Should You Sell Online? Ecommerce Basics

Ecommerce sounds great - sell while you sleep, automatic everything. But it's not that simple. Here's what to consider.

Do you have products to sell?

Physical products need inventory, storage, shipping, returns handling. It's a whole operation. Can you manage that?

Digital products are easier - no physical inventory. But you need to create the things people want to buy.

Services can't really be sold online in the traditional ecommerce sense.

What's involved

Payment processing fees (usually 1-4% per sale) Ecommerce platform costs Product photography Writing descriptions Customer service Shipping/logistics for physical goods Security for handling payments

It adds up. Make sure you've factored it in.

Can you compete?

Online retail is brutal. People compare prices instantly. They expect fast shipping, easy returns, good customer service.

If you're selling the same thing as Amazon, it's hard to compete on price. You need to compete on something else - quality, expertise, niche focus, service.

When it works

You have products people want to buy online. You've got the infrastructure to fulfil orders. You've got a way to drive traffic to your store.

When it doesn't

You think "I should sell online because that's what businesses do" without a real reason. You don't have the time or resources to do it properly.

The alternative

If full ecommerce feels like too much, start simple. Take orders by phone or form, handle fulfillment manually. See if there's demand before investing in a full shop.