How to Start Your First Online Store

There are 4 Essential Steps to starting an online store.

Let's look at them one by one shall we?

1. Have a Product

Find something to sell that you can buy, (or make), cheaply and sell for more.

Get ideas by attending auctions, flea markets, and garage sales.

Do searches online to see what kinds of prices different items are fetching.

If you are crafty, search craft forums to get ideas and tips on things to make and how to do it.

Buy something on ebay or Bonanzle and ask yourself, what about this buying process was fun for me? What could I sell to recreate this experience for others?

Importantly, get out a calculator and figure out all of the costs involved, and make sure that what you are looking to sell will be profitable.

2. Start a Website for Free

I started this website for free. When I was ready to make use of the more advanced features, I upgraded to a package that costs $10 a month.

Click here to start your own website for free.

3. Take Pictures

Good quality pictures are obviously important. All the info you need to do this is available with simple Google searches. Here are some tips to get you started:

-If you do not have a lighting system of some kind, natural light is your friend. Go outside.

-If the items you are photographing are small, invest in a closeup lens.

-Try a bunch of different angles and lighting conditions.

4. Figure out Shipping in Advance

Shipping can make or break you. Some items are easy to ship, and others cost a fortune.

Find out ahead of time how much the items you are thinking about selling will cost to ship. This is better than selling an item for $25 and then finding out it will cost $50 to ship it.

I use Canada Post. If you have the patience of a saint, this website will eventually give you an idea of how much it costs to ship things.

If you plan to sell a lot of items, buy shipping supplies in bulk. I use Uline.