eCommerce for Small Businesses

Sell your goods and services online no longer belongs to large corporations. Now small businesses and business start ups can use

eCommerce

to sell online and make money. It is relatively cheap now to sell goods and services online through your website thanks to open source shopping carts such as

osCommerce

,

Virtuemart

and

FreeWay

.

Now that eCommerce is relatively simple to setup and cost effective more businesses that operate purely online are popping up. You can now access markets that you wouldn't generally be able to access with a brick and mortar shop front.

Shopping Cart

The shopping cart is the system or set of systems that allows you to conduct commerce online. There are many different shopping carts that each have their own strengths and weaknesses. You can also choose between Commercial and Open Source Shopping Carts.

Common features supported by shopping carts.

• List your goods and services and categorised.
• Allow selected goods and services to be added to a cart.
• Calculate Shipping methods.
• Support multiple payment processors.
• Order reporting.

 

Security Certificate (SSL)

A Security Certificate also know as a SSL tells visitors to your website that your website can be trusted. Customers need to trust your business before they will make a purchase.

Common providers of SSL certificates:

• Verisign
• Thwat
• Comodo

 

Dedicated IP Address

You need a dedicated IP address for your Security Certificate (SSL) to work. You can get a dedicated IP Address from your hosting provider.

 

Payment Processor / Internet Payment Gateway

The payment processor or Internet Payment Gateway is responsible for verifying the customers details are valid and for processing the transaction.

Common payment processors are:

• PayPal
• PayMate
• WorldPay
• eziwebpay

Internet Merchant Account

This account is provided to you by your bank. For payment processors such as PayPal, PayMate and eWay you don't need an Internet Merchant Account, funds are deposited directly to your bank account or a cheque mailed to you.

Common Payment Processor / Internet Payment Gateway providers:

• St George Bank
• National Bank of Australia (NAB)
• Commonwealth Bank
• Bank of Queensland
• Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ)

PayPal Fees

Below is a list of PayPal fees for Australia as of the 12/03/2009.

$0.00 AUD - $5,000.00 AUD	2.4% + $0.30 AUD
$5,000.01 AUD - $15,000.00 AUD	2.0% + $0.30 AUD
$15,000.01 AUD - $150,000.00 AUD	1.5% + $0.30 AUD
> $150,000.00 AUD	1.1% + $0.30 AUD

 

Conclusion

eCommerce is affordable for the smallest of businesses. Call us on 1300 736 921 to talk to a consultant that can help you start selling your goods and services online or visit our eCommerce solution page.