Be Part of the Economic Revolution: Launch an Online Store

More people every day are choosing entrepreneurship, and why not? With relatively little investment, you can sell products you produce, or order inventory in bulk from a wholesale marketplace like Alibaba. With the tools, investment opportunities, and resources on the web, even a beginner can succeed.

Don't expect it to be easy though. If your business model is "build it and they will come," you're destined to fail before you start.

Here's why you should consider opening an online store:

1. Ecommerce is huge. eMarketer predicts that by 2018, the ecommerce market will generate nearly $2.8 trillion. While it's a little late to be considered a ground-floor opportunity, it's still a good time to jump in and make stuff happen.

2. To a certain degree, it runs itself. If you have the right ecommerce tools, setting up a store may be time-consuming, but it's reasonably easy. The ordering process will be self-serve. Your only worry from here is fulfillment – packing and shipping the product.

3. You can scale up. Let's say you start with a single product, like beard oil (no, really, it's a thing), and later expand to sell other men's skin and hair products.

4. You don't need much money. If you're selling a unique product or service, preselling is a great way to raise funds. Get people excited about your product and they'll order it in advance. If you need a lot of money to get started, you might want to consider a Kickstarter campaign. For a more modest start, just work your social media.

5. You can be an inventor. Some of the most popular Kickstarter campaigns are not insanely cool technology. Silly card games are also popular. Have a great idea? There's never been a better time to do it.

First steps
Your first consideration is product. My advice is keep it simple. What product is missing from your life? I can think of a few. I need a portable, lightweight desk on wheels. I've looked for the perfect desk for years. It does not exist. If I need one, might not other people? And why isn't there a floating pool desk?

Once you've got a prototype, start preselling. Give your network the opportunity to buy in advance. If you generate a lot of enthusiasm, you'll know you're on the right track. If, instead, you get a lot of comments about what your product does not do, you may want to rethink your design. If no one seems interested, walk away. Don't invest in a product no one wants.

If you manage to get a lot of presale orders, you'll need to have your product manufactured. You may be able to fulfill orders manually at first, but if you get a lot of orders, you may need to find a manufacturer. Ordering product can be a big investment, but you'll already have the capital you need.

Once the ball is rolling, keep the momentum going. Look at outside-the-box marketing methods. Invent new ways to get your product in front of the right people. Consider trying out brand new marketing tools as they hit the market...but keep only what works. In other words, never sit still. Old methods are quickly outdated. Companies that learn to adapt are more likely to thrive.

Not everyone has the drive and ambition to be an entrepreneur. If you're the kind of person compelled to follow a vision (not a pipe dream), then ecommerce might be just the ticket. It will take ambition, research, drive, and salesmanship. You have to be your company's best sales representative.

There are plenty of reasons to start an ecommerce business. To escape life in a cubical, be your own boss, or live your dream. If you're a non-conformist who doesn't do well in an office rife with politics, a "normal" 9-5 might not work for you...and an online store might be just the right fit.