Ecommerce startups are businesses that sell their goods or services over the Internet. They often start out as a single person or group of individuals who want to sell their products online.

The term ecommerce was coined in 1994 by Marc Andreessen, cofounder of Netscape. In 1999, Amazon launched its first website, www.amazon.com, selling books and other items. Today, ecommerce has become a $1 trillion global industry.

There are several types of ecommerce startups, such as marketplace platforms, direct sales, and affiliate marketing. Each type offers unique advantages and disadvantages. Learn more about them below.

Ecommerce Startup Types:

Marketplace Platforms:

A marketplace platform is an online business model where sellers list their products on the platform’s website. Customers can browse through the listings and buy the product from the seller. The platform takes care of all the transaction details between buyers and sellers. This allows sellers to focus on what they do best — create great products.

Direct Sales:

Direct sales companies allow people to sell their own products directly to customers. These companies take care of everything involved with selling the products. Sellers set up their own websites, manage inventory, ship orders, and handle customer service.

Affiliate Marketing:

An affiliate marketing company pays affiliates for each sale made by customers brought to the site by the affiliate. Affiliates earn money when a customer buys something after clicking on a link provided by the affiliate.

How Do You Choose Which Type Of Ecommerce Startup To Launch?

If you have experience in any of these areas, then you might be able to launch your own ecommerce startup. However, if you don’t have any experience in one of these areas, it may not make sense to try to build your own ecommerce startup from scratch. Instead, consider starting with an existing ecommerce platform.

For example, if you have experience creating websites, you could use WordPress to build your ecommerce store. If you have experience managing inventory, you could use Shopify to build your ecommerce startup.

Another option is to partner with someone else who already has experience building successful ecommerce stores. For instance, you could work with a web design agency to build your ecommerce website. Or, you could hire a digital marketing agency to help promote your ecommerce startup. Either way, partnering with someone who knows how to successfully run an ecommerce startup will save you time and money.

When Should You Build Your Own Ecommerce Startup?

Building your own ecommerce startup isn’t always the right choice. Sometimes, it makes more sense to start with an existing ecommerce solution. However, there are times when launching a new ecommerce startup makes sense. Here are some situations when you should consider launching your own ecommerce startup:

You Want To Create A New Product Category

If you want to offer a new product category that hasn’t been offered before, then you need to build your own e-commerce startup.

Your Current Business Model Isn’t Working

If your current business model doesn’t seem to be working well, then you may want to look into changing it. Perhaps you can find another way to monetize your existing audience or reach new audiences.

You Have An Idea That Could Be Profitable

Even if you don’ t have much experience running an ecommerce startup, you still have ideas that could be profitable.