Step 1: Choose a product
An online store almost always starts with an idea or a product. Maybe you already have a store and now you also want to sell your products online. Or maybe a product comes from your hobby that you would like to sell online. A third possibility is that you come across a product that interests you and that you would like to sell yourself.
Launch your online store
Step 2: Study the market
How unique is your product? When you are one of thousands of people selling a particular product, it can be difficult to distinguish yourself from your competitors. Before launching your own online store, it is therefore important to find out about the opportunities available to you in the market. An easy way to do this is to search Google for the product you want taiwan cp number to sell. Take a look at the top search results and ask yourself if you can distinguish yourself from these competitors. Social media can also be a good source to find out what trends are emerging. Maybe there is a certain trend that is very popular abroad, but there is no one in Belgium who is selling this product yet.
Step 3: Find a supplier
Without suppliers, you can't know how much your products will cost, how much margin you can take, and how much profit you can make. For a good business plan, you need to know exactly who your suppliers will be. Make sure you make clear agreements with them in advance.
Launch your online store
Step 4: Choose your online store software
Due to the wide range of online shopping software, it is often difficult for entrepreneurs to choose the e-commerce platform that best suits their needs and wishes. Nowadays, there are many e-commerce software providers that can help you create your own e-store. These can be categorized as follows:
Software as a Service (SaaS): You pay a fixed monthly fee that gives you a full set of standard features, including free updates.
Open Source (OS): The source code of the online store is entirely created and managed by you or a web developer. Updates are not automatic and are not normally free.
Custom-made: In this case, your online store is completely customized according to your wishes. You pay additional programming fees for each extension of your online store.
When opting for a SaaS online store, it is important to look at both the monthly costs and the features you think you will need now and in the future.
Step 5: Add and test products
Most SaaS online store software providers in the form of a license give you the opportunity to test the software for free for a certain period of time. During this period, you can add products to the online store, set up payment methods or even create your own Facebook online store. Make sure to test your online store thoroughly during this period and have it tested by others. This way, you will find out what you are missing and whether this solution is right for your business.