Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Can you give us the current list you have?

If you are selling a product then it is more complicated because you will need stock. it is serious!

products, models, photography, marketing

Among the things that other have mentioned an extremely crucial cost to consider is the cost of customer acquisition/marketing.

If you are a new company, what is the cost of creating awareness in your target market?

What is the cost of establishing yourself as a viable option in your space?

What is the cost of the various marketing efforts that you will make to carry out the above.

Although the idea of a simple online setup is nice, there are real costs when it comes to penetrating your market. These should be taken into account.

Depends whether you'll be dropshipping your products or manufacturing them yourself.

If you're dropshipping, all you'd need is a domain name ($10/year), basic web hosting ($4 - $15 per month), and you're good to go. The costs don't stop there though. Marketing, promotion, and SEO is what will be costly. 

Best of luck for your industry. No need to worry about the customers, just focus on your staff to hire and expenditures on security. You can now entertain and help your customers by adding live chat service to your website. This live chat customer support service helps you to make your business run better as you can answer your customers queries 24hours online.

Starting an online business is a great way to reduce the startup costs of a brick and mortar type business, but there are still a lot of costs you will need to consider. I'm not sure what you have written down, but here are the most common costs associated with a primarily online business.

Website - This includes your domain name, platform, and design. This is quite possibly your most important expense as it will be the face of your online business. 

Web Hosting - An expense that never goes away, monthly web hosting can be found at a various number of outlets, many of which offer deals for multiple domains. This will normally run you about $6-$20 a month.

Email - Having an email address connected to your domain is more professional than having a Yahoo email. This will generally run you about $10 a month and can sometimes be added on with your web hosting.

Shipping - Free if you use USPS, about $10-$20 a month if you use a different service.

Software - This all depends on the nature of your site, but a variety of programs can enhance your site as well as the ease of filling your orders. 

Computer, Printer, Office Supplies, Office Equipment - You may already have these or you may have to buy them, but there's always a need for some type of office even with online businesses. 

Internet - This is a given, but it is also an expense that you will always need access to. Average high speed Internet is about $50 a month and is a necessity. 

Hope these help!

The main hidden "cost", which you might not have considered, is the time needed to promote and market your new store. To be successful, you'll need to research the most effective methods and take the time to actually do the work.

Setting up the site is a good first step - and congratulations on getting that far - but effective web marketing will make or break your business. Good luck!

HI, For a online shopping cart, you can use XnYnZ.com where you can design your shopping cart at $74.99 per month where you can list unlimited products and add 10 images for a product. If you pay for 36 month you will be getting much less cost as an offer.

I don't know that any costs are really 'hidden'. You just have to make sure your thinking about every aspect of your business when calculating costs.