While it's the entrepreneur's dream to go into business, perhaps for the first time online, there are significant advantages in working in tandem with some of the new accounting software packages from the likes of Intuit (QuickBooks) or Peachtree. Also extremely important is the business person's responsibility to file taxes. When used together, Paypal, the accounting software and tax filing using a package like Turbotax is simplified, but requires a bit of discipline.
Entrepreneur's Dream, Running an Online Business & Making Money While Asleep
If one enters the business fray in the online world of E commerce, it is certainly likely that buyers in different time zones can and will buy products on a 24/7 basis. Assuming that the web site and the products are compelling enough to prospective buyers, this is certainly likely. It is exciting and exhilarating, but there are of course, certain responsibilities incumbent upon the would be entrepreneur, such as tax filing issues. A consult with a CPA is often a good first step.
In order to stay on top of one's business, it's best to have a good modern accounting system, like Quickbooks that will enable the business person to understand when the business is profitable or unprofitable and then to enable him or her to efficiently file federal and state (sometimes local) income taxes. To many, this flies in the face of the American dream, however, there is no way around this responsibility. Certainly keeping transactions in a cigar box is one way, but with electronic media such as Paypal the use of a package like Turbotax is an easy choice to make.