Few people recognize the company. But in 1982, long before Boise became a bastion for software companies, Cougar Mountain Software opened its doors.
Today the company, which makes accounting software, has 45 employees and 12,000 customers across the United States and Puerto Rico. Thousands of former customers still use the company's original DOS-based software without a problem.
Cary Welsh, chief operating officer, attributes much of the longevity to founder Robert Gossett.
Gossett, 85, who wasn't available for an interview, still visits the Boise headquarters at 7180 Potomac Drive several times a week.
He stuck to a strategy of growing the company slowly, Welsh says.
"He's definitely interested in growth as any owner would be, but he's not looking at the wild, fast-buck approach," Gossett said.
Gossett founded Cougar Mountain with the money from selling the family farm in Nampa.
"The name actually came from one of the first employers, a programmer who was an avid snowmobiler," Welsh said. "They were thinking up names and Cougar Mountain Lodge (in Smith's Ferry) was a kind of hangout for snowmobilers, so they borrowed the name. It was different than the technical names of the day, and it had kind of a ring to it."
One of the company's first big accomplishments was being named a vendor to provide software to the American Red Cross.
The company has also landed some unique customers, including the Original
Soup Man franchise in New York, which served as the inspiration for the Soup Nazi character on the "Seinfeld" television show.
The company provides accounting software that tracks traditional items like inventory and accounts payable. It also sells specialty programs aimed at nonprofits and software and hardware that help manage sales and can be integrated into accounting software.
Prices for Cougar Mountain software range from $700 for a simple payroll system to $4,000 to $6,000 for more advanced point-of-sale or payroll systems.
Sharon Morrison, owner of Riverside RV Park in Boise, has been using Cougar Mountain software for more than 15 years. She bought the software on the strength of its features, not knowing it was a Boise company.
"It's very user-friendly and very easy to get around in," Morrison said. "It also allows me to customize reports and invoices."
Other companies have tried to get her to switch, but Morrison but she has never found any company that could match Cougar Mountain's features and service.
"They're great to work with and are very helpful and knowledgeable," she said "Usually within a couple minutes of calling you have the support you need and you're up and running and not sitting on the phone."
Gossett said Cougar Mountain still maintains all its support staff in-house.
Cougar Mountain primarily focuses on providing software for small and medium businesses and nonprofits. In recent years the competition for that market has grown.
"Back when the company started, just having accounting software was significant, and there wasn't really that much competition," said Brian Jennings, director of product management. "But at this point we're seeing a lot more saturation of the market. And we not only have new people coming in, but larger companies that are starting to go after markets they don't traditionally target."
Jennings said Cougar Mountain still has an advantage over its competition because it can customize applications. It also plans to launch a new suite of software targeted at larger companies.
The privately held company doesn't disclose revenues.
Welsh said the company plans to keep its "slow and steady" strategy.
"We don't want to get to a point where we're growing too fast," he said.
Ken Dey: 672-6757
