Product Description

So you want to own your own business, be your own boss, set your own hours, and make real money. If you’re comfortable with computers and have a marketable idea, service, or product, this guide will help you become an ontrepreneur (online entrepreneur). It covers everything you need to know to set up shop in cyberspace. You’ll find out about using established storefronts as a shortcut (sort of like setting up shop in a huge, established cybermall) or building your own Web site from scratch. You’ll explore:

• Doing research, defining your niche and target market, and putting it together in a practical business plan
• Getting the hardware and software you’ll need to get going
• Creating your own Web site with good organization, useful content, and eye-catching design, including ten must-have features and info on clip art and photos
• Selecting a Web hosting service (with info on free Web site homesteading)
• Setting up for handling business online, including building in security, accepting charge cards, creating shopping carts, and more
• Managing your goods and services, including sourcing goods, handling returns, adding shipping fees, and maintaining inventory
• Taking advantage of successful online business models, including storefronts such as Amazon.com, Yahoo!, CafePress, PayPal, or Microsoft that already have all the tools and systems, plus great traffic  
• Running a business on eBay
• Marketing your business and the secrets to search engine success
• Keeping good business records and staying on the right side of the law, including everything from trademarks , copyrights, and licensing to taxes, with info on accounting tools and software

Written by e-biz whiz Greg Holden, Starting an Online Business For Dummies, Fourth Edition has all kinds of case studies of successful cyber businesses, including a woman who sells her own insect repellent, a mapmaker, a housewife who sells sweetener and coffee on eBay, a sculptor and painter, and more. Packed with inspiration and information, it includes:

• Lots of Web sites that will give you good ideas
• A companion Web site that includes an online directory of Internet business resources
• A list of legal and business requirements

Get going, and build a booming business right at home. The only people you’ll have to take orders from are customers, and those are the kind of orders you’ll like!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #210504 in Books
• Published on: 2005-03-04
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 408 pages

Book Info
Discusses how to incorporate the latest innovations in marketing and technology, how to develop a business model, select an online host, understand Web server and software basics, and market your site aggressively. Softcover. CD-ROM included.

From the Back Cover
Begin and build a booming business right at home!

Establish your online presence, make money on eBay, and find the secrets to search engine success

How'd you like your morning commute to be a short walk in your bedroom slippers? The market for online businesses is better than ever, and here's the place to start. Identify your market, choose a Web hosting service, lock down security, promote your business, stay on the right side of the law, run a business on eBay, work wth affiliates and middlemen — and love what you're doing!

Discover how to

• Draw up a cyberbusiness plan
• Select and acquire equipment and inventory
• Accept credit card payment
• Improve your search engine ranking
• Set up Amazon, Yahoo!, and other storefronts

About the Author
Greg Holden is the founder of Stylus Media, which creates Web pages for small businesses. An eBay PowerUser, he has authored more than 25 books and numerous magazine articles.

Customer Reviews

Everything for the basics,at least
I am pretty new to the internet business concept, so I knew that this DUMMIES book would be a good start. The book is filled brim to brim with loads of information, more than I expected. It will take a while to finish, because it really covers so much ground. And as usual, it matches the witty and fun style used in the DUMMIES books, which is good for people who are easily bored in reading educational books. I recommend it to anyone looking for a thorough but fun book written by an expert.

Good for the price
This book is a good read for the price. It's really informative but the bad thing is that it says it comes with a cd but it doesn't.

STARTING AN ONLINE BUSINESS FOR DUMMIES
I have boughten several of the for dummies series and found them to be quite helpful. One of the series is the one listed above. I found it to be very informative. I have not completed the book, but intend to finish it. So I can get my online company up and running. The book has given me a lot of new ideas in starting a strictly online business.