How to Start an Online Business

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The internet is a great place to build a business.  From the ability to contact countless customers to get to save money by not opening a physical store, you can create the company of your dreams.

Unfortunately, it's not as easy as buying a URL and posting on Twitter that your shop is live.  There are many behind the scenes steps every new business owner should take to prepare for their company.

Figure Out Your Product or Service

Chances are, you already know what you want to sell.  It doesn't matter if you're trying to sell fashionable pins or complex plotting machines; you need to make sure you have reliable sources for where you're getting the pieces of what you're selling.  Think about what your company stands for, as well, since many customers try to align a company's morals with their own.  If you're aiming to get a greener crowd, you need to source your parts and products ethically.

Decide How To Sell And Ship

Unfortunately, your products can't just fly off the shelves and ship themselves; you have to do it yourself.  Depending on your business's size and the demand for your product, you can hire a shipping business to take care of this, or you could start by doing the shipping yourself.  Make sure you have the supplies needed for these orders before you open shop.  Shipping can be done online, with some mail carriers even offering to pick up for free on their route, and it's a better option than trying to figure it out in person.

Study Up On Taxes and Laws In Your Area

Some areas require a higher sales tax on online goods, while others won't let people run a business without filling out tax paperwork.  Look into the small business laws in your area and decide your company's best action plan.  Things may seem overwhelming at first, which is okay as long as you take it to step by step.  If you need, there are forums where you can ask questions about taxes and small business laws, and you may also find some professionals and peers who are willing to help talk you through your start-up.  This plan may seem like a lot of work upfront, but it's work to do a business you'll be proud of.

Set Up Advertising

Making your ads can be the most fun part of this venture if you do it right.  Pay attention to where your customers would shop and when they would be active.  It wouldn’t help if you advertised St. Albert real estate to Twitter users in Ecuador, location matters.  Different age groups use other social media, and the divide in gender is accurate as well.  If you're aiming for older customers of either gender, Facebook is your best bet.  For women from thirteen to thirty-five, you'll get the best luck on Instagram, and Twitter is the hot spot for men of that age group.  Although there is a crossover between all of these, you should pay attention to where your customers go.