5 Hidden Ecommerce Costs You Need to Know About -

It was a success!

You've created the ideal digital software, built a beautiful website, and are planning to promote your brand new venture. You even set up your social media accounts to create a audience. It's time to take on the world of digital media by storm.

Only one question. How do you plan on marketing the software you have developed?

It's tempting to try to build an e-commerce platform on your own instead of paying for an ecommerce platform. However, there are many things to consider like processing payments, the customer experience when shopping, product fulfillment, chargebacks, as well as tax/VAT compliance. It's a hard time trying to keep track of everything.

There are plenty of ecommerce tools and platforms available that can help you run the running of your business. But finding the right fit to your needs will require an amount of research.

Luckily, we're here to help! Take a look at five of the hidden costs of ecommerce that you should know.

1. Customization

Your shopping cart for your site should reflect your business's image. According to research from Kissmetrics, 93% of shoppers think that appearance is the most important factor when making buying. However, creating a compelling shopping experience that inspires your website visitors to make a purchase isn't an easy task.

A platform for e-commerce can help to create your own storefront Be wary of them if they insist on using an awkward, unresponsive non-branded and unprofessional experience. Certain solutions may even require you to upgrade to a customized storefront. It doesn't have to be that way!

2. Maintenance

Keeping your ecommerce website functioning requires regular maintenance. It's an ongoing task to ensure users can complete purchases on your website regardless of where they are in the world and on any device. A customer's likelihood of having to leave your site will increase by 90% if the page takes up to five minutes to load. An e-commerce solution that is reliable will take this burden on your behalf, allowing you to focus on other important aspects of your company.

3. Tax/VAT

Aside from a full-time tax specialist, there isn't anyone with enough time or the patience to become an expert on taxes in the United States and internationally. If you're planning on taking benefit of the booming international economy it is essential to accept transactions from anywhere around the world. The customers feel more secure paying for a digital product when the transaction happens within their language and currency and that the correct taxes are accounted for. Without an appropriately equipped ecommerce platform, you'll end up taking a lot of time and cash to ensure your business is tax compliant.

4. Fraud

It's crucial to understand this fraudulent activity is a major issue for ecommerce businesses. The types of fraud are numerous in e-commerce companies. There are certain things to watch out for, such as cards-not-present transactions, risky payments, untrustworthy or misleading vendors, excessive charges, identity theft and many additional. It's not meant to put people away from establishing your own business. However, it's important that you do everything you can to keep your business secure. An ideal ecommerce platform will include features that will protect your company from fraudulent transactions.

5. Resources in-house

Controlling the ecommerce function of your business requires a significant amount of time and resources. It takes true dedication coupled with an investment of time, money, and energy. The result is that you will spend much of money building and managing an e-commerce site all on your own, not to mention keeping it up and running after the project is completed. You'll be amazed at by the amount you could save on the burden of managing your businesses' ecommerce. Imagine all that extra time you'll end up using to develop brand new products or entering new markets!

There's no question that having a successful ecommerce website takes lots of effort. It's good to know that you do not have to do it all on the shoulders of your. Full-Service platforms for e-commerce like these allow your digital business to build an effective e-commerce experience and grow your business.