I started Operator Co because I was tired of renting software for jobs a computer should simply do. Checking email, sorting documents, finding one fact without wading through ads: each came with a monthly fee, and each wanted my files on someone else's server.
So I began building small tools that run on my own machine. The idea held up. A job that runs locally is easier to trust. The file never leaves the PC, there is no account to lose, and the price is whatever you paid once.
Three rules
- Pay once, keep it. One price, one PC. No subscription and no renewal invoice.
- Process files locally. Documents and app data stay on the computer. An app goes online only when you press Activate or Check for updates, and the privacy section lists what those two requests send.
- Solve one real problem properly. A finished app that does one job beats a bundle that does ten jobs loosely.
Why PDFs first
Since 28 June 2025 the European Accessibility Act applies, and public bodies in the EU were already bound by the Web Accessibility Directive. Both point to EN 301 549, which asks for accessible documents. Most PDFs exported from Word or InDesign are not accessible: no tag structure, no language, no descriptions for pictures.
Fixing them by hand takes hours per file. The alternatives are yearly subscriptions or per-page services that need your documents uploaded. TagSmith-PDF repairs whole folders on your own PC and checks every file with veraPDF, the reference PDF/UA validator. It is the first Operator Co app and it is on sale today for €149, once.
What changed this autumn
Operator Co used to sell guides and configuration kits as well. I retired them in September. Operator Co now makes finished Windows apps, tested before they ship, and does not sell anything it cannot support.
The progress page shows what comes next: three more apps at different stages, none for sale yet, no promised dates. When one is ready it ships the same way: tested on real documents, priced once, and clear about what it cannot do.
If something does not work for you, write to hello@runoperatorco.com. I read those myself.