Okay, you've been lurking on a number of email discussion lists, visiting all sorts of web sites, and subscribed to a number of Internet marketing newsletters for some time now trying to figure out just how to take your first step in creating a business on Internet. Many of these discussion lists and newsletters take for granted that you already have your Internet business established and are looking for help with making it prosper. You've read everywhere that you can make money on Internet, but you aren't quite sure how to get started doing it. Are you ready now to take that next step in starting your online business? In this article, I want to take a little time to discuss a few of basics for how to do just that.

I can think of at least ten important steps one must take in process of creating a new online business. There are other key tasks, of course, but I believe these are enough to get you started. You can get to some of rest after you're established. Here is a brief description of each of ten steps I deem essential:

1. Secure a Domain Name for Your Business This is a must in order for your business to have its own distinct domain name with which your customers will associate both your web site and your product(s). A long, unrelated domain name URL is actually detrimental to your business interests.

2. Find a Reliable Web Host This step goes hand in glove with first step. It's best if you can settle on a reliable web host who also sells domain name registrations. This way, you can usually get a bargain deal which includes domain name registration, a web hosting account, and any other particulars that might go along with setting up a web hosting plan.

3. Set Up Legal Terms for Your Online Dealings This is for your own good. You are vulnerable to frivilous law suits without it. If you don't feel capable and/or comfortable writing your own policies, better hire a good attorney who specializes in Internet law.

4. Create and Upload Your Web Files This is most involved part of whole process, since this is where you must build your web site to attract customers.

How you design your site makes a BIG difference! Again, if you don't feel capable of encoding your own web pages, better hire a good web design company. The image your web site presents impacts how your potential customers view your business' professionalism.

5. Obtain an Online Merchant's Account You can't do business effectively on Internet without an online merchant's account. There are a variety of providers.