In this series of articles, 'Starting a Home Internet Business', we will explain step by step how to begin and run your own successful internet business at home.

In part 1 we will explain to you the basics:

• Conceiving and Researching Your Idea

• Choosing a host

• Where to register your company

Conceiving and Researching Your Idea

You obviously cannot start a home internet business, or any business, without a good idea of what you plan to sell.

You may choose products or services, but whichever you choose, you must have three things in mind:

1. What makes your product or service unique

2. Why will people buy from you, on the internet, rather than from a market or other established concerns

3. Where is your marketplace (who is your audience)

Each of the above is crucial for your success.

You can of course do affiliate deals on an established product but keep in mind you are in competition with other people selling the same product and your margin will not be so high.

Affiliate marketing is over I further articles but for now:

You must think well, and research well, what it is you wish to do.

For example, you may have some folk cure, passed down to you from your grandmother that cures muscle pain.

This may be just what people are looking for, rather than expensive medicines.

Your researches must include if you can blend the product and sell in your area (and out of your area), if the product requires some approval, if the product can be sold and sent out of your country (and into other countries), and so on.

Your researches must also include why people will buy from you, rather than in a pharmacy, or health store. Finally, you must determine who is going to buy from you (age group, socio-economic group, nationality, and so on),

Choosing A Host

Choosing a host to carry your website may seem like a simple idea, but it also must be researched. You need to see the services and products they offer you as part of your package. Some will offer everything you need to get started, including easy to use web design, email, payment services, free imagery for your site, forums, bloggs etc

Also see the amount of bandwidth they offer, and if you need more, how easy it is to get it, and how expensive it is as well.

Your host should ideally have all the above, not be expensive, and offer you advice as well on how to manage your content.

Some hosts even have messenger services where you can speak to your clients directly, and live.

Be very careful in choosing your host, and your time spent in researching it, will pay you back, many times over.

Registering Your Company

Often a website or home internet business need not be registered as a business.

This is not a good idea if you are in a jurisdiction that requires all income to be officially declared, and so on.

Therefore you can register the website (and business) in a wide variety of locations. Sometimes going offshore makes sense (if you have a large international clientele), or sometimes a local company in your own jurisdiction is the answer.

Therefore, this issue is best cleared with your local lawyer, who will advise you the benefits and dangers of registration in the "wrong" place.

Once you set up the company, you are ready to advise the host to set up your domain and get your website online.