hints from internet pros needed

Hello!

I am an experienced multilingual (English, Japanese) french Web
Designer/Programmer (HTML/Javascript/PHP/mySql) and Site Administrator
and I would like to try to start my own e-commerce web site instead
of building big web sites for others for a not so big salary.

In fact, to tell things honestly, my goal is to build a web site that would allow
me to earn enough money while traveling in Asia/Oceania/Japan without having
to search for employers and to get stuck in an office for years.
This web site would be automated enough, thus making possible to monitor
it from any remote location once a day for example.
The easiest idea would be to sell a service I guess.
To make it short, I would like to use my skills to get freedom and money
at the same time. I don't intend to become rich though.

But, because I spend all my time solving coding and design problems, I can't get
the grip on issue related to real life, that's why there are too many questions
I keep asking myself scratching my head:

1 |--> Ways of making money:
First, instead of selling a service, are there other ways to make money with
Internet? I've been told that banners don't bring enough cash and that they
are not cost-effective. Is that true? How much traffic (hits per days) I would need
to make it worthable?

2 |--> Business laws/financial issue:
How can I get the money without the hassle of creating a company (far too complex in
France) and without being charged too much taxes (taxes charges are crazy in France)?
To put it clearly, I would like to open a web site, a bank account and to have the right to put in
money received from my custommers legally and without any hassle at all.
I am sure there are options I don't know about.
If you are reading this and if you know one of the answers to those questions, please
feel free to share your knowledge with me and the next readers of this message.

3 |--> Other technical issue.
Also I am wondering if there are hosting services cheaper than Verio that can provide
PHP4/Mysql connectivity and sufficient disk space as well.
If you have a name in mind, please drop me a line.

In advance, thank you very much to the ones who will spend a little bit of their time
to give hints or advice.

Any business/career opportunities are welcome too!

Have a good day.
Thank you for your understanding.

[email protected]