Working from home has become such a trend that nearly four million Americans live today. And while there are many types of businesses that you can start on your own, ecommerce is arguably the best.
Many existing businesses can be converted to an e-commerce model, at least in part, if not completely. But why is e-commerce the best type of business to start? Let’s take a look.
What is e-commerce?
First of all, it helps to know exactly what e-commerce is. The term itself is an abbreviated version of “electronic commerce”. And that basically means buying and selling goods or services over the internet. In other words, if you trade currencies online, you are engaging in e-commerce.
Types of products involved in e-commerce
If goods and services can be broad enough categories, it can be further broadened. Each ecommerce business falls into one of the following categories: physical products, affiliate sales, digital products and services.
Physical products are, of course, everything you sell to customers. These could be new items, items in stock, or even used items. Selling these items typically involves finding, selling, and shipping physical items. However, many people who do have their goods delivered direct so they never touch the food.
Affiliate selling, or affiliate marketing as it is commonly known, involves the creation and sale of products using a commission-based structure. Creator allows Marketing Partners to promote their product, usually on their website, and earn a commission every time someone uses their link to complete a transaction.
Digital products are simply products created to be downloaded digitally. These can be eBooks, print, audio, video, courses, software, and anything else that can be viewed digitally, listened to, or downloaded online.
The services include everything that does not fit into the previous categories. Some service companies are completely online, while others behave in part differently. For example, a consultant can use a website and an online payment method to complete transactions. But then they can schedule phone calls for actual consultations.
This example would definitely be an ecommerce business, but there is an added element of phone conversations. Other examples of the service industry are marketing, writing, design, etc.
What Makes Ecommerce So Great?
As you can imagine, one of the things that makes ecommerce such a great business model is the fact that you can get started with very little overhead. You usually don’t need employees, a building, or any other physical item associated with the production of bricks and mortar.
That’s not to say that some ecommerce businesses aren’t reaching the point where they need some extra help or storage. But most can be started inexpensively. You can even outsource many of your own business tasks, like making e-commerce accounting fully responsible.
Additionally, in an e-commerce business, you can usually work from home. This will help you save on things like travel, wardrobe, and food costs. But it can also be useful for people who prefer to work alone or have limitations that make working from home a necessity.
But perhaps more importantly, the earning potential of e-commerce is virtually limitless. Your audience can be much larger than your physical location. And if you sell a product that can be downloaded over and over again, you earn passive income. You don’t trade dollars for hours on end, so there’s no limit to what you can do.
When it comes to starting an ecommerce business, there is a huge selection of options out there. Amazing Selling Machine is one of the most popular. However, you still need to do your due diligence when it comes to investing in training. We all have our own preferences and requirements, so what’s perfect for you might not be a good idea for the next person.
