Did you know that there were 774,725 new entrepreneurial businesses set up by the year-end of March 2019?
With the advancement of the internet, its' never been easier to set up your own eCommerce business to bring in a side income, or even to replace your full-time job.
Over the last decade, the popularity of dropshipping businesses has skyrocketed and has given people the chance to work for themselves.
But what is the best eCommerce platform for dropshipping and which one should you choose?
There is a lot to consider before you jump straight in as choosing the wrong platform could be the difference between success and failure.
A lot of eCommerce platforms out there claim to be the best and the most beneficial to use, but they can suit some businesses more than others.
In this article, we're going to share with you what we believe are the best eCommerce platforms for dropshipping and one's you need to highly consider.
Read on for more information.
Stay Safe With WooCommerce
You have most likely heard of WooCommerce and possibly purchased an item on a website supported by it.
WooCommerce is one of the most, if not the most, trusted eCommerce platforms for drop-shippers. It's relatively simple to use, has amazing support options, and is great value for money.
You'll need to have a WordPress supported website but it's straight forward to create one and add the free WooCommerce plugin. They even provide a simple guide to use in order to set up your website and make it look amazing.
WooCommerce has the ability to accept all major credit cards, bank transfers, checks, and cash on delivery.
Not all eCommerce platforms have all these benefits so it's worth noting this.
There is a further option to integrate with things such as Apple Pay, Paypal, Square, Amazon pay, and more.
It also has an easy-to-use dashboard in which you can track orders etc all from one place. We think all the reasons mentioned make WooCommerce and safe option to consider using.
Shopify Makes It Simple
Shopify is another popular platform for drop shippers and eCommerce business owners alike. It offers the chance for anyone to create a website and start selling items in a matter of minutes.
Its aimed at small-medium sized businesses which are in industries such as beauty and cosmetics, home furnishings, fashion and apparel, and more.
When you sign up to use Shopify, you can create a stunning professional website with an array of templates to choose from. It even offers pre-filled pages like about us, privacy policy, and shipping information.
Having these on show on your website will gain your customer's trust and ensure that they are in safe hands.
Shopify also offers you the chance to create your brand by generating business names and the option to create a free logo.
There's a lot of help on hand as well in case you have issues with 24/7 email, phone, and chat support available. The platform can also offer guidance on email marketing and advertisements.
You do have to pay to use Shopify with subscriptions ranging from $29.99-$299. But don't let the higher price put you off. Shopify can be a smart financial investment.
Go Big With BigCommerce
This is another user-friendly platform that is suitable for those with minimal experience in website design.
Like Shopify, it's easy to get help with chat, email, and phone support as well as a forum to communicate with other business owners and ask questions.
You can also set up a website and start adding products to sell in just a short time.
BigCommerce has one advantage over Shopify in that it doesn't charge a transaction fee. This makes it more affordable than Shopify which should be considered.
It's subscription rates range from $29-250 but you can start a free trial to see whether it can be beneficial for you and your business.
Many Established Businesses Use Magento
If you are a developer then Magento could be the way to go.
Adobe purchased Magento in 2018 and it now comes in two versions which are: Magento Open Source and Magento Commerce.
This is a much more powerful platform than the others mentioned above, so it does require some know-how or the patience to learn how to use it.
It fantastic for those wishing to sell products such as food and beverages, beauty and cosmetics, sporting goods, and more.
Magento Open Source comes with basic features such as integrated payment, shipping, and checkout, global selling, instant purchase, and mobile-optimized shopping.
The two options of Magento vary enormously in price.
Open Source is free to download but it will cost you for things such as add-ons, themes, and development.
Magento Commerce is a lot more expensive and that's why it's aimed at more established businesses. Prices are quoted by a sales rep and it's suggested that it can cost anywhere from $15,000-50,000 a year.
This means it may be something you aim to move onto in the future but make sure it doesn't negatively impact you financially.
Choose the Best eCommerce Platform for You
Hopefully, you've now got the info you need to decide the best eCommerce platform for dropshipping.
As you can see there are many platforms out there to choose from and each one has it's own unique selling point. It's worth analyzing each one and figuring out which will work best for you.
Be sure to check out our blog for more information on eCommerce solutions!
