Guide to Starting an Online Business (ECommerce)

So you have a great business idea, you have your products and sourcing all figured out, and it’s time to build your online business! Wondering where to start? Well, a few easy steps and you’ll be well on your way to making an impressive online business.

Here’s a checklist to get you started:

1. Domain

The first thing you’ll need is a name for your website, and that’s also how customers will find you. Ideally, your domain name should be your business name to avoid any sort of confusion. You can look up GoDaddy, Web.com, or even Hover to check the availability of the domain name, and how much it’s going to cost to buy and block that name for your business.

2. Website

Once you have your domain name sorted, you’ll need space on the internet to host your site. This is essentially like a house or rather your storage space on the internet. You can consider using Shopify to help build your eCommerce website, or you could hire freelance website developers to build your website from scratch. A lot of small businesses prefer Shopify since they’ve got you covered completely, and it’s super easy building an eCommerce website through them. Much like building a blog using WordPress!

3. Organize

Having clear navigation of your website helps customers find what they’re looking for easily. Categorize your products in the way your customers would naturally search for them. Something like this:

Women -> Dresses, Tops, Bottoms, Active wear, Shoes, Accessories, etc. Make sure your products are streamlined and easy to find.

4. Payment Processing

Every online business needs a secure payment processing gateway. Whether it’s through Shopify or you build through a freelancer, make sure you get a secure payment gateway so your customers don’t unnecessarily worry about the safety of their card details. Remember, if they’re shopping from you, they trust you to keep their details safe and secure.

5. POS System

You’re not starting a business as a hobby. It’s the real deal. So make sure you have a good POS System in place to handle the back-end work for you. Business Process Automation (BPA) is a key factor in ensuring you save time and effort, and can focus on more important things. With a good POS in place, it can help handle your inventory, accounts, customer service, payroll shipping, payments, and more! It is crucial to sync your POS to your online business to ensure it functions smoothly.

6. Legal Work

Having a legally binding Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Returns/Exchange Policy is important for the functioning of any business. This protects you legally and is also like a rulebook that your customers need to follow while shopping with you. So depending on the kind of product you’re selling, make sure your legal work is strong enough to protect you under all circumstances, while also making sure you are considerate to your customers.

7. Marketing

Now that your website is up and running, go all out with the marketing. Get people to notice your brand and make them visit your website. If you’re wondering how to up your social media game, we have a handy article for you. Use social media to tell your story, attract your audience to the product and allow them to share their experiences with you.

While setting up an online business might seem like you’re in muddy waters more often than you’d like, push through and believe in the idea you have. It is a rewarding experience to have an online business, and if you keep at it, you’ll have fantastic growth. Also, you can get in touch with us for your POS requirements!