Last Updated on November 18, 2022 by
Shopping for an e-commerce business can be overwhelming. There are so many factors to take into account – what type of business is right for you, how much money you can invest, whether you should buy or build your e-commerce store, and so much more. Luckily, the answer to most of these questions is simple.
When it comes to your first specialty store or online marketplace, go with the one that requires the smallest time commitment from you and offers the highest chance of success. Many e-commerce businesses require little maintenance once they’re up and running. Others need more hands-on care than others. Which businesses are right for you?
Let us help you understand which option is better, buying your own versus leasing an e-commerce space.
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Buying a Shop or Installing Your Own e-Commerce Platform
If you’re looking to launch a one-off e-commerce store, buying a shop or building your own e-commerce platform will be the most expensive option. The costs of setting up an e-commerce store will depend on the size of the space you choose, the technology you choose, and the time you spend in the space. Plus, the costs of purchasing a shop will be quite a bit higher than those of renting an e-commerce space.
However, if you’re looking at setting up an e-commerce store that requires less time from you but higher investment, then this is the option for you. Buying a shop also has the added benefit of allowing you to take over the e-commerce business immediately while renting an e-commerce space means that you need to wait until the lease has expired and you own the building.
Should you build your own e-commerce store?
If you’re thinking about starting an e-commerce business, it can feel like a lot of hard work. You’ve got to build the site, set up your payment processor, and find the right suppliers. But if you’re just getting started, there’s another option: buying an established site. And that’s where Amazon Business Brokers come in.
Amazon Business Brokers are companies that specialize in helping small businesses find new sites for their products or services. They help clients by searching through Amazon’s database of available sites, then finding the most suitable one for their needs—whether it’s space for expansion or quick access to new customers. The broker then takes over from there as a facilitator between buyer and seller: negotiating on behalf of the client until they find what they’re looking for (or negotiate a deal with another broker).
We believe that building an e-commerce store from scratch is not for most people. Though we’ve seen some impressive successes, the overwhelming majority of online stores fail. We believe that the majority of these failures come from inexperienced e-commerce owners who thought they could build an online store from scratch without any experience, training, or guidance.
Now, there is a small group of e-commerce entrepreneurs who have built successful online stores from scratch, and we’ll discuss them later in the article. However, for most people, starting a new e-commerce business from scratch is like jumping into the deep end without a life jacket. If you choose to do this, we recommend that you have a thorough plan in advance to ensure that you have all of your bases covered.
Leasing an e-Commerce Space
If you want to launch your own e-commerce store but don’t have the time, money, or skills to build your own e-commerce platform, then renting an e-commerce space might be your best option. The costs of renting an e-commerce space will depend on the size of the shop you choose, the technology you use to set it up, and the time you spend in the space. Plus, the costs of renting an e-commerce space will be much lower than the cost of purchasing a shop.
On the other hand, buying an existing e-commerce business means that you’ll have someone on staff who’s already done all the work for you, and it will act as an FBA accelerator for your company. That said, buying a company means that it will take time for both parties to come together—so if you’re looking for something fast, a building might be better for now!
Installing a Dropshipping Platform
If you want a permanent location for your e-commerce business that you can move into at any time, then consider installing a drop shipper. That way, you won’t have to re-find a new location and find a new landlord. And best of all, you don’t have to worry about moving your business because drop shippers come fully installed and ready to go.
There are a variety of drop shippers to choose from, so you’ll have to do some research to determine which one is the best for you. Keep in mind that the drop shippers available to you will all vary in quality and reliability. Therefore, it’s important that you spend a few extra dollars to get a drop shipper that offers the reliability and support that you need.
E-commerce Businesses with a Physical Store
There are many businesses that don’t have a physical storefront but sell products online. These businesses are often referred to as “e-commerce businesses with a physical store.” Now, the products in these stores are often very expensive and designed to make the customers believe that they have purchased an authentic product.
However, even though these businesses don’t have a storefront for selling physical items, they still require a lot of maintenance and marketing. So, if you’re interested in launching an e-commerce business with a physical store, you should know that you will likely spend a lot more on marketing and maintenance than if you were to launch an online store.
Final Words
Ultimately, in these situations, it all boils down to your unique needs and personal goals. If you need an e-commerce solution quickly, then buying is the way to go. But, if you’re more interested in flexibility and scalability, a building might be up your alley.
Either way, there are clear benefits to both paths—you simply have to decide which you should take for your particular situation. As long as you have a good handle on the things people are buying from you each day and how many, you’ll have all the information you need to make that decision.
