Ten Reasons to Have an Online Business

Are you considering an online business, but need a little more convincing? We could probably list a hundred or more reasons why an online business is a good idea, but for today, we will start with ten basic reasons.

Cost Effective: all right, so it is downright cheap! You will not find any other business that is so inexpensive to start up as an online business. You can spend (literally) millions of dollars starting a brick-and-mortar business, but for an Internet site you can literally get started for a few dollars! By carefully watching my costs and purchases, I was pleased to determine that my first year in e-Commerce cost less than $300 and I had my first sale in the first month!

Reduce Order Fulfillment Costs: handling orders for your products by phone or mail can be very expensive and time-consuming. Handling orders via a website is more efficient, costs less and is fast and accurate. You can further reduce your costs, time and risks if you secure the services of an online payment processing center.

Your Catalog is Always Current: if you have ever struggled with updating a product catalog and then shipping it to your customers or as part of a marketing campaign, then you will love the online catalog! You can easily update and make changes to your catalog and immediately post it for your customers.

Say Goodbye to High Printing and Mailing Costs: Because your customers can download an electronic copy of your catalog or other materials, printing and mailing costs become ancient history. You may still want to print some materials, but your costs will be far less than if you were using professional printing or mailing services.

Reduced Staffing Costs: with a website there is no need for a lot of manpower and the associated high costs.

Service 24 – 7: while you are sleeping, vacationing, or off having fun, your website is still fully functional, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This brings all new meaning to the term “passive” income!

A Global Audience: The Internet is unlimited in terms of the global audience that it can bring to your business doorstep. The Web is a borderless market. It is great fun to watch your site log and see visitors streaming in from all parts of the world. Just a hint, but make sure your payment processing center can handle foreign money exchanges so you can reap the benefits.

No Permits and Minimal Hassle: You will want to check in your local region, but in most parts of the country, small Web businesses can be established without permits and with little government involvement. If you start expanding and adding employees you will need to know and understand the laws in your city, county or state, but for the most part, you can kick off a new business without the hassle of filling out a pile of paperwork or forms.

Customer Service is Simpler: with a Web business you will not have angry customers in your face or shouting at you. You can’t ignore a customer if they contact you with a problem or a complaint, but for the most part you can deal with these simply, easily and quickly without the hassle of face-to-face confrontations.

Broadcast Your Message Easily and Quickly: As the owner and Webmaster of your business, you are in total control of the email and marketing campaigns that you launch for your business. When your site is well designed and your products well done, you will have the ability to catch the attention of your customers and convert them into good-paying customers.

You may have other reasons for wanting a Web business and we recognize that there could be hundreds more on your list. The key here is in knowing what your reasons are for doing an online business and then being persistent enough to launch them through. Starting any business is not necessarily easy, but it is definitely a road that has transported many a person from rags to riches without risky start-up costs, hassle and time that is required for a traditional brick-and-mortar business. That makes online businesses a tough competitor with lots of value that is hard to beat anywhere else!

About the Author: Michele has successfully launched five websites. She enjoys learning more everyday about eCommerce and likes to share what she has learned with others.

Publishing Rights: You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print, in your ebook or on your website, free of charge, as long as the author's information and web link are included at the bottom of the article and the article is not changed, modified or altered in any way. The web link should be active when the article is reprinted on a web site or in an email. The author would appreciate an email indicating you wish to post this article to a website, and the link to where it is posted.

Copyright 2005, Michele Webb. All Rights Reserved