According to eMarketer, Canadian ecommerce sales will total over $117 billion in 2024.
When aspiring digital entrepreneurs learn of this profit potential, they want in on it. As they begin to navigate the path to online sales, they’re immediately faced with a decision (and expense).
“Which ecommerce platform should I use, and can I afford it in the startup phase?”
It’s a tough question to answer, especially if you’re new to it all. There are so many choices and you don’t even know which questions you should ask, let alone the right answers to any of them. It’s enough to make many give up before they start. It doesn’t have to be that way though. With a little direction, you can be on your way to a successful online store.
A Little Direction
If you’re just starting this journey, please read our Checklist: How to Start an Online Store (Ecommerce Business) in Canada.
Many of today’s ecommerce platforms have been designed for novices. You don’t have to be a programmer or have any experience in “backend” functionality. You simply sign up for a SaaS (software-as-a-service) hosted ecommerce platform, or use automatic installation to add it to your own website. You’ll have to learn the ins & outs of whichever option you choose, but you don’t have to become a developer just to set it up and maintain it.
However, when you’re looking for the best free ecommerce platforms, you’ll encounter options that require varying levels of technical expertise to install and use.
Some are intended to be free for developers to use. They can take the “open source” software, make changes, and use it to publish a custom website. While the software is free, the average user would have to hire a developer to get it up and running.
Many small businesses and individuals are looking for something they can do themselves in the startup stage (or if they’re new to online selling). This can be a wise move, because if you know how to do everything yourself you can maintain the site once it’s built. Otherwise, you’ll have to bring someone in whenever you want to make changes. In ecommerce, for example, updates to the product catalogue alone would quickly eat up profits if you hired a professional to do it.
[DISCLOSURE:Â We may receive compensation for links to products on this website.]
If this applies to you, you’re probably looking for a user-friendly, fully automated ecommerce platform, as opposed to just the software. That’s the “service” part of software-as-a-service (SaaS). Canada’s Shopify is a popular example of a SaaS ecommerce platform, but it isn’t free.
I’ve managed everything from a very basic online store built on a WordPress blog using PayPal, to larger inventories on major ecommerce platforms. A full-featured platform with customer support is easier as your product line grows, but if you need to get started on a tight budget you can check out free options.
The biggest disadvantages of free ecommerce software and platforms are:
- They’re often severely limited in features and functionality at the free level. You may have the option to upgrade with additional features and functionality, but it won’t be free.
- They offer very little (if any) customer service at the free level.
Don’t let these challenges stop you it’s the only way you can afford to get started. It may require more learning, work, and time, but you’ll still be able to make sales to help fund better solutions later on.
Do I even need an ecommerce platform?
If you don’t need robust ecommerce software, it’s relatively easy to register a domain name, set up hosting, and add standard ecommerce functionality (included in most website hosting packages). We only use and recommend Green Geeks for domain registration and hosting.
Hosting usually comes with templates and a somewhat automated setup process that most can navigate on their own. For the majority of hosts, it’s a simple matter of finding the software you want to use in your hosting control panel, and clicking on it. If not, the host should have resident experts in their particular platform that you can hire to set it up for you.
Alternatively, you can go with your own hosting as above, but install WordPress with a couple of clicks (free & automated installation through most website hosts). Use the WooCommerce plugin to set everything up for online sales (more about WooCommerce below).
The Best Free & Easy Ecommerce Platforms
I’ve listed a few of my favourite free ecommerce platforms below. Before you decide which platform to choose, check out the list of questions to ask providers in our Canadian Guide to the Best eCommerce Platform Software. First, determine what your ideal answers are to those same questions. What do you need in an ecommerce platform? Research anything you need to learn more about and then start contacting the companies that interest you.
As mentioned above, if you’re going the DIY route you’ll need a free ecommerce software platform or shopping cart that’s user-friendly and fully automated. I have found the following three options to be the best free ecommerce platforms, in my 25 years of experience managing websites. There are more out there if none of these seem like a fantastic fit for your new online store.
Note: The links lead to the platform website so you can check them out. However, when it comes time to install one check your hosting control panel for automated options. It will make the installation process much easier.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is often the first ecommerce platform used by WordPress enthusiasts. It can facilitate the sale of physical products, digital downloads, subscriptions, content and more. We typically use and recommend WordPress for DIY websites, and have naturally become very familiar with their platform, WooCommerce.
WooCommerce offers Canadian-friendly options, such as payments through PayPal and Stripe and shipping via Canada Post, ShipStation, Trade Gecko, and more.
The basic WooCommerce plugin is free, but you’ll have to add extensions from their marketplace for additional functionality and only some of them are free. There are over 400 official extensions and it’s open-source, so it can be further customized by your developer if necessary.
Read more about How to Start Any Online Business With WordPress.
OpenCart
OpenCart offers an impressive number of free features and plenty of functionality, even at the free level. Since it’s open-source software, there are tons of extensions available for anything you could possibly need beyond that.
OpenCart is an international platform with a wide range of shipping options, currencies, and payment gateways.
NopCommerce
The NopCommerce ecommerce platform offers a full range of features and functionality beyond facilitating online sales, including a content management system and tools for marketing & search engine optimization (SEO).
On the ecommerce side of things, this software brings plenty of built-in functionality, including warehouse management, integration with payment processors, and shipper integration.
NopCommerce can be used by developers or the end user. We’ve always used the one-click installation option available through most website hosts, which is probably what you’ll be interested in if you’re not a developer. They offer a one-click option directly from their website, if you can’t find it through your website host.
What has your biggest challenge been when choosing the best ecommerce platform for your online business? Please share your comments or questions in the comments below, or join us in the Online Business Canada Facebook group.
7 Recession Proof Online Businesses To Start From Home
Expert help to choose, start, and run a successful online business!
“Almost 200 pages of pure gold…”
GET IT ON AMAZON
Or Other Major Ebook Retailers
——————————————
© CanadiansInternet.com – Content on this website may not be used elsewhere without expressed permission. Thank you for respecting the effort that we have put into our original content.
DISCLOSURE:Â We may receive compensation for links to products on this website. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Our content is provided for informational purposes only and does not guarantee results.
Melody McKinnon is an internet entrepreneur with 25 years of experience in a wide range of online business models, backed by a formal business education and enhanced by training and mentorship. She has owned or managed both educational and ecommerce websites. Her book, 7 Recession Proof Online Businesses to Start From Home, is available from all major ebook retailers.
Melody has worked with many businesses & brands in a multitude of capacities. She can often be found on CanadianDigitalMedia.com, CanadiansInternet.com, CanadianFamily.net, and AllNaturalPetCare.com, as well as other quality digital publications. Her content has earned reference links from highly-respected websites, magazines and university textbooks.
