Setting Up Your Cyberstore

You have probably heard the stories of thoseaccount has exceed the allotted bandwidth and you
20-somethings who started an online business in theirmay purchase additional bandwidth for a few extra
garage which they later sold for millions of dollars.bucks monthly. The less than reputable web hosts
Many folks believe those days are long past. Ihave been know to shut your website down without
wholeheartedly disagree. It seems every week I hearwarning if it exceeds the allotted bandwidth. Then they
about another at home mom or out of work truckwait for you to take notice and contact them at which
driver who started an online business at their kitchenpoint they try to charge exorbitant fees to get you site
table and now earn more than most doctors. This sortup and running again. Before you make the purchase
of stuff still happens. It is what keeps me going atgive them a call and ask them how they handle this
times. The brass ring is there. All you have to do issituation if it should arise.
make the stretch and grab for it. I intend to use thisGetting The Hardware You Need
article to help you decide how to get your website offFor doing business online, your most important piece of
the ground with as little aggravation as possible.equipment is a computer. Other hardware such as
Before you get start pooling your resources you wantprinters, scanners, monitors, and routers, are essential,
to give some thought about where you are going totoo. You need to make sure that your computer
set up the physical part of your virtual storefront. Yes,equipment is up to snuff because you are going to be
you still have to find a real place to do business. Youspending a lot of time online: answering email, checking
do not necessarily have to rent office space; insteadand filling orders, revising your website, and marketing
consider setting up a home office. A spare bedroomyour product. I use a custom built PC. My reasons are
or den is a good choice. If a room is not readilyit is expandable, more affordable than name brands,
available then a maybe a corner in a room whereand I don't have to worry about any unwanted
computers, books, and other related equipment reside.software and programs being preinstalled before I buy
Although doing business online means that you do notit. I also got a better warranty than I would have at one
have to rent space in a physical location, you do haveof the major computer outlets of office supply stores.
to set up virtual space for your online business. YouThere are thousands of websites offering these
accomplish this by creating a website and finding acustom built computers. Check some of them out.
host for your site. These "cyber landlords" are calledChoosing Your Software
web hosting services. A web host is a company that,For the most part, the programs you need to operate
for a fee, makes your site available 24 hours a day byyour online business are the same as the software
maintaining it on a special computer called a webyou use to surf the Internet. Because you will be in the
server.business of providing information instead of gathering it
These days web hosting is readily available andyou will need some specialized programs like the
affordable for even the tightest budget. The vastfollowing:
numbers of web hosts existing and competing forA Web page editor - Also known as Web page
your attention have over time brought the costs waycreation or Web page authoring tools. These make it
down. I routinely buy web hosting for less than $5.00easy for you to design Web pages without having to
monthly. Do not let the cost fool you either. Mylearn HTML.
website rarely does off line and if it does my webGraphics software - If you plan on building your own
hosts customer service is available and efficient. I havewebsite and want to draw images you will need this
plenty of storage space as well. If you think yoursoftware. I use Adobe Photoshop but it is up to you.
website is going to outgrow the basic web hostingRead some reviews and even test some for 30 days
package I urge you not to worry. I still recommendbefore you have to buy them.
starting out with a basic package and purchasingStorefront software - You can purchase software
additional space as you need it.that leads you through the process of creating a
Another thing to keep in mind is the bandwidth allowedfull-fledged online business and getting your pages on
with your account. Basically bandwidth can be definedthe Web. osCommerce is free and it is fairly easy to
as how much action (traffic) your website experiencesset up and use.
on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Unless yourAccounting software - You gotta count them beans.
website becomes a traffic magnet (My fondestTo keep track of expenses and income, there are
dream!) the bandwidth allotted to your account isprograms that act as spreadsheets, help with billing,
probably going to be more than adequate. However, itcalculate taxes (if any), and calculate sales tax. Intuit is
is still a good idea to ask a prospective web host howwhere I would look first.
they handle any excess bandwidth. The good ones doGetting you online business is going to require a great
not do anything other than let your website function asdeal of set up. Do it right and you only have to do it
usual and shoot you an email letting you know youronce.