BUSINESS COST CONSIDERATONS

    • Monthly cost of operating an Ecommerce Online STORE with Shopping Cart: currently offering 20+ products with shipping options; keeping track of inventory, etc:
      • GoDaddy: Annual cost of a secure website address URL (https://) including SSL to protect customers and website from hackers
      • WPMU DEV: Monthly cost of HOSTING the website (publishing and securing, a significant cost often overlooked)
      • Kadence: Annual cost of a website THEME making for positive visitor engagement
      • Highline Fast ISP (internet service provider) costs to create/edit website content and receive internet orders
      • SEO expertise: Annual costs of website software to enhance being found when “googled” (Search Engine Optimization)
      • Costs of the necessary website APP’s (security, styles, Customer Reviews, etc.)
      • Electronic Payment Processing: Credit Card fees (PayPal, LightSpeed)
    • Cost of quality products:
      • Initial research and development costs to create the product (must be factored over a significant time frame to allow for competitive pricing)
      • USA screen material (ex: double the thickness of competitor KW screens)
      • Cutting necessary quantities of screen material to appropriate design shape (computer-controlled plasma precision cutter)
      • Oven baked powder-coating (attractive gloss finish – bugs wash off easily)
      • Product enhancements, features: Neoprene rubber edge trim; Stainless-Steel Installation Hardware
    • USPS and UPS Shipping Costs: including the built-in “free” USPS Ground Advantage to 50 US States + DC;
    • Business Entity Costs
      • Office costs (salary, furniture, rent, computer, laser-printer/toner, paper, shipping envelopes/labels, logo stickers, miscellaneous office supplies);
      • Workshop: Manufacturing/production related (rent, labor, tools, cardboard, clips, 3-M adhesive tape, glue, heavy-duty staples)
      • Labor costs to create effective website content/pages to describe and market the product
      • Utilities: power, gas, cellular
    • Corporate PO Box;
    • Corporate tax software;
    • Advertising & promotion (PayPal, eBay, Facebook, Google, business cards, video equipment/software);
    • Replacement Claims: Warranty and “missing shipment” claims including dubious claims of “didn’t receive the product” even though USPS tracking indicates “delivered” (note: most folks are unaware that USPS tracked deliveries are confirmed internally via GPS coordinates)
    • Insured transportation (pickup and deliver product, supplies, etc.);
    • Inventory carrying costs (stocking enough product and production/shipping supplies to insure prompt deliveries)