Is Shopify a good place to sell? Pros, Cons, and Considerations

Tony Pham Oct 17 2024

Despite being one of the largest e-commerce platforms, many people still wonder “Is Shopify a good place to sell?” when considering expanding their online business.

To answer this question and help you understand this platform better, NextSky will explore the advantages and disadvantages of Shopify!

Is Shopify a good place to sell?

Shopify remains a top choice for online business thanks to its remarkable scalability. The platform provides all the essential tools for creating a fully functional online store, making it particularly suitable for those who want to start a dropshipping business.

However, to decide whether Shopify is really suitable for your business or not, you can check out the information below:

Advantages of selling on Shopify

Shopify is well-known for being user-friendly, offering a simple plug-and-play solution that lets online sellers set up their stores in just a few minutes. Here are some features that users find most appealing about the platform:

User-friendly interface: Shopify allows you to create a website on your own without having any coding skills. With its user-friendly templates and drag-and-drop builder, you can set up quickly and easily. This is truly one of Shopify’s selling points.
Marketing and SEO support: Shopify online stores come with built-in tools that support SEO and features to help you optimize your content. You can also improve the content on your website by using various integrated features available in Shopify.
Range of product types: While some online store platforms limit what you can sell, Shopify offers a wide range of products and services. For example, you can sell physical items, digital downloads like eBooks and music, subscriptions, coaching, or beauty services.
Reliable payment option: Shopify provides a safe and reliable payment gateway that easily connects with your website. Customers can use it with confidence, knowing their privacy and personal information are protected during online payments.
Safety and reliability: Shopify provides extensive solutions for maintaining a safe and dependable website, taking care of everything from server maintenance to software updates. Additionally, the platform ensures that your website runs smoothly and quickly, remaining accessible at all times.
Mobile-friendly design: Shopify is a platform that offers designs and themes optimized for all devices. Its highly responsive themes make it easy to create mobile websites, providing a seamless experience for customers across various devices and platforms.

Disadvantages while selling on Shopify

Besides many appealing features, Shopify also has some disadvantages to consider. While these issues might not be a big deal for everyone, some people might find them enough to reconsider using Shopify.

Pricing: Hosting an online store on Shopify might be more expensive than you expected. The platform offers 4 plans at a monthly rate of $19, $49, $299, and $2300 with only a 3-day free trial available. Many people think of choosing the basic plan to reduce the price, but it has very limited features that may not fully support your needs as a beginner.
Difficulty in managing content: Despite Shopify’s user-friendly interface, some users may find its content management system (CMS) somewhat limiting, especially if they are used to more advanced platforms. Managing blog posts, pages, and product descriptions can feel restrictive, especially when trying to customize layouts or add more complex features.
Do you own marketing: Building your own brand and finding customers is a difficult job. Not everyone can or want to do it. Meanwhile. marketplace like Amazon and eBay expose you to millions of customers just by being there.

No email hosting: Unlike some other e-commerce platforms, Shopify doesn’t include email hosting services. This means that if you want to have professional email addresses that use your domain name, you will need a third-party service to set that up. Then you can respond to customer inquiries quickly and efficiently via email.
Limited customization: While Shopify offers many themes and templates, some users may find customization options limited. Basic changes are easy, but significant design updates often require coding skills or a developer's help. This can be frustrating for businesses that want a unique look but lack the technical expertise or budget for extensive changes.
Difficult exit: Shopify’s lock-in feature can make it difficult to transfer your store. If you decide to leave the platform, the only thing you can take with you is your CSV report. So, make sure to decide whether you want to stay with Shopify for the long run before starting your business on it.

Considerations when selling on Shopify

If you have decided to build your online store on Shopify, take time to these important factors:

What to sell: Your product choices should be unique enough to stand out in the crowded Shopify market while also appealing to a large enough audience to help you make good sales.
Brand name and logo: Shopify provides a myshopify.com URL by default, but you can upgrade to a custom domain. Even if you keep the default URL, it's important to create a strong brand for your store. Use your store name, logo, and unique designs to connect with customers and build loyalty.
Business model: Creating a Shopify store can be simple, but it shouldn't be done without proper planning. Take the time to organize your business and set up the necessary legal and financial frameworks before launching your online shop.
Policies for business operations: You should create a business plan and clear guidelines for running your Shopify store, even if you're using a dropshipping model. As your business grows, having good policies will be crucial, especially for physical stores that use Shopify to reach more customers.

Conclusion

Now that we’ve gone through the advantages and disadvantages of starting a business on Shopify, I would say that Shopify is a great place to sell.

It is easy enough for you to start your online store without much hassle and there are more advance features if you need to scale up.

If you have any more questions about this e-commerce platform, you can check out our other articles or contact us directly for help.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can you sell anything on Shopify?

Basically, you can sell anything, from digital to physical products and services, as long as they follow Shopify’s rules and are legal.

Shopify’s Acceptable Use Policy supports a “free and open exchange of ideas and products,” which is important for commerce. However, some activities don’t fit with their goal of making commerce better for everyone. For example, things like child abuse, illegal drugs, and services related to terrorist groups are not allowed to be sold on Shopify.

How can you sell something on Shopify?

You can sign up for an account and set up your store. Once you add your products and start marketing them, selling becomes easy. Shopify will take care of collecting payments and handling taxes for you.

What is the cost to sell on Shopify?

Shopify only charges a monthly subscription fee and transaction fees, with no extra costs. Pricing packages can range from $19 per month for the Basic plan, $49 for the regular plan, to $299 for the Advanced plan. In other words, the total cost of selling on Shopify depends on the plan you select.

If you're curious about the exact costs of selling on Shopify, you'll need to calculate your expenses. These could include your internet bill, packaging costs, shipping fees, branding expenses, and marketing efforts.

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Tony Pham

Hello! I'm Tony Pham, a full-stack Shopify, Magento, and WordPress developer with over 12 years of experience in both front-end and back-end development.

Since 2016, I have been proudly working at Nextsky as the Tech Lead, where I continue to enhance my skills and contribute to exciting projects. One of my proudest works is the Agile theme, which passed Shopify's high standard and is currently available on Shopify Theme Store.

I am passionate about researching new technologies and staying updated with the latest trends in the industry. It not only makes my life more fulfilling and exciting but also allows me to bring better service to clients.

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