WebHow to Start a Web BusinessOne of the most popular myths on the Internet claims that starting an online store is easy: all the customer has to do is point, click and buy . But in reality, successful e-commerce is much more complex and unlike any other website project you've tackled in the past. Before that first cyber money ends up in your bank account, you need to do considerable research and planning. For starters, you can start thinking about all the issues that need to be addressed before you can even develop a successful online business plan. Now you can imagine a real business suddenly deciding to consider the e-commerce “welcome” announcement. Suppose you work for Ford Motor Company, the nation's leading supplier of heavy-duty trucks. Your CEO is catching up on the economic headlines of the past few months and when the spark plugs are starting to light. These blaring headlines cannot be ignored: "Consumer E-Commerce Will Reach 26 Billion by 2002" and "U.S. E-Commerce Will Reach 1.3 Trillion by 2003." More importantly, Chevy is rumored to be launching its own e-business plan. So the bigwig meets with the board, and after much agonizing deliberation, you're told they want www.ford.com up in six weeks. They often insist. After all, there are millions of idiots creating award-winning websites and earning a plethora of money to pay for college. Register the ford.com domain name for the business right away, then make your plan. Plan in advance for unexpected ecommerce pitfalls that may surprise you in unexpected ways. Planning ahead will not only save you time during redesign, but it will also help you make informed decisions when choosing the right ecommerce solution for your business. The Many Choices to Start Before you can select the right setup for your e-commerce business, you need to determine exactly what you need to compete online. You will likely need software to help you manage your products, promotions, customers and their orders. You may also need additional programs to handle processing taxes, shipping, and payment for your orders.2 on 3