How To Start An Ecommerce Business In the UK in 2024

Do you have a Business Idea?

Alright, let’s dive into the exciting world of ecommerce entrepreneurship!  

Picture yourself in this scenario: You’re sipping on your morning coffee, scrolling through your favourite online clothing brand, and suddenly, it hits you – the idea for your very own clothing business. You can almost feel the soft fabrics, visualise the stylish designs, and imagine customers eagerly adding your creations to their shopping carts. But wait a minute; this is no ordinary endeavour.  

In this digital age, if you’re going to make waves, you can’t just toss any old business idea onto the internet and hope for the best. Take that clothing business idea, for example. You’re not just competing with the corner boutique; you’re up against fashion eCommerce giants like Addidas and Nike. It’s like stepping onto a crowded runway with fashion titans strutting alongside you.  

So, here’s the secret sauce: Your online business idea needs to be more than just a passing thought; it needs to be a well-researched gem that sparkles amidst the competition. It should be so brilliant that it not only stands out but shines brilliantly.  

You need to deeply study the market trends, dissect consumer behaviour, ecommerce platforms and observe online shopping habits like a seasoned detective. Every click, every comment, every trend – they all hold valuable information. 

I will provide a Quick checklist for the steps-by-step process of starting an Ecommerce business. 

Steps for starting an Ecommerce business. 

1. Brainstorming Ideas and Market analysis
2. Competitor Analysis
3. Select the Business Model
4. Start Branding
5. Choose and Set up your ecommerce website
6. Setup Payment methods and Security certificates
7. Get Your Ecommerce Business Registered
8. Start Marketing

Business Idea and Market Analysis

Want to learn more about how to plan your ecommerce business? Here are some tips for brainstorming an outstanding business idea:

1. Think of Multiple Ideas

Think of multiple business ideas, rather than sticking to only one. This will help you have a broader view and you’ll be able to select the best idea for starting an online business. So, take your time and prepare a list of unique online business ideas. Don’t worry, we will filter out the best in the later steps.

2. Research for Each Idea

Once you’ve a list of eCommerce business ideas you like, start researching for each idea. When you do this, look for the niche, market type & size, industry performance, growth rate, customer size, scalability potential, and so on. After having all of this information, compare your business ideas and select the one with higher growth potential and relatively less competition.

3. Brainstorm in a Group

It is always better to have multiple opinions. So, ask your trusted friends or colleagues to join your brainstorming process. In this way, you’ll have a bigger list of creative eCommerce business ideas to choose from. 

4. Make Sure It Is Interesting

No doubt, the eCommerce industry is highly competitive and you need to have a unique approach to stay ahead of the competition. But there is no point in starting an eCommerce business you have no interest in. If you start a business that looks very promising, but it doesn’t align with your interest, you will not be able to sustain it. For instance, suppose you start an online jewellery store. Neither you’ve any knowledge about it, nor do you’ve any interest in selling jewellery. In this scenario, you will never be able to understand your audience and target market, and the circumstances will force you to give up on it.

5. Ask What Are You Good At?

The simplest way to get an amazing online business idea is to find what you’re good at. Think about the things you enjoy and are passionate about. For example, if you are interested in fashion and keeping up with the latest trends, then you can think of starting a fashion & apparel eCommerce business. You may ask, the fashion & apparel industry is huge, so how will I make my business stand out? Here’s the catch, by being more specific — “micro-niche” is the word, folks! 

So, by taking the “micro-niche” approach, you can start a kids fashion & apparel store, rather than starting a generalised fashion store. Also, this is just an example, you can do this with any online business of your choice. 

6. Get Feedback

Last but not least, get enough feedback on the eCommerce business idea you have finalised. Ask your friends, family, mentors to give you honest feedback. 

Perform Competitor Analysis

We are living in a disruptive era of eCommerce, where any product you might possibly think of, has a higher chance of being already sold by someone else. So, if you want to make your eCommerce business stand out, then it is very important to perform competitor analysis and market research. 

If you’re still wondering, why is it important to conduct a competitor analysis, then here are the reason to do so: 

• It helps in estimating the entry barrier into your target market 
• Allows you to determine baseline customer expectations 
• It helps in finding better opportunities to grow, and market gaps you can fill in 
• Help you to in identifying risks and weakness of your target niche/market 

Now, the question is, how to conduct a competitor analysis?  

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!  

Below are some tips to do an effective competitor analysis:  

1. Find Out Who Your Competitors Are 

To win a battle, you first need to determine who you’re fighting against. For an eCommerce business, you basically need to find out three types of competitors: direct competitors, indirect competitors, and replacement competitors.

• Direct Competitors: Ecommerce businesses selling the same products you’re planning to have in your store. 
• Indirect Competitors: Ecommerce businesses that might be selling different products, but are fulfilling the same demands of your target customers 
• Replacement Competitors: Ecommerce businesses are likely to offer replacements or substitutes for your products. 

2. Perform a SWOT Analysis

SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, Threats) test is a powerful tool that provides you with a 360° view of your competition. Once you’ve a list of competitors, analyse their performance based on SWOT factors. Here is a checklist: 

• Ecommerce website structure 
• Brand value 
• Customer experience 
• Sales strategies 
• Marketing strategies 
• Pricing strategies 
• Shipping strategies 
• Deals & discount strategies 

3. Evaluate Competitor’s Ecommerce Website & Consumer Experience

User experience is one of the most important factors that affect the success of an eCommerce business. Nearly a third of online customers in the UK would abandon the brand after just one bad shopping experience. That said, take a look into your competitor’s website and checkout experience they are offering. Try to determine the platform they are using, the themes and features of their store, loading speed, ad placement, and so on. There are a lot of benefits of eCommerce business, and it takes equal efforts to establish a successful eCommerce business.

Choose Your Business Model

You’ve got an amazing business idea, you have analysed your competitors, now what? It’s time to choose the right business Plan and model for your online business.  

A business Structure and pricing strategy will decide how you’re going to enter the eCommerce market. In general, there are mainly four types of business models you can choose from: 

• B2B (Business-to-business): In this model, businesses sell their services or products to other businesses, directly. Salesforce is a great example of businesses that fit into this category. 
• B2C (Business-to-consumer): In this eCommerce business model, businesses sell their offerings directly to the consumers. Amazon, ASOS are running on a B2C model.
• C2C (Consumer-to-consumer): The C2C model involves business between one consumer and another. Paypal, eBay, and Etsy are some platforms that facilitate C2C business. 
• C2B (Consumer-to-business): Finally, there is the C2B business model, where individuals provide their services to businesses. UpWork is a good example of successful C2B businesses. 

Choose a Valuable Delivery Option

The next thing to do is, selecting the right value delivery method. The chosen value delivery method will decide how you will connect your consumers to your products. It will take into account the complete process of sourcing, storing, managing, selling, packaging, and finally delivering the products at the doorstep of your customers.  

In a nutshell, it is how you will deliver the products or services you’ve promised your customers when they hit that “Buy Now” button. 

Below are some of the top value delivery methods you can choose from: 

1. Drop Shipping

Dropshipping is one of the most popular delivery options for eCommerce businesses. It works in just three simple steps:  

• A customer places an order on your online store. 
• You transfer this order to your supplier. 
• The supplier directly ships the order to your customer. 

It is one of the simplest ways to run an online store as you don’t have to worry about sourcing, storing, packaging, and delivering the products. While dropshipping is easy and cost-effective, it comes with its own risks. If by any chance your supplier fails to fulfil an order, it comes to your head. Further, you don’t have control over your brand and the quality you are offering to your customers.

2. Wholesaling and Warehousing

This value delivery method is more flexible and dynamic as compared to the dropshipping method. It involves managing your own warehouse. Here, you’ll have the desired products shipped to your warehouse, from where you will store, manage, pack, and ship to your customers. Besides being more flexible, warehousing and wholesaling methods offer a much better profit margin.  

On the downside, it requires more effort, time, and of course, investment. You need to have a physical space to run your warehouse, and a warehouse management team to keep the operations up and running. Not only that, but you’ll also need to pay for transporting your inventory from the wholesaler to your warehouse.  

But here is the solution, you can always rely on 3PL (third-party logistics) providers to outsource this step. It is known as order fulfilment and many growing eCommerce businesses use this approach.

3. Private Labelling

As the name suggests, a private labelling method allows you to sell your items exclusively to your customers. Here, you order your manufacturer to produce the specific products by providing them with all the product specifications. Once the products are made, you can either get them shipped to your warehouse or ask your manufacturer to ship them directly to your customers.  

A private labelling solution is great for eCommerce businesses that are selling unique products but don’t have means of producing themselves.

4. White Labelling

The white labelling approach involves purchasing basic products from a distributor and then re-labelling it as your brand name. This method allows you to establish your brand in a hassle-free manner.  

However, there is a problem with this approach. Once you have re-labelled a large volume of products and if they aren’t sold, you can’t return them to the supplier.

Time For Branding

Once you’re done with selecting the right business model and value delivery option, it’s time for branding your eCommerce business.  

Remember, branding isn’t just about creating designer logos and impressive taglines. It isn’t merely the naming process of your business. Instead, it is the personification of your business!  

Again, make one thing crystal clear, a brand isn’t built overnight. Nor is it something you can purchase. The value of your brand will come from the quality and experience you will provide your customers. 

But for starters, begin with selecting a unique name, an authentic logo, and a catchy tagline for your business. Your name, as well as logo, should be such that it can represent your business among your audience. Not only that, but it should also tell the story and aim of your business.  

Here are some useful branding tips that will help you in the process:

1. Decide a Name

Sounds basic? Yes, but it is still one of the most important things for starting a business. Your business name should be very unique yet meaningful. It should be able to tell the purpose or aim of your business. For instance, “Pizza Hut” is a basic name, but on hearing it, anyone can tell that it is some pizza place. Here are some tips to select a proper name for your online business  

• Make sure it is easy to understand and meaningful. 
• Ensure that it is easy to pronounce. 
• Make sure it is authentic and unique; avoid copying other brands. 
• Keep it short and simple. 
• Try to include one or two keywords in your business name. 

2. Create Logo

Next, create a well-thought-out and well-designed logo.  

Your logo is the face of your business. It will interact with your customers and other business stakeholders on your behalf. So, it is very important to make it very impactful.  

Note that creating a logo isn’t simply the job of a graphic or logo designer. It is your responsibility to choose a design by putting your thoughts and passion into it. 

3. Create Tagline

What comes to your mind when you hear the words, “I’m Lovin’ It”, or “Just Do It”, the delicious burger you had at McDonald’s and your favourite pair of Nike shoes, isn’t it?  

Basically, taglines are the short catchy and unique phrases that accompany the logo. Although taglines are not mandatory, they work excellently for marketing. They make your brand more impactful and impressive. Additionally, they also create a sense of familiarity among your target audience. So, it’s a good idea to add a nice tagline to your business.

4. Trademark Your Logo and Name

Lastly, ensure the authenticity of your business name and logo by filing a trademark. It is a simple and straightforward process; you just need to file an online application on the Intellectual Property UK website.  

As we have already discussed, branding is much more than selecting a cool name and creating a logo. It is a comprehensive process that needs a fine-tuned approach towards making your business familiar to your target audience. So, it is always better to work with a reliable ecommerce agency, like RVS Media.  

Meanwhile, you can also check out our article on how branding can maximise the growth of your eCommerce business 

Select an Ecommerce Platform

It’s time to officially become an eCommerce business owner — build your online store!  

Building an online store is not very different from building a physical shop. Just like you would select the right location or place to open your physical store, you need to select the right platform to build your digital store.  

In fact, the platform on which your eCommerce store is built plays a key role in deciding the success of your business. The reason is simple, each eCommerce platform has its own features and functionalities which impact the performance of your business in many different ways.  

However, selecting the right eCommerce platform or Online Marketplace can be a daunting task looking at the hoard of features and factors you need to consider while choosing the suitable one. These factors include the design, loading speed, eCommerce features, pricing, SEO tools, hosting, security, free trial and many more.  

But don’t worry, we have already handpicked some of the best eCommerce platforms for you

Shopify: The All-in-One Ecommerce Powerhouse 

Shopify is the entry point into the electrifying universe of ecommerce. It’s your one-stop-shop for creating and managing an online store without the hassle of complex coding or design skills. Shopify agency offers affordability without compromising on features.

Key Features:

• User-Friendly: Shopify’s intuitive interface makes it easy for beginners to set up shop quickly. 
• Customisation: Choose from a wide range of customisable templates to give your store a unique look. 
• Secure Payment Options: Accept payments with ease, thanks to built-in payment gateways. 
• Robust Inventory Management: Track your inventory effortlessly and never miss a sale. 
• 24/7 Support: Get assistance when you need it, ensuring smooth sailing for your online venture. 

Advantages:

• Affordability: A range of pricing plans caters to businesses of all sizes. 
• Ease of Use: No coding knowledge required, making it accessible to everyone. 
• Scalability: Grow your business seamlessly with Shopify’s array of tools and apps. 
• Security: Rest easy with SSL encryption and secure payment processing. 
• Vibrant Community: Join a thriving community of entrepreneurs for support and inspiration. 

Disadvantages:

• Transaction Fees: On lower-tier plans, Shopify charges transaction fees for using external payment gateways. 

• Limited Blogging Capabilities: While it’s great for selling, Shopify’s blogging features are somewhat basic. 

Pricing: The shopify cost starts at just $29 per month. 

Shopify Plus: Elevate Your Enterprise Ecommerce

For high-growth businesses with grand ambitions, Shopify Plus steps in as the premium choice. It offers advanced features tailored to your unique needs, with pricing starting at a negotiable monthly fee. 

Key Features:

• Enterprise-Grade Scalability: Handle massive traffic and complex operations effortlessly. 
• Customisable Checkout: Optimise the checkout process for higher conversions. 
• Dedicated Support: Get personalised assistance and priority access to Shopify experts. 
• International Expansion: Easily reach global markets with multi-currency and multi-language support.

Advantages:

• Unlimited Potential: Scale your enterprise without constraints. 
• Personalisation: Tailor your ecommerce platform to suit your brand’s identity. 
• Security: Enjoy top-tier security and compliance features. 
• High Performance: Shopify Plus ensures blazing-fast page load times. 

Disadvantages:

• Cost: While highly powerful, Shopify Plus comes at a premium price. 
• Complexity: The advanced features may require a learning curve for some users. 

Pricing: For the US, Shopify Premium costs 2000 dollars. 

Magento: The Open-Source Ecommerce Marvel

Magento agency is a Superhero in the ecommerce world, known for its unmatched flexibility and robustness. As an open-source platform, it offers the ultimate customisation potential, making it a top choice for businesses with unique needs. 

Key Features:

• Customisation: Enjoy unparalleled freedom to create a tailored online store that fits your brand like a glove. 
• Scalability: Grow your business without limits; Magento can handle massive catalogs, Product listings and high traffic. 
• Multi-Store Management: Manage multiple stores from a single backend, simplifying your operations. 
• Advanced SEO: Enhance your store’s visibility with built-in SEO tools.

Advantages:

• Open-Source Freedom: Magento Open Source is free to use, while Magento Commerce offers enterprise-level features. 
• Unlimited Customisation: Create a unique shopping experience for your customers. 
• Robust Community: Join a passionate community of developers and users for support. 

Disadvantages:

• Complexity: Magento has a steeper learning curve, and customisation may require technical expertise. 
• Resource-Intensive: Hosting and maintaining a Magento store can be resource-intensive. 

Pricing: Magento offers both a free open-source version (Magento Open Source) and a paid solution (Adobe Commerce). Pricing for Adobe Commerce varies based on your business size and requirements. However, the basic pricing for Magento Website development begins around 2000$ per month. 

BigCommerce: Simplicity Meets Power

BigCommerce combines simplicity with power, making it an excellent choice for businesses of all sizes. It offers a user-friendly interface without sacrificing essential ecommerce features.  

Key Features:

• Responsive Templates: Choose from a variety of beautiful, mobile-responsive templates to create an attractive store. 
• Abandoned Cart Recovery: Recover lost sales with automated cart abandonment emails. 
• Built-in Payment Gateways: Easily accept payments with integrated gateways. 
• SEO Optimisation: Optimise your store for search engines to drive organic traffic. 

Advantages:

• User-Friendly: BigCommerce’s intuitive interface makes it accessible to beginners. 
• Scalability: Grow your business seamlessly with the platform’s scalability. 
• Multi-Channel Selling: Expand your reach by selling on various channels, including social media and marketplaces.

Disadvantages:

• Transaction Fees: On lower-tier plans, BigCommerce charges transaction fees for using external payment gateways. 
• Design Limitations: While templates are customisable, BigCommerce may not offer the same level of flexibility as Magento. 

Pricing: BigCommerce offers various pricing tiers to cater to different business needs, starting from affordable options to enterprise-grade solutions. The basic pricing for the PRO BigCommerce platform begins at 79$ per month. However, it can exceed or decrease according to the requirement of your business.

Integrate Payment Gateway

Having a clear understanding of how to start an online business. What’s next for you? Once your online store is live, the next thing you need to do is integrate a reliable payment gateway. This will allow you to accept payment from your customers in a convenient, secure and flexible way.  

The right payment gateway is going to be highly beneficial for you as well as your customers. While your customers will enjoy the freedom of paying via their favourite payment methods in a secure way, you will get the advantage of running your payment processing system smoothly and efficiently.  

But looking at hundreds of available payment gateways in the market, selecting the right one for your eCommerce store can be challenging. Say no more!  

We have already compiled a guide to the best online payment gateway for small business uk. All you need to do is, check it out!

You Can Also Read

• Best Ecommerce Platforms for Small Businesses In The UK 
• How Much Does an ecommerce Website Cost in the UK 

Get Your Ecommerce Business Registered

To own a business in the UK, you need to apply for an EIN (Employer Identification Number) and get your business registered and inform the companies houses. While not every type of business requires an EIN, this number can be very helpful in keeping your business and personal finances separate. Further, you can easily apply for your EIN online, via phone, mail, or Fax, from the IRS.  

Once you’re done applying for EIN, you will need to obtain the necessary Business license and permits needed to operate the eCommerce business within your state or city.  

Generally, most eCommerce businesses don’t require any license as they are mostly home-based. However, if you’re also planning to operate locally, then you have to register yourself with the Companies House as per the guidelines of your state government.

Market Your Ecommerce Business

Congratulations!  

You’ve successfully set up your online store in the UK. Now, the last thing you need to do is market your business to gain more and more customers.  

It doesn’t matter how attractive your eCommerce store is, how amazing your product range is if no customers are visiting your site. And this is why it is very important to work on your marketing strategies.  

The right marketing strategies and competitive pricing allow you to expose your brand or business to the right target audience and generate more sales, conversions and Customer Base.  

Below are some great ways to take your business to the market: 

Gear Up With SEO

Search Engine Optimisation is the most crucial factor that affects the performance of an eCommerce business. Hence, it should be the main part of your online marketing arsenal. The best SEO practices will not only help you rank on the top of search engines but will also drive higher volumes of traffic and Potential customers to your store. If you want to attract local traffic to your eCommerce store, then this local SEO guide can help you a lot.  

Also, SEO needs a fine-tuned approach, which can only be provided by an experienced SEO expert. So, either work with an SEO agency or hire the right professional. Also, SEO for eCommerce needs a fine-tuned approach, which can only be provided by an experienced SEO expert. So, either work with an SEO agency or hire the right professional.

Leverage The Power of Social Media Marketing

Today, social media is the most powerful marketing tool. It has a huge pool of worldwide audiences, which could be very helpful for your business. Just by creating an online presence on popular social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, you can target the right audience and convert Potential customers into your high-paying customers.

Get In Touch With Influencers

The increasing popularity of social media has given birth to “influencer marketing”. This is another powerful marketing strategy as social media influencers have a great influence on their followers. By getting your business or products advertised by them, you can gain a good number of customers. So, find the right influencers on the social media business and collaborate with them.

Invest in Ad Campaigns

Don’t shy away from investing in paid advertisements. No doubt, organic traffic is great, but paid ads can drive huge traffic to your website. So, hire the right seo agency and plan and devise high-yielding marketing campaigns.

Work With A PR Agency

Lastly, if you’ve got a good budget and are planning for a great market /industry exposure, then hire a PR agency. The right professional service will help you expose your business by publishing articles, magazines, press releases and so on. 

Above all you have to fix a competitive pricing for your products in order to stay ahead in the ecommerce space.

Key Takeaway: 7 Tips to Start an Ecommerce Store

• Mobile First, always: Your ecommerce site must be mobile-responsive as more shoppers browse and buy on their smartphones than ever before 
• A/B Test Everything: Experiment with different layouts, colors, and copy to see what resonates best with your audience. 
• Shipping Matters: Free or fast shipping options can be the deal-breaker for many customers. Consider your shipping strategy carefully. 
• Harness the Power of Email: Build an email list early and use it for promotions, newsletters, and personalised offers. 
• Customer Support Wins Hearts: Exceptional customer service can turn a one-time buyer into a loyal customer. Be prompt, helpful, and friendly. 
• Prioritise Long-Term Success: Don’t expect immediate profits; invest in your brand for lasting success. 
• Choose High-Demand Products: Always sell what’s in demand to boost your chances of profitability.

Wrapping Up

Congratulation!  

We have discussed all the necessary steps you will need to perform to start an online business in the UK but if you find this process very challenging, then contact RVS Media as your trusted Web development Company in the UK. We can help you get your online store up and running in the most efficient and cost-effective way. So, feel free to contact us!  

Also, if you still have any doubts hovering in your mind, then don’t worry. We’ve taken care of that as well. Below are the answers to some of the most common questions. Check them out!

FAQs  

How Much Will It Cost to Start an Ecommerce Business in The UK? 

There is no fixed cost of starting an online business in the UK. It can be anywhere from £2,000 to £20,000, depending on the size and type of your eCommerce business. There are a lot of factors that need to be considered when deciding a budget for opening an online store. Some of these factors include the cost of the eCommerce platform and payment gateway, hosting, website maintenance, SEO, SSL certificates, marketing, trademark & patents, and so on.  

Here is an important piece of advice, always keep your budget flexible, regardless of the type and size of your business. Also, don’t compromise on the quality of service because of your fear of outgrowing a fixed budget. 

With a combination of a flexible budget and the right planning, you can set up your business in the most convenient and hassle-free way.

When Will I Start Earning from My Ecommerce Store?

Another common question that disturbs most of the new business owners — when will I start earning from my store?  

Remember, just like a seed takes time to grow into a tree and bear sweet fruits, your business will also take time to offer good returns on your investments. Till then, you need to put all your hard work and passion into nourishing and thrive your business.  

Moreover, don’t worry if you don’t generate the sales and conversions you’ve expected. Just be patient and continue with your business strategies. You’ll start earning the desired profits eventually in a couple of years.

When Should I Scale My Ecommerce Store?

The most common mistake most online business owners make is scaling their business as soon as they hit their first milestone. This sometimes results in the downfall of the business due to poor efficiency and instability.  

So, plan your expansion only when your business becomes stable and gains a continuous flow of revenue. Moreover, when you do so, don’t expand very quickly. Instead, keep your expansion slow and steady. A good idea is to add one product line at a time. 

Is eCommerce Profitable? 

Yes, eCommerce can be highly profitable. Its profitability depends on various factors, including the niche, product selection, marketing strategy, and efficient operations. Many eCommerce businesses have achieved significant success and profitability, but it requires careful planning and execution.

What Is the Most Profitable Ecommerce Business?

The profitability of an eCommerce business can vary widely, and what’s most profitable can change over time. However, some consistently profitable niches include electronics, fashion, apparel, health wellness products, and home goods. Ultimately, the most profitable eCommerce business for an individual or company depends on their expertise, resources, and market research.