E-commerce platforms reduce the hassles of traditional shopping. They make it simple, hassle-free, and fair for all types of customers to shop online without the need of visiting a store. Here, you will know about the 5 best e-commerce startups platforms that will help to choose the right one for your business niche. In today’s world, eCommerce platforms have brought a significant change in the overall sale and purchase of goods through online digital platforms. With the increasing popularity of the Internet and cheap data services, its market is growing at a tremendous pace. Here, you are going to explore the steps for eCommerce startups as well as top 5 eCommerce platforms.
Table of Contents
In this article, we’re going to discuss the basics of eCommerce startups & steps to start that, the 5 best e-commerce platforms of 2023, their respective pros as well as cons, and more.
E-Commerce Startups
An e-commerce startup is a business that distributes or sells its products or services over the internet. The trend of online sales has created an extremely fast-paced change in the world of business.
It has revolutionized the ways products are purchased and divided the industry into product-based and content-based. Also, it has created powerful opportunities for those who have the know-how to jump on the bandwagon.
One of the popular challenges that can come with any business venture is the cost of adapting to the new business model. The barriers to starting to succeed in e-commerce seem overwhelming. But, adapting to this new world doesn’t have to be a curse.
A good eCommerce platform provides ease in accessing and purchasing products and services to the customers and ensures transactions are safe, secure, completed smoothly & accurately. It also considers the faster shipping and timely delivery of the purchased goods. Whereas, a bad eCommerce platform might cause a customer to lose their money and leave a bad review.
Want to start your online store? Let’s learn about the top 5 e-commerce startups platforms in 2023.
Related: The Importance of Online Marketing for Business Growth in 2023
Steps for Ecommerce Startups
Starting an e-commerce business can be a rewarding and lucrative venture, but it can also be challenging.
Here are some steps you can follow to start an e-commerce business:
1. Research and plan your business
Start by researching your target market, competitors, and the types of products or services you want to offer. Develop a business plan that outlines your target market, marketing strategies, financial projections, other details of your business, etc.
2. Choose a business structure
Decide on the type of business structure that best fits your needs, such as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation.
3. Obtain any necessary licenses and permits
Depending on your location and the nature of your business, you may need to obtain certain licenses and permits.
4. Set up a website
Choose a domain name and set up a website for your e-commerce business. Consider using a platform like Shopify or WooCommerce to create an online store.
5. Source products or services
Determine where you will source the products or services you will sell on your e-commerce platform. You can manufacture your own products, purchase them from wholesalers or manufacturers, or dropship products from suppliers.
6. Set up payment and shipping options
Choose a payment gateway and set up shipping options for your e-commerce business. You may need to sign up for a merchant account and obtain a payment processor.
7. Launch your e-commerce business
Once you have set up your website and sourced your products, it’s time to launch your e-commerce business. Promote your products through marketing and advertising efforts, and continue to optimize and improve your website to attract more customers.
It’s important to keep in mind that starting an e-commerce business takes time and effort, and you may need to be flexible and adapt to changes in the market. However, with hard work and dedication, you can build a successful e-commerce business.
Also read: Benefits of HubSpot Marketing for Your Business
Top 5 ECommerce Platforms for Startups in 2023
You can see the complete details for the top 5 eCommerce platforms for startups in 2023.
Here’re the platforms:
1. Shopify
Shopify is considered by many as one of the most popular platforms for starting an eCommerce store with No to Zero experience in coding at all. The infrastructure is great for small to medium businesses wishing to launch an online store.
With over 100,000 merchants on the platform, Shopify has a built-in system with different plans.
For example:
Starter: for businesses who intend to sell products through social media and messaging apps.
Basic: this is ideal for new e-commerce startups.
Shopify: Includes all of Basic’s in addition it has options to add more staff accounts, advanced reporting, etc.
Advanced: Get the best of Shopify with custom reporting and the lowest transaction fees. It has all Basics and Shopify features with options to add more staff accounts.
And, there is a Shopify Plus plan for medium and large businesses. This plan has all the advanced features and options to customize Shopify to meet your business eCommerce expectations.
Based on your business requirements, you can choose Shopify plans and take advantage of its large platform at a lower cost.
Here are some Pros as well as Cons of choosing Shopify for your e-commerce Startups:
Pros of Shopify
- Easy to set up a store and start selling right away.
- The backend interface is easy to use
- Easy to maintain inventory
- A knowledge base is available for any technical guidance or to understand the Shopify features
- Resources & support team available to help learn the process
- All pricing plans allow for unlimited products
- Various payment options are available and can be enabled with just a few clicks
- Countless scalability options for fast-growing startups
- Easy to install themes and make changes
Cons of Shopify
- There are very free apps or options available
- You have to pay for the app subscriptions to add more features
- Premium plugins can make it more expensive
- With Basic and up-to-advanced plans, customization or the checkout pages are not available. This feature is available for Shopify plus accounts only.
- It’s difficult to write code in liquid format. So, any customizations have to be performed by Shopify Developer which can cost some additional money.
2. WooCommerce
The WooCommerce plugin is designed for the most famous CMS worldwide i.e. WordPress. WooCommerce is an attractive and convenient online shop builder. It enables WordPress users to create, set up & administer their online shops in no time to sell products and start an eCommerce platform.
This e-commerce platform is ideal for creative startups. The plugin is flexible to suit any business. Businesses have the ability to adapt & adjust the site’s content. The plugin is fully customizable and can be extended to meet the needs of different businesses.
From managing endless products & orders to launching omnichannel sales strategies, everything is possible. It also provides a great mobile experience on the go. Therefore, managing your site is made so much simpler.
Pros of WooCommerce
- Numerous plugins with unlimited customization options
- Dashboard is beginner-friendly
- WordPress CRM makes it easy to use
- Free videos, docs, and other learning materials are available
Cons of WooCommerce
- Third-party plugins with advanced features can be expensive
- Some technical knowledge is required
3. WIX
WIX eCommerce has features that make it a better fit for smaller companies and startups. The system is easy to use and build on and has countless available extensions that can help make your business run more efficiently.
WIX has helped many people on their journey to starting e-commerce stores. The interface is very easy to use for beginners and experienced designers. The AI function makes building a website a lot simpler.
WIX commerce has various features that can easily be integrated into your website. In addition, this includes blog templates, a media library, and much more.
Pros of Wix
- Suitable for digital as well as physical products
- Smoothly integrates with Google Analytics
- Mobile app to make site management easier
- AI enhancements make it beginner-friendly
Cons of Wix
- Exporting data can be difficult
- The free option isn’t available for e-commerce sites
4. Squarespace
For businesses looking to make a creative splash, Squarespace is a great option. The easy-to-use building tools make it one of the popular sites for creating attractive web pages. Squarespace provides a wide variety of functions to increase security as well as assist in optimizing your site.
The built-in features include publishing full-width visuals and image editing tools. The ease with which startups can sell their goods & services on Squarespace offers versatility and flexibility. Changing the site’s layout is made possible with access to CSS.
Squarespace might be a bit trickier to learn compared to other e-commerce platforms. The scalability may be a bit limited with the finite number of apps. The platform regularly has useful webinars to make the learning process a lot easier.
Pros of Squarespace
- Flexibility with shipping options
- Responsive and attractive themes
- Multi-channel sales and social media integrations
- All annual plans provide a free domain name
Cons of Squarespace
- The cheapest package has the highest transaction fees
- Limited third-party tools
5. BigCommerce
The BigCommerce platform makes the scalability of e-commerce startups simple when they are fast-growing. BigCommerce has more than 500 million products in its catalog and a network of more than 8,000 retailers and merchants worldwide. That number continues to grow every year.
If you are serious about operating your e-commerce store, BigCommerce is the perfect option to choose from. Being able to reach many customers worldwide, means you have more prospects to sell your products to. BigCommerce’s customer support is very responsive to any issues.
It may be smaller than its competitors, but BigCommerce has incredible usability and customer care. The dashboard is easy to navigate and various features can be integrated into your store, making BigCommerce a one-stop-shop.
Pros of BigCommerce
- Marketing & selling tools already built-in
- 24/7 customer support
- All plans have unlimited bandwidth
- No transaction fees
Cons of BigCommerce
- Plugins & themes can be quite expensive
- Members from BigCommerce must be hired for customization
Related: What is a Dropshipping Business? A Complete Guide to Starting Your Online Store
Which is the Cheapest Ecommerce Platform in 2023?
The cheapest 5 eCommerce platforms in 2023 are:
1. Shopify Pricing
The plans with pricing are:
| Basic Plan | Shopify Plan | Advanced Plan |
| $19 per month | $49 per month | $299 per month |
| 2% transaction fees | 1% transaction fees | 0.5% transaction fees |
| Unlimited products | Unlimited products | Unlimited products |
| 2 staff accounts | 5 staff accounts | 15 staff accounts |
| Sales Channels | Sales Channels | Sales Channels |
| Inventory locations | Inventory locations | Third-party calculated shipping rates |
| Discount codes | Manual order creation | E-commerce automations |
2. WooCommerce Pricing
The plans with pricing are:
| Basic Site | Mid-Range Site | Advanced Site |
| Hosting – $6.95 per month | Hosting – $8.95 per month | Hosting – $12.95 per month |
| Domain name – $15 per year | Domain name – $15 per year | Domain name – $15 per year |
| Theme – Free WooCommerce theme | Theme – Free WooCommerce theme | Theme – $35-$129 for a professional theme |
| Extensions – Sales volume determines transaction fees | Extensions – Sales volume determines transaction fees | Extensions – Sales volume determines transaction fees & $100-$400 per year for scalable features |
| Plugins – Free | Plugins – $25-$100 per year | Plugins – $100-$150 per year |
| Security – $10 per year | Security – $150 per year | Security – $150-$450 per year |
| Developer fees – Free | Developer fees – Free | Developer fees – $1 000-$6 000 |
| Approximate annual total – $110 | Approximate annual total – $300+ | Approximate annual total – $1 500+ |
3. WIX Pricing
The plans with pricing are:
| The “business Basic” plan | Business Unlimited | Business Basic |
| $17 per month | $25 per month | $35 per month |
| Secure online payments | Secure online payments | Secure online payments |
| Plans and recurring payments | Plans and recurring payments | Plans and recurring payments |
| Customer accounts | Customer accounts | Customer accounts |
| Custom domain | Custom domain | Custom domain |
| Free domain for 1 year | Free domain for 1 year | Free domain for 1 year |
| Removes WIX ads | Removes WIX ads | Removes WIX ads |
| Unlimited bandwidth | Unlimited bandwidth | Unlimited bandwidth |
| 20 GB storage space | 35 GB storage space | 50 GB storage space |
| 5 hours for video hours | 10 hours for video hours | Unlimited video hours |
| Ad voucher | Ad voucher | Ad voucher |
| 24/7 customer care | 24/7 customer care | Customized reports |
| Priority customer care |
4. Squarespace Pricing
The plans with pricing are:
| Business | Basic Commerce | Advanced Commerce |
| $33 per month | $36 per month | $65 per month |
| Fully integrated e-commerce | Fully integrated e-commerce | Fully integrated e-commerce |
| 3% transaction fees | 0% transaction fees | 0% transaction fees |
| Sell unlimited products | Sell unlimited products | Sell unlimited products |
| Accept donations | Accept donations | Accept donations |
| Gift cards | Gift cards | Gift cards |
| Point of sale | Point of sale | |
| Product reviews | Product reviews | |
| Customer accounts | Customer accounts | |
| Checkout on your domain | Checkout on your domain | |
| Powerful e-commerce analytics | Powerful e-commerce analytics | |
| Powerful merchandising tools | Powerful merchandising tools | |
| Products on Instagram | Products on Instagram | |
| Limited availability labels | Limited availability labels | |
| Abandoned cart recovery | ||
| Sell subscriptions | ||
| Advanced shipping | ||
| Advanced discounts | ||
| Commerce APIs |
5. BigCommerce Pricing
The plans with pricing are:
| Standard Plan | Plus Plan | Pro Plan | Enterprise Plan |
| $29.95 per month | $79.95 per month | $299.95 per month | Contact sales for custom pricing |
| Sell up to $50k Annually | Everything in the Standard plan | Everything in the Plus plan | Everything in the Pro plan |
| No transaction fees | Sell up to $180k annually | Sell up to $400k annually | Custom facets (Product Filtering) |
| Unlimited staff accounts | Special credit card rates via PayPal powered by Braintree (2.35% + $0.49 per transaction) | Special credit card rates via PayPal powered by Braintree (2.05% + $0.49 per transaction) | Price lists |
| 24/7 support | Customer groups and segmentation | Faceted search (Product filtering) | Unlimited API calls |
| Integrations with leading payment gateways | Abandoned cart saver | Custom SSL | No selling GMV limits annually (Custom pricing) |
| Special credit card rates via PayPal powered by Braintree (2.59% + $0.49 per transaction) | Persistent cart | Special credit card rates via PayPal powered by Braintree (2.05% + $0.49 or lower per transaction) | |
| Single page checkout | Stored credit cards | Express routing and priority support | |
| Marketplace and social integrations (Amazon, eBay, Facebook, and more) | Strategic account management available | ||
| Integrations with leading point-of-sale providers (Square, Vend, Clover, and more) | API support (express routing) | ||
| Free site-wide HTTPS dedicated SSL | |||
| BigCommerce mobile app | |||
| Real-time shipping quotes | |||
| Coupons, discount rules, and gift cards | |||
| Product ratings and reviews |
How to choose the Best eCommerce startups Platform?
To choose the best eCommerce platform that works for you, you should observe what kind of features the platforms have. Shopify, for example, is a very popular e-commerce platform for a wide range of small to medium size businesses.
You should also see the platforms’ compatibility with other applications and the actual expenses that come with those applications. Finally, it is essential to compare the amount of time and money you will invest into your e-commerce business.
Choosing a platform for your e-commerce store should not be a rushed decision. Therefore, you will want to think about it in detail, do some research or make those decisions together with your business partner or team, investors, or people that you trust.
Related: How to Use Instagram for Small Business?
Conclusion
It should be noted that, for each of these platforms, there are a variety of business solutions that can be utilized. Now, you know what to expect. You should find a platform that suits your business, your unique business needs, budget, and preferences. Moreover, you think of all the possibilities that e-commerce can bring to you and go ahead.
Starting an e-commerce business can be a rewarding and exciting venture, as it allows you to sell products or services online and reach a global customer base. However, starting an e-commerce startups business also requires careful planning and a lot of hard work.
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