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Women own almost half of all home-based businesses and one-third of businesses operating from other locations.

Women setting up business from home is the fastest growing sector of the Australian economy.

Women make or influence 80% of all purchasing decisions.

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Women owned businesses have less external debt, are more profitable and profitable much earlier than those owned by men.

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Starting Your eCommerce Shop Front

By: Tanya Honeychurch, Lifelong Careers

The reach of the Internet and the speed at which it is reshaping the way we interact and purchase goods cannot be ignored. Ecommerce is the vehicle of the 21st century, and it is offering millions of small businesses the opportunity to participate on a more level playing field of enterprise and income.

Doing big business online is no longer just the domain of large corporations, with so many small businesses now operating with a slick and professional online presence.

Just as when operating from physical business premises, online businesses regardless of size or turnover need to be diligent with constantly updating their content, products, information and services. However, for online businesses the task is less costly and can be done with the click of a mouse.

There are three main types of Internet businesses that operate locally or globally:

• Selling goods and services.
• Extending a ‘bricks and mortar’ business.
• Selling information and associated services.

The many benefits of running an Internet business include:

1. Low start-up costs.
2. Quick start-up time frames – much less time is required than a business operating from physical premises.
3. You can compete with companies and organisations of any size.
4. Scalable potential – your product or service can be sold just as easily to one person as it could to 100. Once you have created a product it can be sold over and over again without replacing stock or requiring extra resources such as staff to manage large orders.
5. Passive income potential – your website is open 24/7, which means sales can be occurring overnight while you sleep!
6. Access to the global marketplace – which means you are no longer restricted to sales in your local community or country.
7. Quick market response – the internet allows for rapid data to update you about the popularity of a product, where your customers are coming from, and the average sale price etc. using software applications. An Internet business can be almost fully automated with minimal labour input from you or your team.

Beware because just as you can quickly set up an Internet business, so too can a competitor. If you can cope with this then you will be doing well.

You must have an open mind to technology and educate yourself about the rapid changes that can take place. Sometimes you need to go where it takes you.

How to Run An Internet business:

Be Proactive:

• Sign up to the plethora of industry expert websites who all specialise in particular niches of Internet business.
• Join business network groups in your town, suburb or city and share information with these people.
• Attend group seminars and ‘summits’ run by perceived Internet ‘gurus’.
• Read as many online business books as you can borrow or buy.

Find Help:

• Establish a good working relationship with a web designer and start asking questions related to operating and marketing your online business.
• Look in bookstores or sites such as Amazon for online business self-help books and start reading as much as you can.
• Find other like-minded people and start exchanging information about online gurus.

Research and be clear about your sense of purpose and about what you are offering online. The Internet could be the vehicle for creating an income and flexible lifestyle that you may have always wanted.