I have an idea for an e-business, but I have no idea how to estimate start-up costs for this idea. I am wondering if anyone can give me some ballpark figures on developing a website and hosting this website. I know this is vague, but since I have never started one of these business I don't know what information to include. I WOULD LOVE for you to ask any questions that might help you give me a better answer. I am looking for some dialogue and to do some information gathering at this point to see if this idea is even feasible. Look forward to talking with someone who knows what's going on :)

I have been trying to figure the whole thing out myself
So far...

I know you have to include certain catchy key words for the search engine. The more popular the words are to the search the closer to the top of the list your site gets.

This place Online Stores .com - buy flags, flagpoles, tea, teapots, gifts, safety equipment & kitchen gadgets. is suppose to be helpful. I went to one seminar but couldn't make the next which cost $20. And they tell you about getting to the top of the search engine there.
I think for them to train, learn drop shipping, help build it up, and be connected to them it costs around $2,700.

Search engine ranking tool uncovers your top 1000 search engine placement positions in Google search engine

drop shipping - Google Search
Drop shipping

If you are going to use a third-party (Paypal, etc.) to receive payments? If you're using a third party, they generally have their own shopping cart systems that they want you to use and that are the best to work with their system.

Thanks for the info, but not really applicable to my business idea. SEO will not be as intrigal as with e-shopping sites. My site will provide a service advertised through other mediums, but the service will be provided at the website. I plan on having my own secure payment system.

The system I will be using and the model I would think this business would look most like would be a lendingtree.com or an insurance brokerage site.

Thanks for the help though!

Are you looking to give quotes of some kind?

How do you find your business like that of Lending Tree or an insurance brokerage?

If you can answer a few basic questions for me I can help point you in the right direction to get this done for as little as possible.

IF you can design your own web site, then you just buy a site, We own our site
Unity Catholic Church
And it costs us about 10 dollars a month, it is not fancy, but if we were a expert web designer or had a good program,

A company can pay several 100 dollars a month to have someone do basic maintaining of a site, to 1000's of dollars depending on how much work you need to do on the site.

So if you can do your own web design, it wlll cost very little, if you can't then it will be in the 1000's for professionaly done sites.

On the Secure payment issue We can help with establishing a Merchant account

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Originally Posted by abrudtkuhl

Are you looking to give quotes of some kind?

How do you find your business like that of Lending Tree or an insurance brokerage?

If you can answer a few basic questions for me I can help point you in the right direction to get this done for as little as possible.

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I wouldn't say I am looking for quotes, as I understand those are difficult to give without literally knowing the ins and outs of the business planned. I am more looking for a ball park for what I would spend and maybe the best way to go about hosting and maintaining such a site.

I do envision the company actually having its own webpage management and IT department at some point, but not at initial start-up.

As for why it would be similar to a lending tree or insurance borkerage is that is more or less a brokerage type site.

You would have customers on the front end paying to get the information and then companies on the back end paying to get those leads. So, front end customer friendly with secure payment options, back end would be information capture and relay to third parties with automatic billing to the third party.

If that doesn't make sense let me know. I am trying to give as much detail as I can without giving away the business idea... for obvious reasons ;-)

More questions fire away!

In other words the site would be like this.

Customer pays $5 to get their desired information and inputs there personal info.

This lead is processed for compatibility with third party providers.

The lead is forwarded to compatible third parties.

The receiving third parties are billed $1 for the lead.

Really a simple idea, but there needs to be drop down menus for the different information the customer may be interested in and I want it to look very professional and be user friendly from both ends.

Someone mentioned drop shipping, which I am not a fan of. It's a great way to get disconnected with your customers and let your business fail. See Tony Hsieh's book. I personally recommend using a green business like ParcelPool to ship your packages. They do <a href="https://myib.com/">cheap and quick shipping</a> while maintaining quality. Just remember that a close relationship with your customers will help you be more likely to succeed.

If you are dealing with money or personal info a ssl cert will be needed, not a big deal bt they cost. Also you will need serious vetting on anyone who buy info from you, remember Facebook and Google have millions of users and can qualify leads by search or post made by users. Hosting is another issue if you are using ssl you should use a dedicated server.

Before deciding the start-up factor cost, you must take care of your website. Because website is the primary source for your online e-business and without the help of website e-business has no real application. For more Web Design - Website Design Tutorials, Articles and Free Stuff