How to Start a Christian Mall and Online Store

You can sell hard-to-find Christian supplies online.

Starting a Christian mall and online store will allow those within the Christian religion to order supplies and services to keep them connected to their faith. Online stores are convenient for people who like to buy supplies from the comfort of their own home. Your online store can be unique in that it will allow you to provide products that may be hard for customers to find elsewhere.

Instructions

1. Legally structure your business. Whether you choose to operate your business online or off you may have to pay federal and state taxes. Start a business as either a sole proprietorship, LLC or corporation. Speak with your attorney or accountant as they can file your articles or corporation with the Secretary of State, or you can file your own articles of incorporation by going to your Secretary of State's website.

2. Obtain an EIN. An EIN (employer identification number) is provided by the IRS and is used to open a business bank account, establish credit for your business and hire employees. In order to buy some of your Christian supplies wholesale, you may have to have an EIN. Visit the IRS website to apply online or contact IRS agent over the phone to obtain your EIN. There is no cost for an EIN.

3. Determine if you like to have your Christian mall online or off-line. If you are interested in operating a Christian mall off-line, then you will need to contact a real estate agent in order to find a location for you to purchase or lease for your mall.

4. Create a list of the supplies you would like to sell in your store. Products can include Bibles, Christian apparel, candles, jewelry, and Christian books. Visit other Christian supply stores in your area to get an idea of what is popular and what would make your store unique.

5. Purchase a domain name for your online store. A Domain name is the address people will type in their browser to reach your site. Online domain registration usually costs between $1.99 and $14 per year.

6. Obtain web hosting for your online store. Web hosts have servers that can maintain the content and traffic necessary to keep your website functioning. Web hosts can charge $3 and up per month. Start with an inexpensive web host first. You might need to purchase a higher-priced package in the event you outgrow your account.

7. Purchase Christian goods wholesale. Contact your Chamber of Commerce to find local suppliers in your area or use online import-export sites such as Tradekey.com and Ec21.com in order to find Christian supplies wholesale.

8. Hire a web designer specializing in e-commerce website building. Make sure you see some samples of the designer's work. You want to create an informative, user-friendly site. A poorly constructed website will turn away potential customers.

Tips & Warnings

• Speak with other Christian merchants online or in your local area to determine if they would like to link to your website. You can then make a commission on all sales you generate for them.

References

• Isitebuild: How to Build an Ecommerce Web Sit
• Thesitewizard: How to Choose a Web Host
• Pcmag: Choosing a Domain Name Registrar

Resources

• Religiousmall: Church Supplies, Byzantine Icons, Christian Gifts