What Do You Need to Start an Online Shop?

Starting an online shop can be one of the most rewarding ways to launch a business today. With global e-commerce sales continuing to rise, more entrepreneurs are taking their products and services online to reach a broader audience. 

In this guide, we’ll break down what you need to start an online shop, along with how website building, accounting, email and hosting tools can simplify your setup.

1. A Clear Business Plan

Every successful online shop begins with a strong foundation. Before investing in tools and software, define:

• Your target audience: Who will buy your products?
• Product sourcing: Are you making, dropshipping, or wholesaling?
• Budget and pricing strategy: What will it cost to set up, and how will you price your items competitively?

The truth is, most small businesses close because their founders didn’t have a solid idea of who they are selling their product to and what their customers really need. By narrowing your target audience down you have higher chances of success, because you’re aiming at an exact spot, and not spreading yourself thin. You can’t sell to everyone at once.

When you understand who is you customer, and what they need — everything else will be so much easier.

2. A Domain Name and Hosting

Your domain name is your digital address—it’s how customers find you online. Choose a name that’s short, memorable, and relevant to your business. Learn a bit about domain zones, too. For example, ‘.com’ is commonly used for e-commerce.

Hosting is equally important, as it determines your site’s speed, security, and uptime. Many platforms offer domain registration and hosting packages together, which makes the process easier for beginners.

3. A Professional Website

Your website is your storefront, so design and functionality are crucial. But the good part is that you can build a website on your own, no coding required. Modern website builders provide visual editors with drag & drop technology, making it so when you create a website, you see it almost exactly like a user will.

It’s important to keep your e-commerce website fluid, responsive, and user-friendly.

 A user-friendly website builder allows you to:

• Create attractive product pages with descriptions and images.
• Integrate secure payment gateways.
• Offer smooth navigation and checkout experiences.

This is where the Site.pro ERP system shines. Unlike many separate tools that require complex integration, Site.pro ERP provides a website builder, making it easy to design a shop that looks professional without coding knowledge. With drag-and-drop features, AI website builder, 200+ available templates, and 40+ payment gateways, you can launch your store quickly and efficiently.

4. A Reliable Accounting System

Managing sales, taxes, and inventory can become overwhelming without the right accounting software. For online shops, automation is key. You’ll need to:

• Track revenue and expenses.
• Handle invoices and receipts.
• Monitor inventory levels.
• Stay compliant with tax regulations.

Site.pro ERP integrates accounting directly into your e-commerce platform. That means every sale, refund, or expense is automatically recorded in one system—saving you time and reducing the chance of errors. This seamless approach is especially valuable for small businesses that want to streamline operations without juggling multiple software subscriptions. Site.pro even integrates AI into its accounting module: recognise your invoice with AI technology automatically. It only takes seconds, AI can recognise all types of invoices, after which it saves it in your personal storage.

5. Business Email and Communication

Professional communication builds trust. Instead of using a free personal email address, businesses should have a dedicated email tied to their domain (e.g., info@yourshop.com). This not only looks credible but also makes customer support more organized.

Again, Site.pro ERP provides an advantage by including email services within its platform. You don’t need to rely on third-party providers—your website, accounting, and email are all managed under one roof.

6. Payment Gateways and Security

Your customers need safe and convenient payment methods. Offering options like credit/debit cards, PayPal, or digital wallets boosts conversions. Alongside this, secure sockets layer (SSL) certificates protect customer data and make your site trustworthy.

7. Marketing and SEO Tools

A great shop won’t succeed if no one can find it. That’s why digital marketing is just as important as setting up the store. Focus on:

• SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Optimize your product pages with keywords, meta descriptions, and alt text.
• Content marketing: Use blogs, videos, and social media to engage potential customers.
• Email campaigns: Build an email list to promote sales and retain customers.

8. Customer Service Tools

Customers expect quick, helpful responses. Adding features like live chat, FAQs, or ticketing systems helps keep your audience happy. 

Conclusion

Starting an online shop doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right foundation—business plan, domain, website builder, accounting, email, and marketing tools—you’ll be ready to grow your digital business.

Instead of managing separate systems, using an all-in-one solution like Site.pro ERP can save you time, reduce costs, and keep your operations running smoothly. By combining website building, accounting, and email services, Site.pro ERP simplifies the process of launching and managing your online shop—so you can focus on what matters most: serving your customers and growing your brand.