You’ve decided that you’re ready to start selling physical products online — but there are a hundred tasks whirling through your head, needing to be done. Where do you start? How do you keep track of it all?

I’ve worked with dozens of moms who are right where you are, so don’t feel bad. Just print out this checklist that I’m giving you and keep it handy.

Here are the steps you need to take to start your online store:

1. Figure out who your target market is and get to know them.
2. Decide how you want to acquire your products, either through manufacturing them, buying them at wholesale, purchasing them through a dropship program or recommending them as an affiliate.
3. Decide on a product name and domain name. Buy the domain name NOW!
4. Make your business legal, including choosing the form of business you’ll be starting (sole proprieter, LLC, etc) and getting your tax id.
5. Choose a business name. This does not have to be the same as your domain or product name.
6. Setup a business banking account, so that your checks and accounts will have your business name on them and you can keep your personal finances separate.
7. Choose a web hosting and shopping cart.
8. If you’re manufacturing a brand new your product, you’ll need to create prototypes, test them, ask other people to test them and do additional market research to make sure your product will sell.
9. Purchase any cottage licenses you may need for manufacturing products from other people’s patterns.
10. If you’re manufacturing a product from a cottage licensed pattern, you’ll need to test your product to make sure it is up to par.
11. If you’re going the wholesale, dropship or affiliate routes, open your accounts with the suppliers.
12. Begin building your website.
13. Once your website is build, including design and logo created and installed, products uploaded and site live, you’ll need to write a press release and submit it to press release directories and your local news media.

Any questions? Feel free to ask!

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