How much did it cost you to start your PA site?

[GJ08]

I'm interested in starting one, but would like to know the numbers before I do. Can anyone help out?

[realbidtowin]

I'm interested in starting one, but would like to know the numbers before I do. Can anyone help out?

If you have to ask you can't afford it (LOL). Your question is too subjective and generic. Considering that 99% of the penny auctions listed here on PAW are not even showing a profit some after a year in business, I doubt anyone here has your answers. Sorry to be the pesamist but IMO 95% of the auctions sites out there will fail fro three reasons poor managment, Lack of marketing experience, and under capitalized.

[GJ08]

If you have to ask you can't afford it (LOL). Your question is too subjective and generic. Considering that 99% of the penny auctions listed here on PAW are not even showing a profit some after a year in business, I doubt anyone here has your answers. Sorry to be the pesamist but IMO 95% of the auctions sites out there will fail fro three reasons poor managment, Lack of marketing experience, and under capitalized.

LOL, thank you for your response. I have a ton of money to start a PA, I'm honestly just curious. What I mean is the costs building up to opening day. I'm sure it varies for every website, so it will be nice to get an insight of each one.

[Bargainsandfun]

LOL, thank you for your response. I have a ton of money to start a PA, I'm honestly just curious. What I mean is the costs building up to opening day. I'm sure it varies for every website, so it will be nice to get an insight of each one.

This can vary greatly as you have several options

OPTION 1
Step 1 - $760 (startup costs first month)
Sign up for a shared hosting account ($10/month)
Buy an E-bay Script to install on it $50
Hire a designer to make it pretty $200
Beta Test your site and give away stuff to the testers $500
Find out that your hosting doesn't work (go to step 2)

Step 2 - Add $600 (startup costs second month)
move to a dedicated server $100+/month
beta test your site and give away stuff to the testers $500
find out that your software doesn't work (go to step 3)

Step 3 - Add $250+ (startup costs second month)
Hire a developer/programmer to fix your script $250
find out your script has too many bugs to fix
buy new script from your developer or go back to step 1

OPTION 2
Get in touch with someone who has done development
on several PA sites. talk to other owners about who they
used, what script they got and their issues that they ran
into as things went on.

Discuss with your developer/programmer what scripts are
available, options, hosting requirements and the turnaround
time.

If you can do your own development you may be able to get
a script off of e-bay or a low cost website and reprogram
it to suite your needs and to actually work. If not you should
talk to someone first to not only find out what is the best
bet but the costs.

Here are some quick prices (which may vary depending on who you talk to)
Hosting - Go Dedicated - Per month $100+/-
Script - Basic Stripped down model but working $500+/-
Beta Testing - Give stuff away to ensure good test $500+/-
Designer to make it all pretty $200+/-

That being said - talk to other site owners and find a developer
before you invest any money in anything. It's sadening when
you find out that the $200/month dedicated server you just
purchased can't handle the script because the wrong OS was
installed.

Just my .02