This requires a strong knowledge in writing your own computer code, knowledge in CGI programming and Perl, PHP, JavaScript or Java to create or integrate a shopping cart.

This is obviously not the easiest way. These days even professional web page developers use special e-commerce software to set up an e-commerce solution for a customer.

You can also get e-Commerce scripts, which allow you to simplify the creation of a shop, if you are familiar with setting up such software on servers and are able to program directly in various internet programming languages such as PHP, ASP or Perl.

This may be a good option, depending on your budget. But it can be very expensive, if you are not careful. Get a fixed price contract so you don’t get caught out.

However with the right developer it can make your life easier. You can also ask a developer to use an e-commerce software package which you purchase for yourself, such as ShopFactory shopping cart software.

The developer can then build the shop for you, and when it is ready hand it over including the software - so you can maintain it yourself. But make sure you agree with the developer that you will get ALL files. That way making a few small changes, such as changing a price and adding a few products can easily be done - and costs you nothing.

I may be biased here, but I always liked this option best. The shopping cart software takes care of all the issues, such as design, tax and shipping calculations and so on. All you have to do to sell online is add products and content and publish your shop. Or get someone to come in and do it for you.

You are incontrol of your website and its content - even if you have someone else come in to help you. This can make a huge difference, should your online shop grow and you want to make changes. Since you have the content data under your own control, no one can hold you at ransom.

Website design customization should not be a big issue, either. Solutions such as ShopFactory allow you or your designer to extensively customize a provided website theme or even to create a website theme specifically for you.

Some ISPs or Service providers allow you to build your shop directly on their system via the Internet in return for a monthly fee.

This usually means they assign you an Internet shop address, and if you become unhappy with the service, all the work spent on the shop is lost, as you can’t take it with you.

You are also at the mercy of your Internet connection speed. On a bad day, or if all the kids in the neighbourhood are surfing the net, trying to build a website online can be a frustrating waiting game.

If you want to build your shop using such a service, at the very least make sure you can point your own Internet address to this shop. You will spend a lot of effort promoting your shop address. If it is owned by someone else, they effectively control your shop. Also make sure you can access your content data. You will effectively be locked in with the service provider, if they will not release your data. Sure, you could rebuild a shop. But would you really have the time to do so?

Also check the connection speed. Building a shop directly online can be very time consuming and frustrating, if you do not have a very fast Internet connection. And very expensive, if you are subject to timed phone call charges or Internernet access.