Well, I want to start my own online petshop. I know what I want to stock etc; but I need some advice-
Would I need an accountant?
How can I get people paying online/ be recognised as being safe? Could I just get them to send a cheque or not?
Any idea of companies to buy in bulk from?
And lastly- who will I need to help? Like a website designer, accountant- and how much money will it roughly cost?



It sounds like an idea. You now need to write a business plan to prove that your idea is valid. Go to http://sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/plan… or http://www.score.org/template_gallery.ht… for instructions on how to write a business plan and sample business plans.
Whether you’ll need an accountant depends on whether you have the time and ability to keep your own books and, of course, whether you can afford an accountant. It’s really a personal choice that depends on your individual circumstances.
As for paying online, PayPal is a great way to do this, and it’s very secure. People can pay with credit cards through PayPal too. You can sign up free at http://www.paypal.com. I wouldn’t bother with the cheque thing. If people are tech-savvy enough that they buy stuff online, they’ll expect to pay elecdtronically too, and they’ll trust PayPal.
As for web design, etc. I strongly recommend SiteBuildIt! (SBI) to build and host your website. That’s who I use…They have a do-it-yourself option, and professional help.
You can check them out at: http://buildit.sitesell.com/Robert368.html
Or watch the video at: http://videotour.sitesell.com/Robert368.html
I hope this helps, and wish you well in your business