A typical
question:
I am starting a business online and I need to be able to process orders and have cusotmers view my inventory. If you could shed some light on this issue it would nice. I think I need a bridge type proram to cordinate my Excel database and Web site. What program can I use for this?
I am looking to spend about 0 USD. on this website… will that be enough to build a complete website?
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The excel program will not be suitable to link straight to a website. You would be much better having your information in something like Access (at least) as it will cause less product that having a website link to access and that is linked to excel (in a very round about way) What were you thinking about spending for this venture, I can tell you whether I think you will get a decent site, as web design is my job, and i can give you an unbiased opinion.
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MM it is a minimum budget especially if you are wanting to process orders. There are two ways to process orders online – your sites linked to your bank or a payment gateway(there are loads in america) who approves orders on the spot. Or offline – where you have an EFT machine to process the credit cards by typing in the cc number. Either way hold costs. Banks will charge you per transaction and having a EFT machine you will pay a fee to get it installed.
A second cost is hosting (where you have all your websites files) Try not to get the designer to host the website, try to keep that separate – as some designers try to trap you if you ever want to change hosting companies. There are thousands of hosting companies so that wont be a problem.
I suggest perhaps to get the site developed in India as they are by FAR the cheapest designers. BUT find someone close to you who will be willing or is able to make changes to the website. As India is cheap but I know a number of people who had problems later down the track when changes were to be made. If you go down this track make sure that you get the FTP details so that anyone who works on the site aftewards can get access to the original files.
Alternatively if the site is straight forward there are a number of package sites out there where you just add your products details. http://www.comersus.com is one of those sites. To set this up you will need to organise hosting and upload the files. Follow the instructions that come with comersus. If it seems like to much.. off to india you go.
Hope this helps
first you sould ditch excel and get hold of a database software such as the free mysql. you can port all the excel data into a database so that it can be edited remotely..and do whatever you wish to, bcos excel is good for offline operations not for online.
For your budget you should go with an independent developer not a company. you can find people to do this stuff at sites such as rentacoder.com ,, since im too a professional freelance programmer i can give you a quote. anyway its your choice.
excel wont work, but you could be able to use access if you know how. Honostly at one time i was buying software like you and you get what you pay for. The extra money will make a huge difference. Also i recomend you try a site like elance first and see if you can find some one to build the site the way you want it.