| If you are toying with the idea of forming your own | | | | sales. |
| e-commerce website you'll be happy to learn that | | | | It is very important that you choose the most |
| selling products online doesn't always require the | | | | appropriate web hosting partner for your site. There |
| setting up of an expensive and sophisticated | | | | are a multitude of companies offering cheap web |
| ecommerce solution. Obviously, huge retail enterprises | | | | hosting but cheapest isn't always best. It is worth |
| will build their own websites and spend a lot of time | | | | paying a premium for reliability and 24 hour telephone |
| and money in the process, ensuring that the finished | | | | support, as every hour that your website may be |
| article is safe and secure for their customers to use. | | | | unavailable represents a potential loss of income. |
| However, for smaller enterprises buying a tried and | | | | Shopping cart technology is very important, so |
| tested 'off-the-shelf' solution that can give you a | | | | choose one that is easy to use and informs |
| secure online presence designed to make you more | | | | customers of every step of the process. If you |
| visible to customers is a great place to start. | | | | want to run your own shopping cart scripts ensure |
| If you intend on taking payments for items sold on | | | | that your host allows you to use your own cgi bin. |
| the web you must first set up a merchant account. | | | | Secure, encrypted data transmission will be offered |
| One of the most popular ways to do that on the | | | | by all hosts, but some encryption is better than |
| web involves enlisting with the PayPal service which | | | | others. Also, look for a hosting solution that offers |
| involves paying a percentage of the order value plus | | | | fraud screening and risk management as part of the |
| a small fixed cost for each transaction. | | | | package. This allows credit and debit cards used to |
| However, a large number of online shoppers will also | | | | place orders to be screened before the transaction is |
| want the option to pay directly with debit or credit | | | | approved and therefore removes the need for |
| cards. You can also register as a credit card merchant | | | | chargebacks and all the inconvenience that entails. |
| with a bank, but that requires a set-up fee, plus | | | | Finally, if you are an existing company seeking to go |
| transaction fees. Alternatively, you could register with | | | | into the online market, and you are a SAGE user, you |
| a third party who handles payment processing on | | | | may wish to use a host that also offers integration |
| your behalf. Make your decision based on the most | | | | of the accounting information with your company |
| cost-effective solution for your anticipated level of | | | | system. |