[schumi]

Home-based Internet business has been growing rapidly since more and more consumers are becoming comfortable with online transactions. Many people with full time jobs begin to consider starting their own business in their basement or bedroom.
Today there are more options for people who want to start their own retail business on the Internet. You may have heard about drop shipping. It's often portrayed as an ideal way to start a small or home-based business and an easier way to make extra income for you.
The idea of drop shipping is very simple. You accept orders and payment from customers for goods that you advertise on your website. However you do not have any inventory of these goods. Instead you place an order with a supplier who delivers the goods direct to your customer's address. Normally the paperwork accompanying the delivery will make it appear that the goods were delivered directly from your business. Your customer pays the retail price fixed by you, while you pay the wholesale price from the supplier, thereby making a profit.
There are many advantages when you start a retail business with a drop-shipping supplier (wholesaler or manufacturer). You never stock any merchandises; you may start with almost no up front investment; and your business will be very flexible since you can change your merchandise as market demand changes. The best of all, your supplier deals with the shipping and packaging so you don't have to worry about running to UPS or Postal Service everyday.

<to be continued>