According to research by the online auction site eBay, 25% of UK small businesses make money over the internet now, compared with just 5% two years ago. That is a pretty stunning increase, given that a lot of small businesses, such as corner shops and hairdressers, will never have much use for the worldwide web.

eBay claims that online retailers enjoy profit margins of 70%, and that start-ups can be profitable within a year.

These figures may raise a few eyebrows, and there is clearly a pay-off for eBay in that retailers use its services. But companies with no internet presence are starting to look like dinosaurs.

Posted: 07|31|06 at 7:45 am. Filed under: UK News.