Technology and online businesses have come a long way since Amazon sold their first book in 1995. If you are considering to start your own online business, there are a lot of things to think about and a lot of business models to choose from. Some of the models include:
1. Software as a service (SaaS)
2. Web-based clothing retail
3. Subscription boxes
4. Freelancing or online consulting services
5. E-commerce platforms
6. Drop shipping business
7. Arts and crafts markets
8. Vacation rental services
Once you have chosen the business model, you should take the following steps:
Step 01: Decide if you are going to use a third party platform, an e-commerce marketplace, or if you will build your own site
An e-commerce website is the most direct online business that you can start, compared to other businesses that use third-party platforms like Amazons, Airbnb, or Etsy. When you host and build your own e-commerce website, you will be selling your products or services directly to the consumers, without someone in between. When you host your own site, you will have more control and you will be able to focus on the customers’ experience.
Step 02: Start business planning
When you are starting out, the first thing you should consider is business planning. Think of it like something that you do on a daily basis, not something that you do once you are in the early stages of your startup. Start with a lean business plan. It is something that you can do in 30 minutes instead of 2 months. It will be easier and quicker to write. You should also determine if there is a market for your ideas. Also, think about funding and metrics. You should take some time to figure out what the costs will be for your startup and think about how you will fund the business.
Step 03: Set up a website
According to Eudigital.co, the first thing you should do is decide on the name. Deciding on the name of your business, as well as registering your domain should be done together. The last thing you will want is to find that someone is already using that name for their business. Do not forget to make the website mobile friendly! People use their smartphones daily and you can be sure that they will also use it to access your website. If it is not optimized for smartphones, your customers will have a bad experience.
Step 04: Make it legal
There are a few steps that you should do to ensure that your business is legal. While the same rules apply to brick-and-mortar businesses and online business, you should still be informed if you have never done something like this before. You should read about the online business regulations and rules, you should also register your business, and you should also learn about the tax obligations of running an online business. By doing so, you can rest assured that there will be absolutely no problems in the future.
Conclusion
Starting any business is not easy. However, if you follow the steps from this article, you can make the whole process easier, faster, as well as legal. Hence, do not waste any more time and start thinking about the business plan you have!
Nicola Holder 