How to set up an online store?

Question

Please answer if you have owned one or know alot about it.

1. If I want to name it beverly hills clothing, do i have to get approval by the beverly hills chamber of commerce for using the city's name?

2. How do I add clothing pics on the website? Just get a digital camera?

3. Do I need a business plan and incorporate? or just be a sole proprietor and buy the website and start?

Answer 1

Write down your step-by-step plan on paper. For example;

1.Create your company name.

2.Register your name.

3.Form your business structure; Sole Proprietorship.

4.Obtain your business/occupational license.

5.Obtain your resellers license (sales tax license).

6.Get signed up with the distributors.

7.Choose which products/product lines you are going to specialize in.

8.Read about the products

9.Decide if you are going to build your own e-store or have a design firm build it for you.

10.Choose your domain name.

11.Register your domain name

12.Choose a webhost provider and a hosting plan.

13.Choose your web development software.

14.Start building your e-store.

15.Set up your merchant account.

16.Complete your e-store.

17.Promote, market and advertise your e-store.

18.Then wait for the orders to start rollin in.

Of course it's not that simple but it can be if you just take it one step at a time. Write a simple step-by-step business plan just as you see here. Then follow each step and then scratch it off of your list as you complete it. Before you know it you'll be taking your first order.

Kind regards,

Jorge Fernandez

Start an Online Store

www.eStorefrontGuide.com

Start a Computer Reseller Business Online

www.InetStart.com

Answer 2

You hit it right on with  # 3

You need a business  plan

It takes a lot of work just like a brick and mortar store  

Answer 3

Answers to your questions:

(1) No you don't need permission, a city name is public domain. However, you should do a web search and see if anyone else is using that name for a clothing line. Just search under "beverly hills clothing" and see what comes up. If nothing comes up it doesn't guarantee that no one else is using the name for clothes, but it's a pretty good way to find out quick if the name is being used by someone else. Also, go to goDaddy. com and search for a domain name - that will also tell you if someone else is using the name. Don't worry if there is a "Beverly Hills Plumbing" or something like that - you are only worried about someone using it for clothing.

(2) Just take digital pictures, those are jpeg files that can be used on a web site.

(3) You don't need to incorporate, but you may need a business license of some kind, depending on your state and city. You will need to have a domain name and web site and a way to have people pay for the clothes. Many web hosting services (I use GoDaddy.com) have easy-to-use programs to make your own site, and you can use Google Checkout or Paypal as a payment mechanism.

It's going to take a lot of learning and effort on your part, but part of being successful in business is believing in your idea (and yourself) and being persistent, not giving up when it seems like it will be impossible. Good luck!

Answer 4

Start off using yahoo shopping or EBAY to make sure you get plenty of business before you go all out... once you actually get enough money to start something , start small and work your way up... just make sure you keep good books as you will need to keep your own taxes in order. Are you sure there isnt a company already called that?

see if that domain name is out there and available. go out and get it now just in case some one else trys to get it. its very cheap to get this.