Assuming that you have already come up with the concept, plan, and marketing strategy, lets go through a few of the basic steps you will need to open a typical online business.
- First you need to decide
what you are going to sell. Some people have been very successful selling a
niche product to a specific audience. Others have a wide variety of products
and services to sell with world-wide appeal.
If you don't have a product--or want to supplement what you do have--you may want to consider selling products from other people who have an affiliate program. (also called reseller or commission programs) These affiliate programs are becoming very popular and if you own and produce your own product, you should look into setting up your own program.
- Choose a company name. Check your local County Clerks Office to see if your company name is available. If it is then you need to sign up for a "Fictitious Business Name Statement" with your County Clerk and get an ad. You can get more information from your County Clerk. Check your phone book for a local office.
- Decide what type of form of company that you want: Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Corporation. Proprietorships are the easiest and most inexpensive to set up. Corporations can be expensive to set up but it separates your assets from your company. Partnerships require Partnership agreements to be made.
- Get a business license. Go to your your local city hall in the city that you will have your business in and sign up for a business license. If you live outside the city limits, then get the license from the county. Each city charges differently.
- If you plan on selling goods, you will need to get a Seller's Permit so that you can pay sales tax for your good that you sell. It also allows you to buy the raw materials and goods wholesale without paying sales tax. Contact your local Board of Equalization Office.
- Get a business account. Keep your personal finances separate from you business finances.
- You need to choose an ISP to host your website.
- Find out if your URL is
available.
Check your name here:
Example: companyname.com (enter extentions: .com, .net, .org, or .edu) - Web Design: Once you have your domain registered, you need to develop this cyber-property. Not only do you need to make your site a "must visit" location for people interested in your product, you want to make it a site that sells! You want to keep your website updated with text copy that invites people to take action, not overloaded with graphics that slow down the load time (visitors will move on to another site if it takes to long). Your site should also make it easy for people to contact you. You can design the site yourself or pay someone to design one for you. Websites are not just create one and then you are done. They are in constant need to be updated and changed. So you should either decide to do it yourself or have someone do it for you so that you can concentrate on the actual running and marketing of the business.
- Many people think, "Once I post it, the people will come." But it doesn't work that way and this is where most Internet businesses fail. There are numerous activities--both free and paid--you can do, including banners, press releases, classified ads, e-zine ads, card decks, search engines, etc., to develop consistent traffic. You will need to test a variety of ways to see what works best for you and your product. More information is available at.
- Don't forget to join some of the best affiliate programs so that you can make some extra money.
- Remember....it's easy to come up with ideas...the tough part is getting in there and actually doing it. Make sure that you pick a business that you believe in and will enjoy. Meaningful work makes all of the difference in the world!