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| 1. How do I start selling items on my website? |
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| Selling items online is becoming more and more popular with website owners due to the internet being a global market place. A company can set up one website that can be accessed by millions for a fraction of the cost of setting up physical premises which would only be accessible to local people. Therefore, selling items online can prove very profitable. |
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| Pretty much anyone with a website can begin to sell items online. The simple method is to make use of 3 rd party transaction agencies such as PayPal or Worldpay. These 3 rd organisations take care of any electronic transactions that are carried out on your website and are an extremely useful method for selling items online. However, there is usually a small fee involved with each transaction in return for the agency providing the service. |
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| However, a more efficient but more complicated method is to set up your own merchant account. This can prove quite difficult, especially if your company is fairly new. To open your own merchant account, you will need to contact a bank and provide them with documentation to prove you are eligible for an account. The benefit of a merchant account is that there is no processing fee to be paid to a 3 rd party. |
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| If you are unsure of whether selling items online will be a success, the best option would be to use a 3 rd party transaction agency as the set up cost is small, or even free in some instances. If you then find that enough business is being generated, it would be advisable to apply for merchant status so that you receive the full amount from any transactions. |
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| If you are considering selling items online, Xyone can develop a bespoke e-commerce solution to suit your budget, eliminating the problems associated with setting up shopping carts and registering with a transaction agency. For further information, please see our section on e-commerce. |
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