First, you'll need a hosting service that puts your site online. Hosting services operate in every Canadian city. Remember that cheaper isn't necessarily better. Be cautious about opting for a free or very low-cost hosting service; they are usually thin on support, especially for e-commerce applications.

A common method of beginning e-commerce operations is to buy an all-in-one package of hosting, site design and e-commerce applications. You should be able to find a web-based hosting service offering e-commerce templates that you can customize. These services also allow users to easily manage their content, eliminating the need to understand complex web design or web writing language.

If you are new to the e-commerce world, why not test the waters by selling on eBay Canada? This former auction site is now the world's largest e-commerce provider and can serve as a tool for market research and learning. Before going to the expense of building an online store, find out if your business idea is viable and if people will really spend money for your product. Consider test-marketing your concept through the eBay sales channel, which offers a global testing ground that will cost you next to nothing and have you up and running within a few hours. Hundreds of thousands of online businesses have started this way.