How do I open an online shoe store? I will be working from my home and
I don't know the steps specifically geared toward the shoe industry.

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Clarification of Question by vivacompassion-ga on 06 Feb 2005 15:37 PST

The more specific things I am unsure about is what software I should
use in the day-to-day production of the company (is there software
specifically geared to a shoe business???), if I need to get a
business license or just a tax ID (I'm doing business in the state of
GA and I've looked on the government websites but could not get
clarity on an answer),if I should hire an accountant, how I should
find a web desiger,how I find wholesalers/distributors to buy the
inventory I need. I know my demographic, I know the itmes I will have
for sale, and I have ideas for the specific design of the site. I just
need help working out the technical kinks. Thanks!

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Clarification of Question by vivacompassion-ga on 13 Feb 2005 15:56 PST

Wow. I feel that you've been very condescending and rude. No more
responses are necessary. This is not a service I will be using again.
P.S. Learn how to spell.

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Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 13 Feb 2005 16:04 PST

Please note that the remarks posted below by david1977 are NOT from an
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Well as it seems you don't have anything laid out for a plan. As such
there is so much you have to consider and do. For instance you need to
figure out your demographic i.e. who will you be mainly selling to.
You have to conider a website. Items you will have for sale. What you
want your site to look like and how it will function. If you decide on
a web script then you will have to choose which one. There is just way
to much here. It would proboly be best if you took some time and
looked around on other simular websites to get some general ideas. And
then repost any specific questions that you may have. You said you
don't know the specific steps. Out of all of this what are you unsure
about the most? If I knew that then I could help you further.

I would considering using a program such as quicken to handle your
buisness. You can purchase programs specifically built to maintain
your databsae but unless you plan on doing a huge amount of buisness
then I would stick with the basics on that. As for a accountant again
it all depends on your buisness growth. To start out I would just
maintain the data myself as it shouldn't be alot of extra work. Where
as if you hire a accountant then you have to pay them. Which is ok if
you can afford to but you don't want to pay out more than you bring
in. As is when starting a buisness it useually takes a little while
before you start seeing profit due to the extra expenses that this
will require. As for the items you want for sale... what are you
wanting to carry? Finding a wholesaler that fits your specifics needs
will be more of a task. Womens, mens, kids, dress shoes, athletic and
so fourth. Ok as for hireing a web designer. You can find many script
online that are avaliable some are free some cost. I am including one
link for this I am also including a link for a custom built website.
Genrally a custom built one will cost you any were from $500.00. I
will look for some clarification latter, for the tax id as I don't
have the time right now.

Some idea for templates.
http://www.hooverwebdesign.com/templates/tecommerce1.html

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Links for starting up a small buisness.
http://www.onlinewbc.gov/docs/starting/
http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/

Quicken
http://quicken.intuit.com/?src=www.quicken.com
All about starting a e-buisness.
http://www.entrepreneur.com/ebusiness/0,6292,,00.html

How are my responses condescending and rude? I was being helpful and
answering your questions for what you had asked. I had to find out
what specific informatin that you needed to complete this question for
you. This was a multipart question and as such I was trying to
elaborate on what you were looking for. If you were to re-ask this
question but be more specific on what you want and out of that what
you are looking for then maybe you will get a better answer. A note to
remeber the some official reaserchers on here do not try to answer
multipart questions that require alot of time unless the fee is
higher.

StoreSense is a good shopping cart software that is easy to use. It
all depends on the budget you have, what format your inventory is in
(a spreadsheet, database, etc.), and how you want to track inventory.
Let me know if you'd like more details.