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Best resellable Ecommerce software platforms
Resellable ecommerce software platforms can help your local business clients of all sizes sell their products and services online, expand their client base, and scale revenue. We highlight a selection of ecommerce software platforms and provide information to help make an informed decision.
What is an ecommerce platform?
An ecommerce software platform is the medium that facilitates buying or selling commercial goods online. If you’re adding something to your online shopping cart and getting ready to punch in your credit card details to pay digitally, you’re interfacing with a business’s or brand’s ecommerce software.
In the past, it was common for only big box retailers and larger corporations to use ecommerce software solutions to offer customers the convenience of both a digital and physical shopping experience. But consumer mindsets are shifting. With close to 85 percent of baby boomers shopping online as of 2022, it is now the expectation that businesses big and small use ecommerce software. It is especially important that local businesses differentiate themselves from slow technology adopters in the same category while also remaining competitive with bigger fish in the pond. Speaking of the latter, leveraging ecommerce website software that creates beautiful online retail experiences can level the playing field and capitalize on consumers who prefer to support local. An ecommerce software platform simply opens up an easy opportunity to do so.
Ecommerce software solutions offer the tools local businesses need to compete in the digital age with a fully operational online store. Online shopping experiences are essential to capturing revenue for local businesses, allowing them to expand their customer list past the physical borders of their store walls—all while challenging the grip large retailers and box stores have on their market and industry.
Incorporating an ecommerce software platform is a necessity for your business clients, and businesses all over the globe have already made the move to online with ecommerce website software. Some of them are still in business in the first place precisely because they adopted ecommerce software to offer customers a digital storefront. With Vendasta’s resellable white-label ecommerce software solutions, your clients can be online with their own beautiful ecommerce website, discovering new channels of revenue to support their brick-and-mortar store—or to start their very own online business.
At the end of the day, whether you’re providing your local business clients with their very first entry into the market by selling ecommerce website software or empowering them with tools to add a digital storefront to the offering they’ve already established, you are opening up an important new revenue channel.
Which ecommerce platform is best?
Finding the best ecommerce software platform for a business will depend on its specific needs and goals. Some popular ecommerce platforms include WooCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, and BigCommerce, but there are many other options available. The right fit will depend on factors such as its budget, the types of products a business sells, and its level of technical expertise. In other words, making the best decision will take research. But the ROI will be worth it.
The world is becoming a much more connected place, all thanks to the accessibility the internet offers. And when it comes to local businesses, digital connectivity opens many new opportunities to grow and thrive. Thanks to ecommerce website software, SMBs can continue to maintain the spirit, charm, and capabilities of a local business at their core, but with an expanded reach that is not limited to geographical confines. Thus, an ecommerce software platform opens up new revenue channels to your clients—granting access to a piece of a very significant pie.
According to Statista’s data, retail ecommerce sales amounted to nearly 5.2 trillion USD globally in 2021, and that number is set to grow 56 percent by 2026. With figures like these, it’s easy to see the value ecommerce software solutions can introduce to local SMBs. No matter the industry, businesses need the tools to compete in the digital landscape. From photographers and bookstores to daycare and hairdressers, ecommerce software opens up the toolkit and provides the foundation for success.
But what is the best ecommerce software available for your clients?
There are many ecommerce software platforms to choose from, and what’s best for you and your clients will depend on several factors. However, we can give you an overview of a few of the best ecommerce software options to get the considerations started.
Vendasta (WooCommerce)
1.Best ecommerce software solution:
- Well-rounded
- Simple
- Affordable
- Scalable
- White-label
We can clearly speak to our own offering and why we believe it’s the top contender. Vendasta is proud to have the best ecommerce software around, optimized for selling anything—physical products, digital downloads, online courses, appointments, and more. Supported by WordPress and WooCommerce, Vendasta’s resellable ecommerce software solutions provide endless opportunities for customization. Each client is different and will have different needs, and Vendasta’s ecommerce software takes this into account. WordPress provides full control to the user, and as the user’s comfort level increases, WordPress can be customized further with coding. Even if your clients do not consider themselves “tech savvy,” you can assure them that they don’t have to be. They will still be able to reap the revenue-generating benefits of ecommerce website software to create the online retail experiences that their customers want.
What’s more, Vendasta also offers a free ecommerce platform, removing budget as a potential blocker. No matter where your clients are at, you can help them transition their business online in a few easy clicks. When they’re ready to scale up or add on services or plugins, you’re perfectly positioned to guide them.
WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin that has a rich set of features covering everything your clients might need from an online ecommerce platform to start selling online. Whether your client signs on with a DIY freemium solution or purchases a fully managed package where you do everything for them, the backend is intuitive for easy management.
Since Vendasta specializes in serving companies that sell to local SMBs, we know a thing or two about supporting small but mighty businesses as they scale. Vendasta’s Marketing Services team can use ecommerce website software to build sites for your clients with a quick turnaround and clear expectations. That means that Vendasta not only offers the best ecommerce software, but the best value-add services and fulfillment solutions as well, white-labeled so that your clients see everything under your brand.
Wix
2.Best ecommerce software solution:
- Convenient
- Affordable
Wix’s ecommerce software platform has a large number of website building templates to choose from and gives users the ability to drag and drop elements anywhere on the page. For those that think “convenience” is one of the top qualities that define the best ecommerce software, Wix is a great choice. One big drawback is that editing a desktop version of a website does not automatically translate those edits to the mobile version of the site. Effectively, this means you’ll have to be doing the same work twice. Loading speed and customization are also not top tier.
However, on the plus side, Wix is considered to be one of the most affordable ecommerce software solutions available on the market. Unlike Shopify, Wix does not charge commission.
Squarespace
3.Best ecommerce software solution:
- Templates
- Simple
Squarespace’s structured website editor has beautiful, top-of-the-line templates. On the other hand, there aren’t as many to choose from as Wix, which can feel limiting. However, Squarespace seems to privilege quality over quantity with its ecommerce software; it does more with fewer features as compared to other ecommerce software platforms. The simplicity of Squarespace does make it an ideal DIY option if you don’t have the capacity to build websites and manage ecommerce website software for your clients.
Squarespace is a hosted solution, meaning that you won’t need to download any software to use it. With access to the internet, websites can be updated on-the-go. Be warned: If you want something that will grow with your clients, Squarespace is not as scalable as the Vendasta or BigCommerce platforms.
Shopify
4.Best ecommerce software solution:
You’re most likely familiar with Shopify’s ecommerce software solutions. One of the most popular online store builders available, Shopify has simplified the process for over one million business owners. Unlike WooCommerce, this is a hosted solution, which means you pay a monthly fee.
Techradar lists powerful analytics as something that sets Shopify apart from other ecommerce software platforms. There are five tiers of reporting options available, depending on your tier with Shopify. Relatedly, it’s important to note that this platform charges commission to its users starting with a higher percentage with the less expensive plans and going down with the more expensive tiers.
BigCommerce
5.Best ecommerce software solution:
- Simple
- Multi payment gateways
BigCommerce’s ecommerce software solutions are known for being geared toward omnichannel selling. You can manage multiple channels from this platform such as Pinterest, Facebook, Amazon, and eBay stores. The site builder uses an uncomplicated drag and drop feature and doesn’t require any coding knowledge.
On the flip side, there is a limitation on annual sales volume embedded in every plan. Depending on your plan and how much you sell, expensive automatic upgrades are incurred if that limit is exceeded. To end on a positive note, BigCommerce’s ecommerce software supports over 55 payment gateways, so you can offer customers options in how they want to pay for their purchases.
ConquerLocal Podcast Ecommerce Explained, with Stephanie Kirk
What is the best ecommerce platform for small business?
When it comes to the best ecommerce software options for small businesses, there are a few important considerations to keep in mind, including cost, core features, types of add-ons available, ease of integration with other tools, customer support availability, ease of use, and more. Each business will have a different set of priorities that might affect which ecommerce software solutions or platform they decide to use.
While making a strategic decision, keep the following questions in mind.
Does the ecommerce software provide clients with the tools they need to switch to or implement a digital storefront?
Enable local businesses to grow and thrive with a 24/7 online sales portal, allowing them to sell no matter the time of day—or location of the shopper. With ecommerce software solutions becoming more and more accessible to small and medium businesses, local businesses are ready to make the step. In fact, they must.
The Vendasta Marketplace allows you to easily resell the ecommerce software your clients need to compete with box stores and chain retailers, alongside your own in-house offerings and so much more.
Does the ecommerce website software offer clients new revenue channels?
The internet is a big neighborhood. As we mentioned before, being a local business no longer ties your clients to a specific geographical location, which opens up exciting new revenue opportunities. Sell your products globally all from one location. With an ecommerce software platform, a business is accessible globally, offering your clients the chance to sell nationally, internationally, or to local regulars who can’t make it into the store on any given day.
Visitors to a website are often there to make a purchase. In fact, the Local Search Association states that 27 percent of consumers turn directly to the business’s website with intent to purchase products. To truly make the most of website traffic to capitalize on new revenue opportunities, Vendasta offers SMBs a free ecommerce website builder with managed WordPress hosting.
Provide SMBs with their first entry to the market via ecommerce website software
The thing about ecommerce software tailored to SMBs is that it takes into account that it may be your local business client’s first entry to the market. The best ecommerce software will come with world class support and value-add fulfillment services to lighten the load for both you and your clients.
Pair white-label ecommerce solutions with a brand new website with Vendasta’s Marketing Services team to make sure your clients are operating as effectively as possible in the digital age, or introduce ecommerce features such as PayPal, Stripe, and credit card payments onto a pre-existing site.
Why your clients will need ecommerce integration before they know it Adopting ecommerce is do or die for local businesses. Explore tactics and tools that will enable you to sell ecommerce software solutions and services.
What is the easiest ecommerce platform?
When it comes to selecting the best ecommerce software, it will all depend on your clients and their specific industries, niches, and needs. “Easy” is a subjective term, after all. However, we can further elaborate on the three easiest options from our list of the five ecommerce software platforms we previously mentioned: Vendasta, Squarespace, and BigCommerce.
Vendasta/WooCommerce
- Vendasta’s WordPress Hosting’s ecommerce website software will allow your customers to create amazing websites in just a few clicks.
- A curated list of seven ecommerce-specific templates with Divi Builder and WooCommerce already installed and ready to go.
- The ability to get an overview of all your clients websites and update from one central location.
- Worldwide 24/7 support for your clients—because “easy” for one person is not “easy” for another.
- Built-in Google Analytics
Squarespace
- Build a simple website with mobile responsiveness in a few hours
- Easy to customize store templates
- Free domain name with purchase
- Full help center
BigCommerce
- Tutorials to help get starte
- Easy initial set-up with steps to follow
- Pre-built website themes
- 24/7 support
What are the 3 types of ecommerce?
While there are more than three types of ecommerce, the most common are business-to-business (B2B), business-to-consumer (B2C), and consumer-to-consumer (C2C).
1.B2B
The sale of products and services (digital or physical) from one business to another. Often B2B companies deal with wholesale sellers through an online sales portal.
For example, Vendasta sells white-label ecommerce software solutions to a digital marketing agency at wholesale prices. The agency then rebrands the solution as their own, sets their pricing margin, and resells it to their business clients in need of ecommerce software and capabilities. The wholesale transaction between Vendasta and the agency would be considered B2B.
2.B2C
Since everyone is a customer at some point, B2C is the most common form of ecommerce. Think of the last online shopping session you had. When you interacted with your favorite business’s online shop, put things in your cart, typed in your credit card number, and checked out, you engaged with an ecommerce software platform that facilitated a B2C sale.
It’s important to note that B2C ecommerce is not only tied to physical goods. Workout classes, online courses, software, services, and more also count. Likely the clients you are serving will have a business-to-customer digital storefront that they want you to set up for them via ecommerce website software.
3.C2C
This form of ecommerce can be viewed as a sort of online marketplace where one consumer (not a business) is selling to another. Local artisans on Etsy, a guitar pedal collector on Facebook Marketplace, or eBay in its heydey are all examples of C2C.
Typically, this type of transaction is suited for one-off sales or sellers that deal with very small quantities. However, C2C ecommerce has been known to springboard into bigger business opportunities down the line.
How to start selling online in 60 minutes or less
Whatever stage you’re at in the digital evolution, or however behind you may feel, know that you can still catch up and find yourself thriving online. The best ecommerce software can get you there..
What is the cheapest website to sell?
The cheapest website to sell when it comes to an ecommerce software platform? The answer is free. When you’re doing your research on ecommerce software solutions that may be a good fit for your clients, consider ecommerce software providers that offer product-led freemium options. This way, nothing is inaccessible or outside of any budget.
Freemium ecommerce website solutions are the cheapest way to sell websites to clients because they offer the opportunity to test drive a wide range of features and tools. Your local business clients can create and manage their online stores without incurring any upfront costs. It’s the best ecommerce software option, especially for SMBs making their first entry to the market with their ecommerce website.
But free ecommerce software solutions are just a stepping stone. Vendasta’s ecommerce website solutions powered by WordPress offer a variety of pricing plans that allow businesses to upgrade to premium features and add-on services as their needs evolve. Additionally, freemium ecommerce website solutions are often easy to use and require no technical expertise, making them accessible to a wide range of businesses, regardless of their size or experience.
Overall, the cheapest way to sell websites is by leveraging freemium solutions that provide an affordable and flexible way for business clients to establish an online presence and grow their ecommerce operations.
Getting your WordPress Hosting Site Ecommerce Ready
Adapting to ecommerce doesn’t mean you have to give up what’s already working for your clients. Instead, treat it as a way to expand your client’s in-store offering.
Ecommerce is expanding, and it’s expected to make up 17.5% of retail sales worldwide by 2021, with 2.05 billion global digital buyers in 2020, making now the perfect time for local businesses to adapt and meet the online expectations consumers have in the digital age.
Which platform is best to start a business?
When it comes to ecommerce software platforms, some popular options for clients that are just getting started with ecommerce software include Shopify, Magento, and Vendasta (in addition to other ecommerce software platforms we’ve pointed out), Vendasta stands out. As far as the best ecommerce software for businesses just started out, Vendasta offers a range of features and tools that are specifically designed to help businesses get up and running quickly and easily. With Vendasta’s user-friendly interface, excellent customer support, and budget-friendly tiers can be incredibly helpful for businesses just starting out.
Overall, Vendasta is the best choice for businesses looking to get started with ecommerce software solutions. The best part is that Vendasta’s services and solutions will grow and scale with your clients.
An overview of other platforms that might be helpful for ecommerce beginners.
Shopify
- Easy to set up and use
- Wide range of customizable templates and themes
Magento
- Flexible and scalable platform
- Large community of users and developers for support and resources
How do I choose an ecommerce platform?
Navigating the world of ecommerce software can be daunting to both you and your clients. Make the process easier by considering some of these important factors as you do your homework.
Scalability: Can the ecommerce software platform under consideration grow with your client’s business as it expands and attracts more customers? The best ecommerce software can’t simply be outgrown in a matter of months or even years. Avoid the growing pains. Even if the solution might not fit tomorrow, there are better options out there.
Functionality: Do the ecommerce software solutions you’re eying offer the features and tools your clients need to manage their online store? Consider things such as inventory management, payment processing, and shipping integrations.
Integration: Speaking of integrations, can the platform integrate with your client’s existing systems and tools, such as their existing website? Additionally, ecommerce website solutions and services that can migrate your clients to a new website hosting platform are also super helpful.
Support: Does the platform offer adequate support and resources, such as documentation, tutorials, and customer support, to help you and your clients set up and manage their online stores? Even if the service-level is more DIY, ecommerce software should come with some kind of support.
Cost: Does the platform offer a pricing plan that fits your clients’ budget and provides value for their money? Do they have the option to try freemium solutions before scaling to a different tier?
White-label. Something to consider when selling ecommerce website solutions is: Who is going to deliver them and fulfill the work? Do you have the in-house capacity to be designing and managing 5, 10, 50, or 100 websites for your clients as you grow? White label web design can be a key to upping your ability to onboard more clients, so ensure that your provider offers these services—specially if you want to resell websites quickly and easily.
It’s a good idea to research and compare different ecommerce software platforms, read reviews from other users, and talk to other businesses that are using the platforms you are considering. This will give you a better understanding of the pros and cons of each platform and help you make an informed decision.
What types of ecommerce platforms exist?
In addition to the three most popular types of ecommerce we discussed above (B2B, B2C, and C2C), there are several types of ecommerce software platforms that agencies selling ecommerce website solutions to small business clients can consider. Platforms include:
What types of ecommerce platforms exist?
In addition to the three most popular types of ecommerce we discussed above (B2B, B2C, and C2C), there are several types of ecommerce software platforms that agencies selling ecommerce website solutions to small business clients can consider. Platforms include:
1.Open-source platforms:
These are ecommerce software platforms that are free to use and are typically built on open-source software, such as Magento and WooCommerce. They offer a high level of customization and flexibility, but may require more technical expertise to set up and manage. Providers like Vendasta offer services that handle the technical aspects for you, so that you can focus on your clients and other business operations.
2.SaaS platforms:
These are cloud-based platforms that are subscription-based and offer a range of features and tools for building and managing an online store. Examples of these kinds of ecommerce website solutions include Shopify and BigCommerce.
3.Marketplace platforms:
These are platforms that allow businesses to sell their products on an existing marketplace, such as Amazon or Etsy. These platforms typically handle the payment processing and shipping logistics, but may take a commission on sales.
4.Bespoke platforms:
These are custom-built platforms that are designed and developed specifically for a business’s unique needs when it comes to ecommerce software. These can be more expensive, but offer the highest level of customization and control.
5.Integrated platform ecosystem:
A platform ecosystem like Vendasta is a mix of open-source and SaaS. It offers customizable, cloud-based ecommerce software solutions for building and managing an online store. Small businesses benefit from the flexibility and control of an open-source platform, while also taking advantage of the convenience and support offered by a SaaS solution. And for you, you gain access to a Marketplace of products to sell, white-labeled under your brand—including ecommerce website solutions.
Overall, the best ecommerce software and platform type will depend on factors such as your clients’ budget, technical expertise, and specific business needs.
What are the benefits of ecommerce platforms?
There are many benefits of using ecommerce software platforms for SMBs. Some of these benefits include:
- Increased reach and accessibility
Using ecommerce software solutions allow businesses to expand their reach beyond customers in their local area, potentially increasing their customer base and sales. Now your clients can consider their ‘neighborhood’ of potential customers expanded to include the entire country, or even globe! - Reduced overhead costs
Online stores typically have lower overhead costs compared to physical storefronts, which makes the switch to an exclusively online or hybrid digital/physical store a move that will have high ROI—especially considering the new revenue generating channels that open up. - Convenience and flexibility
Ecommerce software platforms allow customers to shop and make purchases at any time, from any location, providing a convenient and flexible shopping experience as potentially boosting brand loyalty. - Streamlined operations
The best ecommerce software platforms often include tools and features for managing inventory, processing orders and payments, and more. This can help small businesses streamline their operations and save time and resources. - Access to support and resources
Many ecommerce software solutions offer support and resources to help businesses set up and manage their online store, such as tutorials, forums, customer service, training, onboarding, and 24/7 support. - Extra perks
Additionally, using a managed web hosting service can provide small businesses with additional benefits, such as improved website performance and security, as well as the convenience of having their website and hosting managed by experts. Ecommerce website software like this can free up time and resources for the business to focus on other areas of their operation.
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