How to Open and Operate a Financially Successful Web-Based Business by Beth Williams

Informative, interesting and packed with excellent resources!by ajpohren

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November 16, 2009: In today's active and technological society, web-based business are incredibly commonplace. Online shopping is a particularly popular and hot commodity. This being said, web-based businesses are extremely lucrative and forward moving ventures. This is, by far, easier said than done. However with How to Open and Operate a Financially Successful Web-Based Business, readers are taken on a simple step-by-step tour on this journey, from start to finish and everywhere in-between.

Also included are invaluable resources, websites, does and don'ts of the web-based business world, and enough information to answer any possible question that may arise, while pursuing a web-based business of your very own. How to Open and Operate a Financially Successful Web-Based Business will quickly and easily become an asset that will be referred back to repeatedly.

Written in a clear, concise and informative way, this is a book that will not bore the reader to tears, yet will fill them with unforgettable and knowledgeable information. The internet currently is and will even be more so, in the future, an irreplaceable and continuous revolution that is sure to take over the business world.

In addition to this insightful book, the companion CD-ROM contains important forms and documents that are talked about throughout the book, as well as business plans that can be easily used in Microsoft Word. As internet businesses become more prominent and widespread, many will be looking to this option more and more. How to Open and Operate a Financially Successful Web-Based Business is the perfect guide to take you every step of the way.

Highly recommend for anyone looking to venture into online business.

Engaging and Helpfulby AndreaS

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July 28, 2009: How to Open and Operate a Financially Successful Web-Based Business is a legitimately useful guide to making money as an Internet entrepreneur. Unlike many sources of 'advice' for making money on the web, Web-Based Business gives the reader a complete set of tools in order to make a real business work. Author, Beth Williams, goes into extensive detail including everything from choosing a business name to promoting your site once it goes live. I found some helpful tips even for improving my own blog.

The book got off to a strong start and was engaging, especially when discussing the preliminary decision-making process necessary before starting any business. The text became a little dry in spots, which considering the topics (like the tax differences among various business structures) was forgivable. Some of the tax information could have also contained a little more in the way of explanation. For example, the section on excise taxes was vague, stating that it only applies to, "certain types of businesses," that "manufacture or sell certain products." It would have been nice to get some idea of what those businesses or products were. I found a couple of minor inconsistencies or inaccuracies. For instance, Williams says that Skype is free for Verbdate members, when in fact in can be downloaded for free by anyone. The index was a little off as well, which made it a little challenging to go back and search for information.

Williams handled some of the more technical aspects of setting up a web-based business well. I particularly liked the web-design chapters and found the information helpful without being over my head.

Overall, the book was well done, pretty well researched, and engaging to read. There were a couple of flaws, so I'd give it 4 stars out of 5 and would recommend it, although, be prepared to do a little more digging on your own.