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Starting an on-line business - an extremely helpful web... - 9/29/2007 5:52:44 PM   
SusanofO


Posts: 5672
Joined: 12/19/2005
Status: offline 		Well. I was completely serious yesterday when I mentioned I plan to start an on-line business selling home-made chocolate fudge. I've been making it for 15 years anyway, at Holiday time - and people appear to really like my fudge. I think it will sell, and I intend to really work at it. I have a friend who is a graphic designer - very talented - who I am paying to design my business website.

I spent all day doing reseach for packaging, supplies,  and getting information on how to pay taxes, how to incorporate, how to do shipping, and also how to price my products. I also looked into getting a big freezer, and a new micro-wave oven. I have more research left to do, too.

I am doing this with less than $3,000 in start-up costs. It could probably be done for less - but I want to pay my friend to design my own website (there are "pre-fabricated" websites you can semi-customize to suit your business available out there, that are pretty decent looking - or which can be made to look that way, though- that don't cost much, or that are free). 

Plus, I need packaging supplies, ingredients, and other equipment to get started. Plus a virtual web host, and a connection to an e-commerce  merchant, like Pay-Pal (which offers a set-up where they do all the work as far as accepting payments and processing and offerring secure servers to accept payment, etc., and thay accept all the major credit cards, plus Paypal payment for your business - for a monthly fee). So far, they look like my best option, but  haven't researched that aspect thoroughly yet - so I don't know for sure.

But all in all, I can't really complain about the start-up costs. Maybe in a few years, I will be able to afford to look into a brick-and-mortar location.

And I am counting on really working at this - I am truly willing to work my ass off to help it succeed. I am really into this idea.

Anyway -

I Just thought I'd pass on the address for a superb website I found - that tells, in very basic terms, what goes into starting an on-line business.  There are many decisions to consider. IMO, it was fascinating reading. Fortunately, since I was a Business major in college (Marketing Management), this doesn't particularly scare me - I think it's exciting! I can't believe I waited this long to do it.

Anyway - here is the address of the site. It is fantastic! Chock full of valuable information, IMO, for anyone contemplating starting an on-line business.

http://money.howstuffworks.com/online-biz-do-it.htm

I thought of some neat promotional ideas for my business, and how to set it apart. Free shipping for one thing. I very carefully started to research pricing and supply and ingredient costs - and I think I can make some decisions by Monday re: Pricing (although I still have some samples of packaging yet to receive in the mail and test).

I hope to be up and running by the time Hallowe'en rolls around. Maybe the first week of November, but hopefully not later than that - I don't want to miss a lot potential of Holiday sales, if I can help it.

I talked to a woman who owns a very popular neighborhood bakery about a mile from my house. She was best friends with my mother, before my mom died four years ago, and she has agreed to take 30 (or more if needed) of my 1-pound boxes of fudge, and sell them at a space from her counter - and I am giving her a cut of the profits. If it works out, and they sell fairly well, I'll deliver them to her on a weekly basis.

I am also looking into selling at Holiday Food fairs and boutiques around town. I am so revved up for this - so exicted! I can't wait to get started.

I will look into selling via direct mail after a few months - I can't do all of these things at once, but I don't intend to neglect direct mail as a viable avenue to maybe increase sales.   

Wish me luck! Although I won't advertise here (of course), I will let ya'll know when my site is up and running!

I think I am naming my business Suzanne's Delectable's - but I am not sure yet. I am not sure if I want to include the word Fudge in the name, because if I expand and start selling other goodies, I don't want to feel the name limiting me.

But - other ideas for names for the business are welcome. Just please don't be offended if I don't decide on what exactly to name the business right away - it might take a few weeks to settle on that for sure. But if anyone has ideas for that, or other comments or suggestions, I am all ears (really).
 
Although I am pretty confident this idea will succeed. Once I put my mind to something, I don't say" die" very easily. Plus, I did learn something in college, I like to think. And I have a bit of business experience in the real world besides this (10 years as a market analyst in "corporate America").

So - hopefully, things will go okay. I am sure there will be glitches, but  that doesn't scare me either. I am good at making a plan, and sticking to it, but flexible enough to be realistic, and I am pretty self-directed, so this idea is perfect for me.

I need a job I actually like, and really look forward to doing. And this is it! 

So far - all we are doing is fudge - I know enough to know it is best to start small and be really good at one thing, and gradually expand, rather than get tied up selling and making lots of stuff, at the very beginning. Although there is other stuff I know how to make besides fudge, that indeed tastes really good - I can do it later on down the line, I think. I am (so far) a one-woman operation. But I am totally committed to working this idea.

Guess I just wanted to tell people just how excited I am about this new venture. Thanks for listening.

- Susan

< Message edited by SusanofO -- 9/29/2007 6:47:28 PM >

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RE: Starting your own on-line business - a helpful website - 9/29/2007 6:13:54 PM   
Rule


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Status: offline 		Luck.
 
How about Suzanne's Delicious Delectable's ? Or is that too much?

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RE: Starting your own on-line business - a helpful website - 9/29/2007 6:18:37 PM   
SusanofO


Posts: 5672
Joined: 12/19/2005
Status: offline 		Rule: Well it's cute - and I like repeating the delicious-ness aspect, so I don't think repetitive needs to be veiwed as a problem. Thanks for the idea - I am keeping it on a list of potential names, and under my hat. I very much appreciate the contribution.

- Susan  

< Message edited by SusanofO -- 9/29/2007 6:28:40 PM >

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"Hope is the thing with feathers,
That perches in the soul,
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And never stops at all". - Emily Dickinson

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RE: Starting your own on-line business - a helpful website - 9/29/2007 6:22:22 PM   
popeye1250


Posts: 18104
Joined: 1/27/2006
From: New Hampshire
Status: offline 		Let me know when you start the cookies.
I LOVE Christmas cookies!

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RE: Starting your own on-line business - a helpful website - 9/29/2007 6:22:50 PM   
Rule


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Status: offline 		Should not it be Suzanne's Delicious Delectables ? I assume that delectable is meant to be plural here, or do not I understand this bit of English?

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RE: Starting your own on-line business - a helpful website - 9/29/2007 6:24:04 PM   
SusanofO


Posts: 5672
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Status: offline 		popeye: Cookies may come later - like next year. Or once (if) I move the production into a commerical kitchen. But I will make sure and let you know! 

- Susan

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"Hope is the thing with feathers,
That perches in the soul,
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And never stops at all". - Emily Dickinson

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RE: Starting your own on-line business - a helpful website - 9/29/2007 6:26:40 PM   
SusanofO


Posts: 5672
Joined: 12/19/2005
Status: offline 		Just wanted to say that the companion article listed (on the right, toward the bottom) - titled:

"How Promoting an Online Business Works" was also something I found very helpful, as well as just plain fascinating reading.

Rule:  Suzanne's Delicious Delectables would sound better, yes - I agree, and be spelled correctly (no apostrophe in Delectables. That was my mistake - I am pretty tired. I've been reading and or on the phone almost all day). It's a cute idea for a name. Thanks.

Actually, it's an idea for a name that's really growing on me.

- Susan

< Message edited by SusanofO -- 9/29/2007 7:08:39 PM >

_____________________________

"Hope is the thing with feathers,
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all". - Emily Dickinson

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RE: Starting your own on-line business - a helpful website - 9/29/2007 7:31:03 PM   
SusanofO


Posts: 5672
Joined: 12/19/2005
Status: offline 		I didn't mean to insinuate anyone needs a college degree to be successful at an online business, either. Because I don't believe that.

I do think my Marketing background will be helpful, but I think e-commerce is probably a great thing for people - maybe females especially (or anyone), who might lack resources for a larger enterprise, right off the bat. I like the control it gives me over (and it may be an illusion - time will tell) the pace at which I allow the business to grow. 

- Susan

< Message edited by SusanofO -- 9/29/2007 7:39:21 PM >

_____________________________

"Hope is the thing with feathers,
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all". - Emily Dickinson

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RE: Starting your own on-line business - a helpful website - 9/29/2007 7:37:49 PM   
feastie


Posts: 1793
Joined: 6/4/2004
Status: offline 		Susan,

I operate a home bakery.  One of the things you need to investigate as well is the laws regarding operating a home kitchen in your state.  They vary from state to state. 



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RE: Starting your own on-line business - a helpful website - 9/29/2007 7:41:16 PM   
SusanofO


Posts: 5672
Joined: 12/19/2005
Status: offline 		Thanks, feastie. My sister is helping me look into this (she is an attorney). So far, there appear to be no barriers to it, but she will know more on Monday.

Wow, you operate a home bakery? What do you make? Cookies? Breads? Who do you sell to? Do youn have a website?

Just curious.

- Susan

_____________________________

"Hope is the thing with feathers,
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all". - Emily Dickinson

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RE: Starting your own on-line business - a helpful website - 9/29/2007 7:48:41 PM   
KMsAngel


Posts: 17415
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Status: offline 		best of luck to you Susan! i'll certainly be rooting for your success!

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RE: Starting an on-line business - an extremely helpful... - 9/29/2007 7:50:48 PM   
OrionTheWolf


Posts: 7803
Joined: 10/11/2006
Status: offline 		Good luck Susan. One of my best clients started with something similar. It was dessert baskets, and the holidays was a big time for her. She expanded her garage into a kitchen, and now after 7 years does weddings, online sales, corporate meetings, and all sorts of desserts and gourmet cooking items. If you do it right, you could do real well. Get some good accounting software (Peachtree Accounting) and it will make things even easier on the books side.

Orion

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RE: Starting an on-line business - an extremely helpful... - 9/29/2007 7:52:04 PM   
KMsAngel


Posts: 17415
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Status: offline 		MYOB is pretty damn good too

actually, to amend this, if you use an accountant for your taxes, see what software they use, it can make the process much much smoother for both of you.

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RE: Starting an on-line business - an extremely helpful... - 9/29/2007 7:55:45 PM   
SusanofO


Posts: 5672
Joined: 12/19/2005
Status: offline 		Thanks you guys. I really appreciate the support, anf the tip about accounting software.

KMsAngel, I sent you an e-mail on the other side...

- Susan

_____________________________

"Hope is the thing with feathers,
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all". - Emily Dickinson

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RE: Starting an on-line business - an extremely helpful... - 9/29/2007 7:59:37 PM   
KMsAngel


Posts: 17415
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Status: offline 		yup, saw and responded.

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RE: Starting an on-line business - an extremely helpful... - 9/29/2007 8:09:44 PM   
ElectraGlide


Posts: 1246
Joined: 11/25/2005
From: Maryland
Status: offline 		Good luck with you new buisiness venture. You could try to sell your fudge on E-Bay, they have E-Bay Stores Buy Now Items. I started a E-Bay weekly auction routine a few months ago and it is going half decent and I have learned alot. I have put my antique and collectable buying skills to the selling test. If you want your item to be different try sneaking BDSM terms in your products, like subalicious fudge or dommley fudge to keep people guessing and asking what the hell does that mean.

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RE: Starting an on-line business - an extremely helpful... - 9/29/2007 8:19:19 PM   
KMsAngel


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Status: offline 		you have mail susan

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RE: Starting an on-line business - an extremely helpful... - 9/29/2007 9:04:46 PM   
popeye1250


Posts: 18104
Joined: 1/27/2006
From: New Hampshire
Status: offline 		Oh, and you'll need to accept credit cards too.

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RE: Starting your own on-line business - a helpful website - 9/29/2007 9:12:44 PM   
feastie


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quote:

ORIGINAL: SusanofO

Thanks, feastie. My sister is helping me look into this (she is an attorney). So far, there appear to be no barriers to it, but she will know more on Monday.

Wow, you operate a home bakery? What do you make? Cookies? Breads? Who do you sell to? Do youn have a website?

Just curious.

- Susan


I am a cake decorator, I make cakes.  I have a freebie website that I was playing around with for a while, but I've never built anything for customer use.  This is mostly my hobby that MUST pay for itself as I don't have the kind of time available to turn it into a fulltime venture.  As far as the regulations regarding operating a home kitchen, it's a state regulation thing. 

I took the liberty of looking at your profile Susan, to get your state of residence and found the following food code.  This may or may not apply, but would be a good place to start.  http://www.agr.state.ne.us/regulate/daf/fdcode.htm

< Message edited by feastie -- 9/29/2007 9:13:36 PM >

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Disclaimer: Any views expressed in any post are my opinions only. They may or may not be yours.

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RE: Starting your own on-line business - a helpful website - 9/29/2007 9:23:55 PM   
scifisub42


Posts: 22
Joined: 1/1/2004
Status: offline 		how about ' Susan's Fudge and More"  or just "Fantastic Fudge and More"
?

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