How to Start an Online Store

 How to Start an Online Store

 

How to Start an Online Store in 2022: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide

 

 How-to-start-an-online-store

In the digital age, online stores are a popular alternative to searching your local store for an item they may not even have in stock. So, if you want to learn more about how to start an online store, there really is never a better time.

 

In the past, boutique owners have faced many challenges, such as finding retail space and obtaining necessary business licenses. However, the internet has made starting a shop easier than ever.

 

Of course, it still takes a lot of work and a bit of know-how to successfully create, fund, and run an online store. Whether you have worked in the online business world before or are new to entrepreneurship, this article is for you.

 

In this article, we'll help you understand how to start an online store, explain each #, and what are the important things to keep in mind.

 

Although starting an online store can be daunting, if you take it step by step and have your online store up and running in no time, the process can be made much more accessible.

 

What is an online store?

 

An online store is an e-commerce business that sells a curated range of products aimed at a well-defined audience. A store can sell products created by the business owner or obtained from a supplier.

 

Most online stores focus on fashion-related product lines and in many cases have a predominantly female target audience.

 

In the United States alone, there are expected to be over 300 million online shoppers by 2023, so now is the perfect time to launch your online store. However, it might be difficult if you don't know where to start.

 

Why open an online store ?

 

Style – some people have it and some don't. Luckily, for those who need it, there's a source of style that's always available: online stores!

 

A creative person with a flair for fashion can capitalize on their talent by sharing their style with others. By applying your unique sensibility to product selection and outfit composition, you can give your site visitors access to a new style that they can design themselves.

 

Then, of course, there is the money. Your store can be a regular source of income. It takes continuous effort to retain your target audience and attract new customers, but when you do, wonderful things can happen.

 

For example, you can acquire enough loyal and active customers to make your sales predictable and sustainable.

 

Social media can help you reach the right audience at the right time and see your business explode. Viral exposure for your business can mean a massive boost in sales.

 

Once you're open for business, diligent, and relentlessly focused on building customer loyalty, you can take your store to the highest level of success.

 

How to start an online store

 

Let's explain step by step how to start an online store and help you get started.

 

#1: Decide what to sell

 

For your online store to be successful, you need to make sales. Obviously. However, before you can fundraise, you must first decide exactly what your store will sell. In other words, you have to find your niche.

 

It can be tempting to go overboard and have something for everyone. However, especially when starting an online store, it is advisable to start small and focus on a specific area.

 

If you're focusing on designer clothes, plan to wear only women's clothing or only children's clothing. Or maybe you want your boutique to offer bespoke jewelry and accessories.

 

In this case, you shouldn't muddy the waters with random sweaters and leggings.

 

Once you have the big picture of the customers you want to attract, it's time to narrow down your niche further.

 

#2: Choose your business name and entity type

 

Part of starting an online store is figuring out what name and business structure you want. This means deciding whether to go it alone or have a business partner and much more.

 

Of all the companies you can choose from, some might make more sense for your online store.

 

If you're not sure which business to choose, now is a good time to seek advice from a business lawyer or tax advisor who specializes in small business finance. They can point you in the right direction for your business.

 

#3: Secure all IDs, domains and logo

 

Before choosing a name, make sure it is easy to pronounce and spell. They searched for it on all social media platforms and made sure it doesn't exist yet.

 

With the name of your online store, you can purchase your domain name, which should be yourstorename.com.

 

Using an alternative domain extension such as .biz or .shop is an option. Look at your branding to decide if this is the right decision for your business.

 

Create an Instagram account with your store name, also for Twitter, Facebook and any social media channels you want to use for marketing purposes.

 

You could be hooked if you infringe on someone else's mark if you don't check ahead. Once you've entered your business, consider adding your own name so someone else doesn't take yours.

 

#4: Create a Business Plan

 

If you don't prepare, you prepare to fail. Creating a business plan is like creating a blueprint for a construction project.

 

It will help you plan the journey ahead and should tell you from the start if your business idea will be successful or not.

 

Whether you want to sell t-shirts or tuxedos, your business plan should include details of your financial plan, marketing campaign ideas and overall business model, along with various other planned strategies.

 

#5: Decide what to sell and find suppliers

 

Next, you want to answer a very important question: what do you want to sell? While most business owners looking to start an online store plan to sell some type of clothing, there are a variety of products they might want to sell.

 

You can open a simple online clothing store or, on the contrary, an online store selling personalized dog collars. In order to decide what type of products to sell, you need to take the time to think about it and do the necessary research.

 

#6: Choose the Right Ecommerce Platform

 

Now that you have decided what to sell and where to get your products, the next # is to learn how to open an online clothing store (or any type of online store), choose an e-commerce platform.

 

With all the e-commerce platforms out there, you should take your time to research and compare the options to find the best one for your store.

 

Again, the platform you choose will determine some of the costs for your business. So you need to choose one from the start and know what costs to expect and what features they offer you in order to create a friendly shopping experience for your customers.

 

What to look for when choosing an e-commerce platform:

 

Is it a dedicated e-commerce platform or a website builder with e-commerce capabilities – and which will best serve your business?

How much are you willing to pay for a subscription?

How user-friendly is the platform? Do you need coding skills or is it mostly drag and drop editing?

Are the templates mobile responsive so customers can shop from their phones and does the platform offer a mobile app that lets you monitor your online store from any device?

How much customization does it offer?

How many products can you list on the platform (this may be limited depending on the plan) and does it handle variations such as size, color, etc. ?

How secure is the platform? After all, you want to make sure that your information – and that of your future customers – is protected.

Shopify is one of the most popular e-commerce sites, with pricing starting at $30 per month. Similar to Shopify, you can also consider BigCommerce, which is known for its ease of use and is one of Shopify's biggest competitors.

 

However, if all you need is a website with e-commerce functionality, consider using Wix or Squarespace instead. You can also use websites like Alibaba to find reputable suppliers at cheaper prices.

 

#7: Set up your online store and set business guidelines

 

After choosing an e-commerce software or alternative platform to launch your online store, it's time to start your business.

 

Since your eCommerce website is a customer's first introduction to your brand and business, there are a variety of components you need to consider when building your business.

 

#8: Take photos of items and write engaging descriptions

 

People will buy items from your store based on photos alone. Your product descriptions fill in the gaps and help close the deal. However, it is the images that spark and pique a visitor's interest.

 

Use photos that look like they were taken by a professional, even if you have to hire a professional to do so.

 

When selling clothing and jewelry, photos of a flat product are fine, but most of your photos should show the product on a mockup. Customers need to see how the product looks on a person's body.

 

#9: Register your store and get an EIN

 

At this point, you've learned many of the most important #s for starting an online store. However, after you've created your online store and set your policies, there are a few more things you need to do before you can officially start your e-commerce business.

 

If you didn't officially register your online store when you selected your entity type, now is the time to do so.

 

Of course, not all businesses are required to register with their state or local government. So check with the website of your Secretary of State, business office, or other local government organization to determine what to fill out for your online store based on your location.

 

Additionally, now is also a good time to apply for an Employer Identification Number, also known as an EIN or Business Tax Identification Number.

 

Although your online store is not required to obtain an EIN, obtaining an EIN offers advantages that can benefit any business.

 

#10: Obtain business licenses or permits

 

The next # in starting an online store is getting the required licenses or permits for your business. Depending on the type of online store you are starting, there are federal and state licenses and permits you may need for your business.

 

As with the registration process, your specific requirements will vary depending on where you are starting your business. This state-by-state guide can help you figure out how to get a business license for your online store.

 

#11: Open a business bank account and get a business credit card

 

When starting a fashion boutique or online business, it's important to separate your personal and business expenses. From receiving payments from customers to paying your vendors, you'll want to open both a business bank account and a business credit card to process these exchanges.

 

Opening and using these accounts responsibly can also help improve your company's creditworthiness. This can be useful when looking for funding later.

 

When choosing a business bank account, you want to decide which features are most important to your business. Since your online store doesn't handle cash, you may decide physical banking location isn't important and explore your online banking options instead.

 

#12: Get financing

 

Although the overhead of an online store is lower than a business with a physical location, you still need to cover some costs up front, probably before you can start making money.

 

#13: Set up a payment processor

 

For your online store to grow, you need to get paid. By setting up a payment processor, you can make payments online by connecting your website to a point-of-sale system.

 

The most popular payment processors include Stripe, Square, and PayPal. You can connect with these vendors using any of the three e-commerce platforms mentioned.

 

#14: Determine how you want to ship your products

 

Having a plan for shipping your products is essential. If your shipping costs are too high or your delivery time is too slow, you risk losing customers.

 

More resources on shipping products from your online store:

 

How to Estimate Ecommerce Shipping Costs

How to choose a shipping strategy for your online store

6 quick tips on how to ship your products

How to set shipping rates for your online store

#15: Test, then launch

 

Take care of the last tasks before you start. In particular, have all packing and shipping materials on hand, including a promotional business card to add to any package.

 

Test your website and when everything is ready, make an opening announcement that your audience can't miss. Use email reach and all your social media channels to do this.

 

#16: Market your online store

 

Your online store is now signed, sealed and almost delivered. Now you need to market your store and build customer loyalty. Here are the main marketing methods you should use:

 

Email Marketing

Social Media Marketing

big brand ambassadors

Measure

Examples of online stores

 

If you need examples of great online stores , check out these Big Commerce customers.

 

Elka Collective

 

Elka Collective stationery boutiques are purpose-built for high-end simplicity with layered textures and natural hues to complement their clothing collections.

 

And you can see how they seamlessly transferred that aesthetic to their e-commerce store for online shoppers.

 

They also use images and descriptions that resonate with their ideal customer who is “looking for high-quality, fashionable, casual clothing that matches their lifestyle.”

 

pop son

 

Pop Threads takes advantage of the fact that BigCommerce works great with large catalogs and multiple options so they can offer their customers a wide variety of styles and sizes - from baby bodysuits to men's 6 ply bodysuits.

 

Valfre

 

This Los Angeles-based online store has everything you need to give your wardrobe a fresh new look, especially if you love whimsical and rebellious feminist designs. Valfre offers artistic and badass clothing that showcases your energy as a strong and independent woman.

 

Valfre is known for a cheeky and feminine girl as a motif. Each of their products is characterized by art and is the symbol of Valfre.

 

Lirika Matoshi

 

Lirika Matoshi is a New York-based boutique that started on the popular small business platform Etsy. Handcrafted garments were all originally made from scratch.

 

Since gaining popularity in New York and on social media platforms, Lirika Matoshi has become an acclaimed brand around the world, offering one-of-a-kind, sparkly, ruffled pieces like no other.

 

This inspiring designer has everything you've ever dreamed of. From sparkling strawberries to soft cotton clouds, this online store is where all your money will be spent on stunning designs (if those haven't sold out yet).

 

lucy in the sky

 

Looking for minimalist yet flattering cocktail dresses and luxurious outfits? Lucy In The Sky has the party kits you need.

 

This LA boutique offers matching skirts and tops, dresses, bodysuits and accessories to spice up your night.

 

The formal, matching outfit is characterized by unique details. All of her pieces feature new design features such as ruffles, ruffles and lace to add a touch of glamor to your next formal dress.

 

Combine your figure-hugging clothes with a bit of shine from the sparkly accessories section and you'll be unstoppable.

 

Lulus

 

If you've never shopped at this popular online store, you're seriously missing out.

 

In this store you will find all kinds of dresses and heels as well as cute tops, tank tops and slightly bohemian matching sets.

 

Lulus is a student's best friend and we can't live without her.

 

All of the parts you see on their website are affordable and of very high quality. The best part is that they feature every piece on real women so you can see what the pieces look like in real life before you buy!

 

How much does it cost to open an online store?

 

One of the most important parts of your business plan is your financial plans. So you should think about the start-up cost. So, you might be wondering what is the cost of starting an online store.

 

Fortunately, the cost of starting an online store is much more manageable than brick-and-mortar stores or other types of businesses – and you have reasonable control over where and how you spend your money.

 

With this in mind, chances are that with a few hundred dollars you can open an online store. Although it is difficult to start an online store without money, you can make it very affordable.

 

With that in mind, here are some of the main costs to consider:

 

Website cost : This can include web hosting, a custom domain name, an e-commerce platform subscription, a merchant service provider, and anything else you need to launch your online store website. line.

Inventory Cost: Inventory is probably the most important price to consider. After all, you can't have an online store without products to sell. Ultimately, these costs will vary depending on the products you sell and the vendors you work with. However, you should carefully consider how much inventory you will need.

Shipping costs: As an e-commerce business, shipping is critical to your process. Therefore, at the beginning of the process, you need to think about different shipping options, suppliers and potential costs.

 

Marketing and promotion costs: While there are a number of ways to start promoting your business for free, you should at least consider what the costs of marketing and promoting your store will be when you're up and running.

Conclusion

 

Owning an online store that perfectly reflects their style is the dream of many fashionable and enterprising people. If you are one of these people, know that the dream is within your reach.

 

Although learning how to start an online store can take time, there is no doubt that starting to sell online is often easier and faster than opening a physical store.

 

References

 

HOW TO START AN ONLINE STORE – The Boutique Hub

www.bigcommerce.com › blog › how-to-start-an-online-shop.

Steps to Start a Unique and Successful Online Store

How to start an online store from home - www.hostpapa.com ›

How to start an online store: justbusiness.com ›