Since this is my first column of 2004, I thought we'd spend a few minutes talking about those well-intentioned, though seldom kept promises we call New Year's Resolutions.

In addition to "This year I will lose weight!" and "This year I will stop smoking!" and ever popular "This year I will stop watching reality TV!" one of more common resolutions made by many folks this time of year is "This year I will start my own business!"

I call it "The American Dream Resolution," and like most New Year's resolutions it is a proclamation of intent that is often made, but seldom carried out (at least in an effective manner).

Before you jump off ledge into entrepreneurial abyss in 2004, here's a little test to help you decide if this truly is a resolution you are qualified to make or if you should just stick to "This year I will lose weight..."

Give yourself 10 points for each "Yes" answer and a big ZERO for each "No."

1. Can you delegate without micromanaging? Running a business requires performance of dozens of simultaneous tasks and it's foolish to try to handle them all yourself. You must surround yourself with partners and employees whom you can trust to perform these tasks as you would yourself. If you can't dish out responsibility without worrying over result, add a zero to your score.

2. Are you self motivated and disciplined? If you do not have wherewithal to bounce out of bed each day without your spouse drenching you with cold water, chances are you don't have self motivation or discipline required to be an entrepreneur. Business demands that you take action based solely on your own volition. You have to motivate yourself to pick up phone and make sales calls. You have to motivate yourself to get in car and visit customers. You have to do a hundred things every day that will not get done unless you make yourself do them.

3. Are you afraid of a little hard work? Starting a business is easy, right? WRONG! If you think working for someone else is hard work, try starting your own business. You will be required to give every ounce of blood, sweat, and tears you can muster. You will have to work long hours and be on call 24/7, at least in beginning. If mere thought of hard work makes you tired, congratulations, here's your zero.

4. Are your personal relationships strong enough to withstand starting a business? The first question I ask anyone who tells me they want to start a business is: "What does your spouse think?" When you start a business you may have to spend more time away from family than you like. The business may also put a strain on you financially. You will have enough obstacles in your way without having to worry if you have support of your family and those closest to you

In my last column I discussed process of credit card enabling your brick-and-mortar business. I pointed out that research has shown that accepting credit cards can help increase revenue and enhance cash flow. I also pointed out that you may have to look beyond your local bank for help in getting things set up. This week we will look at setting up an online payment system for your business website. If you think hooking up a brick-and-mortar location with a credit card system stymies most bankers, try asking them how to do it on your website.

If you'll recall, question that spurred this topic came from a lady who went to her local bank for help in setting up a credit card acceptance system for her business and her banker wasn't very knowledgeable on subject. I pointed out that her banker's ignorance of subject probably wasn't a reflection on his skills as a banker, but a reflection on compartmentalization of credit card aspect of banking.

The fact is, most banks can provide you with merchant account needed to accept credit card payments, but beyond that have little to do with process. Even larger banks may only have a single person on staff who is tasked as "credit card expert" and if that person ever goes on vacation, you're pretty much out of luck (voice of experience talking here, folks).

I have helped many clients set up online credit card processing systems and more than once I've had to sit down with bank issuing merchant account and educate them on how online payment systems work. Don't believe me? This is a direct quote (here's Bible, here's my hand) from bank employee who was in charge of processing internet merchant account applications, "When someone pays online how do they swipe credit card in their computer…"

Much like a brick and mortar credit card processing system, you will need following to accept credit cards on your website: (1) an electronic shopping cart system that allows customer to select products and checkout when ready; (2) a payment gateway service to get approval or declination of credit card; (3) a credit card processor who will process transaction; and (4) an internet merchant account issued by an acquiring bank in which processed funds are deposited.

We covered most of these elements last week. Here's a quick refresher for those who missed basics, then we'll talk about a shopping cart system.

Payment Gateway Service: The payment gateway service comes into play when a customer submits their credit card information to webpage form. Think of gateway service as middleman in process. The website's shopping cart checkout system electronically submits credit card to gateway service who then routes information to processor for approval. Depending on reply from processor, gateway service will return an approval or declination for purchase. This entire process takes just seconds to perform.

Credit Card Processor: The credit card processor is an electronic data center that processes credit card transactions coming from gateway company, ensures that charge is valid, then settles funds in your merchant account.