Good Morning,

I am trying to find a programmer to code a piece of custom software for my business. I plan on using this software to manage my business, and possibly sell it to other companies (in the same industry) at a later date. I've never hired a programmer before, so I'm not sure what to expect or where to begin. I know exactly what features I need, and how I want it laid out, I just need someone who can take my ideas and make it happen. This software will be used to manage customer information, and keep track of orders.

What I think I need:

* SQL Server or similar database that will be located at our office.
* Desktop Application, that connects via LAN to the database server (cannot be browser based)
* Multiple User Support (Simultaneous users accesing the system)
* Needs to be scalable (currently we have 5 employees, but who knows what the future will bring)
* Multi-Platform Support (Windows, Linux)

I posted a job offer through elance, which seems to raise more questions than answers.

How do I decide what language(s) will work best for my situation?

(I have received offers for C#, Eclipse, .NET, Powerbuilder, etc. - I want to make sure that I choose the best one now, so I don't run into problems later)

Does the programmer hold any rights to the software? (I plan to offer the software for sale at a later date)

Any help or insight would be appreciated, and I'd be happy to clarify anything if it helps.

Thanks in advance!