It is possible to earn money online, running your business from home. But in order to do this, you have to have a website. Most people who start a home business will try to build their own, that’s fine if you know what you’re doing, but it can reflect very badly if you don’t. Home based business websites should look professional but not too flashy!

Some work from home opportunities include a website when you sign up, but if you’re starting a business, consider one of two options.

1) Pay someone to build your website for you. Look around you, websites can be purchased cheaply these days.

2) Use a free template or a paid template. Web designers also work from home and are happy to work for low rates to start their own online or home business.

Make sure your website is consistent.

Your clients will want to see a consistent web design. Most users will have an impression of your site within seconds. The difference between a good looking site and a bad looking site is a potential lost sale.

If you’re running an eCommerce business from home, don’t try to create the shopping cart yourself. Use a third party product like PayPal, particularly good at selling some products and well respected. Payment processors like PayPal take care of your data protection requirements and allow you to continue promoting your business online.

third party software

With a small investment, you can buy an entire shopping cart, or if you’re on a tight budget, you can use an open source e-commerce product. Either way, if your home business sells a lot of products, why try to reinvent the wheel?

Paid hosting or free hosting?

Do not make me laugh! A year of Internet hosting with your own domain name costs less than taking someone out to dinner. If you don’t make this investment, why bother starting a home business? Owning a domain adds professionalism to your business. How many www. mysite.myinternetserviceprovidername.com Have you seen websites that are successful online businesses?

How much does all this cost?

Hosting your new website and outfitting it with eCommerce can cost you less than $100 per year. This depends on how many products you sell and how much of the work you are prepared to do yourself. But be realistic, know your limitations, and know when to ask for help!

Good luck working from home.