Starting new Gift Basket business

**crayonberry** · 04-23-2009 01:29 PM

I am 19 years old and am in the planning stages of opening a new gift basket business. I am trying to think everything through before moving ahead. Yesterday, it hit me that I would obviously want the customer to pay ahead of time so that I don't get stuck with a basket that I couldn't sell, or someone steals it.
I understand that there are programs out the there that allow you to process credit/debit cards. Even if I got one of these, I think it would be kind of suspicious that I would be taking credit card information at my home. I am an honest person, but you really can't trust people these days. I don't think I would give my credit card info to a stranger working from home.
I don't feel ready to move into a commercial location until I know that my business will grow. Any suggestions?