How to Start an E-Commerce Website
By globalshoppereHow Community Member
In addition to building a website (hopefully that’s an obvious step when it comes to starting an e-commerce business), here are a few things that should be at the top of your to-do list.
Instructions
Step 1
A Compatible Shopping Cart – You can have a programmer develop a custom shopping cart for your website but the easier and more economical alternative is opting for a subscription to a shopping cart system that charges either monthly or annually. Make sure the shopping cart is easy to use and compatible with your website.
Step 2
A Merchant Account – A merchant account refers to a type of bank account that enables e-commerce businesses to accept online payments by debit or credit cards. Do your homework and research various merchant account providers; inquire about transaction rates, monthly minimums, and any additional fees. For example, some providers charge extra fees for certain types of credit cards, such as cards that offer rewards. Make sure you know all the details and discuss any questions you may have with a customer service representative before signing up with a particular merchant account provider.
Step 3
Payment Gateway – Once you select a merchant account provider, they will provide you with a payment gateway, one that easily integrates into your shopping cart. The payment gateway information will enable purchases to automatically process with the merchant account and register in your bank account.
Step 4
An SSL Certificate – With an SSL certificate (secure sockets layer), you aren’t ensuring a safe and secure environment for online shoppers. An SSL certificate provides secure communications on the Internet, so when a customer makes a purchase, their payment information (e.g. their credit card number) is kept secure. SSL certificates require annual purchases and installation fees – your website developer or web host company may be able install it for you. Once you have an SSL certificate, “https” will show up in the address bar of the browser or a padlock icon will appear at the bottom of the page – this will give shoppers peace of mind knowing your website is secure.
