Starting an Online Business Quick Guides

Being an online entrepreneur myself, I frequently get asked by friends who are hoping to get into online business on how to actually start their own.

The good thing about putting up an online business is that it’s not costly in comparison to actually engaging in a business where you have to deal with rentals, franchise fees, business permits and licenses, and all other operation costs. Another advantage is that you can tap local to international market without so much fuss.

The easiest starting point which would only require an internet connection, a computer, and a digital camera, is online selling through auction and buy-and-sell sites such as Ebay.ph, Sulit.com.ph, and Multiply.com. If you do not have a product in mind yet and capital for investing on your range of products, simply go through your closet or look around the house and pick up items you hardly use anymore or will no longer need in the future. Take photos of these items one-by-one, priced them accordingly, register for free with one of the sites I’ve mentioned, and upload them for sale. Instant, you are already selling online!

For delivery, you may use the different couriers available near your place. The most popular are Aboitiz 2-Go (for documents, books and magazines), Air21 by FedEx (one of the cheapest for provincial shipping), Xend (cheapest for Metro Manila delivery but very hard to contact), and LBC (very reliable but expensive). Aboitiz 2-Go and Air21 provide free pick-up  services from your homes which provides convenience to shippers.

Payments for items are usually through COD (cash-on-delivery) for meetups, bank payments, G-Cash, or through PayPal.  If in case you already established your product line and is planning to go big in online selling, you may hire your own delivery people and accept payments through credit card or debit card. You will need to purchase a receipt printer for this. Eventually, you can put up your own website for your products but I suggest you remain a member of the free sites I mentioned as you get to promote your company with them for free.

In the Philippines, online selling is not yet regulated which means taxes regularly imposed for businesses are free which is among the reasons why it is now a growing industry.

Like this article? Share with us your experiences and ideas about online selling. Use the feedback form below.

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