The internet offers a host of sales opportunities for an enterprising business but an e-commerce web site is usually seen as an expensive and difficult thing to arrange.

Extend Ecommerce Edition web development software makes it possible to set up a web site without any programming or design skills in "less than five minutes".

Equology has created an instant web site package that links directly to a web hosting service to allow users to create and populate a new e-commerce site without the hassle of commissioning a web site designer and organising the technology.

The software is remarkably easy to use and self-explanatory.

I set up a trial web site in about ten minutes, clicking on every button in sight and trying out all the options. I was then able to upload my data to the site without problems. I was quite pleased with the result.

A web designer friend pointed out the template approach to design produces a rather bland looking on-line brochure, even when supplemented by photos and other images.

The value to companies on a low budget is the site costs next to nothing to create. The drawback is a rather heavy monthly web-hosting fee of about £40.

Price: £34.

Contact: 01895 201555.

Feel good factor: 6 out of 10.