Shift4Shop eCommerce Blog | Starting a Business (5)

When it comes to starting a business, location matters because it determines many other things that can make or break a new venture. An entrepreneur might have a strong product or good idea, but, if they’re in the wrong location, all kinds of problems can present themselves. The entrepreneur might find it difficult to access startup funds and talented labor, they could struggle to find affordable office space, or they might simply be in a market that isn’t interested.

Looking to start a new business but without the commitment of investing a lot of initial capital? If so, dropshipping might just be the thing for you!

Remote working has become one of the hottest topics recently as everyone is stuck in their homes. But, believe me, remote working isn’t something new. It has been up and coming for a good couple of years. Now, with the current outbreak, businesses are “forced” to explore the world of remote working.

When it comes to making money at home, you have to consider one very important thing: solving someone else’s problem. At the core of every lucrative business is the ability to problem solve for someone else (and, the bigger that group is, the more successful your business will be). While there are plenty of problems to be solved, they mostly revolve around two things: time and money. If you can help me save time or money (or both), then you’re likely on to something big.

The e-commerce industry needs no introduction in today’s time. Be it a multinational corporation or a startup; every business nowadays is thinking about entering the e-commerce industry. This is primarily to reap the benefits of a gigantic digital customer base that’s proven to be profitable.

While there are plenty of ways small businesses can get their hands on cash in order to grow, very few business owners actually understand what all of these choices really are — and how they work. In a lot of cases, small business owners end up simply taking the first valid option they find, regardless of terms or even the amount of money they’re receiving. And, for all of the other small business owners, the amount of choice when it comes to funding coupled with all of the misinformation[...]

If you’re looking to start an eCommerce business, there’s a lot to process. Beyond finding products, branding, and finding your target persona, there is a vast amount of digital capabilities you will need as well. Setting up your website, social media profiles, creating website content and imagery are just a few to take into consideration. 

Market research is a crucial point in a business’s journey, whether you’re just starting or you’ve been open for years. Without it, you’ll be essentially going in blind in terms of marketing efforts, product development, customer service, and even business operations as a whole. But what exactly is market research, and how can you conduct your own to gain valuable data-driven insights? Let’s find out.

Life inside the novel coronavirus pandemic is full of uncertainty, from our health to our economy. As more states and countries declare stay at home orders, and many employees lose their jobs, it's become difficult to predict how business owners can navigate the ongoing pandemic.

While we all move towards staying in isolation at home, eCommerce businesses have a unique opportunity to supplement peoples' lives and support them with the products and services we need every single day. And small[...]

The novel coronavirus has created a serious health problem for the entire world and for the economy, with many small businesses caught in the crossfire.

In addition to peoples' lives, businesses large and small are also becoming a victim of this global pandemic. Thankfully, there are resources for help and assistance via debt relief grants, loans, and even nonprofit and private funding options.

While approximately 30 million American small businesses are facing some serious uphill battles in[...]

When you've got a great idea for an eCommerce website, you want to make sure that every detail is in place when you're ready to launch. Before you decide how your website should look and function, you need to find a reliable hosting solution.

Tax Day is the due date for filing federal income taxes in the United States. Since 1955, Tax Day takes place on April 15 with a couple of exceptions — if April 15 is a Friday, taxes are due the following Monday, April 18. If April 15 is on Saturday or Sunday, taxes are due the following Tuesday. The date is also different for anyone who files a US tax return but lives outside the US, receiving an automatic 2-month extension that moves their deadline to June 15. Despite these variables, though,[...]

Let’s face it; accounting is never the most exciting part of running a business unless, of course, you’re a trained accountant or enjoy playing about with numbers. From tracking your expenses and income to calculating your business taxes and employees’ salaries, there are plenty of reasons why most business owners find accounting tasks boring.

Unfortunately, it’s practically impossible to succeed in entrepreneurship if you cannot manage your business finances properly. What this means is that[...]

As a project manager, you will face a lot of challenges in your career. Especially when you are running an online startup, there will come a time when your business grows to the point where things seem like they might start falling apart. You will be facing multiple project timelines that you need to align and accomplish. There will be resources that you need to handle, as well as budgeting needs that need to be met.

While you’ll occasionally meet a business or business owner that is perfectly content with zero percent growth, embracing a “why rock the boat” kind of attitude, almost everyone else will be scrambling to find ways to grow quickly and sustainably. After all, growth is the key to continued success in all areas of life – especially business.

One of the best things about being in business today is that it has never been easier to stay in touch with your co-workers, team, and clients. Thanks to modern technology, we can organize meetings on the fly, host virtual meetups, and keep everything running smoothly from almost anywhere in the world. Today, one of the easiest and most popular ways to keep everyone within your business in touch is with conference calls. Not only are they easy to set up, but they allow for real-time interaction[...]

Whether used as a part of a broader marketing strategy or as the only source of revenue, online courses can be a gold mine for your business.

Learning effective team communication can feel overwhelming.

After all, there are numerous books out there claiming to offer best practices. Entire university degrees are available on the topic.

With so much information out there, is it realistic for any team to learn how to communicate in the most effective way possible?