Buy Regional

You have a few decisions to make before you start selling online.

You can set up your site using an existing e-commerce site such as Shopify, Squarespace and Wix.

Existing marketplaces such as eBay or Etsy are quick and easy to use sites to list your products.

Each path to online selling has benefits and challenges, so you’ll need to do some research to find the best match for your business.

Existing marketplaces can be a great place to start your online selling adventure. Guides to the most commonly used platforms are below.

When you’re considering marketplaces, ask important questions such as:

• Are there set-up fees?
• Are there ongoing subscription costs? (There can be big differences in costs from zero to around $60 a month.)
• Are fees charged for every item sold?
• Can the site handle foreign transactions? (Some sites allow purchases from other countries.)

You’ll also need to check functionality, ease of use and if you’re not comfortable in the online world, you will need to make sure the platform offers good technical support.

You should consider how much product you will sell online. Many of the marketplaces have a moving schedule of fees depending on your volume of sales.

Online marketplaces

• eBay is still the dominant player in Australia. They have a clear and simple guide to setting up an eBay store.
• Etsy is a well-known marketplace with rules about what you can sell. Items are limited to handmade goods, vintage items that are over 20 years old and craft supplies. Find out how to set up an Etsy store.
• Amazon boats over 20 categories for products and easy ways to ship your products. Learn how to sell products on Amazon.
• Instagram is an easy place to show off the visual appeal of products, and many sellers are already on the channel. Find out how to sell products from Instagram.
• Facebook marketplace is a popular place to sell items. Find out the steps to set up an account on Facebook marketplace.

This is a small selection of what is available online. It's also best to do plenty of your own research.

E-Commerce can work well for businesses that already have a strong brand and a clear direction.

There are more hurdles with this option, including setting up a merchant ID and purchasing a domain name. Good e-commerce sites walk you through these steps.

According to Top10.com the best e-commerce sites have tools to walk you through the process, including hosting, design, pricing and payment options, reporting and postage calculators. 

Guides to set up e-commerce sites

• Big Commerce
• Square Space
• Wix
• Shopify (you will need to start the process of a store before you reach the guide)
• 3DCart

This is a small selection of what is available online. It's also best to do plenty of your own research.

Advice to small businesses is available from NSW Business Connect advisors who have a broad range of skills covering essential business topics, including business planning, marketing and how to grow your digital presence.

The first four hours of one-on-one business advice is free. After that sessions are highly subsidised by the NSW Government. Get in touch with a Business Connect advisor.

Find out more about the digital advisors offered through Business Connect.