Your Step-by-Step Guide to Starting an Online Store

Launching an online store can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be—if you do it right! When you make sure to get the right information and the right platform, you’ll find the process goes much smoother than you might expect. That’s why we’ve put together this step-by-step guide on how to start an online store, covering everything from coming up with your business idea to setting up your store page on Shopify (or another ecommerce platform) to launching your first few sales. Enjoy!

The first step: Research
Chances are, you’ve never started a business before. If that’s true, you might not know where to begin! The best way to get a handle on everything that needs to be done is by doing your research. You don’t need any special skills—just patience and a willingness to read about how other people have done it in similar situations. Consider: what does an online store do? How do you make money with one? What software will you need?

The second step: Choosing a name
Once you have a solid handle on your business idea, you need to start looking for domain names. It’s important to choose a name that is simple and easy for people to remember and that matches your product or service. Here are some tips

The third step: Choosing your ecommerce platform
The first thing you need to choose when starting your online store is which ecommerce platform you will use. There are many platforms out there, from free ones like Magento and Opencart, to paid platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce. All have their own pros and cons. Be sure to read our full guide on how to start an online store for a detailed comparison of each platform.

The fourth step: Payment gateways and shopping carts
Choosing a payment gateway is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in starting your online store. Be sure to do your research before deciding—this can be a make-or-break choice for your business, so choose wisely! When comparing different payment gateways, look at factors like transaction fees, chargeback policies and more. Also keep in mind that shopping carts and ecommerce software each have their own unique pros and cons.

The fifth step: Review order options
Do you have time and experience with shipping orders and dealing with customer service? If not, perhaps it’s best to hire a fulfillment company. That way, they can deal with inventory management, packaging orders, contacting customers when they have questions or problems, shipping products on time...you get the idea. You don’t want these details bogging down your business before it gets off of the ground.

The sixth step: Package your products properly
Packaging is your store’s first impression, so it’s important to make sure that everything you send out reflects well on your business. Double check that your logo and branding are visible, as well as a clear description of what customers will receive (this should also be on any invoices or contracts). The last thing you want is unhappy clients because they received something different than they were expecting.

The seventh step: Shipping your products
This is what every successful ecommerce entrepreneur has to do at some point. There are many rules and regulations you have to be familiar with if you’re going to start a business that ships products.

The eighth step - Customer support
Many people start an online store with just a website and no customer support. Be sure you are in contact with your customers and ready to answer their questions about your product or service. Customer support helps build trust between you and your customers, which is important for retaining customers for repeat purchases. For example, if a customer has a problem placing their order, make sure they can get help from you quickly so that they continue making orders from your online store in the future.