Planet Soho
{{Infobox software
| name = Planet Soho
| logo =
| screenshot =
| developer = Avi Villiinger
| latest_release_date = December 2012
| operating_system = Any (Web-based application)
| genre = Business Management Software
| license = Free service
| website = {{url|http://www.planetsoho.com/|planetSoho.com}}
}}
Planet Soho was an American online company that addresses the needs of small office / home office businesses (SOHOs). It has over one million members from around the globe. The company was formerly called SohoOS. It officially changed its name and expanded its offerings on December 12, 2012.{{cite web|last=Carney|first=Michael|title=Now with 1M customers, SohoOS becomes Planet Soho, announces FedEx Office, Office Depot, Intuit, and GoDaddy partnerships|url=http://pandodaily.com/2012/12/12/now-with-1m-customers-sohoos-becomes-planet-soho-announces-fedex-office-office-depot-intuit-and-godaddy-partnerships/|publisher=Pando Daily|accessdate=13 December 2012}}
Features
Planet Soho aims to be a gathering place where SOHOs come together "to connect, collaborate, and create a new global micro-economy."{{cite web|title=Planet Soho > About Us > The Company|url=http://www.planetsoho.com/about-us/the-company/|publisher=Planet Soho|accessdate=13 December 2012}} The website currently has three main features.
SohoOS
SohoOS is an online business-management platform for SOHOs. It is the "flagship product" of Planet Soho{{cite web|title=The SohoOS Product|url=http://www.planetsoho.com/what-is-planet-soho/the-sohoos-product/|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215123450/http://www.planetsoho.com/what-is-planet-soho/the-sohoos-product/|archivedate=2012-12-15}} Free features available on the SohoOS system include:
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Contact Management | Invoicing | Time Tracking |
| Lead Generation | Inventory | Document Storage |
Planet Soho Directory
Planet Soho gives members a free listing in the Planet Soho Directory. Users can customize their page, adding contact information, logos, and content. The Directory features over one million SOHOs from around the world. Visitors can browse by location and service to find nearby small businesses.{{cite web|title=Planet Soho Directory|url=http://www.sohoos.com/welcome/businessdirectory/|publisher=Planet Soho}}
Planet Soho Blog
Planet Soho publishes original content daily, written by small-business experts, freelance writers, and Planet Soho users. Categories include How-To, Trends, Opinions, Success Stories, and Users' Journal.{{cite web|title=Planet Soho Blog|url=http://www.sohoos.com/blog/|publisher=Planet Soho|accessdate=13 December 2012}}
Press
Planet Soho and its signature product, SohoOS, have received favorable reviews from blogs and magazines including TechCrunch,{{cite web|last=Carthy|first=Roi|title=Soho OS: Soup-to-Nuts Utility Platform for Small & Micro Businesses (1000 Invites)|date=29 April 2010 |url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/04/29/soho-os-soup-to-nuts-utility-platform-for-small-micro-businesses-1000-invites/|publisher=TechCrunch|accessdate=24 May 2012}} GigaOM,{{cite web|last=Hamilton|first=Charles|title=Soho OS: All Your Business Tools In One Place|url=http://gigaom.com/collaboration/soho-os-all-your-business-tools-in-one-place/|publisher=GigaOM|accessdate=24 May 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310003855/http://gigaom.com/collaboration/soho-os-all-your-business-tools-in-one-place/|archivedate=10 March 2012}} and PC Magazine.{{cite web|last=Fenton|first=William|title=SohoOS|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2381772,00.asp#fbid=lwzwF2VEPyu|publisher=PC Magazine|accessdate=24 May 2012}}
History
=Origins=
SohoOS was founded in 2010.{{cn|date=July 2021}} SohoOS received an initial investment of $550k from thetime and later on $1.75M in venture capital from Mangrove Capital Partners in January 2011.{{cite web|last=Carthy|first=Roi|title=Mangrove Smells Opportunity in Small Businesses, Backs SohoOS with $1.75M|date=26 January 2011 |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/01/26/mangrove-sohoos/|publisher=TechCrunch|accessdate=24 May 2012}} In January 2012, the company announced a second round of funding, totaling $8M, led by Morgenthaler Ventures.{{cite web|title=SohoOS Secures $8 Million in Funding Led by Morgenthaler to Expand its Revolutionary Small Business Platform|url=http://www.morgenthaler.com/content/Ventures/Press%20Releases/SohoOS%20Press%20Release.pdf|publisher=Press Release|accessdate=24 May 2012}}
In September 2011, SohoOS was picked as one of the top 20 Hot International Startups by{{cite web|last=Gobry|first=Pascal-Emmanuel|title=20 Hot International Startups You Need To Watch|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/20-hot-international-startups-you-need-to-watch-2011-9|publisher=Business Insider|accessdate=24 May 2012}}
=Current status=
In December 2012, SohoOS reached one million users and rebranded as Planet Soho. The company also announced partnerships with FedEx Office, Go Daddy, Intuit, and Office Depot.{{cite web|title=Office Depot, FedEx Office and Go Daddy Partner With Planet Soho to Access Hard-to-Reach SOHO Market|date=12 December 2012|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20121212005437/en/Office-Depot-FedEx-Office-Daddy-Partner-Planet|publisher=BusinessWire|accessdate=13 December 2012}}
Unfortunately, the company decided to make the platform paying-members-only and thus signing its own death warrant as the new monetization model did not last long and by February 2014 the company has lost their audience and all of their money and was sentenced to dissolution. From over a million users down to around 2,000, the company now hopes to be able to pay some of its debts, as it has suffered a massive loss and declared bankruptcy.
Additional Features
Customers to Cash
In September 2012, SohoOS introduced a streamlined invoicing process that automatically tracks the status of estimates and invoices and notifies users when a client approves an estimate, views an estimate or invoice, sends a message, or makes a payment.{{cite web|title=Free Online Invoicing Templates|url=https://www.freshbooks.com/invoice-templates|accessdate=31 October 2012}}
Command Center
In October 2012, SohoOS added a browser toolbar, Command Center, that notifies users when they have leads, messages or status changes within their SohoOS account and contains shortcuts to popular features.{{cite web|last=Carthy|first=Roi|title=With Nearly 1M Users, SohoOS is On Its Way to Crossing Its Chasm|date=30 October 2012 |url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/10/30/sohoos_1m/|accessdate=31 October 2012}}
Soho Premium
Planet Soho currently offers three bundles of enhanced business-management features: Soho More, Soho Even More, and Soho Unlimited. The monthly charge ranges from $4.95 to $6.95 per month. Features include:
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Data Export | No Planet Soho Logos | Docs Storage | Essential Docs |
| Currency Converter | Premium Support | Premium Invoice Templates |