How to start online store under $150?
How many times have you thought about starting your online store, and sat down to do your research about e-commerce platform, what products to sell, how to source your products etc., only to get more confused, overwhelmed & frustrated that you eventually shut it down?
Starting your online store may seem overwhelming, but it's easier and more affordable than you might think. With the rise of e-commerce and the convenience of online shopping, there has never been a better time to launch your own business and sell products to make money.
In fact, according to recent statistics, e-commerce sales in Australia are projected to reach $43.5 billion by the end of 2023, with online shopping accounting for over 15% of all retail sales in the country.
Whether you are a stay-at-home mom, an expecting mum, or just someone who wants to work from home, an online store is how you can make money at home.
If you're ready to take the leap and start here’s how to start your online store for under $150:
Choose a platform – My personal favorite e-commerce platform for selling products online is Shopify. It’s easy to set up, comes with so many apps that will help you create a profitable storefront. They have a current promotion where you can start a free trial and enjoy 2 months of Shopify for $1/month. After the trial ends, it’ll cost you $39 USD/month or $58 AUD/month.
Buy a domain – Your domain name is your online store address where people will find you. Think of a name for your e-commerce store that is memorable, easy to spell & explains your online business. You can purchase a domain from GoDaddy at an annual cost of $19.95.
Theme – You see the gorgeous e-commerce stores? They are built using theme. You can choose a FREE THEME in SHopify to design your own website.
Branding – Every business needs a brand. Whether you have an online store for clothes or an online store selling jewelry, you need a brand. A brand is what sets you apart from your competitors, it tells your audience who you are & your story. The most basic branding you can do for your online store is – logo, fonts & colors. Use the FREE Canva option to work on them.
Find Products using Dropshipping – One of the easiest & fastest ways to set up an online store is through Dropshipping.
Drop-shipping is a unique retail selling model that helps you sell products online without having to spend 1000s of dollars on inventory. You find a supplier that holds the inventory while you are selling online on your e-commerce website and you only purchase the products after you’ve made a sale. Once you place the order, the supplier then packs & ships out the products to your customer on your behalf. This is called Dropshipping. And before you go & ask Google – Is Dropshipping legit, I’m here to tell you - Yes drop-shipping is legit.
You’ll be surprised how many brands started their business selling products online through Dropshipping & are still using the business model to date. Brands like - Showpo, Three of Something, The Goodnight Co., Hunting for George & The Iconic. are just a few examples of Australian companies that use the drop-shipping model.
You can find Dropshipping Apps on Shopify & use them to set up your storefront. The one I’ve used & loved is Spocket. It’s $29.99/month. If you don’t want to keep paying the monthly cost, you can also find drop-shipping suppliers using my Clothing Boutique Suppliers List.
Cost $33.
Want to take your online store up a notch? Install apps like – Shopify Email, Upsell & Bundles, Product Reviews, SEO Optimizer, etc. to enhance your website & customer service.
Cost - $0
Start marketing – Launching your dropshipping store is NOT enough. You’ve got to make a profit out of it. Setting up Social Media & E-Mail marketing are great ways to start marketing your online store. When creating a content strategy think about – what will help your audience learn more about your brand? How can you create more brand awareness organically? Where does your audience hang out? Where will your message reach more potential customers? Bring them to your website, and capture them using Email Marketing.
Cost - $0.
Let’s recap the total cost –
Platform - $58 (recurring cost)
Domain - $19.95 (annual cost)
Theme - $0
Branding - $0
Sourcing products - $33 (one-time cost of purchasing the Boutique List)
Shopify Apps - $0
Marketing - $0
Total - $110.95
Starting Online Boutique may seem overwhelming or daunting at first but following these basic steps will help you get one step closer to setting up your online store. However there’s a lot more to getting your store up & running like - your boutique niche i.e. what to sell, product ideas , finding your target audience, fulfillment process, setting up your e-commerce website & launch.
And that’s WHY I’ve created a Step By Step Checklist to help you get set up. You can grab the FREE Online Boutique Launch Checklist for more detailed Steps here.
PS – If you need help making $110.95 for starting your online boutique you can sell things you don’t need around the house at online marketplaces, make money & re-invest in your e-commerce store. Find out more about it on my blog - How To Sell On EBay For Beginners
Sources:
"E-commerce in Australia - Statistics & Facts," Statista, last accessed April 21, 2023. https://www.statista.com/topics/7683/e-commerce-in-australia/
"Australian Retail Industry Report," IBISWorld, last updated January 2023.