If you already trade successfully in the real world, considerations such as integration, security and web design may make you wonder if it’s worth all the trouble and expense to build an online store.

However, the Internet is an opportunity from which most – if not all – businesses can benefit.  As consumers put in longer hours at work and have less leisure time, so they look to the Internet for convenience in shopping; and what discerning shopper these days does not use the Internet to compare prices and find the best bargains?

In the UK, e-retail alone is forecast to be worth £26.1bn in 2006, with 26m shoppers each spending an average of £1003 over the course of the year , so the Internet is a sales channel that cannot be ignored, whether your business is already established or just starting out.

Although integrating a payment solution with your website can be slightly complex it is certainly the only way to generate a financial return on your investment and capture your share of the huge consumer spend outlined above.

In this section we will look at the main issues, features and costs that are behind taking online payments. In reality things are pretty straightforward once you are clear on the best option for your business.