Shift4Shop eCommerce Blog | Starting a Business (9)

Starting a business is a long, involved process, but you can make it a lot easier on yourself by following a structured plan.

The secret to completing any task is knowing what to do, and when and how to do it — and while starting a business might seem like a massive undertaking, it really isn't if you break it down appropriately. The process is long and involved, but like everything else, it's just a matter of completing the steps one by one until you get there!

This checklist will summarize[...]

The world of commerce is turning away from physical storefronts and going digital. It seems like customers can buy almost anything online nowadays, and more customers love the ease of online purchasing.

With big-name businesses like Amazon leading the way in the online frontier, it’s no wonder so many physical businesses are transitioning to the digital sphere. This transition is a natural step, but it’s easier said than done. There are a lot of things to consider when moving online, and you[...]

If you're interested in selling more online, you could be starting from a few potential points.

Maybe you already have an online store of your own and you're looking to break into a larger market. Maybe you're already selling on a large marketplace like eBay and you want to expand your reach. Or, maybe you're just starting out, you have no website or item listings anywhere, and you have yet to make a single sale.

These are very different situations, but they have a lot in common, and that's the[...]

More and more online stores have embraced dropshipping, a business model that leverages third parties to add efficiency to an ecommerce website. In fact, anywhere from one-quarter to one-third of all online stores use dropshipping as their preferred fulfillment method.

Of course, implementing dropshipping as a business model isn’t as simple as it seems. You need to arm yourself with a strong business plan to help mitigate the numerous challenges associated with dropshipping.

Which challenges do[...]

Since its founding in 1995, eBay has grown into one of the largest and most popular online marketplaces in the world. Every day, millions of people log on to list items for sale or auction, or to shop for the products they need. Over 2 billion transactions are made on eBay each day and the site hosts thousands of dollars' worth of sales every second.

As an eCommerce retailer, what do these huge numbers mean to you? You may think that owning your own online store means you have to compete with[...]

Privacy policy. The term conjures up images of grayed-out, minuscule links at the bottom of web-pages. Though often ignored, this legal document is easily one of the most important texts on a website.

Together with Terms of Service documents, acquiring user consent and Cookie Policy/Cookie Law, it's a key component of what should be a 360° approach to making your e-commerce website compliant to both national and international regulations.

With this in mind, iubenda and 3dcart are hosting a[...]

Sales on Amazon add up to almost half of all online retail sales, and that number is likely to continue to grow. For a large proportion of online shoppers, it's clear that Amazon is the first stop they make when they want to buy something.

If you're an eCommerce merchant already or if you're looking into getting started selling online, you're probably considering listing your products on Amazon.

Selling on this overwhelmingly popular marketplace can work out very well, but there are some key[...]

For many people, the first thing that comes to mind when they think of making an online purchase is eBay. Founded in 1995, eBay has become a major online marketplace for buyers and sellers in many countries all over the world. Every day, millions of people visit eBay to bid on auctions, make purchases, or sell their products and services.

As an eCommerce merchant, you have a very good reason to learn the ins and outs of eBay beyond the basics. Expanding your business into eBay sales can be a[...]

"How much does it cost to set up an online store?" is one of the most important questions you can ask when getting into eCommerce.

In fact, costs are a main concern when anyone is starting a new business venture. Nothing worthwhile really comes for free. Your budget affects the majority of your business decisions, and laying out your costs as thoroughly as possible is a vital part of your planning.

A lot of factors are going to come into play. But your primary goal is to create an online store[...]

Choosing a domain name when creating an eCommerce website is one of the most important business decisions you can make. As the URL (web address) your customers type into the address bar of their browser, your domain name affects your branding, visibility, search rankings, and more. What with all the competition out there, you need to be memorable, and your domain name can do a lot to help or hinder that.

A bad domain name can make your site hard to find and impossible for customers to remember[...]

So, you've decided it's time to expand beyond eBay sales and build your own online store.

This is a great idea — your eCommerce website will serve as your unique presence on the internet, which opens up tons of new ways to establish your brand and enter the public consciousness.

Having your own online store provides you with several business advantages. And we'll cover them in this article.

Have you considered starting an online business by dropshipping products directly from the distributor? Either if you're planning to do this as your first venture selling online, or you have an established e-commerce website looking to expand, these steps can help you determine if the dropshipping model will work for you.

Like any facet of ecommerce, dropshipping done right can be a highly successful business model. But to do it right, you’ll need to create a foundation for a successful and[...]

Making the decision to build and online store to start selling your products online is the first step towards starting a successful internet business.  

But the tasks that follow this decision might seem overwhelming. And for this reason, our team has compiled the basic 7 steps any retailer should follow to start selling online in this great infographic.

Follow these steps, plus the tips and ideas to help you start selling online, market and grow your new ecommerce businesses.

One of the most important things you need to consider when building your online store is product photos.

Product images tell your customers whether or not your item is what they want to purchase, and poor photograpy might be the cause of cart abandonment and lost sales. 

Taking high quality pictures may seem like something you need to hire a professional for, but you can often get great looking pictures on your own by following thse simple hints and tips.

One of the biggest barriers to starting an online store is the startup cost.

Like any business, ecommerce is a big investment. On the frontend, it costs money to set up your online store. But the meat and potatoes of your online store is where it can really get dicey. After all, you need a product to sell, and you need inventory of that product.

To sell a product, many online stores invest heavily in creating or stocking that product. But what if we told you there was a way to start an[...]

Building an online store can be exciting and scary all at the same time. It’s exciting because you’re getting your product out there for the world to see, but it can be scary because you may worry over whether your store will attract visitors. Implementing your store means that the planning and envisioning portion of building your business is done, and that means it’s time to see how the world will view your store. The best way to ensure a successful virtual grand opening is to avoid these six[...]

Years of eighty hour weeks, lots of sleepless nights and too many family “stay-cations” have paid off. Your retail business has developed a loyal clientele and a reputation for great service and fair dealing. Is it time for you to open an online store?

The growth in e-commerce is certain to continue. The National Retail Federation projects that within five years e-commerce will make up almost 20% of all retail sales, and many feel this estimate is too low. Competition from online sales is now a[...]

Whether you find yourself realizing that it's time to launch an online store or to add an ecommerce website to your current business, the goal is the same, to start selling online.

If you already have products to sell, you might be considering selling on Etsy, eBay, Amazon, or any other online selling marketplace.

The vape industry is booming as more and more smokers are drawn to vaping as a healthier alternative to cigarettes. It's a great time to enter the market, and vape as a product has a marketing advantage that cigarettes can't really touch: customization!

Did you know that 25% of US consumers shop online at least once a month? Online shopping has grown exceptionally and has become especially profitable for small businesses. However, how do you start an online business?