Need advice setting up a commercial site..

[harrkev]

My wife is starting a business. It is going to be a "home party" business (like Tupperware or Mary Kay). I am going to help her get the web site, and I have some questions about setting up a commercial site... She wants to eventually (six months to a year) be able to take orders over the web.

How do I handle shopping carts and credit card processing? I admittedly know nothing about this. While I do have enough PERL knowledge (and can learn new languages if needed) in order to get a "shopping cart" set up, I have nowhere near the kind of time that I would need to do this. So, I am looking at buying (or leasing) something else.

Is a "shopping cart" just a bunch of code that I can buy and throw it on any server, or will I need to use servers with specific software (SQL, etc.)? Would I be better off just using a host who specializes in this sort of stuff and using their templates? Are there any suggestions for companies who are known to be really good in this field?

Also, what about credit cards. My wife can process credit cards through the local bank (for a monthly fee, of course). Is it possible to get the web site to use the same bank, or would this be a separate service (with the associated double-dipping on the monthly charges)? Also, any suggestions on companies?

Also, what should I know about security? Of course, I would have to trust the host to keep their OS patched (preferably Linux, BSD, or Solaris). Is there anything else that I should know?

One more unrelated question. I am also considering buying Quickbooks or Peachtree. Is ther any open-source software that can do the same thing? The closest that I have seen is GnuCash, and that does not look like a posibility.

TIA.

 

[jumpr]

You don't even need to buy it. osCommerce is Open Source and free. Contact the credit card companies directly (Visa, MC, Amex, Discover) if you want to accept credit cards without extra fees tacked on by the bank.

 

[harrkev]

Thanks! That looks great. Of course, I am still open to other suggestions.

 

[BeauJangles]

i use zen-cart on www.breakmark.com which is a company a friend and i started. Paypal handles all the credit card transactions. Very easy to set up and once you get used to the structure, pretty easy to skin.

 

[Baked]

yahoo's ecommerce packages are quite popular. You'll get more hits compared to other ecommerce sites.

 

[alien42]

when she decides to start accepting credit cards do not use paypal as it is the most unprofessional front end option. use something like payflow pro (which paypal just bought from verisign) which is a back end solution the customer never sees. i am an e-com server admin at a webhosting company so i do know what i am talking about

 

[ShadowBlade]

many web hosts include a shopping cart
i.e. DeviousTrap's hosting includes "Agora Shopping Cart" i dont use it, but I assume it must be at least kind of good for so many hosts to use it

 

[DeviousTrap]

Originally posted by: ShadowBlade
many web hosts include a shopping cart
i.e. DeviousTrap's hosting includes "Agora Shopping Cart" i dont use it, but I assume it must be at least kind of good for so many hosts to use it

That particular one isn't actually worth even looking it, it's just something that cPanel comes with.

There are a couple good opensource carts such as oscommerce, cubecart, or zencart. (If you host uses cPanel w/ fantastico, these can be installed with the click of a button)

As far as credit card processing, it depends on how many orders she anticipates. If it's a low volume you may look into a 3rd party processor such as 2checkout.com. Any med-high volume site should get it's own merchant account (not necessarily through your bank, there are cheaper alternatives.) For merchant accounts I'd personally recommend CDG Commerce.

 

[dartworth]

a good resource -->WHT's ecommerce forum

For payments... look into getting a payment gateway from a Authorize.net partner.

 

[harrkev]

One thing is that my wife will accept credit cards (most likely through our bank) for on-site transactions (over the phone). It would be nice if we could have one service that could handle on-site sales and internet sales at the same time. Any ideas?

*EDIT*
Yahoo's accounts are too expensive. The web site is not intended to be a major traffic site. It will be just a place where previous customers could order an extra item or two. So, a total additional monthly fee of $20 or so would be too much to pay.