How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Web-Based Business: With Companion CD-ROM
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With e-commerce expected to reach $40 billion and online businesses anticipated to increase by 500 percent through the year 2010, you need to be a part of this exploding area of Internet sales. If you want to learn about… More >>
How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Web-Based Business: With Companion CD-ROM
How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Web-Based Business by Beth Williams paints an honest picture of exactly what you need to do to start your own web-based business. There’s a lot more to it than just sticking some products up on a web site and hoping they sell.
This book provides you with all the steps you need to follow, things you need to consider, advantages and disadvantages of a web-based business, resources and where to find them, and probably just important things you shouldn’t do. Reading it almost makes me what to start my own web-based business. The knowledge to do so is included in this book with all the resources included. Various helpful web sites such as web sites for payment options, Better Business Bureau, and drop shippers, are listed throughout the book and compiled conveniently at the end.
This book is definitely a must-read for anyone who is considering starting a web-based business. The author details all of the many things to consider when embarking on this adventure that I would have never thought of until I read this book.
Rating: 5 / 5
Mass amounts of goods are purchased daily online, making Web-based businesses an exciting part of today’s commerce structure. In fact, a study indicates that by 2010, sales should reach $329 billion.
This book starts out addressing this potentially lucrative virtual business opportunity, its history and its role today. In the first section, readers can discover if they have what it takes to open and operate a financially successful Web-based business before they discover how to get started. The second section helps readers uncover the niche business that’s best for them, and then delves into business-based tasks such as creating a business plan, naming and then legalizing a Web-based business.
Once the formalities are covered, readers learn what it takes, physically and financially, to launch a cyberspace-based business. The book touches upon federal and state taxes, pricing and return policies, and what not to do. This how-to guide walks readers through deciding whether or not to design a site independently or hire it out, deciding who handles the content, then covers various security issues pertinent when running a virtual store.
Other topics addressed that will be valuable to Web-based business endeavors include whether or not to use search engines, marketing the Web-based business and garnering repeat customers and a steady flow of traffic to the site. The obvious bonus to this book is the valuable CD-ROM that accompanies it, which contains all of the forms found in the book, as well as a pre-written, editable business plan in Microsoft Word format. With e-commerce expected to reach $40 billion and online businesses anticipated to increase by 500 percent through the year 2010, this book will help guide readers through the requirements to be successful online.
Rating: 4 / 5
Haven’t we all had dreams of working from home in our pajamas, being our own boss, with no one to answer to but ourselves? Dreams like these can become reality, according to Beth Williams. She is the author of How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Web-Based Business; a guide that can get you on the fast track to launching a website for your already-established company or guide you through the processes of parlaying your business idea into a marketable force on the internet.
With a significant rise in internet-based sales each year, businesses have recognized the importance of having a website for their merchandise. Williams details the brief history of web-based businesses, and explains how the upcoming “dot com boom” will learn from the past mistakes made during the first boom in the early nineties. She asks readers insightful questions about their web-based business intentions, which requires anyone reading the guide to be honest about their intentions. Are you serious about establishing a successful business, or are you having fanciful thoughts of never having to wear your business attire, or tolerate the daily grind of commuter traffic? After making it through Beth Williams’s question and answer session, readers will know where their true intent lies.
In no way does Williams lead us to believe that this guide is a magical link to web-based business success; she continuously reminds us that this endeavor will require much forethought and perseverance. Just because you may have the desire to own and operate an internet based business, certainly doesn’t mean you have the tools you need for it to be successful. This 290 page guide illustrates that there are MANY steps and concrete planning that must take place before establishing yourself in the web-based business world. Williams discusses how to find your “niche”, and gives practical advice on how to determine if there is a legitimate market for your idea.
This guide is a stellar handbook for anyone looking to initiate a web-based business, because Williams covers every aspect of launching and running a site. If you are not computer savvy, Williams offers suggestions and explains how to find a professional web designer, and how to use templates to create web pages. With the right idea, anyone can have a profitable website…even those who have basic computer skills. Exceptional and creative ideas are also offered by the author to enhance your webpage once it has been established; ideas that are insightful and easy to implement.
This book achieves a rating of four out of five stars, and should be considered a vital guide for any entrepreneur wanting to expand their business or ideas onto the internet.
Rating: 4 / 5
Usually when I think of a web based business I immediately think of get rich quick schemes, at home data entry scams and other frauds. However the author realizes that I’m not alone in my first reaction. Ms. Williams starts off making sure the reader knows that she isn’t about to give out any secrets to getting rich instantly. Instead of get rich stories the reader is given the opposite and reminded of the dot com boom and crash not so long ago.
The reader is encouraged to treat their web based business like any other business. Once the reader is given a reality check the author takes their hand and guides them how to start their business. She helps the reader decide on their niche to narrow down business ideas and explains how to write a business plan.
The reader really gets a step by step explanation, and therefore it is a really good book for someone who knows absolutely nothing about the business process. Those who are well versed in setting up a business or who already have a small business but want to go online, would find this book less helpful. So the book isn’t for everyone. As I was reading I was glad to be mothered by the author, as she held my hand explaining everything. But if I knew anything about business then I probably would not appreciate mother as much. However, if one wants someone to hold their hand through the entire process of setting up their business then this definitely the right book.
Rating: 5 / 5
How to Open and Operate a Financially Successful Web-Based Business is a legitimately useful guide to making money as an Internet entrepreneur. Unlike many sources of `advice’ for making money on the web, Web-Based Business gives the reader a complete set of tools in order to make a real business work. Author, Beth Williams, goes into extensive detail including everything from choosing a business name to promoting your site once it goes live. I found some helpful tips even for improving my own blog.
The book got off to a strong start and was engaging, especially when discussing the preliminary decision-making process necessary before starting any business. The text became a little dry in spots, which considering the topics (like the tax differences among various business structures) was forgivable. Some of the tax information could have also contained a little more in the way of explanation. For example, the section on excise taxes was vague, stating that it only applies to, “certain types of businesses,” that “manufacture or sell certain products.” It would have been nice to get some idea of what those businesses or products were. I found a couple of minor inconsistencies or inaccuracies. For instance, Williams says that Skype is free for Verbdate members, when in fact in can be downloaded for free by anyone. The index was a little off as well, which made it a little challenging to go back and search for information.
Williams handled some of the more technical aspects of setting up a web-based business well. I particularly liked the web-design chapters and found the information helpful without being over my head.
Overall, the book was well done, pretty well researched, and engaging to read. There were a couple of flaws, so I’d give it 4 stars out of 5 and would recommend it, although, be prepared to do a little more digging on your own.
Rating: 4 / 5
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