If you're ready to be in charge of your own destiny, but don’t have the capital to buy a franchise or open up a storefront, consider starting an online business.

When your store is online, you can reach millions of customers instead of whoever happens to wander in - plus, you don't have to pay for retail space.

However, like with any business, you'll need an excellent product and a solid marketing plan. See Step 1 to learn what it takes to start your business online.