How Can I Make an E-commerce Website?
E-commerce is all about building online spaces where products can be offered to customers, 24/7. This article is written with the small business owner or solopreneur in mind. With platforms like Online Store Builder, launching a professional online store has never been easier. No need for a big budget or a dedicated IT team to get started — just click, drag, and sell. We’ll guide you through everything step by step, from choosing the right platform and domain name to setting up product listings, payment options, and shipping. We’ll also explore design, user experience, and simple SEO tips to help attract customers and keep them coming back. Why sell online? The UK is the third-largest e-commerce market in the world today. That’s right — third: ahead of Japan, ahead of Germany, and behind only the US and China. Online business in the UK is valued at a staggering $195 billion (around £160 billion) in terms of business-to-customer (B2C) revenue. Online retail now accounts for 36% of the UK retail market in total. Impressive stuff. To make sense of the numbers, nearly 65 million of us in the UK have internet access, of which over 50 million can be counted as online shoppers. Britain leads Europe in terms of spending per e-shopper, averaging at £4,115 spent online each year. Mobile shopping plays a big part in it. According to SellersCommerce, most online shopping transactions (63%) are made on mobile devices (or tablets) these days, with nearly half of those being made via apps. Cards are used for 52% of payments, while digital wallets cover 28%. Surprisingly, the UK also ranks very highly when it comes to future potential. E-commerce is growing, but still has plenty of room to grow further. In short, there’s never been a better time to start your own online store. The future of retail: online or bust? All this stands in stark contrast to the realities of the high street. Physical shops continue to struggle as more and more customers choose the comfort of shopping from their sofas. Over 28,000 shops have closed since 2010, and this trend has only accelerated in recent years. Fact is, commerce hasn’t gone away. It’s just somewhere else. Staying relevant means embracing change. Moving online opens up a world of opportunities and gives retailers access to a larger, ever-growing market. It’s about meeting customers where they are, and increasingly, that’s online — and on mobile. 10 Reasons to Take Your Business Online ✓ Eyes on your brand Getting your store online gives you the chance to show off your brand and products to people all over the world. The wider the reach, the more chance you’ve got to grow your customer base and get noticed. The more people see your brand, the more likely it is they’ll remember it when they’re ready to buy. ✓ Lower overheads Forget the rent, utility bills, and physical stock storage. Running an online store means fewer costs, so you can put that money where it matters — growing your business. Without the need for a physical storefront, you can reinvest those savings into better customer service, improved marketing, or expanding your product range. ✓ Scalability, Flexibility Running an online shop means you can manage things from anywhere with an internet connection. Want to expand? Easy. Need to scale back? No problem. You can adjust as you go, whether it’s adding new products, expanding your marketing, or just working with what works best. ✓ Be open 24/7 (if you like!) With an online shop, you’re open 24/7. Customers can browse and buy when it suits them, making it easier to boost your sales without lifting a finger. Plus, you can cater to different time zones, so you’re not limited by traditional business hours. ✓ Smarter marketing Paid online ads are often cheaper and more effective than traditional advertising. Same goes for email campaigns. The idea is to keep it targeted, so you reach the right people at the right time. Content marketing helps you share your message with a wider audience without breaking the bank. Using SEO techniques makes it easier to get noticed on search engines and draw in more customers over time. ✓ Mobile ready More of us are shopping on mobile devices than ever before. Having an online store optimised for mobile means customers can browse, compare, and buy on the go. ✓ Improved stock control With built-in inventory management on many e-commerce platforms, tracking stock and handling orders is easier. You can keep a close eye on stock levels, reorder in time, and avoid the stress of running low on popular items. ✓ Build customer relationships Running your store online lets you connect directly with customers. You can chat with them, get feedback, and offer a personalised service, without the middleman. This makes it easier to create loyal customers who feel heard and valued. ✓ Customer insights Online stores can tap into a wealth of data on customer habits, likes, and shopping patterns. Use this info to fine-tune your marketing, improve the shopping experience, and make informed decisions for your business. Free tools like Google Analytics can help you adjust strategy. ✓ Global reach You’re not restricted by location when you run an online store. You can start selling across the UK, expand to Europe, or even take your products global if that’s where you want to go. The whole online world is your marketplace. What’s the difference between e-commerce and an online store? E-commerce and online shops or stores are essentially the same thing — websites where buying and selling take place. The difference might come down to context. For smaller, more local setups, “online store” feels a bit more down to earth; bigger international businesses are more often referred to as “e-commerce”. As we’ll explore, e-commerce giants use advanced platforms that let them manage inventory, handle thousands of customised orders, and operate at scale. Keeping this running often requires dedicated IT teams. But you
How to Start an Online Business (Without Any Money)
Your imagination is your most valuable asset when it comes to starting an online business. It’s all about that great idea. You don’t need money in the bank or a computer science degree to make it happen. A spark of genius can ignite an empire. Starting strong begins with the essentials: buying a domain, building a website, setting up a custom email address. These steps lay the foundation. Once you’ve set your target, your time and energy become your first investment. One of the best things about doing business online is the flexibility — you control the model, the hours, and everything in between. You’re the boss. If you’re looking for a quicker way to win customers, selling through existing marketplaces gives you access to an instant audience. And if managing stock and storage isn’t your thing, a model like dropshipping lets you run a shop without ever handling the products. Easier said than done? Fair enough — there will be a few bumps along the way. The competition’s fierce. And once you’ve decided to launch your business, there’s also the small matter of registration, taxes, and keeping things above board. Let’s get into it! #1 Choose your business model Think about the core of your business: the product or service you’ll offer. What are you passionate about? What skills and expertise do you possess? Consider the size of your venture: is this going to be a hustle on the side, or a full-time commitment? When it comes to no-to-low cost online business ideas, here are just some of the models to choose from: ☐ Wholesale (Bulk Distribution) Wholesale is all about buying products in bulk from manufacturers or distributors, then selling direct to other stores. This could be clothing and apparel, electronics and accessories, food and drink… you name it. Success as a wholesaler depends on one very expensive thing, however: space. You’ll also need time to build a reputation before expanding into bulk distribution. So, when it comes to ideas for starting an online business from zero, wholesale might be more of a medium-long term model to aim for. Luckily, there are easier ways to get started. ☐ Dropshipping (Inventory-less Retail) If you’d prefer to avoid managing inventory and shipping — or if space is tight — then dropshipping could be the best option for you. Here’s the idea: when a customer places an order, it’s shipped directly from the supplier to them. Imagine running an online clothing store. With dropshipping, you can partner with manufacturers to send items straight from the factory to your customers, saving storage space and cutting out the logistical headache. Dropshipping has a lower barrier to entry than wholesale due to the lack of upfront inventory and storage space costs. Profit margins tend to be lower, as you’re essentially paying the supplier to handle all the fulfillment. But it’s a great place to start. ☐ Reselling Reselling is about buying products, new or used, and selling them on at a higher price. While the word might conjure up images of selling second-hand goods on eBay, the majority of online shops are essentially resellers. The reselling model is especially common on major online marketplace platforms. For example, you might purchase popular mobile phones from major retailers and resell them at a higher price. The key difference between resellers and dropshippers is that resellers hold stock, even if only in small quantities. ‘Arbitrage’ is another sort of reselling where sellers set out to profit from price differences between markets. While it can work for some, it’s important to keep everything above board! ☐ Private Label Going private label is way to build brand identity without the hassle and expense of manufacturing products from scratch. Essentially, you partner with a manufacturer who produces a generic product, which you then customise with your own branding. You can offer unique products under your own name, even if you don’t have the resources to create them yourself. ☐ Handmade Goods and Custom Products Artisans and craftspeople have long put their skills to work selling handmade goods online. This might includes unique jewellery, clothing, furniture, art, and more. You can add personalisation options for a special touch. A popular subcategory is Print on Demand (POD), where you sell custom items like t-shirts or mugs made especially to order. ☐ Digital Products This category encompasses a wide range of products, including eBooks, software, digital art, and more. Creating and selling digital products can be a cost-effective way to reach a global audience. Say you’re the author of a series of eBooks, for instance. You could sell your titles on platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, Apple Books, or through your own website. Just be sure to use Digital Rights Management to deter any unauthorised copying and sharing. ☐ Subscription Services (Physical) Offering products on a subscription basis has the potential to bring in a steady stream of revenue. Subscription boxes filled with curated physical products, such as beauty samples, gourmet snacks, or hobby-related items, offer customers the excitement of receiving new surprises regularly. One popular example might be subscription cooking packs and spices. ☐ Affiliate Marketing Affiliate marketing is a performance-based way to earn, where you make commission promoting other people’s products or services. Typically, you’ll earn a little for each sale made through unique referral links. The key is to focus on products or services that align with your audience’s interests and needs. Affiliate marketing can bring significant earning potential for popular bloggers and vloggers, Youtubers and social media influencers — which brings us nicely to the next category… ☐ Freelance Creative Freelance creative work lets you turn your skills into a flexible way to earn. Set your own rates, choose your hours, and work on your terms. Whether through a freelance platform or your own website, a good portfolio can show off your best work and happy clients. Creative freelance services might include: ✓ Graphic design✓ Illustration✓ Photography✓
Tax Changes 2024: Need to Know Info for Side Hustlers
Starting an online side hustle is an amazing way to earn some extra income while doing what you love. It’s a chance to turn a passion into a profitable venture right from the comfort of your bedroom. What better way to make a little income on the side? But then, there’s tax. There — we said it. Like shouting “boo!” in a library, the mere mention of the word is enough to send shivers down the spine, conjuring images of paperwork mountains and costly mistakes. Alas, paying tax is a fact of life. The good news is that keeping your accounts in order isn’t as tricky as it sounds. It’s all fairly simple, really. In today’s blog we’ll explore some new tax rules outlined for 2024, from shifts in tax brackets to changes in deductions and credits, giving an overview of how these updates might impact you. You may even be able to save a little money along the way. Embarking on an online venture can be rewarding in more ways than one. According to research by Aviva, as many as one-in-five UK adults have started online side hustles since March 2020. The average post-pandemic side income sits at about £497 a month, with around 16% of these new projects now earning over £1,000 each month. 39% of respondents in the same Aviva study describe turning a genuine hobby and passion into an income stream. 30% state that the additional income was to help cover their own bills and expenses. 21% of new side hustlers, meanwhile, are aiming for more than just a top up, with the ultimate goal of quitting the desk job and becoming their own boss. ❝ Keep in mind that your side hustle, no matter how small, may still be a business in the eyes of tax authorities. This means that any income you generate may be subject to tax. ❞ Some side hustlers assume that if their side gig isn’t their main job — or if they haven’t been trading for a full year yet — that they don’t need to worry about taxes. Sadly, that’s not the case. Keep in mind that your side hustle, no matter how small, may still be a business in the eyes of tax authorities. This means that any income you generate may be subject to tax. Tax laws are changing all the time and it can be difficult to keep up. As we’ll get into, some of the tax information for last year is about to go out of date (if it isn’t already). Understanding how to handle your taxes and self-assessment is key to avoiding stress and penalties. In this guide, we’ll offer some tips on where to look for updates and how to understand what they mean for you. We’ll break down what counts as taxable income for your side hustle and how to figure out what you owe. Keeping informed is also key to staying sure you’re taking advantage of all the opportunities to save. Be sure to check the gov.uk website for official guidelines. Remember that you should always seek tax advice from a qualified professional. The £1,000 Threshold To start on a positive note: You probably don’t need to make a declaration if you’ve made less than £1,000. This one isn’t a new rule for this year. Tax-free allowances for property and trading income came into effect back in April 2017. If your annual gross trading income is under £1,000, it may be the case that you don’t need to tell HMRC. However, be sure to double check the government’s official website, as there are some situations in which you’d still need to register for a Self Assessment and declare your income on a tax return. Even if you make less than £1,000, you should always keep a record of your income. Good record keeping will make it easier to comply with tax rules. There’s also a variety of deductions and credits you can take advantage of — more on that later. But what if you are making more than a grand a year through your online gig? First of all, congratulations! It’s great to see that hard work is paying off. If you run a part-time business online and your gross annual taxable income is more than £1,000, then you’ll need to inform HMRC. You must register for Self Assessment by 5 October in the following tax year. This is true whether you work for yourself, own your own small business, or have money coming in from a number of avenues. Given that £1,000 in a year only equates to around £80 per month, there’s a good chance that you’ll be above this threshold. Tax rates for 2024 The tax year runs from April 6 to April 5, the following year. Everyone gets a tax-free Personal Allowance of £12,570, which decreases after £100,000 income. Employees working for a company would usually pay taxes on income (via PAYE), but this isn’t the case of an online side hustle. Estimating your taxes means figuring out roughly how much you need to pay. You’ll look at what you’ve earned, what you can deduct, and then use that info to work out what you owe. If you’re doing this throughout the year, you can avoid nasty surprises when the bill comes due. Here’s how it breaks down based on earnings: ☐ Up to £12,571: 0% – Personal Allowance ☐ £12,571 to £50,270: 20% – Basic Rate ☐ £50,271 to £125,140: 40% – Higher Rate ☐ Over £125,140: 45% – Additional Rate Remember: Income tax bands are based on earnings across all sources of income. So while your online gig might only be bringing in £10k a year, if you’re on a £25k salary in your main job, that’s £35k in total — and you’d be liable to pay tax on the remainder after your Personal Allowance. (This is a simplification, though, as we’re not taking into account National Insurance contributions and other factors.) Register as a sole
2024 Guide to Starting an Online Business
Launching an online business has never been easier. You can do it without big upfront funding and there’s no need for serious tech skills. With the flexibility to set your own schedule and call all the shots, this is an opportunity to be your own boss. With just a little clever strategy it’s possible to reach a huge audience right from the get-go. Whether you’re looking for a gentle income stream on the side — or dreaming of a worldwide e-commerce empire — anything’s possible. With that, here’s our guide to starting an online business in 2024. Why start an online business in 2024? | Come up with your business idea | Choose your business model | What type of entrepreneur are you? | Conduct market research | Write the business plan | Get the funding | Register your business | Manage your accounts | Buy the domain name | Choose your online platform | Set up shop | Start taking payments | Build your online presence Why start an online business in 2024? Building an online business is a great chance to do something rewarding — in more ways than one. To start with the obvious, the entry barrier is often very low. Online ventures tend to come with minimal start-up costs, compared to a bricks-and-mortar business, saving money on rent, utilities, and other associated start-up expenses. It’s a way to get a foot in the business door without reaching deep into your wallet. For those who do already have a physical shop, going online offers a great way to increase revenue and expand, reaching new avenues and wider audiences. You have the flexibility. As the customer base grows, you can expand operations without the constraints of physical space. You have the power to map your online business to fit exactly what you need. Whether you’re starting small with a niche product or dreaming big with a diverse range, you can up the size and complexity as you go along. You needn’t be a tech wizard. With so many user-friendly platforms and handy tools out there, it’s possible to set up shop with only limited tech skills. Good website builders provide templates that make it utterly easy to launch a professional-looking website in minutes — then manage stock and update pages daily. If you’d prefer instant access to customers, you might try the existing marketplaces of Etsy, eBay, and others. And there’s never been a better time to start. In fact, the UK now boasts the world’s third largest e-commerce market in the world after China and the US. Online sales account for more than a third of the total retail market in the UK, in spite of what’s going on with the economy. Online sales even increased by 36% last year. By 2025, the total domestic revenue from e-commerce is predicted to be worth £230 billion. So, if you’ve got something to share with the world, 2024 is the time to make your mark. Finally, did we mention you can do it all from home in your pyjamas? Come up with that business idea So you’ve decided to start an online business. Exciting! The first step is to define your business idea. It’s about turning that spark of inspiration into a clear, actionable concept. There are several key things to think about — to guide your thought process and to help shape this vision into something tangible and viable. First, consider the scale and commitment of the business venture. Are you looking to start a side-gig to complement your lifestyle and income, or are you aiming for a full-time enterprise that’ll become a primary focus? Think about the core of your business: the product or service you want to offer. This is where your passion meets market demand. Is there a specific product or service you are passionate about or have expertise in? Define the niche. Pinpoint a specific market segment and, instead of trying to serve everyone, focus on a particular group with shared interests. Tailor your products or services to meet their preferences. This approach helps your business stand out and builds stronger connections with loyal customers. Identify your passions and market gaps to find your niche effectively. How well does the business idea align with your skills and experience? Will you need additional training or partnerships? A business idea that fits your strengths and areas of expertise is more likely to take off. Choose your business model There are four primary business models in e-commerce lingo. Those are: Business-to-Business (B2B), when a businesses sell products or services to other businesses. When it comes to wholesale, a B2B might act as intermediary in a supply chain, purchasing goods in bulk from manufacturers and selling them to retailers or other businesses. Business-to-Consumer (B2C), where a businesses sells direct to consumers. This is the biggest e-commerce business model there is — whenever we make an online purchase as an individual customer, we’re engaged in the B2C model. Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C), when consumers sell goods or services to each other through an intermediary platform. Casual and occasional selling on eBay or Facebook Marketplace would fall into this category. Consumer-to-Business (C2B), when consumers provide services to businesses. Switching around the B2C idea, this one is a bit oddly named, as it typically refers to freelancers selling to businesses. For example, getting paid to upload photography to Shutterstock. Decide: What type of entrepreneur are you? Think about what you love and what you’re good at to find a business model that fits. Understanding the dynamics can help you position your business and work out your opportunities. Whether you decide to go wholesale and manage stock yourself, or to “dropship” orders straight from supplier to customer, the choice should reflect your strengths and market positioning. Think about your Value Delivery Method. That’s a posh way of asking how you’ll meet the needs of consumers. This choice goes beyond logistics; it shapes the entire approach to bringing value. Each type of business has its unique set of
Keeping it real in the virtual world
Running an online business has many advantages over a traditional bricks and mortar company. A virtual shop front gives you the ability to attract customers from all around the world. You’re not restricted to people passing on the local High Street. Your overheads are typically smaller, and if your product is an online service, you don’t have to worry about manufacturing or shipping costs. But there’s a downside too. If your business only exists as a set of pixels on your customers’ computer screens, how do you prove to them that you’re more substantial? Can you demonstrate your credibility, and can you persuade them that you’re not a here-today-gone-tomorrow company? Create a real world presence Perhaps your online business needs a real-world presence, to build confidence and trust among more sceptical customers. At 123-reg, we’ve decided to try a high-profile route, by advertising on some of London’s buses. But there are plenty of other ways to ground your online company in reality too: Attend trade shows and events. Conferences, industry gatherings and public events are a great way to show the face of your business and meet potential customers. Maybe it’s wedding fayres or perhaps it’s motorshows, but attending the right events can dramatically increase your company profile among your target customers. Open a pop-up shop. A growing trend over the last couple of years, a pop-up shop is where you temporarily take over a retail space, usually for just a few weeks. It gives you a physical presence without having to worry about a long lease. Business campaign group StartUp Britain is currently giving online retailers the chance to sell on the High Street in a pop-up shop. Brand up your car. Driving around in garishly-branded cars is a trend popularised by estate agents. But there’s no denying it can be effective, particularly if you drive a lot for business or tend to use your car in areas where potential customers live. You just have to make sure you’re happy piloting a big, attention-grabbing advert for your company. Offer a collection service to local customers. Many online businesses are run out of small industrial units, large enough to store stock but not suitable as a retail outlet. If you have premises, why not give customers the option to visit to collect their purchases? Simply offering this facility will reassure customers that your business is established and successful. Finally, always ensure you include a bit of background information on your website. At the very least, it’s important to provide full contact details, including a postal address where people can reach you. Additionally, your website’s ‘about us’ section is the ideal place to provide more information about the people behind the company. Have you done anything to make your online business more tangible in the real world? Leave a comment to let us know.