[timmle]

I am rather at beginner at designing websites to be honest, created a few standard sites but nothing which required snything too complicated.I have Photoshop CS3 to my disposal and Adobe Dreamweaver along with a few side editing programs.

I am starting up a business with my current manager and director, and our first step is to create a site which viewers can purchase items and pay via credit card etc etc.

I have never dealt with this side of web site design before (E Commerce) and was wondering how the best way to do this is.

I imagine you have to purchase software to add things to cart and emulate the payment processing part - but is it possible to apply this application to a current web site design? or is it only using the templates these software programs create for you?

Like just have the structure of your site compiled and everything is ready to go and then, hyperthetically just add your add to cart logo's etc with all the scripting attached into a page which has already been created.

Any tips to lead me in the right direction or just to explain to me?

Thanks In Advance.

Tim Brayshaw

[bluesage]

Whats your background with web development ? Do you know php or another server side language ?

For credit card payments, you need a merchant account and a platform for the banking transactions (a payment gateway).
"What's a Merchant Account, and how do I get one?" - DreamHost Knowledge Base

Or there are options like paypal which are good solutions, especially for startups or low budget e-shops with a small client base.

As for the cart part, you either develop that your self using a server side language or you can use existing solutions either open source and free, or commercial.

osCommerce, Open Source Online Shop E-Commerce Solutions
Ubercart! A free open source e-commerce shopping cart

You can integrate a shopping cart software into an existing website.

[Dusteh]

Two more free carts to consider.

CubeCart - Free & Commercial Online Shopping Cart Solutions

Downloads, Zen Cart | free shopping cart software