How to Start an eCommerce Business: 9 Steps to Take
In 2020, more than two billion people bought goods or services online, and global e-retail sales accounted for more than 4.2 trillion U.S. dollars. How can you start an eCommerce business? What steps should you take? Where can you obtain the best merchant account for eCommerce?
Starting an eCommerce Business: Steps to Take
eCommerce and online consumer behavior are changing and evolving rapidly, especially now when the world is faced with COVID-19. In 2020, e-retail sales made up 18% of all retail sales around the globe and are anticipated to account for 21.8% in 2024. How can you start your own online business?
1. Investigate and Find Your Niche
Choose an eCommerce area that you’re interested in. Figure out what products or services you want to sell online, wholesale, or direct-to-consumer. Source the products you’re going to offer.
2. Research Your Competitors
Do thorough research and find your competitors’ weak and strong sides, so you can better understand what you’re up against and how you can stand out from the crowd.
3. Write a Well-Thought Business Plan
A thoroughly made business plan is vitally important. It’s the roadmap that’ll help you run your business and grow it with success. It can help you determine priorities, avoid common business mistakes, and effectively enlarge your customer base.
4. Pick a Business Name
Choose a unique business name that can help you market your brand. A business name can make or break your business, so make the right choice.
5. Apply for an Employer Identification Number
Next, you apply for an EIN for your eCommerce business.
6. Focus on the Legal Issues
Obtain the necessary business licenses or permits so you can legally run your business within your city and state.
7. Turn to a Reputable Payment Process
Choosing a reliable and experienced merchant processor is another essential step to take. You’d better work with a payment expert that provides an unbiased comparison of payment processors so you can enjoy the best deal. A respected comparison specialist that’s focused on terms, integration, and complaints can help you find the best merchant account for eCommerce without difficulty.
8. Build Your Online Presence
The majority of eCommerce platforms allow both creating and launching an online store and customizing the design, adding a domain, managing inventory, taking and shipping orders, receiving payments, and more.
9. Properly Market Your Business
Decide on the right marketing strategy and tools for your business. You can utilize, e.g., Google ads, social media ads, and word of mouth. SEO (search engine optimization) is the basic level to start from.
How to Start an Online Business
The future of eCommerce is going to be brighter. Learning how to operate an eCommerce business is critical if you want to start an online business.
Author Bio: Payment industry guru Taylor Cole is a passionate payments expert who understands the complex world of the providers of the best merchant account for eCommerce. He also writes non-fiction, on subjects ranging from personal finance to stocks to cryptopay. He enjoys eating pie with ice-cream on his backyard porch, as should all right-thinking people.