3. Use A Credit Card

When buying online, always use a credit card. Why? It offers most protection you can currently get online. If you experience credit card fraud, you're protected. If a company charges funds to your account and does not deliver, you're protected. If you can't reach company for a return, etc... you're protected.

Other services, such as email payment services or traditional paper checks, don't offer any protection at all.

4. Secured Servers Only

When you enter a shopping cart, or other online payment system, be sure to check for one of two things. Just because Web site copy states that server is secured doesn't mean it is. In "address" line of your browser, you should see an address that begins with "httpS://". This "S" stands for secured and will not appear unless transaction is encrypted.

The other clue to look for is a gold lock in lower, right-hand corner of your browser. This, too, lets you know transaction is secured.

5. Check Them Out

Finally, if you're at all suspicious of company, check them out with Better Business Bureau or another consumer protection agency before buying. The extra time you spend with your investigation can pay off big in a savings of time and trouble later.

Always keep your eyes open when shopping online. By educating yourself in area of consumer protection, you can greatly improve your ability to shop confidentially online. With a little precaution, your holiday shopping will be pleasant and trouble-free!

What Will You Sell?

During infomercial company mentioned that you would have thousands of products to choose from. However, what I found was that there were only 50 or 60. When I questioned this, I was told they either fired their supplier or contract with supplier expired and new negotiations were underway. As for quality of items… it was sorely lacking. Rather cheep trinkets that had no real value.

How Will Your Customers Pay?

In order for customers to pay online, you will need a shopping cart system. However, I'm afraid I found that this application was another add on. It was not included in $59.95 price.

In addition to shopping cart, you'll also need a merchant account to receive credit card payments. Most merchant accounts require a 2 year contract. However, to receive a merchant account from this company, a 5 year contract was required. I found set up fees very high and monthly fees just as disturbing. Not to mention, with a new Internet business, I can't imagine being tied into a 5 year agreement. If company fails, you would still be liable to pay monthly fees for remaining time on contract.

Bringing Traffic To Your Site

During infomercial, you are told that company will submit your new Web site to top 1,000 search engines with automated software. However, what most people don't understand is that 90% of your search engine traffic will come from top 20 engines. In addition, most of major engines require manual submissions, not automated. In order to get your site positioned properly, you'll either need to buy additional software, pay a search engine professional to do task or learn to handle it yourself. Needless-to-say, that costs even more money.

I am not going to add up all individual cost of my investigation but I will give you total cost that was on contract they wanted me to sign. Not counting $59.95 I had already paid for my Internet business in a box, they asked for another $2695.00.

This article is not meant to discourage you from starting your own Internet business. My business is to educate people about sharks that will try to take your money.

Can you start your own Internet business, make money, lie out by pool sipping Margaritas and only work 20 minutes a day? You bet! And it can be done for a lot less than $2,695.00. Will it happen first week you're in business? No. Before you jump into an online business, I urge you to educate yourself, learn how Internet works, decide what you can or are willing to do yourself and what you will have to pay someone else to do. Calculate entire cost. You will not get rich over night. It will take time to build your business and automate it. Then, with a little luck and a lot of hard work in beginning, you can lie out by pool sipping Margaritas.