Online shopping has already become a common activity for millions of people around the world. Figures from last year 2018 point out that 7 out of 10 Spanish internet users shop online (Source: https://marketing4ecommerce.net/v-estudio-anual-ecommerce-en-espana-2018-20-millones-compradores-online/)
These data indicate the importance of online stores in the regular consumption of different products for millions of people. But: Is it easy to set up an online store? Does it require a large investment? How much does an online store really cost?
These and other questions will be analyzed in this article, so that you can calculate the budget you need to set up an online store of any kind.
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how much does it cost to set up an online store? Elements to take into account
Building an online store does not have a fixed and definitive price. It all depends on the tools and features you want to incorporate into your website.
If your goal is to build an online store to make a living from it, we recommend you to rely on professionals in the sector. Experienced teams that can help you build a website like the one you dream of.
First of all, we recommend you to carry out a market research to find out if the business plan you have in mind could give good results. Likewise, this research can provide you with new ideas for your trading scheme or the website you envision.
On the other hand, you should make sure to create a business scheme for your store. The products you are going to sell, the type of web design you prefer, the sections it will have, as well as your overall business plan, are some of the elements to consider.
As explained above, if your goal is to build an online store that will become your main source of income, you may want to ask for expert help. Especially if you do not have much knowledge of programming or internet tools, having a specialized service will be essential.
So, how much does it cost to make an online store to market products or services? To answer this question, we will tell you what are the features that your store should have and the average values they have.
what is the price of an online store?
Although it is not convenient to calculate a fixed budget for the online store you want to set up, since it can vary depending on many factors, we can think of average figures for the cost of certain elements that your online store needs.
Keep in mind that everything depends on the type of business, the investment you will have in marketing, logistics, web design, among other issues. Here are some of the expenses that you will surely have to consider when setting up your online store.
Domain
Having your own domain name is essential. It is the hallmark of your online store and the way in which search engines will index it and users will search for it.
It is not usually very expensive and sometimes its price is combined with the cost of web hosting.
Web hosting
The hosting is the service where the information and multiple files of the online store are stored. The cost of hosting can vary depending on the speed your website requires and the storage space you need.
Most providers offer a VPS hosting with which you will have more than enough to set up your online store. We have specialized PrestaShop hosting to improve the performance of the stores.
Web design
This is one of the most valuable expenses you will have to consider in your budget to set up an online store. However, the design is one of the top priorities, since it depends on the seriousness and professionalism of the image that your business will have.
To design an online store we recommend Prestashop as the ideal platform for this type of websites. The price of the professional design of the store will depend on the needs and features required. The greater the functionality, the higher the price will be.
Although some may offer you a cheaper design service, it is recommended to opt for a professional assistance that guarantees a good job. We can help you if you need it to create your PrestaShop store.
Payment methods
To avoid losing sales, or having abandoned carts, we recommend you to include as many payment methods as possible. This way, each customer can choose the method that best suits their shopping style.
The most common payment method is by credit or debit card. To implement this system, you need a virtual Point of Sale Terminal (POS). This must be purchased through financial institutions. It can also include currently widely used online payment methods, such as Paypal or Bizum.
SSL Certificate
To obtain sales in your online store you need your website to be a secure space for the user. This is achieved with SSL certificates, which allow you to encrypt the information of Internet users and provide security that the data will not be used for other purposes.
Marketing and SEO
Undoubtedly, these are two basic elements in which you will have to invest in order to achieve positive results with your online store.
You will have to promote your store in social networks, forums, chats and all those platforms that you consider convenient to advertise your business.
On the other hand, you will have to work on the SEO of your website to make users and Google fall in love with it. In this way, your products or services will be easily found, since your website will enjoy a privileged position in Internet search engines.
Especially SEO requires a very specialized level of knowledge that is gained through years of work. Therefore, it is recommended to have the help of professionals to help you optimize the content, categories, keywords, among other elements. But do not panic, because we have good news: do you want your store for free and also positioned in Google? Well, here you have a solution.
As you can see, you will already start to have monthly expenses that will accompany you throughout this adventure of setting up an online store. You should consider them as a fundamental part of your investment.
Tools to generate traffic
If your budget for the online store is higher, perhaps you can consider options such as Google Adwords or Facebook Ads for advertising campaigns. These are online advertisements that generate traffic to your store and thus convert into potential sales.
The price of these tools can range from a few euros if you take care of creating simple campaigns to higher budgets if you hire a specialized service. As with web design, these tools may seem simple, however to use them in depth, taking into account all the potential they have, the help of an expert is recommended.
Shipping costs
In the budget of your online store you will have to consider the shipping costs. Some e-commerce prefer to assume the shipping cost to get even closer to their customers. Perhaps this can be an element that makes you more competitive in your niche market.
Although, usually buyers assume the shipping costs, so this amount is added to the total invoice.
Other factors that can be added to the online store budget
The above items are considered the priority and necessary expenses for setting up a website. However, you should take into account other issues that also generate expenses in this regard.
The Internet connection is one of the first investments that must be guaranteed 100 percent. This will involve an expense of approximately 40 € per month, depending on the line you have contracted.
To your e-commerce you can add complements such as blog, integration with social networks, price comparison, among others. Although some of them are offered totally free, other tools are paid. Choose the ones that best suit your website and are more functional for management.
Legal terms also generate expenses. You will have to register as a freelancer and pay a monthly or annual fee according to your declared income. It is necessary that your price list adapts to the official policy and that you also comply with the Organic Law on Data Protection.
Conclusion:
As you can see, there are many elements to take into account when setting up an online store. The price of an online store can vary, depending on how much you are willing to invest in your future.
If you want to make a living from this business you will have to make an initial investment to ensure every detail that will guarantee you the results you want. Every effort has its reward and you will surely achieve your goals of turning your store into the best e-commerce, according to your sector.
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