Startup Online Business

[TLRam1]

I am looking to start a couple of online businesses selling motorcycle accessories and need startup web design and hosting with a frugal mindset.

Haha, Now I told you more than I know about websites and online business. LOL

Where do I start with a design to organize and display items, cart, shipping, the usual stuff you guys already know more about than I can fit in my small brain.

It looks like Yahoo offers some of these services such as website building, hosting, etc. Are they any good?

I would probably be looking to something similar to this http://www.pitposse.com/ , I am not affiliated with them just ran across this site as I was looking and purchased something from them.

I’m looking at drop ship for the most part on one site and the other site would be our Branded Site where we would stock inventory.

I don’t know what questions to ask or articulate what I need other than everything….smiling

Next, how do you start up a Personals Dating website? Where do you go to build and host one? The same questions as above basically.

I know this is a huge undertaking but we have to start somewhere. Time for me to go back to first grade.

Terry

[technobrakes]

Were are you based?
looking at your site im guessing the states

the Moderator has a couple of sites in his signature you might be interested in.

if you use a small independent designer you will probably get a lot more of a personal service. Just make sure you are happy with back end with that i mean the forms you fill in to post and manage youre stock ive never been 100% happy with ours and its no end of frustration.

[TLRam1]

I'm in Texas (yes, the states) close to Dallas. I will have to look up the mod for the sites you mentioned.

What would you change about yours you do not like?

[jjrs79]

Hi TLRam1,

I guess it all depends on your budget, are you looking for a shopping cart you can buy and host youself (like Miva, OSCommerce or ZenCart), for a hosted shopping cart where you pay a monthly fee and a percentage of your sales (like Yahoo Shopping or ProStores) or a hosted shopping cart where you pay a flat monthly fee (like 3dCart, Networksolutions or Volusion) ?

[TLRam1]

I will have to look into what you mentioned but probably the later Yahoo or Prostores.

I will have to look into the differences to see what they are and how would I host a cart but since I don't know I will be more interested in the above.

How difficult is it to host one?

Thanks for your input.

[jjrs79]

These are hosted solutions, so basically all you need to do is to get an account with them, then you can start building the site using one of the included templates by adding your products and categories.

Most of these companies have a Free Trial, you should do this and go with the one that you find easier, remember that you'll be working with this on a daily basis, so the easier the software is to use the better for you.

Also, since you're planning on doing a couple websites, ask for Multi-stores discounts, usually you get a discounted rate for any additional stores.

Watch out for sales commissions, even when it seems low at the beginning, it's still a cut of your sales, so the more you sell the higher the monthly fee, it's like penalizing you for selling more I prefer paying a flat monthly fee with no additional commissions.

[jjrs79]

These are hosted solutions, so basically all you need to do is to get an account with them, then you can start building the site using one of the included templates by adding your products and categories.

Most of these companies have a Free Trial, you should do this and go with the one that you find easier, remember that you'll be working with this on a daily basis, so the easier the software is to use the better for you.

Also, since you're planning on doing a couple websites, ask for Multi-stores discounts, usually you get a discounted rate for any additional stores.

Watch out for sales commissions, even when it seems low at the beginning, it's still a cut of your sales, so the more you sell the higher the monthly fee, it's like penalizing you for selling more I prefer paying a flat monthly fee with no additional commissions.

[TLRam1]

Thanks for the info.

Do all the ones you mentioned offer flat fee or percentage of sales or who does what?

[jjrs79]

Percentage of Sales,
-Yahoo Shopping
-ProStores

Flat monthly fee,
-3dCart
-Networksolutions
-Volusion

[TLRam1]

Thanks for the info, that's what I was about to ask was who else offers web design templates such as Yahoo and ProStores.

I will look over what you mentioned.