Business Opportunity
Prepared web businesses represent a unique online business opportunity. These services can be likened to owning a franchise online, rather than as a storefront.
Typically, the buyer selects a category of online business (among the most popular are internet dating sites, ink cartridge shops, computer stores, etc.). The buyer would then contact the supplying company with an order for the website package. The supplying company then builds the website, and turns it over to the buyer ready for business. In some cases it is possible to select your own domain name, rather than have the company name assigned to you, and this is usually preferable for marketing purposes. In most cases, the orders are then filled through the supplying company, and the buyer is paid through the income earned above the cost of goods sold. Again, in some cases, it is possible for the buyer to fulfill orders themselves, resulting in a business that is more like a purchased storefront rather than a franchise.
In either case, the most important factor to success in owning an online business is in web promotion. If your site comes up on the 50th page in a search, and you don't have any advertising method bringing buyers directly to your door, you are essentially invisible and have no hope of any real sales. Achieving and maintaining a high position in search engine ranking is a must for those hoping to be found by customers. Alternatively, there are many avenues allowing the buyer to directly advertise his own site (such as space in a widely-circulated email newsletter) and bring customers to his (virtual) door.
