What is a typical setup for e-commerce?

A basic e-commerce solution may include these components:

Your Web site is the set of pages including your store. Your Web site is accessed via your browser at your domain name.

The shopping cart is typically a page or set of pages with your Web site. The cart typically allows users to set up accounts and make purchases online.

Your merchant account is where funds from your customers' transactions will be deposited.

The gateway is the "glue" between your Internet store (on your Web site) and your merchant account.

Can I go ahead and get any shopping cart, merchant account or gateway?

No! You must make sure that each piece works with the other. We can assist in this determination.

Can I just use Paypal on my Web site?

It depends on the needs you have. Paypal is a useful program, but limited. We recommend a consultation to help you determine what solution best meets your needs and your budget.

Do I need a secure page?

For credit card transactions, yes!

How do I tell if my page is secure?

lock icon

You will see that the address at the top of the browser has changed to "https:" from "http:". Also, you will see a little "lock" icon in the lower right-hand corner of your brower.

Do I need to purchase a secure certificate?

It depends on your application. If you host with us, we can typically provide a free, generic certificate.