Trying to automate! Need advice on having a new website built

[andyjay]

Hi there,

About two years ago I started an online business as a hobby outside of my regular full time job. I originally started manufacturing and selling fitness equipment out of my garage.

Unfortunately it's grown a bit too fast, and I'm struggling with scalability. It's gotten to the point where I'm working 70 to 80 hours most weeks, doing all sales, quoting, invoicing, book keeping, warehousing and dispatching, on top of a full time job, with no chance of a holiday or the sky will fall!

A friend gave me the 4HWW, which has been a godsend. I'm now in the process of automation using VA's and getting a fulfillment company to handle all dispatching. However I've hit a bit of a snag with website development.

I'm not an expert in website design at all (fair from it), but I am looking for some good advice on getting a new website built. The details are:

Website will showcase around 500 product lines, be approximately 20 to 30 pages, have two different pricing levels, all invoicing done from the website (so all work can be done remotely), an advanced shipping calculator that customers can enter their postcode in to see shipping costs prior to adding to the cart.

The ultimate aim is to have VA's quote and invoice customers, and be able to do it online. Then the fulfillment company will ship the goods. Leaving me to be able to have a social life again!

Does anyone have any advice on a good company to build this sort of a website? I'm thinking of using brickwork, as it would be good to use a company familiar with VA's, as they will be doing the majority of the work.

Questions:

- How much would a website like this cost? (Guessing over $5k)
- Anyone had experience using brickwork to build custom ecommerce websites
- Can anyone recommend a web design company that would be suitable, or have experience in this type of work.
- Any advice on things I'm forgetting!

Thanks in advance,

Andy

[Mr Miyagi]

Go to Elance.

You pitch your requirements for the website, people offer their services, skills and a price.

You can ask to look at their previous work to show they are proven and can walk the walk as well as talk the talk.

You can select the right person, judging on their price, what they offer and how quick they do it.

On there is will also show previous jobs done on Elance, so you can look at the feedback others have given.

You upload funds to Elance, they hold the funds until you are happy with the work done and then pay the client. This means the client knows you have the funds to pay for the job, but also you as the clinet make sure the work is done before agreeingt payment.

[steveeakin]

Don't be afraid to dump some heavy change into the site. If you can find a reputable freelancer or local web development company, pay them what they are worth but make sure they prove they are worth it with a nice portfolio and reviews.

Never pay 100% up front. Do 50% at start and 50% at completion, or better yet is 25% at start, 25% at milestone 1, 25% at milestone 2, 25% at completion.

This will ensure that the site is going along smoothly. I have personal experience on both sides of the table (I am a working professional in this field, a freelancer in this field, and I hire freelancers in this field) and this is what has always worked for me.

[Ileana]

I am not sure if this meets your requirements, but alot of big companies are using Shopify. Perhaps you could consider that?

[bsiege]

Also, instead of invoicing, I don't really know the business, but would you be able just set standard pricing, then you can eliminate hiring VAs for receiving invoices...except for wholesale deals, those are obviously done for invoices.

And it is probably better to get a call center, rather than VAs for call orders; its cheaper usually.

I use shopify, but for a big company I would just higher a designer via elance, then automate SEO, article writing, etc. through VAs.

Good luck, just my advice though, I am only just starting.

[andyjay]

Good call on elance. Looking at between $10k and $20k for an Australian designer, or roughly $6k for an elance designer overseas. (Quotes given using the same website design brief)

I've just had a look over shopify, designs look really clean. I'll have to follow up with them regarding shipping methods for Australian customers.

Also the idea is to have two different membership types, wholesale and retail, so both customer types wouldn't necessarily need invoices, and could order direct from the web.

Also good call on the call center.

Thanks for your help!