If you’re a skilled entrepreneur or craftsperson, you’ve probably dreamed of starting your own ecommerce store and building a business that gives you a sense of achievement and freedom. With retail ecommerce sales worldwide reaching nearly $5 trillion in 2021, it’s never been a better time to start an online business!
How do I start an ecommerce business?
Research what products you’d like to sell or can source to sell, select a business name, register your business with the government, obtain permits and licenses, choose an ecommerce platform and create your website (or reach out to a Shopify Designer), load your products onto the site, launch, and start marketing your business.
What are the 4 types of ecommerce businesses?
Business to consumer (B2C): When you sell a good or service to an individual consumer (e.g. you buy a jacket from an online retailer).
Business to business (B2B): When you sell a good or service to another business (e.g. a business sells wholesale products for another business to use).
Consumer to consumer (C2C): When you sell a good or service to another consumer (e.g. you sell vintage clothes on Facebook Marketplace to another consumer).
Consumer to business (C2B): When you sell products or services to a business (e.g. an influencer or affiliate offers exposure to their audience in exchange for a fee).
Is ecommerce a profitable business?
Yes, the ecommerce industry is profitable. Successfully starting an ecommerce company is a marathon, not a sprint. It can take 18 to 24 months for your business to get off the ground. It’s critical that you don’t measure the success of your business by your first-year profitability. It is also crucial to make sure your margins are right.
Is it hard to start your own ecommerce business?
No, starting an ecommerce company is easy, with platforms like Shopify enabling brands to go online in a short amount of time. Starting a brand consists of hard work and continual market research to improve your business.
Blueprint for starting a business
Shopify has put together a comprehensive blueprint for starting a business, compiled from Shopify’s most popular content, with the most important tasks you’ll face when researching, launching, and growing a profitable ecommerce store.