how does one open an internet store?

[Punch]

What does it cost to open a webstore selling parts?
Are the parts stocked at your place or direct shipped from vendors?
How much to get credit card processing?
any and all info welcome.

thinking of an online store based in Canada.

[Mark1]

Each one of the questions could be answered with "it depends" meaning ---
The cost to open - are you going to do the web development your self or hire a web master?
Stocking parts- could be here or there or a bit of both ( they stock the bulky stuff you stock the small stuff )
Not sure of the credit card part but i think it depends on the volume of transactions.

And part of it is how much you want to spend. You could do it in a way that puts you under in 2 weeks. or with pocket money. But in any case I encourage you to find out all you can before you decide to do it or not.

I am in the middle of doing this my self but with a Chromeing company.

Couple of links to check out....
http://www.shoppingcartsplus.com/doo...=1,3,0,0,0,146
http://www.websitesbuilders.com/
http://www.silvertidesoftware.com/eS...tion_V1.00.asp

or ask Jeeves.... http://web.ask.com/web?q=how+do+i+op...ore&o=0&qsrc=0

[Sci-Fi]

The following is just a general scenario and some of it may not apply to your situation. Do your research throughly:

Be sure to add up all your costs first and have them covered. The ideal internet only store would have an account and contract with either and/or a wholesaler(s), the manufacturers, or distributor(s), where the order is filled and shipped directly from them. Due to the fluidity or minute popularity of products, the less stock you have on hand, the better. But there are drawbacks when you have returns, replacement item(s), and/or refunds and you may have factor in extra shipping costs, either shipping back to the customer or sending back the defective or an unwanted product(s) to the point of origin. Many forget to factor in the cost of packaging (boxes, labels, and protective filler peanuts. All this will affect the pricing of your products and you may have noticed some business charge a non-refundable handling fee (either a set fee or 1-5% of the purchase price). Some setup a business account with UPS or another shipper and have pickup and delivery at their home address daily or as needed.

Then you have business (DBA) filing and sales tax license fees (for local and state/province sales) to pay to the govt. Some areas require filing a certified business name forms (need this to open a bank account)plus publish it in your local newspaper(s) for 4 weeks (need proof you did it too). Some local govts may waive a business filing IF your sales are below a certain threshold or have special home business exceptions and fees. Some businesses may decide to incorporate to shield personal assets from a possible bankruptcy or failing of the business. Pay yourself a salary and don't tap into your personal accounts to pay for any shortcomings of the business. Need to keep accurate records of any sales tax collected and sent to the govt.

Credit card sales have a per transaction charge ranging from 25-50 cents, plus a monthly and initial setup fee. Also there is usually a 5-7% of the total purchase price holdback fee, where that amount is released to you on a quarterly basis by the CC company/service. So you won't be getting all your money immediately.

Many internet business services, as mentioned by previous posts, can set you up fairly quickly at a relatively low cost and even provide webstore templates, domain registration, and hosting services. But the state wants their share too and will audit the mess out of you and place heavy fines and back taxes owed, if they find out you are operating a business without their knowledge or proper permits.

And customer service isn't even discussed yet. Often overlooked but very important to any business. It should be noted that in your "About Us or Contact Us" section, you should have a phone number AND physical address listed as well as hours of business where you can be contacted. No P.O. Boxes. Anything less would be a red flag for most internet shoppers. Many home businesses post a disclaimer of sorts, where they state to leave a message and will return your call or e-mail ASAP or within a time period. Also, a phone call to notify a customer of any unforeseen delays is appreciated more than an e-mail.

Sounds like a lot to do and consider, but you need to cover all the bases for a smooth startup at minimal costs. Here is a link about small business for Canada you can read: http://sbinfocanada.about.com/bl_homebizonestop.htm