Small internet business.... Where to start?

[Tim Hancock]

Like jcommins recent post, I too am looking at the possibility of creating a website.

I am not much of a modern tech guy.... At 53, I use the internet plenty but am somewhat lacking in my knowledge of social media. I recently started posting video to Youtube primarily to document and show my repair of a wrecked diesel pusher coach to a relatively small group of like minded motorhome enthusiasts.

On a whim, I posted a crappy video of some custom fabbed RC truck parts I was making and now I have a few folks requesting to buy these parts. I am guessing I could probably make a nice little stash of "play" money by going forward with this small hobby business, but I am unsure on the best way to ease my way into it.

My "products" are small fabricated bumper and rock slider assemblies that the Scale RC Crawler guys seem enjoy spending their hard earned money on. Basically about $50 for a dollar or two of steel plus my labor.

I still have a LLC setup from my aircraft inspection/repair business.
I have a Paypal account.
I have a Youtube Channel.
I have a Facebook page.

I have all the equipment to build these parts.... My only "cost" is my labor and my wife's anger that I am taking on more "projects".

Trying to decide on whether to do some of the following as a start to test the waters without committing much time or money early on.

-Website?
-Etsy?
-Ebay store?
-Join and post in RC forums?
-Send free parts to popular RC Youtubers for review?
-Other ideas?

Probably a lot of ways to go at this... I guess I am still undecided at how deep I want to get with this as I won't be quitting my day job.

[GH85Carrera]

Establishing a market is part of it. A web page is the most likely way for people to find you, BUT you will need to show up in a Google Search if someone searched for "RC Scaler parts" or other terms that a potential customer would think up.

And the web site needs to be simple at first and add features as needed.

Finding someone good at a web site, and hosting and such can be expensive and eat up more money than a hobby business may ever make.

Even showing up in a Google search on the first page of searches is a challenge. Showing up on page 5 is pointless for almost any business.

[id10t]

Put pics up on your site, maybe some videos of the part attached and in action, etc.

Sell via your ebay account or etsy account.

[Brando]

Hey there Tim - I've been working with ecommerce clients for about 4 years now and there's a few different ways to go.

1. You probably want to either re-structure your existing LLC, file a FBN as your new business name, and file all the associated paperwork with your state agency and IRS.
2. RUN AWAY from PayPal. Their fees are literally financial rape.
3. You can leverage your YouTube Channel if you are going to create content (videos). Best to have this linked up and embed videos on your product pages and website if you're producing content.
4. Get that Facebook page updated.

As for websites... Pick your poison. If you're selling products direct to consumers you'll want an ecommerce platform like Shopify, Squarespace, or Wordpress + WooCommerce. Keep in mind, you'll need to buy apps/integrations for things like Authorize.net/CC payments, PayPal payments, Google Payments, not to mention transaction fees.

There's also selling through Amazon - but be forewarned that big A takes a large %, and they have gotten into the habit of holding 1/2 of your money for 2-3 weeks at a time. My clients that are using Amazon don't like it but it's a necessary evil for them.

I'll shoot you a PM as well, there's lots you can do and lots to be done if you're wading into these waters.

[RWebb]

Amazon is great if you want to get data mined out the wazoo


You might ask Red-beard for advice. IIRC, he started up a PV panel sales biz (originally focused on remote sites) and was considering Amazon. Dunno if he did it or avoided them.

[stomachmonkey]

Best way to start this is don’t.

The best way to kill a hobby you enjoy is to turn it into a business.

If you are already getting organic word of mouth business you can certainly increase that to a level you feel comfortable maintaining.

For customers there’s a difference between some guy who shares a hobby making stuff for others on his own time vs “a business” which is expected to meet a higher level of customer service.

Forget the website, start up a Facebook page for the stuff, stick to established forums and don’t make this more hassle for you than it’s likely worth.

My two cents, YMMV and considering how often you’ve asked our input on some new undertaking and just went and did whatever the **** you wanted anyways I suspect YMWV greatly.

I’m sure it’ll be kick ass like everything else you do.

Best
Scott

[sc_rufctr]

Scott nailed it... Don't make this hard work.

Facebook page to start with and see what happens.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Best way to start this is don’t.

The best way to kill a hobby you enjoy is to turn it into a business.

If you are already getting organic word of mouth business you can certainly increase that to a level you feel comfortable maintaining.

For customers there’s a difference between some guy who shares a hobby making stuff for others on his own time vs “a business” which is expected to meet a higher level of customer service.

Forget the website, start up a Facebook page for the stuff, stick to established forums and don’t make this more hassle for you than it’s likely worth.

My two cents, YMMV and considering how often you’ve asked our input on some new undertaking and just went and did whatever the **** you wanted anyways I suspect YMWV greatly.

I’m sure it’ll be kick ass like everything else you do.

Best
Scott

Good advice.... Not sure how I will proceed, but you have a pretty good pulse on how I roll.

[911boost]

RC rock crawlers! I have a Losi, tell me more!

[wdfifteen]

I was going to type "calling Scott," but he beat me to it.

Some good advice here, but some I have a different opinion on.

Take payment by PayPal, cash, or checks - at least initially. Paypal fees are high, but so are credit card fees, and PayPal is so much easier to set up.


"The best way to kill a hobby you enjoy is to turn it into a business."
This was not my experience. I started a business based on my hobby and made made a few million. Sure, I don't like my hobby anymore, but it's easier to get a new hobby than to make a million dollars.

"For customers there’s a difference between some guy who shares a hobby making stuff for others on his own time vs a business” which is expected to meet a higher level of customer service."
Can't repeat that strongly enough. Some people think they own you if they send you a few dollars. Most customers are easy to get along with, but the bad ones can be BAD.

Start a new LLC for your new business. As I recall it costs $85 in Ohio and it's easy. I started a new LLC for every one of my business enterprises. It pays off when it's time to sell, close, or get a partner.

Before I sold the company my guys did some Facebook and Google marketing and I was astounded at the ROI. It may have changed now, but the networking they did paid off in low cost sales, repeat sales, new product opportunities, and word of mouth name recognition. You might need to hire a pro to optimize your social media presence. It's more valuable than a static web site.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

...."The best way to kill a hobby you enjoy is to turn it into a business."....

....but it's easier to get a new hobby than to make a million dollars....

LOL, It's Hancock, the man has zero issues picking up new hobbies, in fact, if we ask his wife she may say that's actually his biggest problem.

Which is why I think my comment applies to him.

He does not do things like this to make a killing, he does them because he has an insatiable need to "do things" and is passionate about doing it 1,000% every time.

Wish I had half his energy and motivation.

I could be wrong but for Tim to now be in some way obligated or tied to it would take the joy out of it for him.

From where I sit it sure seems he has everything he needs in life, a loving and extremely patient wife, wonderful kids, all the toys any of us could want and the time / motivation to enjoy them and I don't think he is hurting for money.

He's got a pretty good thing going for him.

I just see him turning this into a business counter to what drives him, unless the motivating factor here is not the parts but the challenge of turning it into a business.

Only Tim can answer which one is driving him at the moment.

Either way, he'll sort it out, he always does.

[Zeke]

Don't listen to the naysayers. You can quit anytime. I witnessed a guy that made standard brooms from scratch in his barn and started out simply showing how a quality broom was made. Of course the inquires poured in so he sold some. Next step was to establish a portal to buy which he did. That was mainly a website but I don't know how he handled the payments. Some hosts like 3D Cart offer a payment portal (BTW, I didn't care for 3DC).

That and FB and the thing will run its course. Beware, if you don't have product to ship next day all the time, be prepared to get crucified. Don't work at this hard and don't expect anything. You'll kill yourself if you take it too seriously.

I made some custom back-date FG bumpers for a Carrera and still get offers to sell them. I never promoted the idea that I would sell them. Probably should have but the liability thing terrified me.

[wildthing]

Pay someone who can quickly build you a Shopify store... and separate email accounts for sales@mybiz.com support@mybiz.com. That would be my basic one man setup.

[berettafan]

Originally Posted by id10t

Put pics up on your site, maybe some videos of the part attached and in action, etc.

Sell via your ebay account or etsy account.

Yep. No need to build out a business structure when ebay has it done for you.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by berettafan

Yep. No need to build out a business structure when ebay has it done for you.

Or use Amazon Pay. IDK anything about it but some businesses I've bought from made it easy to "one click" a purchase.

[Tim Hancock]

Ok so I shipped my first order to someone who responded to my crappy youtube video. I set up my Paypal to accept money and it went smoothly. Shipped using the local post office.

I now have a second customer via my youtube video. I think to start, I am simply going to create a new email with my business name and then make a little better video with it by starting out stating that I am selling these parts and to contact me via this email address if interested in placing an order. I may also create and provide links to a new Facebook page showing pictures of the product.

This should get me a little business to let me ease into this and figure out best manufacturing techniques. Am guessing this might be a reasonable plan of attack to test the waters without investing too much time, energy or money.

If I end up enjoying this side business, I can then go further with a website and explore other e-commerce ideas.

Thanks to all who have commented here and for the phone call with Brando!

Thumbnail shot from my video showing prototype parts on my TRX4 rock crawler.


Plastic original parts vs my steel parts


parts for 2 sets of sliders for first customer


2 Sets of finished sliders ready to ship

[71T Targa]

Cool video, and good luck with sales. I was left wanting to see more! Maybe some action shots?

I also went straight to Amazon to see how much TRX4's were.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by 71T Targa

Cool video, and good luck with sales. I was left wanting to see more! Maybe some action shots?

I also went straight to Amazon to see how much TRX4's were.

About $339 for the TRX4 "Sport" ..... The "sport" is the cheapest and does way better on the rocks than the other more expensive fancier versions of the TRX4. The more expensive versions come with top heavy fancier bodies and the ability to unlock diffs and have two speed transmissions. For climbing rocks one would never have a reason to unlock the diffs and the slow speed is perfect for crawling.