Let's face it, very few entrepreneurs and small businesses can afford to spend hundreds of dollars to set up their dot-com presence without knowing how successful it will be! We've seen results of high expectations and over spending with demise of many well-known companies as reported in news recently.

It doesn't have to be this way!

Are you planning to sell products or services?

You do NOT necessarily need expensive shopping cart software or merchant accounts to sell your products or services. You can begin your online venture by setting up a few of your most popular items or services that can be purchased online. Once a customer has made a purchase, you can then follow up with details on how to purchase additional items.

There are low cost ecommerce solutions that can help you start conducting business online without breaking bank.

First, determine exactly how sophisticated your ordering process needs to be. Then decide which of following options best suits your business needs.

Option A - PayPal

Set up a Premier Account with PayPal. PayPal is a stable and secure company that has been around long enough to establish a credible reputation. I can personally vouch for them, I use them consistently.

Benefits:

Doing Business As: You have option of using a business name or your personal name, regardless of how your bank account is registered.

Low Cost: There are no monthly fees and no set up fees. That’s right - it’s free. A small fee is with-held each time a transaction (purchase) is processed.

Hassle Free They process all orders and notify you when payment is received.

If you have a web site and want to include a storefront, you have two options.

1. Build your own store with a shopping cart script, using a merchant account, paying for your stock upfront and either fulfilling it yourself or using a drop ship company.

2. Use an outside resource which allows you to customise look and feel of your store, selling their products and earn commission on either sales or referrals.

I have used both of these and to be perfectly honest, first method was a nightmare. Building your own store is what you need to do if your sole business is your store, which mine isn't. Carrying stock, tracking orders and fulfilment are difficult enough but to spend time on this when it is not necessary, is just pointless.

The second option is to use an outside resource who have tried and tested systems already in place to provide your customers with an excellent service. There are various companies on net that will let you customise look and feel of your new store, add products etc. When your customers order, they will handle everything for you and simply pay any commission due as per your sign-up agreement. This is obviously much easier, especially if store is only an added-value service you are offering and not main focus of your business.