What do you need to set up your own online business

There’s not a huge amount of things you need to set up your own online business, obviously a PC and an Internet connection would be useful. For me, broadband is a must, the faster the better and it is probably worth investing in a decent PC or Mac, depending on which one floats your boat.

Apart from that, you’re pretty much ready to go. Of course, depending on the complexity of your idea or online business it is possible you might need to invest in some form of software or additional hardware. Perhaps you need a specialist program to do the things you want to do? You might also need a printer, fax and dedicated phone line.

Personally, I now use four different computers. Each of them has a specific role, I have design software on one machine which is quicker than the others and I use one purely for email. I have a lap top for when I am travelling on the train and for customer presentations and I also have a handheld Blackberry phone if all else fails. Yet, it did not start like that, three years ago I had one laptop PC and zero idea about what I wanted to do.

One of the bits of feedback I regularly here when speaking to people at different events and conferences is that they’re worried their lack of skills and knowledge will mean they will never be successful. It’s always very sad to hear people talk like this as often it means that they will never ever start their online business. Even Bill Gates did not posses all of the skills and knowledge on day one to make Microsoft into the daddy of all IT companies. He learned, he tested, he made mistakes and kept going. The point is that none of us have a complete arsenal of skills and knowledge, there is always gaps to fill, the fun part of getting out there and working out where these gaps are.

Also, the great thing about the Internet is that it is the largest information library on the planet. If you’re not sure how to do something, you can be almost certain that someone a few clicks away will. You might also be surprised that there are a number of sites where you can hire technical skills on a project by project basis, this is great news for those of us without the time or inclination to learn certain tasks.

For me, probably the most important requirement for setting up your own Internet business is attitudinal. By this I mean your ability to remain positive and upbeat, if you think about all of the successful people you know they will most likely have common character traits. These will include drive, ambition and a desire to succeed.

Finally, don’t forget the power of the network. Not the WIFI variety at your local Starbucks but your contacts, friends and family. These could be your very first customers, your first opportunity for customer feedback. You might also be surprised when one of your contacts might prove useful to your business, so it is always important to keep in touch with potential business contacts.