Setting up an online business

Cashcade

I am entertaining the idea of setting up an onlone business, selling consumer electronics.

I was just wondering how would one go about initating the process?

Would I need a registered office address in the UK, even though all transactions, trades, etc will be completed online?

Also, are there any companies out there that offer merchant account facilities to people with invariable credit history.

Advice appreciated

manny786_2

You dont need to set up a limited company in order to trade online but of course it does help at the bank when setting up a business account.

As for merchant account facilities you could always use Paypal which does not require you have impeccable credit history like Worldpay do.

If you manage to get a internet merchant account from your bank I would use Protx as your payment gateway - I have used them for a lot of my e-commerce customers and they have a really easy to use interface.

Cashcade

Hi Manny, but with Paypal is there a limit to the amount you can handle in transactions>?

tim_n

If you goto http://www.paypal.com you'll find lots of detailed information.

Generally you'll need a merchant account that doesn't limit your transactions and has to be verified with a credit cards and bank accounts to back it up.

Don't rely on 2nd hand information like mine though, go check paypal.com

buglawton

Have a look at my post on this thread:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=113361
where I put links about a Shopping Cart that links to Paypal and accepting Visa Cards directly eg by fax or phone. Paypal and Nochex are good places to start for the purely online payment bit.