First, does your state require a gambling license to host a raffle? Raffles are considered gambling in some states and might be illegal. Contact your state's Department of Revenue or Secretary of State to verify whether any licenses are required to host an online raffle.
Design a website for the raffle. If you don't know how, hire a freelance web designer from sites such as Elance.com, Getafreelancer.com or Guru.com. Or, use a website templates found at a site such as Templatemonster.com to design it. Website templates allow you to oversee the content and images.
Open a merchant account at a bank. Merchant accounts often are subject to credit approval and require an additional business or personal checking account.
Ask an organization to join your site as a raffle sponsor. Speak churches, community centers or other nonprofit organizations for assistance. Having a website formed can drive the incentive for a group or organization to get involved.
Generate traffic for your raffle. Use forums and social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter to draw traffic. Emphasize the raffle's cause to help encourage people to participate.