Applies to
Microsoft Office FrontPage® 2003 Microsoft FrontPage® 2002, 2000, and 98

An online storefront offers many advantages to a business owner. It is open 24-7, accessible around the world to those with an Internet connection, and doesn't have the overhead of a traditional store.

To create an e-commerce presence, you need to do some research and then decide how you will collect payments and whether you need third-party e-commerce software. Both of these may be taken care of by your Internet service provider (ISP). Ask your ISP about any e-commerce packages they offer.

FrontPage does not provide features to collect payments from your customers, but it integrates well with various third-party e-commerce solutions. You can find a short list of solutions that have been designed specifically for FrontPage on Microsoft Office Online. Read the "E-Commerce Solutions" section in the article Sites offering additional information for FrontPage users.

Use a merchant account

The most popular way to purchase an item online is with a credit card. This is both easy for customers to use and the quickest way to transfer funds to your account. It has become the default standard for online businesses. To process credit card transactions, you will need to set up a merchant account.

If you don't already have a merchant account, you have several options: You can go to a bank, use a third party, or go through your Internet service provider (ISP). E-commerce software usually doesn't include merchant accounts, so in most cases, you can expect to get an account on your own.

Banks generally charge a monthly fee as well as a per-transaction fee for merchant accounts. You don't want to spend more than you need to, so do comparison shopping at different financial institutions to find the best deal. Some banks require payment even if no transactions are made. Other accounts can be costly because their terms exceed the life span of an e-commerce initiative.

Instead of going through a bank, you can get a third-party merchant account such as PayPal. The cost for using one of these accounts may be less than setting up an account through your bank.

Your Internet service provider may offer an e-commerce package that includes a merchant account and e-commerce software.

To be safe and cost-conscious, be sure you understand all of the terms, restrictions, and charges, whether you get an account from your bank, through your ISP, or through a third party.

Get ahead of security issues

Once you start taking credit card numbers, you open yourself up to potential problems if security on your site is breached. Without adequate security, your customers' credit and their identities could be at risk. Online fraud and information theft are real threats, so don't skimp in taking measures to protect yourself — and your customers.

Make sure your ISP is secure

Your first priority, then, is to make sure that your ISP offers solid security measures. If you do nothing else, ask the ISP for references, check its reputation with the local Better Business Bureau, or both. You want to make sure your own business venture isn't compromised by your ISP's poor attention to security.

If your ISP isn't currently providing e-commerce, you might reconsider using the ISP for your online business. Ask yourself: Do I want to be the ISP's first e-commerce customer? If the ISP already does e-commerce, finding out what the other customers think of the service is the safest way to go.

Credit card security standards

In response to a surge in online credit card theft, large credit card companies now require e-commerce businesses, including ISPs, to meet strict security standards. If you store, process, or transmit cardholder data, you must comply with these standards, which vary according to the number of transactions you process per month.

If you haven't already done so, find out what is required by the Visa Cardholder Information Security Program and the MasterCard Site Data Protection Program. If your ISP or potential ISP is providing you with your merchant account or e-commerce software, be sure the ISP complies with these important standards.

Encryption technology helps prevent theft

To protect private information from being unscrupulously gathered, such data should be encrypted and made indecipherable to unauthorized entities. The encryption technology supported by most Web browsers is Secured Sockets Layer (SSL).

Your ISP should be able to provide you with an SSL connection for your site.

Identity theft protection

Another security requirement is a digital certificate. This establishes your online identity when you do business on the Web, so that customers can have confidence that your business will not abuse their private information by inadvertently leaking it.

You get a digital certificate from a certificate-issuing authority. Your ISP should also have a digital certificate for the server that you use.

The bottom line: Play it safe, but do play

Your online business is important, so take the appropriate steps to ensure that your investment and those of your customers are safe and sound.