So, you’re looking to jump on the bandwagon and start an e-commerce store because you’ve heard how profitable it can be? However, you don’t necessarily have the budget to get things rolling. That’s perfectly acceptable, and just because you don’t have a big budget like many other entrepreneurs, there are still tips you can take advantage of to make your dreams a reality. Here’s how to start your own e-commerce store with a little budget.
Gain Business Knowledge to Help Save on Startup Costs
Granted, you’re likely not going to have the money to take one of the online MBA programs to obtain your online MBA degree at Rutgers Online, but it could prove to be a cost-effective solution to get your business running. Therefore, it’s always worth considering, especially if you’re serious about making your e-commerce store a massive success. Just remember that such a degree won’t just benefit your business. If your business failed at some point in the future, you’ll also have something to fall back on so you can start a career in almost any industry you like.
Take Advantage of the WordPress Platform
We can’t express this tip enough. Take advantage of the WordPress platform to base your e-commerce store on and you’ll have an instant website solution for a fraction of the cost. You could spend thousands on getting a professional website online via a custom-made solution, but if you’re on a shoestring budget, why not settle for a solution that could cost you ten bucks? WordPress is completely free, you just need to invest in web hosting and a domain – most web hosts now come with a one-click install feature so you can get a WordPress based site online within minutes. Also, there are many plugins like WooCommerce you can use for free to give you e-commerce website features.
Start with a Small Product Range
Yes, we’d all love to be able to offer a diverse range of products in several categories from the get-go, but that’s not possible for us on a smaller budget. By starting with a small product range, not only will you save on startup costs, but you’ll also find the business is much easier to manage, and that could make growing easier in the future.
Use Social Media to Market Your Brand
When it comes to starting a business, you’ll need to set aside some of your budget for marketing and advertising purposes. With a shoestring budget though, you’re only going to do so much with your marketing efforts. However, by taking advantage of the social media platforms, you can start your PPC (Pay Per Click) campaigns easily and within budget. Social media also offers a free way to market your brand, look at some of these tips to help you get started.
The world of e-commerce is a fairly easy business to get started in, but when you’ve got no experience and little to no budget, it can feel like an impossible task. However, with the above tips by your side when starting out, you can ensure your startup costs are going to be much lower than initially thought.