Looking to start a website/business.

**allen18328** · 12-27-2009 04:22 PM

I'm looking to create a business much like ebates.com or fatwallet. I have several ideas to improve their business modle, but I need some information from people who know more about the process than I do. Does anyone on here know how much it might cost to start something like ebates or fatwallet?

**ikjosh** · 12-27-2009 04:32 PM

If you want to get an estimate on the cost of the website, post the project on a site like Scriptlance.com

But more importantly - before you even begin to invest time, let alone money, you need to determine the viability of the business. Let's look at a few things..

We already know big sites in this niche exist. Why would your site be better, and why would users jump sides? How are you going to get their traffic? Are you creating a problem then solving it, or solving an existing problem people have with the existing sites? Adding new 'gee whiz' features that the other sites don't have won't get you anywhere - there needs to be a market of current ebates.com or fatwallet.com users who are frustrated by something with those sites, you need to find and solve problems, that's how you create a viable business and make money.

**Wayne Liew** · 12-27-2009 07:13 PM

FatWallet.com and Ebates.com have been around for quite some time and there are already a lot of features on the site. Essentially, they are just coupon sites, which there are tons out there today. Like what ikjosh mentioned, you really need to stand out from all the noise in order to be successful. This can be making your site focus on coupons and deals relating to a particular niche or related to a particular demographic.

As for the site, there are some scripts out there (paid or free) that you can use for a basic coupon site. Anything extra may require hiring of programmers from freelancer sites like Elance and GetAFreelancer.com. If you have a friend who is good with codes and programming, you can hook them up on this too.

**allen18328** · 12-27-2009 09:44 PM

Thanks for the useful replies fellas. I do think there is something I can add to sites like this to solve a problem that most people have. I also believe that once it is proven to work I could get people to jump ship over to my site.

I like how fat wallet has a forum and I would like to build on that, but that isn't a major part of my idea. I also have an idea to team up with some major companies if they would go for it. Obviously before I can think too much about that part of it I will need a business plan with a rough estimate of the cost and what profits would look like. I'm just trying to piece everything together right now to give myself a rough idea.

Can anyone venture a guess as to what their commissions look like? I know most companies are around the 10% range for an average affiliate, but for a site that is bringing in that much volume I'd believe it'd be much more. I know ebates is looking at sending out around 20 million in cash back checks this year so they're doing pretty good for themselves. If I could manage a small part of that I would call the site a success.

Keep the info coming guys and thanks again.

**azance** · 12-27-2009 11:59 PM

Not sure about the whole concept of the site. I'm assuming it's just coupons right? That's what I got out of the small time I spent looking there to help you out.

If that's all it is, adding coupons and letting users submit them, and vote if they work or not then it's a fairly easy process. You could probably get it for under $200, and if you can't I'm sure I could find you a coder who could. I can recommend you a guy that I've used if you're having troubles finding a guy to do it within your range.

If you explain the concept to me a bit more in a PM and include a link to this thread I can help you out a bit more. The biggest mistake you can make is to not have every feature you'll want when you talk to your designer. You'll end up discovering things you missed a week or so after you've lost your designer.

**allen18328** · 12-28-2009 08:52 AM

Azance - Thanks for the help. Yeah the idea is to set up a site that allows people to shop using my affiliate links so that I earn a commission and can pay them back part of it. I want to be able to track my new users and their sub affiliates as well. Does the average affiliate tracking software allow you to track multiple levels?

I definitely need to learn a lot more about how websites work and are set up.

Thank you again for your assistance.