So many people want to start a home-based, “spare-time” business. I receive e-mails telling me that I can “make millions while I sleep by using the Internet”. While I am sure someone at some time has made millions while sleeping it is hardly common, standard, or expected. In reality the “big names” in e-commerce took years to become profitable. With the right attitude and a little help you can make consistent sales as well as turn a profit. I will list some common, often over-looked, problems with start-up e-businesses. Where applicable I have listed how 2Checkout can be a partner in helping your company grow.

1. Internet Costs

You will need a website with a domain name that reflects your company or your product. You may want to have a target site name and a few backup names. These cost to register, however, there are a number of affordable domain registrars.

You will need a website to showcase your product or service. This can be as costly as you would like it to be and there are a number of options. You can try to put one together on your own, use a template, or have a professional design one for you. It has been my experience that this is in fact a good place to invest. A professional looking site will convey a professional feeling to your potential customers. The increased sales may be worth a little extra expense.

Finally, you will need to host your site. Again, there are a number of options and a wide range of prices. The good news is there are hosting companies that specialize in small or beginning businesses. These companies are affordable and may sometimes offer assistance, at an additional cost, with marketing and design of your product and site. There are so many web hosts that you will absolutely want to do some research to compare, not only price, but services and support.

2. Working from Home

This may sound like a dream for many, or may be necessary for some with children. The key is to remember this is WORK at home – not – HOME at work. You absolutely must set aside time to work without interruption. As a home-based business the time can be flexible, but I suggest at the very least 3-4 hours each day working. Being able to communicate your need for privacy with your friends and family during work time may be difficult to negotiate. I’d be willing to bet that most home-based e-businesses fail because of this issue.

Your office is an office, so you will need supplies. Basic things such as a file system, pens and paper, a date book, and a note pad to write ideas. You will also want to invest in a nice desk chair and a work space. You will be spending a good amount of time on your business. It may seem fun to picture yourself at a cafe with a laptop sealing a deal or checking your sales, but most likely you will be in a room in your house for a few hours each day. Your back will thank you for giving it support.

3. The Stuff People Forget About

You have an idea, you have a site to sell that idea, and you have a really comfortable chair to sit in, now what? Well, you need some way to accept payments. There are a number of services that allow your customers to pay with their credit cards, the most popular method of paying online. This is where 2Checkout can assist a new, or even veteran e-seller.

You will have to be able to sort through good sales and fraudulent sales. It is a sad fact of doing business that some people are not exactly honest. For even established e-commerce sites doing thousands of transactions daily, fraud is a problem and hard to fight. 2Checkout offers some of the industry’s best fraud protection. In my opinion, one of the most frustrating aspects of doing business has to be looking at a site’s sales and later finding out that a portion of them are not valid.

People expect timely answers to their questions and requests. What happens to those customers if your Internet connection goes down for a few days due to a storm? What if you get sick or go on vacation? If you have ever waited on hold trying to connect to a customer support representative you know that seconds feel like minutes and minutes feel almost like a lifetime. The same goes for email. Most people give up after 24 hours if they haven’t received an answer.

You may want to consider the value of having 24/7 telephone, email, and live chat support for your site. Just like your website, the more professional your customers feel you are the more they will trust you and the more likely they are to buy from you. 2Checkout acts as a reseller of your services and products, so it is in our best interests to be professional and prompt when supporting your site.

These are just a few of the things to consider when setting up a home-based business using the Internet to make online sales. As your partner, 2Checkout can alleviate some of the worry and “back end” issues allowing you to concentrate on building your site, your community, and your market.

Some Further Reading:

• Basic Guide to E-Commerce (Doing Business Over the Internet/Web)
• Unmask the hidden costs of self-employment
• A Good Resource on Starting a New Website (thesitewizard.com)