Though every one is very much clear on the importance of research for creating money out of the online business. But still to bring it higher in the priority list its important to understand its importance.
Lets have answers to following questions.
Q. What is your hourly rate for technical work?
Q. What work you can accept and what work you can refuse from cost perspective?
Q. How much time is good enough to be devoted for certain business activity?
Q. How much shall be your expenditure on the infrastructure for the online business?
Q. What are the standings of similar businesses as compared with yours?
Q. What is the key you have over the competition? (Why you?)
The research on the above and more similar questions shall not give your business a rocket boost, but for sure it'll give the strong base to take off with visibility. Some of the problem of future can be treated well in advance.
Good point is that its re-search, search is already done, just integrate it to your system and get going.
Good Luck!!