What is an E-commerce
The purpose of ecommerce business is the purpase to purchase all the goods or services on the internet because nowadays all the work is done online or e-commerce is a platform through which we can earn money from home or can also sell our own products.
It has grown very fast in 2024 or it has changed the way it works or interacts with people so much that ecommerce or humans will not be able to understand business talk.
He has thought for humans and created some essential features which will help humans to run their business.
An ecommerce business typically operates through a digital platform or website, allowing customers to browse products, make purchases, and complete payments online.
eCommerce is a digital platform that allows customers to do online shopping through a website.
How to Start an E-commerce business
Ecommerce is everyone’s dream because it makes a lot of money or we do not even need to open a physical shop.
Ecommerce business does not have to be a profitable business but before starting it is important to know the complete process of how to start an ecommerce business.
Step1. Reacarch a profitable
Step2. Find a wholesaler and supplier
Step3. Creat your own ecommarce store
Step4. List out your product on the ecommarce store
Step5. register your business
Step6. Get a payment getway
Step7. Market your product boost seles
How much does it cost to start an E-commerce business?
Starting an ecommarce business is affordable and anyone can do it, but you have to invest in some things like
Domain name: You have to get a domain name for your business which will be the name of your website. Its annual cost is approximately Rs 600 to Rs 900 per year. If you want to run your e-commerce business only in India, then you can use .in domain. You can take the name otherwise. .com is the best domain name for your website.
Types of E-Commerce: Hosted vs. Self-Hosted
While creating e-commerce, we were also given the option to choose which platform to use for our work. The platform was divided into 2 parts, first hosted or self-hosted or both of them have their own options to choose from.
1. Hosted E-Commerce
A hosted e-commerce platform is a solution where the e-commerce software and infrastructure (such as servers, storage, and maintenance) are provided by a third-party service. The platform is hosted on the provider’s servers, and users typically pay for a subscription to access the tools and features of the service.
Examples:
- Shopify
- BigCommerce
- Wix eCommerce
- Squarespace eCommerce
Advantages:
- The provider handles all technical aspects, such as hosting, server management, and security.
- Quick Setup: Hosted platforms generally provide pre-built themes and easy-to-use tools, allowing you to quickly launch an online store.
- Reliability: Providers often ensure high uptime, performance optimization, and support.
Disadvantages:
- While hosted platforms provide easy-to-use ools, they can be more restrictive in terms of design and functionality compared to self-hosted solutions.
- Monthly Fees: You’ll be paying a monthly or annual subscription, and the fees can increase as your store grows or as you add more features.
- Less Control: You don’t have as much flexibility or control over the backend of your website or the server environment.
2. Self-hosted E-commerce platfrom
Self-hosted e-commerce refers to platforms where the business owner is responsible for managing the software, hosting, and technical aspects of the store. These solutions provide greater control over customization and flexibility, but require more technical expertise and ongoing management.
Examples of Self-hosted E-commerce Solutions:
- WooCommerce (WordPress plugin)
- Magento (Open Source)
- PrestaShop
- OpenCart
- osCommerce
Advantage:
- You have complete control over the design, functionality, and features of your e-commerce store. This flexibility allows you to tailor your store to your specific needs without being restricted by the limitations of a hosted platform.
- You can add custom features, integrate with other systems, and tweak the code to match your business requirements.
Disadvantage:
- Self-hosting requires more technical expertise to set up and manage. You’ll need knowledge of web development, server management, security, and troubleshooting. For non-technical users, this can be a significant barrier to entry.
- If you’re not technically inclined, you may need to hire professionals, which increases costs.
Popular E-commarce platform
Here are some of the most popular e-commerce platforms, each catering to different business needs, from small startups to large enterprises: