Our
network of Internet professionals can create a shopping cart for you
(get the details to see their work).
Right now, though, we'll give you a general feel for what you should
think about and what costs you might face.
Like other technology, shopping carts come in many shapes and sizes
with diverse prices and performance. The best option really depends
on what you expect to accomplish.
Chances are, you want to do as little as possible
and simply receive orders and collect the cash. In most cases,
though not all, you'll need to consider several factors.
Will you accept credit cards?
Your answer is probably a resounding "YES!" Who would want
to send out a product and hope the customer pays for it sometime
before this century ends?
Are you set up to handle the fulfillment?
That could be as simple as you opening a box, placing the product in
it and sending it on its way. Of course, there are many other
issues, such as product availability within your inventory.
Do you have a merchant account?
If you do, is it a traditional terminal or do you plan to use a
virtual online terminal (entering the credit card number online).
You can use the regular, physical terminal; just get the credit card
info off the orders that come your way.
Do you know how to get a merchant account?
The Internet is loaded with tons of services. We're sure they're
honest and everything, but we believe you're better off going with a
brand, like a major national or regional bank. What happens to your
merchant account if the small guy goes out of business? Chances are,
a huge company with tons of customers, will stick around or its
assets (including you) will get absorbed into another company down
the line. Expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $500. If you find free
ones, please be suspicious; they have to make up their money
somewhere.
Are you flexible about payment arrangements?
We're not an affiliate of Pay Pal -- and we really hate that name
(sounds like Swimming Buddy or Lunch Buddy or
Cross-the-Street-With-Me Buddy). But we have to admit, it's a simple
way to sell your fine products over the Internet. The fees aren't
out of hand. And you don't even need a merchant account. Pay Pal
sends you a check to cover what you're owed or will deposit the
sales into your bank account. Sign
up at Pay Pal today and learn more.
Ready for the fees? Here's a sample of what you might expect to
pay every month just to have e-commerce on your Web site:
Shopping Carts
You may pay a shopping cart service $50 to $100 a month just to
place your products on their servers and have the transactions take
place with their technology. Sometimes that covers your base Web
site hosting, sometimes it doesn’t. Otherwise you can host Web
sites for $20-$25 a month. Yes, you can go cheaper; you get what you
pay for, right?
Secure Transactions
If a third-party hosts your shopping cart, you may be able to
piggy-back on its security protection, meaning your customers can be
assured that the data is encrypted. Otherwise, you may need to get
your own SSL Web Server Certificate (Secure Sockets Layers). Expect
to pay $200-$300 a year. Thawte
has them for $199.
Real-time processing charges include:
-
Percentage of each sale (some places charge
about 2.5%)
-
Per transaction fee ($0.30 is common)
-
Secure Gateway Fee ($10 per month)
-
Minimum Discount Fee ($25 per month regardless
of how many sales you have)
-
Statement fee ($10 per month is common)
National Shopping Carts
Many major Web site hosting services are partnered with shopping
carts. It makes sense since the transactions happen on the host
company's servers. Ask your national host of choice what they can do
for you
Regional Assistance
Static Web sites that don't need e-commerce can be hosted virtually
anywhere without a hitch. It's worth working with a local or
regional company that can sit down with you and come up with the
right shopping cart performance that works for you. The pricing
really depends on the complexity of your needs.
Again, we offer a number of solutions. Learn
more.
