Web Business 101
An introduction to opening your own
business on the web.
Part I: How to Start
First thing you do is go over to
Thresh's Firing Squad and read the excellent guide on how to become a
reseller. He covers in some depth the steps you need to take. After you read
that, come back here for a few experiences I had with my own business start.
Next, decide what you want to call your business. Hint: try to
be unique, as the business name should translate to a domain name for easy
discovery on the web. Once you have a name...
Applying for a DBA (Doing Business As...)
The actual procedure seems to vary from state to state. In
Florida you go down to your local county tax collector's office, and get the
package. You complete this package, and then mail it, along with your check for
$50, to the state. In about 2 to 3 weeks it comes back with your DBA number.
Your Reseller License
Once you get your DBA you can apply for a resellers license.
Once again, I headed down to the county tax collector's office, with the DBA
paperwork in hand. After filling out more than a few forms, and supplying a
check for $38 I was an official reseller, with license and number in hand.
Find Distributors
Simple, every product out there you want to sell is made by
someone. Find out who that is, by web search, phone calls whatever it takes.
Then contact them. I normally e-mail something like "Hello, I am operating an
online store selling computer cooling equipment. I am always on the lookout for
quality products to add to my product line. From what I have seen of your items,
they more than meet my needs. Could you send a reseller's price list?...
etc...". very often I get back a positive response. Even if the manufacturer
directs you to a distributor, you have still achieved your goal. Just be
persistent, and write EVERYONE. Works for me.
Some Business Basics
Establish a presence in your market. I mean, try to keep current
on every new release and product. I try to visit all of the new hardware sites,
and also to answer questions and posts on different hardware site BBS's. People
tend to order from vendors they know, and word of mouth helps a lot. Be best to
establish a website quickly as well, which I'll talk about a bit further on.
Basically know your market and your product.
One initial consideration I had was shipping. As in how exactly
I was going to get my product to my customers. Big secret here: US Mail. You say
thats not a secret? Well did you know they will give you FREE priority and
express mailing supplies? I am talking boxes of all sizes, tape, and preprinted
labels. There is no quicker way to look professional than to have business
labels on those red, white, and blue boxes. Just call 1-800-222-1811 and order
them.
Next, establish a bank account. Shop around, as there are often
banks that support small business. My current account is free (as in nada damn
cent a month) for me, as long as I have less than 250 transactions a month. So,
open an account in your business name. Have checks made up. Try to keep all
financial transactions in that account, it makes things a bit easier in the long
run.
Open a post office box or business address. I decided to do a
P.O. Box for convenience. I am at the post office every day mailing orders, so
its just easier to check my mail why I am there. That and customers feel better
about mailing to 2CoolTek than to "Joe Schmuckatelli" (no, thats not my name,
geez!). It lends an air of credibility to you. Some people go the Mail Boxes Etc
(trademarked likely) route. This would give you an actual business address,
separate from your home, but it costs more (like $54 every quarter or so).
Whichever works best for you.
There ya go. A few easy steps and suddenly you have the
appearance of a real business!
Next page: The Website
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