Starting an on-line business... advice?

Lots of ways to solve your problem. So I'll just give you some of my recommendations.

Godaddy.com is a good place to register a domain. You can also have them host your site, although there are probably better vendors out there for hosting. Your host should also provide you with an ecomerce solution.

For a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) program to build your site on a Mac I'd suggest dreamweaver.

There are also plenty of sites that offer templates for you to start with. Just google web site templates.

The best site for all webmaster issues, especially how to optimize a site so that search engines will find it, is webmasterworld.com.

But to get started, why not just try EBAY. There's no need to build a site, you can just work with their tools. If things start going, then spend the time developing your own site.

Wow, Chucky... you sure made that sound hard. I like Don's way better. We're trying to do this on the cheap, because Dad's profit margin is already pretty slender since he won't try to sell these things for what they're worth....

I remember using that Dreamweaver program in HS and just couldn't remember the name. Does it or a similar program come PC-compatible or do I have to fire up the ol' Mac again?

What does "ecomerce solution" mean?

I tried to get Dad to go with Ebay, but he turned that down automatically... I could only convince him to do the website thing. He's not exactly a 'let's try something new' kinda guy.

Just saw this - you might have already gotten enough answers, but I have a domain name/website/email through www.networksolutions.com and it's VERY easy.  Just registered my domain with them, then set up the website through their program - it was about as easy as putting together a powerpoint presentation.  Just pick a template and add your stuff.  You can update your website as often as you want. 

Not sure what they have as far as online purchasing capability (i.e. shopping cart, checkout etc.) as those are options above the basic website, but it's probably worth checking into.  I pay something like $7/month for a 5 page website and email box, and think it comes across as decently professional (now if I could just be better about keeping it updated!!). My only complaint is that my site is a bit slow for my taste...

Good luck!

Edited by Stacers 2005-03-14 4:32 PM

Lots of great ideas for the "tech" end of your venture but don't forget to do a stakeholder analysis & determine to whom you're selling which in turn will help you develop the site. Develop a matrix of technologies you feel are needed to optimize the web experience based on your targeted consumer market, a matrix that moves the customer from interest to action or buying. For example, will you need to provide images, what kind of images, slide shows, video, etc. It may be helpful to develop a basic marketing/e commerce plan & get your thoughts in writing so you can express the concepts to any web designers you employ.