Frequently Asked Questions
Most Popular Questions About E-commerce
Table of Contents
What Is b-congruent?
b-congruent comprises a network of highly-skilled professionals, specialising in different areas dedicated to elevating e-commerce businesses to their full potential. Our team is made up of experienced individuals from diverse backgrounds, including retail, website development, digital marketing and more.
What Does b-congruent Do?
b-congruent offers a wide range of services for small- to medium-sized e-commerce businesses and start-ups. Our services include, but are not limited to:
- Project planning and execution for e-commerce businesses project planning
- Business management solutions for e-commerce
- E-commerce product inventory planning and management
- E-commerce website development
- Online and offline marketing strategy for e-commerce businesses
- Custom-made solutions tailored to specific business requirements
What Is An E-commerce Business?
An e-commerce business, also referred to as an electronic commerce or eCommerce business, is a type of business based on a model that enables companies and individuals to purchase and sell products or services via the internet.
What Different Types Of E-commerce Businesses Are There?
There are four main types of e-commerce businesses, which can be described as follows:
- In a business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce model, businesses sell products or services to other businesses.
- In a business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce model, businesses sell products or services to the end-user.
- In a consumer-to-consumer (C2C) e-commerce model, individuals sell goods and services to other individuals.
- In a consumer-to-business (C2B) e-commerce model, individuals sell products or services to companies.
What Is An E-commerce Product?
An e-commerce product refers to an item or service that can be bought and sold via the internet. Almost all products that are sold in brick-and-mortar stores or institutions can be purchased online through a smartphone, computer or tablet, which is why e-commerce can often be considered to be a substitute for offline stores.
What Is A Niche Product In E-commerce?
In e-commerce, a niche refers to a specialised segment within a given market, offering products that are usually overlooked by other companies. Niche products can include everything from handmade and artisanal goods, to eco-friendly items, clean beauty products, pet food, gadgets, slogan t-shirts and other trending items.
What Are The Legal Requirements Associated With Running An E-commerce Business?
The legal requirements associated with e-commerce businesses vary according to one’s country of residence. The most common legal status of e-commerce business owners is self-employment. For e-commerce businesses based in Europe, the EU e-commerce directive provides a foundation for the legal framework for online sales within the single market.
How Can One Start An E-commerce Business?
In theory, everybody can open an e-commerce business by following a number of steps.
- One will need to decide what type of e-commerce business they want to start and what e-commerce product/s they want to sell. A name and legal structure for the e-commerce business will then need to be selected, after which one can obtain the necessary permits and licenses to set it up.
- E-commerce products will need to be sourced and/or developed, and the procedures and operations that will form the foundation of the e-commerce business will be laid out.
- One will need to select an e-commerce platform, create a website and start marketing and selling the chosen e-commerce products.
How Much Time Is Required To Start An E-commerce Business?
The usual timeframe for starting an e-commerce business varies between three and 12 months, depending on the resources one has available. If a new e-commerce project is backed by a team of professionals having knowledge and experience within the field of e-commerce, the business can be up and running within three months (excluding any additional time taken to obtain the necessary licences and certifications). If a fresh-starter decides to pursue a new e-commerce project without any support, this may take up to a year or more to successfully launch the business.
How Much Does It Cost To Start An E-commerce Business?
The price of setting up an e-commerce business can range from €500 to €50,000 or more. The cost will depend on many factors, depending on what your project comprises.
A breakdown of the initial costs required to launch an e-commerce business can give you a better understanding of what’s included within the price:
- Domain name: ranging from €4 to €4000
- Hosting costs: up to €200 per month
- Website development: €200 to €20,000
- Purchasing of stock: many manufacturers require upfront payment when purchasing tangible products
- Additional services (photography, packaging, shipping costs etc.): various
The cost associated with launching an e-commerce business will also depend on the business model chosen.
How Much Does It Cost To Launch A Business-to-business (B2B) E-commerce Website?
B2B e-commerce websites are usually used for lead generation and are based on contact-form submission. As a result, such websites do not require much maintenance since most of the sales are conducted via phone call or email.
Average cost: €200 – €2,000.
How Much Does It Cost To Launch A Business-to-consumer (B2C) E-commerce Website?
The costs associated with B2C e-commerce websites will depend on the degree of automation that you require. Having more operations and procedures carried out manually will lessen the cost of the website.
Average cost: €1,000 – €25,000.
How Much Does It Cost To Launch A Consumer-to-consumer (C2C) E-commerce Website?
The costs associated with setting up a C2C e-commerce website will vary according to the functionalities and maintenance that the business will require.
Average cost: €5,000 to €25,000.
How Much Does It Cost To Launch A Consumer-to-business (C2B) E-commerce Website?
Similar to a C2C website, setting up a C2B e-commerce website will also vary according to the required functionalities and maintenance costs.
Average cost: €5,000 to €25,000.
Which Is The Best Website For Starting An E-commerce Business?
The best website for e-commerce will depend on numerous factors, including personal preference. While there are several good websites to choose from, it is advised that one makes their choice based on three points: time, money and human resources. If costs associated with these three factors are kept low over time, the more likely you are to achieve beneficial results from the e-commerce business.
What Are The Top 10 Website Builders For E-commerce?
The top 10 popular website builders for e-commerce are:
- WordPress
- Magento
- Weebly
- Elementor
- Wix
- Shopify
- WooCommerce
- BigCommerce
- Shift4shop
- Squarespace
What Basic Knowledge Is Required To Set Up An E-commerce Business?
To start an e-commerce business, it is recommended that one possesses basic knowledge within the areas of business, legislation and tax law, website development and digital marketing.
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our services:
E-commerce profit optimisation analysis
- E-commerce inventory management
- E-commerce SEO audit
- E-commerce advertising
- E-commerce customer care
Setting up your
E-commerce Business
- E-commerce inventory planning and management
- E-commerce website development
- E-commerce SEO
- E-commerce advertising
- E-commerce trust building
E-commerce Revenue Optimisation
- E-commerce inventory management audit
- E-commerce SEO audit
- E-commerce advertising and online presence audit