Shift4Shop eCommerce Blog | Starting a Business (3)

Do you know what one of the best ways to achieve financial independence is?

The answer: Working for yourself. I know this from experience – people always ask me for self-employment business ideas that they can do as a side hustle. I don’t mind walking them through their options, because everyone starts somewhere.

I have been working as a freelancer for the past three years now. I always have a few things in the works on the side. In this blog post, I will present to you ten business ideas for[...]

Creating a website for an online business has never been easier than it is right now. While there are plenty of ways to create a shop online in order to generate sales, one of the easiest methods is fueled by the power of print-on-demand services (or PODs).

With the eCommerce industry becoming increasingly popular over the last 20 years and certainly picking up traction in the last 10, dropshipping has become an exciting and innovative new way for people to run a business without the need to buy a load of stock and find a warehouse to store it in. In the earlier days of dropshipping some big-name brands became hugely successful. You’ve probably seen the viral picture of Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, sitting in his small, dark office as he[...]

Are you a business owner that needs an easier way to procure custom branded corporate merchandise? Making orders one at a time from a third-party with little control over materials and designs may not be cutting it anymore. But, did you know that you can save time and money while creating higher-quality custom products by starting your own company merch store online?

Starting an eCommerce business seems relatively simple at first. Yet, many eCommerce merchants are unable to sustain their online stores for too long. A large number of companies fail to derive any return on their investment (ROI). In the long term, they suffer heavy losses and collapse.

Failure can be attributed to multiple factors, but the truth remains that running an eCommerce website is complex. It requires meticulous planning in both the pre- and post-launch phases. Beyond this, you also[...]

Digital products are all the rage today. However, creating one is easier said than done.

First, let’s begin by understanding the different forms of digital products available today.

Making money is more than putting up some banner ads or throwing open your blog for sponsored content. These strategies can work. However, people are increasingly turning a blind eye to ads and to sponsored content. That’s the reason you need a change in strategy.

Offering digital products is a cool alternative.

Whether you play video games or you model high-fashion clothing brands, you’re an influencer if you have an audience that loves your content. Being an influencer introduces a wide variety of opportunities to make a living, from brand deals to advertising revenue. But, one of the most popular ways that influencers monetize their following is through branded merchandise.

Whether you're starting a new business or building upon an existing one, at some point, you will have to start selling a new product or service. Doing so, however, is risky because it's hard to tell for sure how they will be received until after you've done all the hard work.

By 2025, the dropshipping industry is expected to generate more than 550 billion US dollars in revenue according to some projections. Every year, billions of consumers acquire new products through dropshipping companies, which has driven many entrepreneurs to set up their own websites and try to profit from this business model.

Online apparel stores are hotter than ever. Not only are they on trend with the ever-growing world of eCommerce, but the latest print-on-demand technology and business automation software tools make them even more appealing. Unlike years ago, where a successful online store meant a whole lot of work and money spent upfront, today’s online apparel stores are agile and self-sufficient, needing very little attention once they’re up and running.

Even though starting a business – online or offline – is no small task and can be a daunting undertaking to sign yourself up for, it certainly is not as impossible as you might think.

Whether you’re looking for a way out of the 9-to-5 grind, trying to get back on your feet, or are just looking for a new adventure, more and more people are realizing both the potential and practicality of working from home.

Not only does today’s digital world better support work-from-home options, but the current state we’re finding ourselves in throughout 2020 is making working from home an increasingly valid, if not the best possible, option for a huge percentage of workers.

Launching an eCommerce business is easier now more than ever. This is, in many parts, thanks to the prevalence of affordable eCommerce platforms, tools, and resources.

But as your online business grows, you will encounter a new set of challenges. One of those obstacles is scaling and making your eCommerce store grow.

How much time do you spend on importing product content to your online store?

The answers to this question can range wildly, from a few minutes to several weeks. I know that because recently I participated in market research related to this topic.

A merchant account is an often overlooked, but key component for an ecommerce business. Together, with a payment gateway, your account gives you the ability to accept credit cards through your website. But many new online businesses are not familiar with the stipulations involved with their merchant account.

Every company that wants to do business online will want to have payment resources available to customers shopping on their site. Accepting major credit cards and offering streamlined ways[...]

It’s no secret that online selling is a booming industry. With the advent of huge marketplaces like Amazon, shoppers are flocking to their phones and computers to shop more than ever.

A lot of time and effort is placed into creating and perfecting your e-commerce platform, but it is a mistake to direct all of your selling attention here.

People use online marketplaces as their go-to shopping destination all the time, and on some platforms, like Amazon, reselling is allowed, meaning that others may be making a profit off your products without you.

Are you a restaurant owner who wants to accept online take-out and delivery orders?

Maybe you're suffering from revenue loss because of lockdown. Or maybe even before COVID-19, you wanted to offer delivery and take-out to attract more customers.

As the global COVID-19 pandemic continues, many restaurants have had to adapt to new methods of communicating with their customers. These methods are primarily online.

You could always go with a delivery app, but these have problems of their own.