So, you wanna sell stuff online. Maybe you make cute candles. Or print-on-demand t-shirts. Or, I dunno, vintage VHS tapes. Whatever it is, you need a website. Not just any website—develop an e-commerce website. One that actually lets people buy things.
Cool. But… how?
Honestly, it can get overwhelming. Platforms. Payments. Product pages. Shipping zones. Taxes. Aaand you’re already tired. Let’s slow it down. I’ll walk you through it. Like, actually walk you through it.
Step 1: Pick Your Platform (Yes, This Matters)
This is where most people freeze.
There are so many platforms. Shopify? WordPress + WooCommerce? Wix? Squarespace? BigCommerce? It depends on what you’re selling, how tech-savvy you are, and how much control you want.
TL;DR:
- Shopify = easy, polished, a bit $$
- WooCommerce = flexible, great for WordPress fans
- Wix/Squarespace = simple for small stores, but kinda limited long-term
Don’t overthink. Pick one that doesn’t make you want to scream.
Recommended Read: Want some inspo? Check out our Top 10 E-Commerce Sites to see what great online stores actually look like.
Step 2: Get a Domain + Hosting
Your domain = your store’s street address online. (e.g., coolcandles.com) Your hosting = where your website actually lives.
Shopify includes hosting. But for WordPress/WooCommerce, you’ll need to buy it. Look for fast, secure, and reliable hosting. Bluehost, SiteGround, or even Hostinger work fine to start.
Step 3: Design Your Store (Without Being a Designer)
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Most platforms give you themes/templates. Pick one that doesn’t look like it was built in 2007.
- Use high-quality product images (natural light is your friend)
- Write clear, non-boring product descriptions
- Keep navigation simple: Home, Shop, About, Contact. Maybe Blog if you’re feeling fancy
And please—test it on mobile. Everyone shops from their phone now.
Pro Tip: Whether you’re building from scratch or upgrading, our E-Commerce Website Development Services handle all of this for you—domain, hosting, design, setup, and launch.
Step 4: Set Up Payments (So People Can Actually Pay You)
You’ll need a payment processor like:
- Stripe
- PayPal
- Razorpay (India)
Set it up, test it, and make sure the checkout process is smooth. No one likes weird payment errors at 2 AM when they’re trying to impulse-buy a hoodie.
Step 5: Shipping, Taxes & Other Boring Stuff
Okay, not fun. But necessary.
- Define shipping zones & costs (flat rate? free over $X?)
- Set tax rules based on your region (or use a plugin/tool to auto-calculate)
- Set up order confirmation emails (platforms usually handle this)
Step 6: Launch It (Then Tweak Forever)
Once everything looks decent and works? Launch it. Don’t wait for it to be perfect. Perfection is a trap.
Then:
- Connect Google Analytics
- Create an Instagram & Facebook page
- Maybe run some basic ads or start an email list (Mailchimp is easy)
Oh, and ask your friends to test the site. They’ll break it in ways you never imagined.
Recommended Read: If you’re still overwhelmed, here’s a deep dive into the eCommerce world—from traffic tips to tech tools.
Final Thoughts
Building an e-commerce site is kinda like assembling IKEA furniture with no instructions.
Doable? Yes.
Frustrating? Also yes.
Worth it? 100%.
And hey—if it still feels like too much? That’s literally why we exist.
Reliqus builds clean, fast, conversion-focused online stores. You run the biz. We handle the tech.
You run the biz. We handle the tech.
Let’s build your store