While running an online store can be a fun and rewarding experience, being a business owner is time-consuming. Running an e-commerce shop requires you to wear many hats, especially in the early days. There’s stock to fill, books to balance, and of course, a website to update.
The good news is that there is a range of options out there to help you succeed. In this article, we look at the pros and cons of two ample e-commerce options. These tools will help you make the best decision for your business quickly, saving time and money!
What are the key considerations?
When weighing up your options, the most significant factors will inevitably be cost, simplicity, scalability, and compatibility. So, to help you choose the right solution, you should first answer the following questions.
- What is your budget?
- What knowledge do you have of coding or WordPress for websites?
- Can your e-commerce platform integrate with other tools or services?
- What is your projected growth?
Cost
The cost will probably be one of the biggest influencers, especially if you are a new business. So, let’s start there.
WooCommerce is an open-source plugin for WordPress that you can install onto the WordPress website for free. You will need website hosting, a domain name, and an SSL certificate. The price of these differs between providers and can add up. Some hosting providers offer special packages for WooCommerce store owners like Bluehost. They have an entry start-up option from $15.95 per month if you sign up for 36 months.
Shopify is a complete e-commerce solution. They offer three plans, Basic is $29 per month, Shopify is $79 per month, and Advanced is $299 per month. Shopify also charges for using external payment gateways but do provide their alternative. You can try Shopify out for 14 days free of charge.
Features
There are many plugins available for WordPress which are compatible with WooCommerce. They can add features such as opt-in forms, enhance features already there, such as WooCommerce order management and even style your website. Some plugins cost money, while others are free.
Through Shopify, you can also purchase add-ons from their app store; they also have both free and paid options. There’s a huge variety of add-ons to increase your store’s functionality.
Skill Level
WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin; this means that you need to create your website in WordPress. You will need to run backups, install updates, and manage any problems with these updates. Thankfully, there are many plugins available to install on WordPress to make life simpler.
Shopify is a ready-to-go platform. They offer a simple to use drag and drop builder to create your store. Furthermore, there’s no requirement to update or backup your store with Shopify either. Shopify is a much simpler platform to use, but it’s less customizable than WooCommerce.
Both platforms offer intuitive solutions to get an online store up and running. The right e-commerce solution for you will depend on your skills, time, and budget. Whichever you choose, we hope this article provided valuable insight and wish you luck with your e-commerce store.
