Congratulations! You've found a niche market and are ready to start selling online. 

We know that there's a lot to do when setting up a business, and it can feel a little overwhelming. You should be proud of your work so far - it hasn't been easy. 

There's no one-size-fits-all plan for setting up an e-commerce business, but if you're stuck and need help getting your online store off the ground, here are the fundamental steps you'll need to spend time on during your set-up process. 

Choose an e-commerce platform

An e-commerce platform is a software application that enables online businesses to manage their website, marketing, sales, and operations, which is ideal for a small or medium-sized business.  Many e-commerce platform options exist, such as Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, BigCommerce, etc. Don't forget to take advantage of the free trial periods. When choosing your platform, consider all its features, such as administration, dashboard, merchant view, drop shipping options, and select the one that best suits your needs and those of your future customers.

Register your domain name

Choose a relevant and professional domain name for your online store. Check its availability and register it with a domain name registrar.

Design your online store

Personalize the look and feel of your online store by choosing a theme or hiring a web developer to create a custom design. Make sure your store is user-friendly, responsive, and offers a pleasant user experience.

Set up essential functionality 

Configure online payment options, such as secure payment gateways, and set up an inventory management system to keep track of your products. Integrate security features to protect customer data. At TCB Pay we offer to integrate our payment solutions into your online store. 

Implement online marketing strategies

Develop a digital marketing strategy to promote your online store. Use social media, SEO, online advertising, and other tactics to drive traffic to your site.

Test and launch your online store

Before you officially launch your online store, carry out thorough testing to make sure everything is working properly, including payment, ordering, and delivery functionalities.

Once you've set up your store and are completely comfortable with your platform, consider looking for ways to reduce your operating costs. One of the most effective ways is to choose the right payment processor. While the default payment processor included in your platform may be the easiest for beginners to use, once you reach a certain volume of sales, it's advisable to shop around to get the best rates and support for your business. At TCB Pay, we guarantee all online businesses some of the lowest rates on the market, but above all personalized solutions and person-to-person customer service.

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Sources:

• Nerdwallet.com
• Shopify.com
• Amazon.com