Introduction:
Starting an eCommerce store can be a daunting task. Not only are you starting up a business, but you have to think about all the costs that go into it! It is important to consider all of your startup costs before diving head first into this new venture. In this blog post, we discuss some of the most common eCommerce start-up costs and how they may affect your budget.
Legal Fees & Licenses
The first of many startup costs to consider are legal fees relating to the formation of your business entity and any licenses you may need to conduct business depending on your municipality. There are many eCommerce store legal issues to consider, such as trademarks and copyrighting. These costs can really add up quick and are important to not overlook!
Website Development & Hosting Fees
The next eCommerce start-up cost is website development costs. You may decide you want to build your own eCommerce site or hire someone else to do it for you -- either way this will be a necessary expense.
Additionally, eCommerce store hosting costs are another eCommerce startup cost you will need to consider. Depending on the size of your website and how many transactions it experiences each day, these eCommerce start-up costs can increase incrementally as time goes on.
Marketplace Selling Fees
If you choose to sell on marketplaces such as etsy, eBay, Shopify or Amazon you will need to consider marketplace selling fees. Each of these marketplaces have transaction fees associated with them that are paid out on a monthly basis -- so if your eCommerce store sells more items it can be costly!
Product Images & Videos
You may decide that product images or videos are necessary eCommerce start-up costs to help increase eCommerce store conversions. If you decide that these eCommerce startup costs are necessary, then it is important to keep in mind how much they will cost depending on the quality and quantity of your images or videos!
Initial Inventory Costs
The items you will be selling will cost money as well. You will need to purchase some amount of inventory to begin your store.
Depending on the size of your eCommerce store, this eCommerce startup cost can vary drastically. Additionally, if you are selling items that require shipping or additional assembly costs (e.g., furniture), these eCommerce start-up costs will affect your budget as well!
Marketing & Advertising Costs (PPC)
Another eCommerce startup cost you may need to consider is eCommerce PPC. It can be incredibly helpful for e-commerce stores, but it costs money!
Depending on your eCommerce store goals and marketing strategy, you'll have to decide whether or not this eCommerce start-up cost will help grow your eCommerce business!
Shipping Supplies And Postage
Depending on the items you sell and how many eCommerce store orders you receive each day, shipping supplies and postage can be a big eCommerce startup cost.
Additionally, if your e-commerce store ships internationally or has some form of drop shipping involved (where you do not keep inventory yourself), these eCommerce start-up costs will likely increase.
Software & Tools
Many sellers utilize various tools to help them sell eCommerce. eCommerce store software, eCommerce analytics tools and e-commerce marketing tools are just a few of the many e-commerce specific costs you can incur depending on your business goals! There is no end to the types of software and tools available to your business so it is important to choose your software and service providers carefully.
Ongoing eCommerce Start-up Costs
Ongoing eCommerce startup costs are another thing to consider when starting an eCommerce store. This eCommerce start up cost includes factors like shipping, customer service call centers, etc!
Conclusion:
When it comes to starting an eCommerce business, one of the most important aspects is considering what your startup costs will be. It can be difficult to estimate how much you need before diving into this new venture because there are so many factors that come into play. In our blog post we discuss some of these common start-up costs and why they may affect your budget. For example, if you opt for a more expensive website builder then you might have less money left over for other essentials like inventory or marketing materials. How do these challenges stack up against what you were expecting? What other considerations should we take into account when deciding whether or not to start an online store?
