Online store solutions for small businesses

The online space offers entrepreneurs with unique solutions to open their online stores and expand their businesses.


The online space has proven to be effective in competitively marketing business concepts and selling products.

For small businesses looking for custom e-commerce solutions, there are a number of options available in form of hosted services and subscription-based web applications which allow small retailers to get online and start selling quickly, Randburg Sun reports.

READ MORE: SA calls for greater cooperation with China on small business development

Below are some of these options.

Big Cartel

This platform provides you with your own independent store to sell your goods online, with varying levels of customisation for each plan. Big Cartel only charges a monthly fee and doesn’t take a percentage of your sales revenues. This online platform can also link in indirectly with any PayPal or bank account, meaning you won’t need an expensive merchant account or having to deal with gateway fees.

Volusion

Volusion is an all in one hosted e-commerce provider which sets you up in record time. For a minima cost, Volusion merchants receive 24/7/365 customer support and access to free design templates for customizing the storefront. There is an additional application process to allow you to accept credit card payments online, for a processing fee of 2.17% per transaction, with payments deposited directly into your bank account by Volusion, bypassing any additional gateway fees. In addition to providing great software, the Volusion team also offers design and marketing services for an additional fee.

Big Commerce

Big Commerce is the best option for high volume online sales. For a minimum fee, Big Commerce offers tools for selling on eBay and Facebook, a returns system and assistance with marketing and drop shipping. You also get access to reporting tools, SEO services as well as inventory and content management capabilities.

Vendder

Vendder allows you to set up a storefront and start selling products online in just minutes. Vendder offers a nice set of customization tools and both premium and basic templates are available. Despite the low monthly fees and free plans, according to the Vendder support staff, there are no additional transaction fees. This makes the service a great option for small businesses on a tight budget.

Magento

Magento empowers thousands of retailers and brands with the best e-Commerce platform and flexible cloud solutions to rapidly innovate and grow. With a global ecosystem of 150,000 developers and a network of 300+ highly-trained solution partners, Magento boosts your online sales while maximizing gross margins. Magento works hand-in-hand with the world’s biggest retailers, brands, and branded manufacturers across B2C and B2B industries. For a quick and affordable online store, Magento is the solution provider you can trust.

The online store solutions listed above should assist entrepreneurs to get strong online business presence and sales.

https://www.citizen.co.za/business/business-news/sa-calls-for-greater-cooperation-with-china-on-small-business-development/

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