Best eCommerce Platforms for Small Business

Last Updated on Dec 15, 2021 by Nurul Afsar

Are you trying to step into the world of eCommerce and grow your digital footprint using platforms, and upscale your business to a whole different realm? Deciding on this is a giant leap forward, but often, people get stuck trying to find what eCommerce Platform they should go for since there are countless options available, making it hard for us to choose.

There’s no need to get confused, in here, we will pinpoint each platform’s advantages and disadvantages to help you make the best decision for the sake of your business. Understand that most of these platforms have the same primary purpose: to help small businesses navigate the digital space and reach more people. However, there are still crucial differences that we should note to make an informed judgment.

Two Different Types of Platforms

Before we get straight to the good stuff, we need first to address that these platforms could be under these two primary types of eCommerce platforms, and it’s best to understand this before discussing them individually.

SAAS platforms are for eCommerce business startups that want to go headstrong without taking care of the complexities as these platforms are much more user-friendly than the alternative. If you’re looking for simplified version platforms, we highly recommend you start by using a SAAS-type eCommerce platform.

Open Source platforms are for businesses looking to enter a much broader scope of technical stuff and plan to do something extra. This platform provides much more flexibility, but it could be technically and financially demanding than the alternative.

 

Top eCommerce Platforms for Small Businesses

Let’s talk about some of the most highly ranked eCommerce platforms and tackle how different they are by understanding each one’s pros and cons to pinpoint what platform is best for you and your business.

Shopify

There is no shortage of how-to guides and step-by-step instructional videos when it comes to setting up and integrating your business through the use of Shopify. This SAAS eCommerce platform is genuinely designed for entry-level users and aspiring entrepreneurs making their way into the digital world of eCommerce. It also provides out-of-box payment processing, making the layout much more manageable and convenient for business owners. However, the added benefits for beginners might be a drawback for advanced businesses that are trying to scale as Shopify locks down their API usage. It is also harder to switch to other payment options should you decide to explore alternatives in the future. Hire Shopify developers here.

BigCommerce

This type of eCommerce platform is excellent for business owners who want the best of both worlds when it comes to the simplicity of a SAAS Platform with a touch of a little more flexibility than you get from open source platforms. No wonder why BigCommerce is considered one of the best eCommerce platforms for small businesses. This platform is ideal for someone in the middle of tech-savvy and beginner, so that means it won’t be as straightforward as the others and won’t be as flexible. The platform aims to provide the middle ground for balanced user-friendliness and functionality.

WIX 

If you’re someone who is looking for a platform that provides a straightforward content management system along with light eCommerce functionality, WIX should be on top of your list. This platform focuses on the DIY market by integrating simplistic drag and drop functionalities. It is also one of the most affordable options aimed at beginners to try out and start their eCommerce adventure without breaking the bank. Like any other SAAS Platform, its aim to become much more user-friendly could become a limitation and potential issue in the long run as you scale. If you focus on content first and consider yourself a novice, WIX should be an ideal eCommerce platform for you.

Squarespace

If you’re someone who is passionate about design and cares deeply about how your site looks but doesn’t have the highest tech-savviness in your team, Squarespace is your savior. The platform comes with an easy-to-set-up integration and many high-quality templates that should be enough to make your website stand out from the ordinary. Suppose you’re not worried about not having too much control over your site’s structure and prefer to have a convenient and great-looking website; you should consider Squarespace as your eCommerce platform for your small business.

WooCommerce 

WooCommerce is developed to integrate with WordPress, making it considered the biggest eCommerce platform on the planet. If you’re someone who is looking for a little more flexible option, you’ll be pleased to know that this one is an Open Source platform, so it is open for whatever customization you want. There is also no shortage of active community developers if you need help with some business integrations for your online shop. Because it is much more flexible than most eCommerce platforms, it also comes with complexities that could cause a problem if you don’t have enough knowledge and technical help. Nevertheless, WooCommerce is excellent for techy business owners who could utilize its lesser limitations as an open-source platform. If you need help, hire WooCommerce Experts.

Magento

This Open Source Platform is one of the most flexible platforms you could ever use for eCommerce. The world is your beacon as you virtually have no limitations. You can create whatever user experience you desire as long as you have the technical capabilities or enough support to make it happen. Along with this flexibility comes the responsibility of having regular updates, maintenance, patching, and all the technicalities at your hands, unlike other platforms that makes it easy and simple for their users. If you think you can take advantage of the many benefits of this type of eCommerce platform, this is indeed one of the best options for your small business. If you need help with the setup, hire Magento web developers.

Takeaways

As you can see, each platform has its own unique advantages and disadvantages when it comes to being an eCommerce provider. Something that works for you might not be the best option for others, it all boils down to specifying your priorities. The best way to decide what’s best for you is to understand where you are as a business and where you want to go in the long run. We hope that this guide will clear out your confusion and help you distinct the key differences on each platform. Visit Numinix today and learn more about topics like this.