{"id":185572,"date":"2023-12-21T00:33:10","date_gmt":"2023-12-21T00:33:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/?p=185572"},"modified":"2024-01-08T05:21:56","modified_gmt":"2024-01-08T05:21:56","slug":"start-an-online-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Business Considerations to Start an Online Business"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Starting an eCommerce business has gained tremendous popularity over the last few years. After all, the allure of online entrepreneurship lies in the accessibility it offers. Additionally, online business owners can start operating from the comfort of their homes for a limited initial investment. This article will consider the key stages of starting an online business, from generating a great online business idea to selling to your target customers.<\/p>\n\n\n    <div class=\"my-7 lg:my-10 border-y-2 border-gray-100 py-7 lg:py-10 flex flex-col sm:flex-row items-start gap-10\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"w-52 mx-auto my-0! rounded\" src=\"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/07\/29111635\/start-online-business-uk-560x792-1.jpg\" alt=\"Front page of publication\"\n                 loading=\"lazy\" width=\"208\" height=\"298\">\n                <section>\n            <div class=\"text-2xl font-bold\">How to Start an Online Business in the UK<\/div>\n            <div class=\"body-text\">\n                <p>Starting an online business in the UK is complex. This free guide helps you navigate the legal steps with confidence.<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n            \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/go.legalvision.co.uk\/uk-online-business-guide.html\" class=\" block px-5 py-3.5 max-w-fit bg-orange button__hover transition rounded text-white font-bold text-lg no-underline uppercase leading-tight text-center\" target=\"\" rel=\"\">Download Now<\/a>        <\/section>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Conduct Market Research&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Begin by identifying your niche and sharpening your idea. You can do this by conducting market research and finding your target audience. Consider aspects such as:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the market competition;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the qualities that make your idea unique; and&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>whether there is potential to grow your business.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Create a Business Plan&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You can start creating your business plan by identifying the aims of your new business and working backwards, thinking about how you can achieve these goals. Also, incorporate marketing strategies into your plan. The popularity of online businesses has saturated the eCommerce market, so how you will spread awareness and capture your target audience is a crucial consideration.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your complete business plan should include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>an outline of your business idea;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a detailed description of your business and the current market;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>your market research;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>information about your products or services;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>your marketing strategy;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>your business model;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>financial projections; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the business\u2019 funding needs.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n<a href=\"#content-next\"\n   class=\"block p-4 mt-10 text-xl font-bold text-center text-white no-underline bg-gray-800 rounded-t-xl\">\n    Continue reading this article below the form\n    <i class=\"text-xl fa-regular fa-arrow-down\"><\/i>\n<\/a>\n<div class=\"px-6 pt-10 pb-12 mb-10 text-center bg-gray-100 rounded-b-xl sm:px-12 test\">\n    <div class=\"mb-8 text-2xl font-bold text-orange\">\n        Need legal advice?\n        <br>\n        <span class=\"text-lg not-prose\">\n                            Call <a href=\"tel:+448081968584\" class=\"not-prose\">0808 196 8584<\/a> for urgent assistance.\n                <br>\n                Otherwise, complete this form, and we will contact you within one business day.\n                    <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n\n<div class=\"not-prose flex justify-center text-left gform_input_bg_white    \">\n    <script>\nvar gform;gform||(document.addEventListener(\"gform_main_scripts_loaded\",function(){gform.scriptsLoaded=!0}),document.addEventListener(\"gform\/theme\/scripts_loaded\",function(){gform.themeScriptsLoaded=!0}),window.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){gform.domLoaded=!0}),gform={domLoaded:!1,scriptsLoaded:!1,themeScriptsLoaded:!1,isFormEditor:()=>\"function\"==typeof InitializeEditor,callIfLoaded:function(o){return!(!gform.domLoaded||!gform.scriptsLoaded||!gform.themeScriptsLoaded&&!gform.isFormEditor()||(gform.isFormEditor()&&console.warn(\"The use of gform.initializeOnLoaded() is deprecated in the form editor context and will be removed in Gravity Forms 3.1.\"),o(),0))},initializeOnLoaded:function(o){gform.callIfLoaded(o)||(document.addEventListener(\"gform_main_scripts_loaded\",()=>{gform.scriptsLoaded=!0,gform.callIfLoaded(o)}),document.addEventListener(\"gform\/theme\/scripts_loaded\",()=>{gform.themeScriptsLoaded=!0,gform.callIfLoaded(o)}),window.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",()=>{gform.domLoaded=!0,gform.callIfLoaded(o)}))},hooks:{action:{},filter:{}},addAction:function(o,r,e,t){gform.addHook(\"action\",o,r,e,t)},addFilter:function(o,r,e,t){gform.addHook(\"filter\",o,r,e,t)},doAction:function(o){gform.doHook(\"action\",o,arguments)},applyFilters:function(o){return gform.doHook(\"filter\",o,arguments)},removeAction:function(o,r){gform.removeHook(\"action\",o,r)},removeFilter:function(o,r,e){gform.removeHook(\"filter\",o,r,e)},addHook:function(o,r,e,t,n){null==gform.hooks[o][r]&&(gform.hooks[o][r]=[]);var d=gform.hooks[o][r];null==n&&(n=r+\"_\"+d.length),gform.hooks[o][r].push({tag:n,callable:e,priority:t=null==t?10:t})},doHook:function(r,o,e){var t;if(e=Array.prototype.slice.call(e,1),null!=gform.hooks[r][o]&&((o=gform.hooks[r][o]).sort(function(o,r){return o.priority-r.priority}),o.forEach(function(o){\"function\"!=typeof(t=o.callable)&&(t=window[t]),\"action\"==r?t.apply(null,e):e[0]=t.apply(null,e)})),\"filter\"==r)return e[0]},removeHook:function(o,r,t,n){var e;null!=gform.hooks[o][r]&&(e=(e=gform.hooks[o][r]).filter(function(o,r,e){return!!(null!=n&&n!=o.tag||null!=t&&t!=o.priority)}),gform.hooks[o][r]=e)}});\n<\/script>\n\n                <div class='gf_browser_gecko gform_wrapper gravity-theme gform-theme--no-framework lawyer-form_wrapper gplaceholder_wrapper form-with-labels-no-asterisks_wrapper has-new-validation-error-styling_wrapper' data-form-theme='gravity-theme' data-form-index='0' id='gform_wrapper_2453' style='display:none'><div id='gf_2453' class='gform_anchor' tabindex='-1'><\/div><form method='post' enctype='multipart\/form-data' target='gform_ajax_frame_2453' id='gform_2453' class='lawyer-form gplaceholder form-with-labels-no-asterisks has-new-validation-error-styling' action='\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185572#gf_2453' data-formid='2453' novalidate>\n                        <div class='gform-body gform_body'><div id='gform_fields_2453' class='gform_fields top_label form_sublabel_below description_below validation_below'><div id=\"field_2453_1000\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-honeypot gform_validation_container field_sublabel_below gfield--has-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' for='input_2453_1000'>URL<\/label><div class='ginput_container'><input name='input_1000' id='input_2453_1000' type='text' value='' autocomplete='new-password'\/><\/div><div class='gfield_description' id='gfield_description_2453_1000'>This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.<\/div><\/div><div id=\"field_2453_1\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-text gfield--input-type-text gf_left_half gfield--width-half gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' for='input_2453_1'>First Name<span class=\"gfield_required\"><span class=\"gfield_required gfield_required_text\">(Required)<\/span><\/span><\/label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_text'><input name='input_1' id='input_2453_1' type='text' value='' class='medium'     aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\"   \/><\/div><\/div><div id=\"field_2453_12\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-text gfield--input-type-text gf_right_half gfield--width-half gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' for='input_2453_12'>Last Name<span class=\"gfield_required\"><span class=\"gfield_required gfield_required_text\">(Required)<\/span><\/span><\/label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_text'><input name='input_12' id='input_2453_12' type='text' value='' class='medium'     aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\"   \/><\/div><\/div><div id=\"field_2453_2\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-email gfield--input-type-email gf_left_half gfield--width-half gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' for='input_2453_2'>Email Address<span class=\"gfield_required\"><span class=\"gfield_required gfield_required_text\">(Required)<\/span><\/span><\/label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_email'>\n                            <input name='input_2' id='input_2453_2' type='email' value='' class='medium'    aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\"  \/>\n                        <\/div><\/div><div id=\"field_2453_3\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-phone gfield--input-type-phone gf_right_half gfield--width-half gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' for='input_2453_3'>Phone<span class=\"gfield_required\"><span class=\"gfield_required gfield_required_text\">(Required)<\/span><\/span><\/label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_phone'><input name='input_3' id='input_2453_3' type='tel' value='' class='medium'   aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\"   \/><\/div><\/div><div id=\"field_2453_14\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-select gfield--input-type-select gfield--width-full custom-select gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' for='input_2453_14'>Number of Employees in Your Business<span class=\"gfield_required\"><span class=\"gfield_required gfield_required_text\">(Required)<\/span><\/span><\/label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_select'><select name='input_14' id='input_2453_14' class='large gfield_select'    aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" ><option value='' selected='selected'>Select ...<\/option><option value='0' >0<\/option><option value='1' >1-5<\/option><option value='6' >6-20<\/option><option value='21' >21-50<\/option><option value='51' >51-250<\/option><option value='250' >250+<\/option><\/select><\/div><\/div><div id=\"field_2453_4\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-textarea gfield--input-type-textarea gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' for='input_2453_4'>Tell us about your enquiry<span class=\"gfield_required\"><span class=\"gfield_required gfield_required_text\">(Required)<\/span><\/span><\/label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_textarea'><textarea name='input_4' id='input_2453_4' class='textarea medium'     aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\"   rows='10' cols='50'><\/textarea><\/div><\/div><div id=\"field_2453_5\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-html gfield--input-type-html gfield_html gfield_html_formatted gfield_no_follows_desc field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  >By submitting this form, you agree to receive emails from LegalVision and can unsubscribe at any time. View our <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/privacy-notice\/\" target=\"_blank\">Privacy Policy<\/a>. <\/div><div id=\"field_2453_8\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-hidden gfield--input-type-hidden gform_hidden field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  ><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_text'><input name='input_8' id='input_2453_8' type='hidden' class='gform_hidden'  aria-invalid=\"false\" value='http:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185572' \/><\/div><\/div><div id=\"field_2453_13\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-hidden gfield--input-type-hidden gform_hidden field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  ><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_text'><input name='input_13' id='input_2453_13' type='hidden' class='gform_hidden'  aria-invalid=\"false\" value='generic_form' \/><\/div><\/div><fieldset id=\"field_2453_999\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-checkbox gfield--type-choice gfield__uk-marketo-opt-in field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  ><legend class='gfield_label gform-field-label screen-reader-text' ><\/legend><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_checkbox'><div class='gfield_checkbox ' id='input_2453_999'><div class='gchoice gchoice_2453_999_1'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input class='gfield-choice-input' name='input_999.1' type='checkbox'  value='1'  id='choice_2453_999_1'   \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for='choice_2453_999_1' id='label_2453_999_1' class='gform-field-label gform-field-label--type-inline'>By submitting this form, you agree to receive content and event invitations from us to help you grow your business. If you do not want to receive such messages, tick here.<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/fieldset><\/div><\/div>\n        <div class='gform-footer gform_footer top_label'> <button type=\"submit\" id=\"gform_submit_button_2453\" class=\"gform_button button\" onclick=\"gform.submission.handleButtonClick(this);\" data-submission-type=\"submit\"><span class=\"gform_submit_button__text\">Submit Now<\/span><\/button> <input type='hidden' name='gform_ajax' value='form_id=2453&amp;title=&amp;description=&amp;tabindex=0&amp;theme=gravity-theme&amp;hash=ec2463697d0d9cef7b71236ae60964c7' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_submission_method' data-js='gform_submission_method_2453' value='iframe' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_theme' data-js='gform_theme_2453' id='gform_theme_2453' value='gravity-theme' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_style_settings' data-js='gform_style_settings_2453' id='gform_style_settings_2453' value='' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='is_submit_2453' value='1' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_submit' value='2453' \/>\n            \n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_currency' data-currency='GBP' value='F713ISJYjV1pues5BaI8QWs4s6HSTA0\/yO\/sQ82hy\/Ze6RifMmHZdLz+GKCCVIQKp6O\/DBlk5b3goXIuMo6jbKvucyYwu2YsOVRkLJp8RjMCwwM=' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_unique_id' value='' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='state_2453' value='WyJ7XCIxNFwiOltcIjIyODY0N2ViMWU3NTcxZjA4YTY4NGJmMDcwMTk3Y2I0XCIsXCJiMzk3YmQ1MDBmMmFjNjk1ODE4MzdmNTBhYTA2MzQ0OFwiLFwiNGYyNGZkZGEwMzlkNDUxMWFhZGE1NGYwZmQwZmNiZTdcIixcIjUyMmJkMDE2M2I2ZmEwOTI3NDZhZjU5YTg0ZmM1NDk5XCIsXCIzODRlNjk1YjQxMTAzMWFiYmQ2ODEyMGYyZWFhMDYyNlwiLFwiYjkzNDcwNTE2MjkxOGRjZWViMjQzNzRjNmE0NGVmNTlcIixcIjQxMTliODZhMzVjYzJiMWViNDZiMmQ4NjRlNGUzZmNjXCJdfSIsIjQ3MjNiMzA2ZDIyZGVkODA2N2YyMjYyOThkYzI1ODVmIl0=' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' autocomplete='off' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_target_page_number_2453' id='gform_target_page_number_2453' value='0' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' autocomplete='off' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_source_page_number_2453' id='gform_source_page_number_2453' value='1' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' name='gform_field_values' value='' \/>\n            \n        <\/div>\n                        <\/form>\n                        <\/div>\n\t\t                <iframe style='display:none;width:0px;height:0px;' src='about:blank' name='gform_ajax_frame_2453' id='gform_ajax_frame_2453' title='This iframe contains the logic required to handle Ajax powered Gravity Forms.'><\/iframe>\n\t\t                <script>\ngform.initializeOnLoaded( function() {gformInitSpinner( 2453, 'https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/legalv-v6\/img\/spinner.svg', true );jQuery('#gform_ajax_frame_2453').on('load',function(){var contents = jQuery(this).contents().find('*').html();var is_postback = contents.indexOf('GF_AJAX_POSTBACK') >= 0;if(!is_postback){return;}var form_content = jQuery(this).contents().find('#gform_wrapper_2453');var is_confirmation = jQuery(this).contents().find('#gform_confirmation_wrapper_2453').length > 0;var is_redirect = contents.indexOf('gformRedirect(){') >= 0;var is_form = form_content.length > 0 && ! is_redirect && ! is_confirmation;var mt = parseInt(jQuery('html').css('margin-top'), 10) + parseInt(jQuery('body').css('margin-top'), 10) + 100;if(is_form){form_content.find('form').css('opacity', 0);jQuery('#gform_wrapper_2453').html(form_content.html());if(form_content.hasClass('gform_validation_error')){jQuery('#gform_wrapper_2453').addClass('gform_validation_error');} else {jQuery('#gform_wrapper_2453').removeClass('gform_validation_error');}setTimeout( function() { \/* delay the scroll by 50 milliseconds to fix a bug in chrome *\/ jQuery(document).scrollTop(jQuery('#gform_wrapper_2453').offset().top - mt); }, 50 );if(window['gformInitDatepicker']) {gformInitDatepicker();}if(window['gformInitPriceFields']) {gformInitPriceFields();}var current_page = jQuery('#gform_source_page_number_2453').val();gformInitSpinner( 2453, 'https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/legalv-v6\/img\/spinner.svg', true );jQuery(document).trigger('gform_page_loaded', [2453, current_page]);window['gf_submitting_2453'] = false;}else if(!is_redirect){var confirmation_content = jQuery(this).contents().find('.GF_AJAX_POSTBACK').html();if(!confirmation_content){confirmation_content = contents;}jQuery('#gform_wrapper_2453').replaceWith(confirmation_content);jQuery(document).scrollTop(jQuery('#gf_2453').offset().top - mt);jQuery(document).trigger('gform_confirmation_loaded', [2453]);window['gf_submitting_2453'] = false;wp.a11y.speak(jQuery('#gform_confirmation_message_2453').text());}else{jQuery('#gform_2453').append(contents);if(window['gformRedirect']) {gformRedirect();}}jQuery(document).trigger(\"gform_pre_post_render\", [{ formId: \"2453\", currentPage: \"current_page\", abort: function() { this.preventDefault(); } }]);        if (event && event.defaultPrevented) {                return;        }        const gformWrapperDiv = document.getElementById( \"gform_wrapper_2453\" );        if ( gformWrapperDiv ) {            const visibilitySpan = document.createElement( \"span\" );            visibilitySpan.id = \"gform_visibility_test_2453\";            gformWrapperDiv.insertAdjacentElement( \"afterend\", visibilitySpan );        }        const visibilityTestDiv = document.getElementById( \"gform_visibility_test_2453\" );        let postRenderFired = false;        function triggerPostRender() {            if ( postRenderFired ) {                return;            }            postRenderFired = true;            gform.core.triggerPostRenderEvents( 2453, current_page );            if ( visibilityTestDiv ) {                visibilityTestDiv.parentNode.removeChild( visibilityTestDiv );            }        }        function debounce( func, wait, immediate ) {            var timeout;            return function() {                var context = this, args = arguments;                var later = function() {                    timeout = null;                    if ( !immediate ) func.apply( context, args );                };                var callNow = immediate && !timeout;                clearTimeout( timeout );                timeout = setTimeout( later, wait );                if ( callNow ) func.apply( context, args );            };        }        const debouncedTriggerPostRender = debounce( function() {            triggerPostRender();        }, 200 );        if ( visibilityTestDiv && visibilityTestDiv.offsetParent === null ) {            const observer = new MutationObserver( ( mutations ) => {                mutations.forEach( ( mutation ) => {                    if ( mutation.type === 'attributes' && visibilityTestDiv.offsetParent !== null ) {                        debouncedTriggerPostRender();                        observer.disconnect();                    }                });            });            observer.observe( document.body, {                attributes: true,                childList: false,                subtree: true,                attributeFilter: [ 'style', 'class' ],            });        } else {            triggerPostRender();        }    } );} );\n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"content-next\"><!-- scroll anchor --><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Website Creation&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you have completed your business plan, the next step is to create a website or decide which eCommerce platform you wish to host your business on. You should prioritise building and managing your online store on a user-friendly website. You should also allow your website to reflect your brand identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Payment and Shipping&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before your online business becomes operational, consider how customers will pay. If you are hosting your business on a ready-made platform, it will likely already come with payment processing services. Whether you have created a new website or are using a hosting platform, ensure that your payment services are secure and protect customer\u2019s sensitive information.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are selling physical goods, you will also need to consider shipping. You may be starting on a small scale at home. If this is the case, have a look at relevant shipping options that are fit for your business\u2019 needs and reliable but are also cost-effective. As your business grows, you may want to consider external shipping and fulfilment options.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Market Your Business to Potential Customers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You can now start to build your customer base. Consult the marketing strategies you outlined in your business plan, as you should now begin marketing your business. With your marketing and advertising, ensure you are honest and do not mislead customers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>eCommerce businesses tend to opt for methods such as:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>social media marketing;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>brand partnerships;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>advertising through search engines; and&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>email marketing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Legal Considerations&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When starting an online business, there are some essential legal aspects you should note. The following table outlines some of these legal considerations.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Legal Consideration<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Explanation&nbsp;<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Choosing a legal structure for your online business&nbsp;<\/td><td>Choosing the right business structure is essential whether you operate an online or brick-and-mortar store. You can register your business as a:<br>+ <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/business-structures\/features-sole-trader\/\">sole trader<\/a>;&nbsp;<br>+ <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/corporations\/limited-vs-unlimited-company\/\">limited company<\/a>;&nbsp;<br>+ <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/corporations\/limited-partnership\/\">general partnership<\/a>; or<br>+ limited liability partnership.&nbsp;<br>Each structure has different legal implications and tax obligations.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Business name and trade marks<\/td><td>Ensure that you select a unique and new name for your online business. It must not infringe on the trade marks of an existing business.&nbsp;<br><br>Once you have picked a name, consider trade mark registration to safeguard your online brand\u2019s identity. The same principle stands for your business\u2019 logo.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Consumer protection&nbsp;<\/td><td>Both online and offline consumers are legally protected. To build a solid foundation to uphold consumer rights, you need to:<br>+ provide products and services of good quality;&nbsp;<br>+ be honest and transparent with the descriptions of your products and services;&nbsp;<br>+ ensure that your products do what they are supposed to do (for example, if you sell a water bottle, it must be able to hold liquids); and<br>+ have a transparent returns policy.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>eCommerce regulations<\/td><td>You must display specific information on your website, such as your:<br>+ business name;&nbsp;<br>+ company address; and&nbsp;<br>+ contact details.&nbsp;<br>You must also have a robust terms and conditions document and make these easily accessible to customers of your site.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Data protection&nbsp;<\/td><td>Online businesses collect customer data. You will likely handle sensitive information like customer email addresses, home addresses, and payment information.&nbsp;<br><br>You must process, store, and handle personal data in compliance with data protection law.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Takeaways&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Starting a successful online business involves several key steps and legal considerations. Begin your new venture by conducting thorough market research to define your business\u2019 niche and target audience. Then, develop a comprehensive business plan that outlines your goals, market research findings, product or service offerings, marketing strategies, and financial information. To bring your online business plan to life, create a user-friendly website or choose an appropriate existing eCommerce site. Ensure secure payment processing and reliable shipping options. Then, implement your marketing strategy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need legal advice when setting up your online business, our experienced <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startup-lawyers-lp\/\">startup lawyers<\/a> can assist as part of our LegalVision membership. For a low monthly fee, you will have unlimited access to lawyers to answer your questions and draft and review your documents. Call us today on <a href=\"tel:+448081968584\" class=\"AVANSERnumber dynamic-number\">0808 196 8584<\/a> or visit our <a href=\"\/membership\">membership page<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Starting an eCommerce business has gained tremendous popularity over the last few years. After all, the allure of online entrepreneurship lies in the accessibility it offers. Additionally, online business owners can start operating from the comfort of their homes for a limited initial investment. This article will consider the key stages of starting an online<a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"sr-only\">&#8220;5 Business Considerations to Start an Online Business&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13435,"featured_media":183584,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"181973,177260,896,180618,183278,184343","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[379,860,1256,1550],"class_list":["post-185572","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-startups","tag-ecommerce","tag-startups","tag-start-business","tag-ecommerce-business"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>5 Business Considerations to Start an Online Business | LegalVision UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you want to start an online business, conduct thorough market research to define your business\u2019 niche and target audience.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"5 Business Considerations to Start an Online Business | LegalVision UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you want to start an online business, conduct thorough market research to define your business\u2019 niche and target audience.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"LegalVision UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LegalVision\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-12-21T00:33:10+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-01-08T05:21:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/10\/26041622\/tyler-franta-iusJ25iYu1c-unsplash-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1710\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jessica Drew\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@LegalVision_law\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@LegalVision_law\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jessica Drew\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Jessica Drew\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/7a672563f269eb009b1eaefd0625ae36\"},\"headline\":\"5 Business Considerations to Start an Online Business\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-12-21T00:33:10+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-01-08T05:21:56+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/\"},\"wordCount\":940,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/10\/26041622\/tyler-franta-iusJ25iYu1c-unsplash-scaled.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"ecommerce\",\"startups\",\"start business\",\"ecommerce business\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Startup Articles\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/\",\"name\":\"5 Business Considerations to Start an Online Business | LegalVision UK\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/10\/26041622\/tyler-franta-iusJ25iYu1c-unsplash-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-12-21T00:33:10+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-01-08T05:21:56+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/7a672563f269eb009b1eaefd0625ae36\"},\"description\":\"If you want to start an online business, conduct thorough market research to define your business\u2019 niche and target audience.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/10\/26041622\/tyler-franta-iusJ25iYu1c-unsplash-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/10\/26041622\/tyler-franta-iusJ25iYu1c-unsplash-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1710,\"caption\":\"What Are the Legal Requirements When Beginning Franchising? | LegalVision UK\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Startup Articles\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/category\/startups\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"5 Business Considerations to Start an Online Business\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/\",\"name\":\"LegalVision UK\",\"description\":\"LegalVision is a commercial law firm in the UK with a commitment to innovation\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/7a672563f269eb009b1eaefd0625ae36\",\"name\":\"Jessica Drew\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/03\/12052028\/LegalVision_square_logo-150x150.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/03\/12052028\/LegalVision_square_logo-150x150.png\",\"caption\":\"Jessica Drew\"},\"description\":\"Jessica is a Legal Content Writer at Legal Vision. She is currently studying for a PhD in international law and has specific expertise in international law, migration and climate change. She holds a first-class LLB and LLM degrees. In addition to studying for her third Law degree, Jessica teaches Law on the LLB Law modules at the university where she is studying for her PhD. She is also a Director of a charity which supports asylum seekers and refugees. Qualifications: PhD, Law (Underway), Edge Hill University, Masters of Laws - LLM, International Human Rights Law, University of Liverpool, Bachelor of Laws - LLB, Edge Hill University.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jessica-d-16931492\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/author\/jessicadrew\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"5 Business Considerations to Start an Online Business | LegalVision UK","description":"If you want to start an online business, conduct thorough market research to define your business\u2019 niche and target audience.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"5 Business Considerations to Start an Online Business | LegalVision UK","og_description":"If you want to start an online business, conduct thorough market research to define your business\u2019 niche and target audience.","og_url":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/","og_site_name":"LegalVision UK","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LegalVision","article_published_time":"2023-12-21T00:33:10+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-01-08T05:21:56+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1710,"url":"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/10\/26041622\/tyler-franta-iusJ25iYu1c-unsplash-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Jessica Drew","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@LegalVision_law","twitter_site":"@LegalVision_law","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Jessica Drew","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/"},"author":{"name":"Jessica Drew","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/7a672563f269eb009b1eaefd0625ae36"},"headline":"5 Business Considerations to Start an Online Business","datePublished":"2023-12-21T00:33:10+00:00","dateModified":"2024-01-08T05:21:56+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/"},"wordCount":940,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/10\/26041622\/tyler-franta-iusJ25iYu1c-unsplash-scaled.jpg","keywords":["ecommerce","startups","start business","ecommerce business"],"articleSection":["Startup Articles"],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/","url":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/","name":"5 Business Considerations to Start an Online Business | LegalVision UK","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/10\/26041622\/tyler-franta-iusJ25iYu1c-unsplash-scaled.jpg","datePublished":"2023-12-21T00:33:10+00:00","dateModified":"2024-01-08T05:21:56+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/7a672563f269eb009b1eaefd0625ae36"},"description":"If you want to start an online business, conduct thorough market research to define your business\u2019 niche and target audience.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/10\/26041622\/tyler-franta-iusJ25iYu1c-unsplash-scaled.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/10\/26041622\/tyler-franta-iusJ25iYu1c-unsplash-scaled.jpg","width":2560,"height":1710,"caption":"What Are the Legal Requirements When Beginning Franchising? | LegalVision UK"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/start-an-online-business\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Startup Articles","item":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/category\/startups\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"5 Business Considerations to Start an Online Business"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/#website","url":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/","name":"LegalVision UK","description":"LegalVision is a commercial law firm in the UK with a commitment to innovation","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/7a672563f269eb009b1eaefd0625ae36","name":"Jessica Drew","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/03\/12052028\/LegalVision_square_logo-150x150.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/03\/12052028\/LegalVision_square_logo-150x150.png","caption":"Jessica Drew"},"description":"Jessica is a Legal Content Writer at Legal Vision. She is currently studying for a PhD in international law and has specific expertise in international law, migration and climate change. She holds a first-class LLB and LLM degrees. In addition to studying for her third Law degree, Jessica teaches Law on the LLB Law modules at the university where she is studying for her PhD. She is also a Director of a charity which supports asylum seekers and refugees. Qualifications: PhD, Law (Underway), Edge Hill University, Masters of Laws - LLM, International Human Rights Law, University of Liverpool, Bachelor of Laws - LLB, Edge Hill University.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jessica-d-16931492\/"],"url":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/author\/jessicadrew\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185572","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/13435"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=185572"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185572\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":185639,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185572\/revisions\/185639"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/183584"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=185572"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=185572"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=185572"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}