that would grow and evolve along with us.”

Solution

When it came to laying the foundations for success, Patton relied on lessons that he learned from three influential people. “Both of my parents are entrepreneurs, and they instilled in me a strong work ethic and a spirit of service,” Patton explains. “Bill Gates inspired me to believe in my dreams and to work hard to overcome the obstacles associated with being a young entrepreneur. That might sound cliché, but Bill Gates always focused on the larger picture and the vision of where he wanted his company to go. And he made it happen. That was incredibly inspiring to me.”

Not only does Patton look to the founder of Microsoft for inspiration, but he depends on Microsoft products to help his company succeed. “Microsoft technologies are foundational to everything that we do as a business,” says John Campisi, President and Creative Director, JM Web Designs. “Without these solutions, we couldn’t communicate as effectively with our customers or with one another. Nothing else on the market is as connected, as compatible, or as powerful as the Microsoft solutions we use every day.”

In 2007, as part of its commitment to use the latest technologies on behalf of its customers, JM Web Designs upgraded to the Windows Vista® operating system (Small Business and Ultimate editions), the Windows Server® 2008 Datacenter operating system, Microsoft SQL Server® 2008 data management software, and the 2007 Microsoft Office system.

“Communication is vital to any business,” says Philip Stalnaker, Marketing Director, JM Web Designs. “With Windows Vista and the 2007 Office system, we can communicate, collaborate, and stay connected in ways that we never could before.”

Employees use the Remote Desktop feature in Windows Vista to securely connect to the office from any location around the world. They also use tools such as the Microsoft Office Outlook® 2007 messaging and collaboration client and Microsoft Office Groove® 2007 software to share information across the company. “Office Groove is a terrific collaboration tool,” says Campisi. “We use it as a central repository for all of our projects and documents—everything we need is in one place so we can be much more organized and efficient.”

Patton adds, “Microsoft offers complete solutions for our growing business. I'm still waiting for the day when Microsoft starts pouring my coffee for me, because the products already do everything else that I need.”

Benefits

JM Web Designs has matured into a thriving company with 17 employees and more than 250 customers around the world. Patton and his team credit Microsoft technologies with helping them to boost business growth, increase efficiency, and support work/life balance for employees.

Complete Solutions Spur Business Growth

Since its inception, JM Web Designs has grown at a steady rate of 10 percent per year. But after implementing the latest Microsoft technologies, business increased 100 percent in 10 months and the company is on track to begin expanding into new markets. “Using Microsoft products frees us up to dream big—plain and simple,” Patton says. “The possibilities are endless. We have no doubt that using Microsoft technologies will help us to reach our full potential.”

JM Web Designs is also using Microsoft technologies to help its customers reach their full potential. “Our Web site has become increasingly more important over the last couple of years,” says Peggy Evans, Hairdresser and Owner, Omaha’s Hair Choice Beauty Salon. “In the last two years, our business has doubled, thanks to the Web site that JM Web Designs built for us.”

Efficiency Saves Time and Money

Using Windows Vista, JM Web Designs saves 10 to 20 hours per week. “We work much more efficiently now, thanks to these solutions,” Patton says. “Also, Microsoft products are so reliable that we don’t have to hire a full-time IT person. We save thousands of dollars a year because any problems that arise are relatively simple ones that we can solve on our own. This gives us more time and money to put toward taking care of our customers and developing strategies for global expansion.”

Connectivity Supports Work/Life Balance

Using solutions such as Windows Mobile® 6 software, employees have more freedom to manage work schedules. “With the connectivity of Windows Mobile, Remote Desktop, Office Outlook, and Office Groove, I can put in an eight-hour workday and then go home to spend time with my family,” says Stalnaker. “If I need to, I can turn on my computer at home, check my e-mail messages, and respond to urgent issues. It takes me only a few minutes. I don’t have to sacrifice my life for my work, and that’s a very wonderful thing.”

Microsoft Small Business

Microsoft provides simple, complete, and connected solutions to help Small Business start, grow, and thrive. For more information on how Microsoft Small Business Solutions can help maximize your business potential, visit: www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness

To locate a Microsoft Small Business Specialist in your area, visit: www.microsoft.com/smallbusinessspecialist