How to rent a high street  shop for $47 a month

With 58% percent of the adult population purchasing online, and the value of online sales growing at 55 percent per annum, Australia is one of the world's leading online economies. Once only available to large retailers with deep pockets, a new breed of DIY online shop now makes it possible for any small business to participate in the new economy, and sell and get paid online.

For a start, you don’t need to know IT. This new breed of editable website lets you manage and change the site yourself. If you can send an email, that's about the level of skill required. You don’t need expensive hardware or software either. The platform, complete with a website and web-store ready to go, is hosted over the internet from a secure data center. You don't buy your online shop you rent it on a monthly basis.

Just like the big online retailers your new shop comes with many types of product displays. Create featured products, special offers, and allow shoppers to comment on their favorite items. Shoppers load purchases into their trolley and proceed to the checkout, which is hosted within the site - i.e. they don’t have to leave your site to make a secure payment online. All you need is a merchant facility with your bank - and the payment gateway- for which a small transaction fee applies.

Interaction with customers is highly automated. They receive confirmation of purchase, and dispatch, of which there are a number of methods, including Australia Post. If you have a product suitable for direct mail, local delivery, or download from the internet, you can boost your sales online.