OSCommerce as a business?

[ramone_johnny]

Hi guys,

My name is John, Im from Sydney, and Im currently considering setting up a small side business, setting up ecommerce stores for clients. I've been involved in the web design industry since 2004, having been self employed since 2007.

 

Being completely new to OSCommerce, and giving this some considerable consideration, I'd like to get some thoughts and feedback about a proposed venture.

 

1. Is anyone else selling shopping cart installs/configs using the OSCommerce platform? Is this a viable business model?

 

2. For those that are, how do you handle customer objections or potential complaints, knowing that you're charing them for a freely available platform? My thinking is that you're providing convenience by setting up the cart for them (charging for the service, moreso than the product)

 

3. Rates. I know this will vary depending upon geographical locations, but what are some baseline figures? Ideally, I want to sell ecommerce store "packages". The customer chooses a style/theme, then goes about making payment - then I perform the install/setup.

 

4. Themes/templates. This question has probably been asked to death, but where is the best place to buy templates/themes? I dont want to be buying themes that look great but arent supported, or are buggy.

 

5. Hiring a team. Im interested in outsourcing the actual config of the clients store. Would you guys be able to point me in the right direction here, or at least give me some suggestions?

 

6. Whats the best way to handle customers that dont have a database of product? What is the best way to assist a client that might ask "John, how do I upload all 4,500 of my products???"

 

7. Any other suggestions or advice you could provide, would be greatly appreciated.

 

Cheers,

John

[♥14steve14]

I do not believe that any one here will tell you about their business and how they run things. What i will say is, that until you understand oscommerce and know how to work with it, i would not even bother trying to do anything business related with it. You are going to have to support all your own work, so learn oscommerce first.

 

If i was going to be selling templates, then i would sell ones that i have made, not those that have been purchased from someone else. If they do not offer support, then you will have to.

 

I would think of another way of earning money until you fully understand the product you are planning to work with.

 

By the way, a quick search using google will find most of your answers. You may even find those that offer free and paid for support on these forums.

[burt]

osCommerce as a business works for many people, some of whom are real experts and some of whom wouldn't know PHP if it kicked them in the arse.

 

In order to become established as a "go to" person, you need to know osCommerce pretty much inside out - and that takes years. There are perhaps 10 people in the world who I would consider a "go to" person if I needed osCommerce help and those are the ones you should look at for outsourcing.

 

I'd suggest that you use osCommerce on a few test sites, get used to what it is and how it is. You haven't said how proficient you are in; html, php, sql, css, javascript and so on...

 

There is a feeling amongst the "better" developers that people offering services to clients should know what they are doing, at least 90% (we all are still learning, but to offer a paid for service, you have to be very very good at what you do). These people tend to get a chip on their shoulder when told they are asking questions that no service provider should ever ask, eg; "Any ideas please, be nice as last time all I got was slated".

 

Also, your post appears to be asking for a business plan - I'd suggest that no person in their right mind will do that homework for you, especially if you are (one day) going to be a competitor.

[npn2531]

There are skilled, talented people on this site that have businesses installing and design OSCommerce sites and contributions. I would imagine that to be successful, not only would you need a really broad skill set but you would have to develop the people skills and business model to deal with stuff like the customers with unrealistic expectations or customers who are convinced it's' your fault' and not a lack of their understanding, or etc, etc.

 

I believe there is a real opportunity, however, designing OSCommerce sites. Not custom design, but designing a several really beautiful 'templates' you would sell over and over. Ideally develop a business model that did not require customer contact, like they sell web designs on themeforest dot com . In fact if you could sell a great OSCommerce design on theme forest.

 

The reason I think could be done, is because the basic OSCommerce install is not pretty, and you could develop some beautiful sites without getting beyond the CSS files, the images, and includes/template files, without touching the core programming, and without installing any contributions. For example you could have a 'minimalist version' that would be an easier place for most of us amateurs to work from when building our own site, than the basic OSCommerce install.

 

Just keep the price low enough so that it is easier to buy than steal, and perhaps provide some email subscription beenies such as free new 'templates' or background images, etc.

 

If I had better Adobe Illustrator, Photoshp skills, more artistic talent and wasn't busy selling widgets on my OSCommerce site I would be tempted to do this myself.

[Guest]

@@ramone_johnny

 

Here is your problem "I've been involved in the web design industry since 2004"

 

 

It takes more than a designer to provide osCommerce services. It takes a developer.

 

As previously stated by the other members, it will take you no less than 2 years to become familiar enough with osCommerce to offer paid services so, if you start now, you might be ready by 2015. Good luck.

 

 

 

 

Chris