How to profitably buy a ready-made online store: tips and tricks

Entering the world of online trading is easy, the main thing is to choose a ready-made store... And here it is, the moment of truth: how not to get lost in the ocean of offers and choose success? Isn't this what we all expect when we dream of starting our own business? Draw up a business plan taking into account all possible development scenarios for your online store. Financial literacy and careful calculation will help you avoid unexpected losses and increase profits faster. In the world of online business, there are no small details, every detail matters. Approach the purchase of a ready-made online store consciously and carefully, and success will not be long in coming!

Glossary

• 🛒 Ready online store: An online store that has already been created is configured and is operational, ready for immediate management by the new owner.
• 📈 Profitability: The ratio of profit to costs showing the efficiency of a business.
• 🎯 Target Audience (TA): A group of people who are expected to be interested and attracted to the online store to make purchases .
• 🔍 Competitor Analysis: The process of researching competing online stores to identify their strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement.
• 💼 Business plan: A document describing the goals, strategies and tactics, plans for the development and financing of an online store .
• 🔒 Due Diligence: The procedure for due diligence of the legal, financial and operational aspects of a business before purchasing for minimizing risks.
• 🔧 Technical support: Technical support service that ensures the proper functioning of the online store.
• 📊 KPI (Key Performance Indicators): Key performance indicators that are used to evaluate the success and performance of an online store .
• 🤖 SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Optimizing a website for search engines to improve its visibility and increase organic traffic .
• 📦 Warehouse Operations: The process of managing inventory of goods, their storage and delivery to customers.
• 🗂️ CRM (Customer Relationship Management): A customer relationship management system designed to improve interactions and increase customer satisfaction .
• 💳 Payment systems: Services that enable financial transactions in an online store (e.g. PayPal, Stripe) .
• 📧 Email Marketing: A type of digital marketing that uses emails to attract customers and increase sales.
• 🏷️ Pricing: The process of setting prices for goods and services of an online store.

Differences between buying a ready-made online store and creating a new one

When I started looking for options for my business, I had to make an important decision: create a new online store from scratch or buy a ready-made one. Analyzing all aspects of this choice, I have come up with several key rules that will help you make an informed and profitable choice.

📋 Cost accounting

Buying a ready-made online store can be more expensive than creating a new one. When I looked through the proposals, the cost of finished projects on average ranged from 500 euros and above. Developing a new website can be much cheaper, especially if you use website builders. In this case, you only pay for a subscription to the platform.

📊 Advantages of a ready-made online store

I have discovered several important advantages that ready-made online stores have:

• ✅ Payment and delivery settings. The finished website already has integrated payment and delivery systems, which allows you to immediately accept orders.
• ✅ Created and completed product catalog. In most cases, I wanted to add a product catalog provided by the seller, which saves time on its creation.
• ✅ Interface and usability. The interface is warm and intuitive, and can be evaluated before purchasing.

Using the example of one online store that I looked at, it turned out that it was already fully integrated with social networks and several external systems, such as ELBUZ This significantly reduces setup and integration time.

📈 Integration with trading platforms

I especially liked that many ready-made stores are already configured to export price lists in formats XML, CSV and YML for posting on Google Shopping. This makes it possible to immediately activate participation in large trading platforms, which allows you to start selling without delay.

🤔 Risk assessment

I recommend carefully assessing the risks when purchasing a ready-made online store. When I purchased my first ready-made project, one of the first tasks was to check the legal side, as well as analyze current contracts with suppliers and partners.

🔍 My verdict: what's worth considering and what's not

To visualize the usefulness of various approaches, I created a summary table:

As a result of my experience, I came to the conclusion that buying a ready-made online store can be an effective strategy if you take into account all the points described. I recommend that you weigh the pros and cons in detail before making your final decision. If you are still in doubt, I recommend studying the step-by-step instructions for opening an online clothing store from scratch, this will help you better understand the process and make the best decision for you.

What products are most popular in online stores

When I started buying ready-made online stores, I realized that one of the first key decisions was to choose the right range of products. I realized that the following categories are the most popular among buyers:

• 🎽 Clothing and shoes
• 📱 Electronics and household appliances
• 💄 Cosmetics and perfumes
• 🏠 Household goods
• 🐾 Pet goods

Noticing that these particular products were in greatest demand, I carefully analyzed market trends and studied potential buyers. It was necessary to take into account not only popular categories, but also my own hobbies and interests, because it was important for me that I sell what I really like.

Regional niche

I believe that for successful work it is also important to take into account regional characteristics. One of the successful projects for me was cooperation with local manufacturers. I found several small manufacturers who did not have their own online store and offered them mutually beneficial cooperation. This solution turned out to be the best in my situation.

In practice, I came across an interesting point: some of the small manufacturing companies had no experience in online trading and needed help promoting their products. I took up this direction and soon our store became one of the most popular in the region.

Dropshipping: pros and cons

If we talk about dropshipping, I immediately remembered an example when I started working with manufacturers from other states. Dropshipping allows you to avoid the need to rent warehouse space and the cost of equipment. However, there are certain risks to consider, such as delivery delays and difficulties with guarantees.

However, in one of my projects I used dropshipping to sell electronics and it worked perfectly. Here are some tips if you want to try this approach:

• 📦 Choose your suppliers carefully
• 🚚 Evaluate delivery and holding times for inventory
• 🤝 Enter into contracts to ensure compliance with all terms of cooperation

Choosing an assortment taking into account hobbies

Experience tells me that choosing an assortment must take into account your own interests. For example, if you like sports, you will find it easy and fun to sell sporting goods. I've found this to be true because the range you choose will determine not only your buying audience, but also your level of enthusiasm and involvement in the process.

Let me give you an example of when I chose to sell pet products because I am a pet owner myself. This allowed me to understand customer needs and better navigate products.

What to consider to avoid mistakes

To make your ready-made online store successful, I advise you to consider the following points:

🛒 Research the market and your customers' needs in advance
🛒 Don't forget about the importance of customer service and prompt support
🛒 Constantly analyze market trends and adjust your assortment

Recommendation table

I am convinced that following these simple rules , you can make your online store a successful and profitable investment.

Checking reliability and reputation

When purchasing a ready-made Internet - store, one of the main factors that I recommend paying attention to is its age and reputation. 📅

Experienced approaches to analysis

For example, I always start by studying information about how many years a given online store has existed. If it is less than a year old, this may indicate that the resource has not achieved positive results and the owner has decided to get rid of it.

Attendance and user activity

📊 I always pay special attention to daily site traffic statistics. If it is consistently below 100 users, then I conclude that the business is not generating the expected profit. From my own experience I can say that a successful online store must have significant and stable traffic.

Indexing and Content Checking

It is very important to analyze the level of indexing of the store by popular search engines such as Bing and Google. 👍

If search engines do not see more than half of the site’s pages, this indicates low quality content.

From my experience, I can say that a resource with 100% indexing has a much higher chance of success.

Reliability of sales data

I advise you to try get the most detailed and reliable data on the real number of sales that the site you like gives. Personally, I always request detailed reports and review them to ensure the seller is honest.

Recommendations for Owner and Product Sources

I strongly advise you to find out where the current online store owner buys products and how he makes its sale. This will help avoid possible problems with suppliers and logistics.

Against such situations, I always preferably use proven services and platforms for data analysis.

Recommendation table

Thanks to these recommendations, it will be easier for you choose an online store that will become a profitable asset. I am convinced that following my advice will help you avoid most common mistakes and make a profitable purchase.

Basic actions after purchasing a ready-made online store

After the purchase of a ready-made online store is completed, it is extremely important to properly organize all actions to launch the project. I will share my experience and tell you how to do this as efficiently as possible.

Installing and configuring the hit counter

The first thing I did was install hit counters on the site. I used simple and reliable tools such as Google Analytics. These services help analyze traffic, understand user behavior and adjust strategy based on complete data analysis.

Analysis of the current assortment using Keyplaner from Google

The next important step was to analyze the product range using the Keyplaner service. I used this tool to determine the most popular queries in my niche and understand which products and brands are in demand. This allowed me to:

• 💡 Make a list of key products that are worth emphasizing.
• 🎯 Understand seasonal needs and adjust the assortment depending on the time of year.

Search for unique content and SEO optimization

Every online store needs high-quality and unique content. You must remember that your site should under no circumstances be sanctioned by search engines. That is why I paid special attention to SEO optimization:

• ✍️ I wrote exclusively unique texts for each page.
• 🔍 Used keywords collected using Keyplaner from Google.
• 🌟 Created attractive meta tags and descriptions to increase click-through rates.

Methods of shipment and delivery of goods

Another important point is the organization of delivery of goods. I made sure that my supplier had clear shipping and delivery conditions, and constantly monitored the availability of goods in the warehouse. This allowed me to avoid unpleasant surprises and ensure prompt delivery to customers.

Financial analysis and pricing

To properly build a financial strategy, I studied competitors' offers and set an average markup of 50% . I took into account seasonality and demand for specific types of products in order to maximize profits with minimal risks.

Recommendations

What to do:

• 📊 Install reliable hit counters: Google Analytics.
• 🔍 Analyze queries using Keyplaner from Google.
• 🖋 Fill the site with unique and high-quality content.
• 🚛 Check the terms of shipment and delivery of goods from the supplier.
• 📈 Conduct regular financial analysis and adjustment of pricing policy.

What not to do:

• 🚫 Ignore setting and analyzing visit counters.
• 🚫 Copy content without checking for uniqueness.
• 🚫Do not check the availability of goods in the warehouse.
• 🚫 Rely only on your own assumptions when analyzing demand.

As a result, if you carefully approach each of these aspects, then purchasing and managing a ready-made online store will be as fruitful as possible and will bring long-awaited profits. I recommend that you use my experience and examples to avoid mistakes and successfully develop your business.

Experience Skechers

Description of the client, his business and goals

Skechers is one of the world's leading manufacturers shoes and accessories. Founded in 1992, the company spans over 170 countries and serves a diverse customer base of men, women and children. Skechers' primary goal is to provide quality shoes that combine comfort and style for everyday use and active lifestyles.

Main goals and objectives

The company has set itself the task of reaching a new level of sales using online store. Key goals included:

• 🎯 Increase online sales by 50% in during the first year.
• 🌍 Expanding the geography of sales outside the United States.
• 📈 Increased brand awareness of in new markets.
• ⚡ Optimizing the user experience on the platform.

Main problem

The main problem that had to be solved when purchasing a ready-made online store was was the lack of localized content and adaptation to the characteristics of new markets. It was necessary to create an interface that was intuitive and attractive to users.

Characteristics and interests of the target audience

Skechers' target audience includes the following groups:

• 👩💼 Women 25-45 years old, active and involved in sports.
• 👨🎤 Men 30-50 years old who value comfort and style in everyday life.
• 👨👩👧👦 Families with children looking for quality shoes for their children.

Key points that may be of interest to potential customers

• Material quality: shoes are made of high quality materials , passed strict control.
• Durability: Customers note the long life of the shoes.
• Comfort: comfortable sole and anatomical shape of the shoe.
• Fashionable design: a wide range of models for any occasion.

| Month | Sales before the project | Sales after the project | |--------------|-----------------------|---------- -------------| | January | $200,000 | $300,000 | | February | $250,000 | $370,000 | | March | $220,000 | $340,000 |

In the first quarter after acquiring a ready-made online store, sales increased by 45% , which confirmed the success of the expansion strategy. The company was able to effectively implement a new product, relying on best practices and detailed content localization.

Project results

Thanks to an integrated approach to solving the problem, Skechers managed to significantly increase online sales , increase brand awareness in new markets and strengthen customer loyalty. Automating store management processes allowed the company to focus on improving user experience and developing new marketing strategies.

Often asked questions on the topic: How to profitably buy a ready-made online store: tips and recommendations

Thank you for reading and leveling up 📚

That's all! Now that you are armed with all the necessary information, you are ready to boldly enter the market of ready-made online stores. Remember: analysis , recheck and planning - your best friends. And now, thanks to this knowledge, you have already become a real pro in this matter! 🚀 Put into practice the tips and recommendations, and success will not keep you waiting.

Your guide to this world of effective online business is Galina Ostranyna, an independent expert at Elbuz.

Let me know in the comments what you think about it.