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KnowledgeCity

Establishing an E-Commerce Business

Learn how to legally establish your e-commerce business, develop a marketing plan, and draw more customers to your site
Preview the first lesson free — get full access to all 6 lessons.
Course: On-Demand
Beginner Provider Robert Badowski  6 Lessons ·  15m  in Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese 

Course Description

Unfortunately, having a vision and a passion to start an e-commerce business is not enough to be successful in online selling. It is important to have a solid understanding of the necessary legal requirements and actions needed to establish a legitimate e-commerce business. Once you have established a legitimate business structure, you might wonder if selling in third-party marketplaces is a good decision for your business. And if you do decide to sell on a third-party marketplace, what fees should you expect to pay? How do you develop a brand and drive more potential customers to your site?

In this course on Establishing an E-Commerce Business, we will discuss how to properly set up your e-commerce business by covering the basics of how to legally register your business and determining the type of business entity that works best for you. We will also explain the advantages and disadvantages of selling in third-party online marketplaces to determine if selling on these venues is a viable option for your e-commerce company.

What You'll Learn

  • Register your business legally and determine the type of business entity that works best for you
  • Explore state tax structures and understand registration, permits, and taxes for e-commerce
  • Compare the advantages and disadvantages of selling in third-party online marketplaces
  • Design a marketing plan to draw customers to your e-commerce business
  • Develop ways to advertise and brand your e-commerce business

Key Takeaways

  • Having a vision and passion to start an e-commerce business is not enough on its own to succeed in online selling.
  • Establishing a legitimate e-commerce business requires understanding the necessary legal requirements, including how to legally register the business and choosing the right business entity type.
  • Selling on third-party online marketplaces has both advantages and disadvantages that should be weighed to decide if it is a viable option for your company.
  • Sellers who use third-party marketplaces should expect to pay certain fees.
  • Developing a brand and a marketing plan helps drive more potential customers to your e-commerce site.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this course cover?

The course covers how to properly set up an e-commerce business, including the basics of legally registering your business and determining the type of business entity that works best for you. It also explains the advantages and disadvantages of selling in third-party online marketplaces to determine if these venues are a viable option for your e-commerce company.

Who is this course for?

It is for people who have a vision and passion to start an e-commerce business and want a solid understanding of the legal requirements and actions needed to establish a legitimate online selling business.

What topics are included in the lessons?

Lessons include an Introduction; Registration, Permits, and Taxes; Selling in Different Online Marketplaces; How to Draw Customers to Your E-Commerce Business; E-Commerce Advertising and Branding; and a Test Your Knowledge assessment.

Will the course help me decide whether to sell on third-party marketplaces?

Yes. The course explains the advantages and disadvantages of selling in third-party online marketplaces so you can determine if selling on these venues is a viable option, and notes that sellers should expect to pay certain fees.