Filing for a DBA should be your first step. This is a legally recognized trade name, short for “doing business as.” The laws regarding DBA licensing vary from state to state. Once you have your DBA, rent a PO Box under the DBA name. This keeps your physical address out of your online transactions. Next, choose your storefront carefully. Most auction sites will handle financial transactions for you, but you may be on your own if a customer uses fraudulent methods to pay. Read the fine print carefully. If you are handcrafting a product, there are several sites that act as clearing houses for artisans. Do your research and choose one with a good track record of seeing that their craftsmen and customers alike are satisfied. If your product is going to be on a dedicated website, then read about the extra services your domain host provides and take the time to compare the long-term costs of each. A large portion of web hosting services offer “shopping carts” to handle credit card payments. This can be an invaluable tool, but be certain to check the cost of service for each transaction. Small percentages can add up to surprisingly large costs.