Enterprise Nation

Launched only a month ago, MyEhive.com is already swarming with home business bees, busy selling their homemade wares through free web stores and - here's the honey shot - at no commission! I checked out MyEhive.com to find out how this is possible and how it might be the easiest and cheapest way to start a business from home.

I could have been offended by a card I received for my birthday last month, but it was just far too beautiful! It was of a frog prince, green paper on cream card, with jewelled eyes and gold crown. I loved it and was told it was handmade by a friend, Su Leaver, who made cards, like the Frog Prince, as well exotic ceramics and jewellery from her home in Hackney.

She'd just opened an online shop, I was told, with another Sue - Sue King-Brewster. Their venture, Homemade in Hackney, was set-up using new online marketplace, MyEhive.com.

Give bees a chance

MyEhive.com has been set up to promote handmade goods, provide instant shop creation and a haven for handmade devotees on the Internet. "Make a living, doing what you love," is all the buzz on its website, which - remarkably - allows you to set-up a shop, like Su's, totally for free and with no commission.

The free package comes with a five product limit, so you can get started quickly, easily and with no costs. There a paid packages too, priced at £4.99 and £9.99 per month, which allow you to grow your shop, add more products and images and use your own domain name.

Find out more about setting up your own web store on MyEhive.com or browse others, like Su's, on the links below.

• MyEhive.com
• Handmade in Hackney

– San Sharma

San Sharma is a creative thinker, blogger and designer, as well as a writer on popular culture, technology and business.

• www.sansharma.com