Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Where to start? Is there a good place to go to get help setting up an on-line business?

I want to start an ecommerce site. Being a novice at this, I would like to start out as simple as possible. Limit the number of vendors/service providers I use (I’m assuming this will make integration easier between the web host, drop shipper, content management system, order processing, shopping cart etc), and using as many “off the shelf” services and features as possible.

My thoughts, for this approach, are:

1-      Decrease the number of things I have to learn at the beginning.

2-      Allow me to keep my full time job. (for some reason the bank thinks I should continue to pay my mortgage, and kids are insisting that we eat – everyday!)

3-      Allow more time for me to focus on the customer  - and spend less time on the technical side

4-      Allow me to get set up quickly and easily

5-      Limit out of pocket expense (for example, no inventory)

Initially, my goal would be to just break even, and just try to learn how all the pieces fit together without upsetting the customers. Then has my experience grows, start adding features and services that can really benefit my clients, and look at ways to possibly reduce costs (for instance, manage my own inventory, so I don’t pay the extra in drop-shipping). Eventually moving to a point where I can focus full time on the business, and leave the desk job behind. My goal is not to get rich quick, or “make hundreds of thousands dollars a week, doing nothing but picking lint off…” My goal is to eventually get to a point where I can support myself and family from the site. I know it will take a lot of work.

So where to start –

What would those of you, who’ve been through this learning curve, recommend to me, a total novice? I’m looking for good educational sites, training, or books. As well as good, trustworthy businesses that offer quality service to novices trying to get set up (internet hosts, shopping carts, drop shipping). Is there a “one shop” does it all package?

Thanks in advance.

It is with much regret that I will be moving away from the business that I have worked so so so 

hard at over the last 4 years. I find that my home life is no longer there and that home is no 

longer home it is work work work..

This is affecting my family in a negative way, and as most as you know I am struggling with my 7yo son with obessesive personality disorder and a mother who is terminal with cancer and is fighting the good fight. But as an only child a lot of the pressure etc falls on me especially during the week as my dad works. I do not talk about this often but I also have an hubby with epilepsy who has not driven for over 7 years and hence have been driving me to and from work in this time as well.

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Whether it's due to poor habits, a packrat spouse, or an advanced case of affluenza, too many home managers struggle under the burden of household clutter. 

Are they unsupported speculations and opinions? Depending on the type of paper, opinions might be acceptable. Generally, professors look for support from readings and other academic sources--when in doubt, ask.

Starting a paper is almost always the hardest part of the writing process. Consider these questions as you prepare to start your paper. It may even be helpful to actually write out your answers.

Starting a paper is almost always the hardest part of the writing process. Consider these questions as you prepare to start your paper. It may even be helpful to actually write out your answers.

Starting a paper is almost always the hardest part of the writing process. Consider these questions as you prepare to start your paper. It may even be helpful to actually write out your answers.

Hi,

Totally understand your position - I have a full time job and run a business on the side.

Developing the software that powers our business took over a year to complete as I had to work on it in my spare time, and once it launched, I spend most of my weekends working on SEO, blogging, making sure the business is running smoothly and working out ways to improve our sales.

So - where to start? Start with solid expectations that it's going to take time.

Here's a quick run down of how I'd tackle it in your case:

1. Solidify your website idea - what are you going to sell? Who is your target market? Who are your competitors? Once all of this has been planned out you can understand the scale of what you are getting yourself into
2. Think about how you can be different - not just a me-too website, but how you can really differentiate yourself from your competitors
3. Once you have all that sorted, then you can start thinking about design, marketing and planning - here is where you owuld start designing your site (do it yourself or hire someone if you don;t have the know0how)
4. If you can, learn a bit of programming / basic tech such as PHP and HTML - you need to be au fait with tech if you are starting an e-commerce site
5. Select your technology - there's so many out there you need to use some strict rules to help make your decision:
1. Is it well supported? When was it last updated?
2. Is it any good? What are the reviews like - what do some sample sites look like?
3. Does it work with other software? You want to handle orders, shipping, payments etc. A good ecommerece platform will have ways of integrating with providers without complex development
6. Get some help - a developer or technology partner will go a long way in saving you a headache when getting set up.