Starting an online business from home - questions?

Hi, I'm looking to start a small business from home. I will need to create a website with commerce capability to allow customers to place orders on some products. My questions are: 1. How do I go about doing this - which vendors are recommended to start a small business website - hosting/building? Or how can I build my own site (don't know anything about web developement). 2. How do I go about copyrights and protecting my online business from competitors? 3. How do I go about implementing payment vehicles to allow customers to pay? 4. What else should I be aware of or look into?

You can find out ideas about how to build your own web site
and how to get free internet marketing courses to put on the right track at the sites below.

Create a website at GoDaddy.com (Website Tonight) and use PayPal.com to receive payments.

Don't worry about anyone stealing your idea. If it's an innovative product or improvement to a current product - then you need a patent. File a provisional patent at the US Patent and Trademark Office. Protect the name with a Trademark.
Print and copyright the website pages.

Congratulations on your decision to start your own business! I started an online biz in 2002 that I sold this Summer so I am very familiar with your questions.

1. How do I go about doing this - which vendors are recommended to start a small business website - hosting/building? Or how can I build my own site (don't know anything about web developement).

>> There are many vendors out there, I recommend you try several (most have free trial periods) to find the one that works best for you. Some are template based where you simply enter in the text and upload pictures, some are more HTML based so experiment and don't rush the process by any means. Some are called WYSIWYG (wiz-e-wig) meaning what you see is what you get as a combination of drop and drag and simple html. You'll find the more you experiement, the more you'll want to move up to the new level.

2. How do I go about copyrights and protecting my online business from competitors?

Check out http://www.copyright.gov there are some precautions you can take simply by 'claiming' copywright for text/coding on a website. However, do you research to make sure all the items you want covered are covered as the copyright codes vary per type of copyright.

3. How do I go about implementing payment vehicles to allow customers to pay?

>> Many site builders include built in shopping carts and many offer several options for e-commerce as well. I have used http://www.paypal.com 's service called PayPalPro and also a service called http://www.ProPay.com. I highly recommend either, be careful with all the others, the fine print will bite you and the fees are NOT as low as they say. Trust me, I know!

4. What else should I be aware of or look into?

>> Do your research on the product or service you want to sell..Is it popular, who is your competition? Is it not popular, who will search for it? Is it something people want, something people need? A plan is always important before starting any business.

Once you get a site up you have to optimize it for the search engines (never pay for this you can do it yourself) you have to market it, you have to mainain it. It involves a lot of work and if you do your due diligence, it's worth every moment.

It took me several years to establish firm roots in the internet community, I grew the business, added on an affiliate program and sold the company for a profit this summer. It can be fun, challenging and takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears.

I wish you the best in your endeavors, and whatever you do, research, research, research before taking any steps forward!

Alethea Anderson
The Candle Lady
http://www.MiaBellaSoy.com

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