I'll try to keep this as concise as possible but give enough information to get the answers I'm looking for. I'm looking to start an Internet start-up and have questions about the front-end issues/costs, or basically how large of a job it would be from a programmers standpoint and capital needed to get the job done right. The business will consist of a main real-time database that feeds off of multiple merchants databases (similar to something like orbitz or pricegrabber). Now the question there is, would each merchant need a specific piece of software that could constantly communicate with the main database and how expensive is that to have built and implemented? Next, what is the complexity involved in building a Web site that can handle this real-time information and how much would it cost to have it built? Obviously there is a need for sufficient server space, so if you have a general idea of what that would run I would appreciate it also. I build small generic Web sites in my spare time but have nowhere near the knowledge to take on such a task by myself so I'm looking to find someone who has the answers. I need a general idea of the cost I'm looking at to take on such an endeavor and the time frame it would take to have it all built, tailored, and implemented.

I don't do this type of programming, but, unless you could setup specific agreements with these other merchants to integrate into their website/database, you will probably have to program everything in order to make it connect to the merchant's website and pull the information you are looking for. There could be legal issues involved in doing this.

Your best bet is to see what possibility you have of actually communicating with these other merchants and setting up a way to share information as you are suggesting. However, if you are talking about very large companies, it would probably be very hard to get a hold of anyone who could offer you any assistance or help.

Designing the website, implementing a database backend, and programming the code is probably going to cost you several thousand dollars to have a professional (or professionals) do it. It will probably have to be the collaboration of a few different people because most people who program, do not design, etc..

Writing customized code to connect to every merchant you want to connect to is going to have a pretty steep cost too. Probably several hundred dollars per merchant.

Hosting the site can be done fairly cheap. Depending on how much traffic you expect, you can probably build a server and stick it in a hosting facility, or use a shared server at a hosting facility for probably $500-$1000 per year. The server could range from $800-$2000 depending on what you put in it.

There are just way too many variables to get an exact figure. You need to consult with individual professionals in each of these fields to bring the project together. Good luck though. Sounds like fun if you have the funds.