Meta Description: Thinking about selling products online? Consider the pros and cons of selling on Shopify, one of the most popular e-commerce platforms. Find out if Shopify is right for your business and discover tips and tricks to help you get started.
Should You Start Selling on Shopify? Pros & Cons Explained
Since it began in 2004, Shopify has grown from strength to strength. According to internet statistic experts, BuiltWith, there are 4,488,420 live websites currently powered by Shopify (as of January 2023), with an estimated 6 million online stores created since its founding.
Shopify claims to be the number one e-commerce platform for all businesses, with offers of unmatched capabilities and a compelling user experience. Let's examine Shopify and whether it is the right choice for your e-commerce platform.
What is Shopify?
Shopify, a SaaS eCommerce solution. That's Software As A Service for the beginners out there. It includes everything you need to establish a website. With a visit to the main website, you can create an account, and you're done.
Its features include a user-friendly interface, customizable templates, and various built-in tools for managing inventory, processing payments, and shipping orders. However, with so many e-commerce platforms available, it can be difficult for small businesses and beginners to determine if Shopify is the right choice for them.
Shopify offers a three-day free trial without a credit card so that you can try the platform for its suitability to your business. Once you've decided to commit, Shopify's premium plans have monthly fees. You can choose from several price plans depending on your needs.
Why Choose Shopify?
Shopify is a viable solution, regardless of the size of your company. With an impressive number of add-ons and integrated services, the eCommerce platform offers solutions to satisfy small start-ups and large stores. Its scalability is one of the characteristics that contribute to user trust and reputation.
Shopify generally receives positive feedback for its ease of use and the variety of features it offers. However, there are also some common complaints and issues raised by users. One of the most frequently mentioned issues is the transaction fee for using Shopify's payment gateway, which can add up quickly for businesses with a high sales volume. Additionally, some users have reported difficulty with the platform's customization options, saying they are limited and difficult to navigate.
Is Shopify Easy to Use
One of the significant benefits of Shopify is its ease of use. The platform is designed to be straightforward, making it a good option for beginners who may not have much experience with e-commerce. Additionally, Shopify offers a variety of resources and support options, including a comprehensive knowledge base, video tutorials, and a community forum.
It helps eCommerce entrepreneurs, especially newcomers, launch their businesses. Shopify makes building a website easier than open-source platforms, which require buying a host and submitting the source code.
Shopify Registration
Opening a store can be accomplished in a matter of minutes. Once you provide your email address, password, and store name, Shopify takes you to the initial setup. After signing up, Shopify leads you through the procedures to functionalize your store fully.
Add your first products, customize your theme, and add or transfer a Shopify domain from the home page.
Shopify Themes
Your store's appearance affects conversion. Improving the user experience can often improve how much you sell. Thus, an attractive bespoke Shopify theme enhances customer loyalty and revenue.
Shopify themes have advantages and disadvantages. The coders at Shopify have done all the hard work to build the themes to be responsive and mobile-friendly. Skilled designers guarantee functionality and usability and that their designs are sophisticated and contemporary. Several themes are available to suit your style and the features of your e-commerce shop.
But, there are a limited number of free themes. Premium themes cost between $150 and $350. The free themes will not be unique and as enticing to your audience as the premium options.
Shopify lets you test their templates out before you commit. With so many options, it can be confusing. Their free trial and theme store make it easier to find what will suit your business and your target audience.
After your business starts turning a profit, we still recommend upgrading to a premium theme. These themes are designed by User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) experts. Therefore, your store's templates will be high-quality and appealing.
Apart from price, you should consider how you want clients to feel when they enter your shop. Browse Shopify's theme page by industry or collection. Take your time choosing. You can customize any theme by changing colours, fonts, social media buttons, and other aspects. Again, Shopify's ease of use makes it easy to add, remove, or replace pieces.
Prices on Shopify
There are three monthly payment tiers available for Shopify. These plans range from $29 to $299. Choosing the right plan is worth considering, given the current economic climate. Here's a breakdown of the Plans.
Shopify Basic costs $29 per month with 2.9% + 30 cents for each online transaction. This an excellent option if you're starting or want to construct a simple online storefront for your brick-and-mortar store.
The main Shopify package costs $79 per month with 2.6% + 30 cents per transaction. This plan contains everything you need for a developing business. Paying this amount improves reporting and lowers credit card and third-party transaction costs.
Advanced Shopify costs $299/month with 2.4% + 30 cents for every transaction. This option has the most advanced features. Running a large eCommerce company is easier with this method. You'll get all the benefits of the previous two programmes, plus bespoke reports, the lowest third-party transaction, shipping, credit card rates, tax, and tariffs.
Shopify or Advanced Shopify are our favourite plans. Users get lower transaction fees, more staff accounts, more inventory locations, a professional report system, and automatic workflow with these choices.
Shopify is not the cheapest e-commerce builder. However, it is one of the most popular and improving every year. Shopify or Advanced Shopify are our favourite plans. Users get lower transaction fees, more staff accounts, more inventory locations, a professional report system, and automatic workflow with these choices. Weigh up Shopify's advanced features which will help your company grow, giving a return on investing in the platform.
Shopify Transaction Fees
As your orders grow, so will your transaction fees. The higher the Shopify plan, the more credit card rates and transaction fees can be avoided.
If you use a payment provider other than Shopify Payments, Shopify Basic, Shopify, and Advanced Shopify charge 2.9%, 2.6%, and 2.4% per transaction respectively. You can save on online credit card transaction fees with a higher Shopify plan.
Overall, Shopify offers a wide range of features and a user-friendly interface, making it a good option for small businesses and beginners. However, it's essential to keep in mind that there are also some drawbacks to using Shopify, including transaction fees and limited customization options.Additionally, it may be more expensive than other e-commerce platforms.
In conclusion, Shopify can be an excellent option for small businesses and beginners looking to set up an online store. However, it's essential to consider the overall costs and features of the platform.