How to create an online store 

How to create an online store is a common question among those who want to have their own online business.

With e-commerce continuing to grow worldwide, the tendency is for the number of online stores to only increase.

How to create an online store: a guide to building an ecommerce business

Online retail is a market that attracts many entrepreneurs, especially beginners, because it has lower costs compared to opening a physical store.

According to Sebrae, more than 70% of e-commerce entrepreneurs are small or medium-sized businesses.

If you also want to invest in this expanding market, check out a step-by-step guide on what you need to create an online store and have your own sales website.

Hosting platform

Before considering any operational details, know that your website needs to be hosted on an online platform to actually exist on the internet.

The chosen platform will directly impact the success of your e-commerce, so choose carefully.

There are three types of platforms on the market for those who want to create an online store:

• Free: You don’t pay anything to use it, but the features offered are quite limited.

• With open source code: They are free, but you will need the help of a specialist to make the changes you want to the settings and appearance of your sales website.

• Paid: In addition to offering support, they provide various resources such as customizing your page, but in return, they charge either a monthly fee or a percentage of your revenue.

It’s important to choose a platform that can support your e-commerce business in the long term.

Many entrepreneurs make the mistake of choosing one with limited capacity, which prevents their business from growing.

Methods of receiving payment

Anyone thinking about how to create an online store soon encounters a basic question: how to receive payments online.

Just as you need to choose between platforms, you should know that there are different ways to receive payments online:

• Payment intermediaries: A payment service that acts as an intermediary between an e-commerce business and a financial institution. A good option for those starting an e-commerce business, these intermediaries, companies like Stripe and PayPal, are simpler to use and offer a wide range of payment options, such as bank slips, transfers, and credit card. They offer advance payments on receivables, among other advantages. However, intermediaries usually charge higher fees, such as a fixed fee per transaction plus a variable fee based on the sale value.

• Payment gateways: Payment gateways are systems responsible for connecting and transferring data securely and quickly between financial institutions and users in the virtual environment where you sell. They allow the buyer to choose their preferred payment method (credit card, bank slip, etc.) and automatically hold the purchase amount. The money is then sent to the seller’s account in a practical and secure way. Payment gateways charge a fee for each transaction they process in your online store.

• Direct integration with the acquiring bank: This occurs when the e-commerce platform connects directly to the systems of the company that processes the payment. This solution is more commonly adopted by well-established e-commerce businesses with development teams familiar with online security processes. Similar to gateways, the merchant deals directly with the acquiring bank and can freely negotiate rates.

For budding entrepreneurs who are still figuring out how to create an online store, the most recommended is to start by using a payment intermediary.

Once your e-commerce business is more structured and has a good sales volume, it may be more advantageous to switch to a payment gateway.

– Best payment methods for your online store

Security systems

Security is fundamental in e-commerce, as it’s necessary to protect your customers’ purchase data. Furthermore, it’s a determining factor to attest the credibility of the store.

It’s common for consumers to feel anxious when filling out forms with their personal information, such as address, credit card number, etc.

For this reason, the retailer should clearly state on the website’s homepage the security systems used, which are usually of two types:

• SSL (Secure Socket Layer): This system is mandatory for any online store that has registration or purchase tools. SSL protects all data entered into forms, preventing theft by hackers. The acquiring networks themselves will require you to use SSL.

• Application and IP Scan: Acting as a guardian, the Application and IP Scan searches for vulnerabilities on the website that would allow unauthorized access to the database. The Scan’s job is to find these flaws and notify the IT team so they can fix them.

To give consumers more confidence, retailers can place the seals of these security systems on the homepage of their sales website. 

These seals are easily recognizable and create a positive impact on the online store, increasing conversion rate and sales.

Remember that depending on the payment system you choose, you will need to hire an anti-fraud service.

Responsibility for fraud always falls on the store owner, even if the product is delivered to the address provided.

If the purchase is proven to be fraudulent, the merchant will be required to refund the money.

– 6 Important measures to ensure security in e-commerce

Backoffice and ERP

As you can see, understanding how to create a well-structured online store goes far beyond the visual aspect of the website.

The step-by-step process for setting up a sales website involves some technical operations and knowledge of programming and systems development.

According to Samuel Gonsales, Director of Operations and Logistics at ABCOMM, every online store – even the most basic – performs the following processes:

• Receive the sales order generated on the platform;
• Verify payments;
• Separate orders and verify the picking process;
• Packing goods;
• Issue electronic invoices;
• Dispatch goods;
• Inform the customer about the status of their order and track the delivery.

To automate this process, speeding it up and avoiding errors, it is recommended to use an ERP/Backoffice tool.

The back office handles all internal operations, such as financial control, issuing invoices, and inventory management, for example.

ERP stands for Enterprise Resource Planning, a tool that helps manage company resources and the way in which these resources are used.

Initially, the store owner can perform these operations manually, but as soon as they start receiving more than thirty orders per day, these tools become necessary.

Since the ERP system connects to your platform, when deciding how to create an online store and which platform to use, it’s important to choose one that allows this type of integration.

Logistics and Freight

Every successful e-commerce business needs to establish an efficient logistics and parcel delivery process.

Logistics is responsible for all the planning and operation of the online store, such as inventory management, order picking (retrieving the order from the warehouse), packaging, pickup by the carrier, and delivery.

When planning how to create an online store, also be aware of reverse logistics, that is, the return of products to the store.

This happens when a purchase is returned for any reason, and it’s necessary to consider operations such as collecting the product, canceling the sales invoice, re-registering the product in inventory, etc.

Therefore, a poorly structured logistics process can impact the entire operation of the online store and result in a negative customer experience, preventing them from making repeat purchases.

Regarding delivery, there are two well-known ways to carry out this operation:

• Mail: The traditional method of transporting parcels, the Post Office was the only option for many years. 

• Delivery companies: Delivery companies have become increasingly preferred in the market. Offering diverse service options for physical and online stores, delivery management apps like Delivery365 guarantee fast and secure delivery.

Quick shipping cost calculation and price are also key factors in ensuring customer satisfaction, and the best option is to provide a system that generates this quote instantly.

Ideally, you should offer a variety of delivery options to your customers and have a large and experienced network of delivery drivers.

– Shipping costs: how to set the delivery price in e-commerce

Legislation

Finally, when setting up your sales website, pay attention to e-commerce laws in your country to avoid violating any rules established for online stores.

In many countries there are several common points established in the legislation, such as:

• Provide the company details;
• Provide at least one customer service channel;
• Grant the customer the right to withdraw from the purchase;
• Guarantee a 30-day period for exchanging defective non-durable goods, and 90 days for exchanging durable goods;
• Offer 24/7 support to your customers.

The entrepreneur should also include information on the website such as: complete purchase contracts; email and physical addresses; an explanation of information security; and rules for refunds.

If you don’t already have a team to help provide customer support, management tools like Zendesk can be quite useful.

Choose the best delivery system for your e-commerce 

After completing all the steps on how to create an online store and launching your sales website, the most important thing is to ensure that the order reaches the customer as quickly as possible.

The benefits of an efficient delivery system for your online store range from increasing productivity and efficiency gains, leading to reduced costs.

With the app Delivery365 you create your e-commerce store and gain access to tracking technology, a proprietary shipping calculation system, online payment processing options, and a database of hundreds of registered delivery drivers.

– 7 Advantages of Order Tracking in E-commerce

A true revolution in the way products and services are delivered, the app Delivery365 It’s perfect for e-commerce businesses of all sizes and segments, guaranteeing the safe and fast transport of products.

To learn more, visit our website, learn about our services and offer the best delivery option to your customers.