e-Commerce is the process of buying products and services online. The most typical form of e-commerce is an online catalog (shopping cart) that allows users to select products and pay for them by credit card. e-Commerce is a very popular mechanism for companies large and small to sell their wares on a world-wide market.

e-Commerce requirements

• Shopping Cart
  Online catalog that allows users to select products to purchase at 'check out'.
• Merchant Account
  Service that handles the financial processing of credit cards.
• Processing Gateway
  Service that enables transactions from your Shopping Cart to your Merchant Account
• Digital Certificate / Secured Server
  Encrypts information to provide secure transaction processing

e-Commerce Tips

• e-Commerce is available in many packages. Thoroughly research a solution provider before committing, particularly those that have low up-front costs. There are often hidden costs or special terms that will prove detrimental in the long run.
• Be careful when selecting a Merchant Account, read the fine print in the agreement. (See Merchant Accounts for more tips).

Further Reading