How to start a webshop in Belgium in 2024
12 April, 2024
By Storo
By now, we’ve heard all the success stories — brave entrepreneurs conquering the world of e-commerce with fashionable, in-demand products. In today’s digital age, anyone can be their own boss, and we’re here to show you how! We cover everything you need to know about opening your webshop in Belgium, with a step-by-step guide that’ll start you off from scratch. You’ll have a thriving online empire in no time!
How much does it cost to start a webshop?
Starting an online business does come with its fair share of expenses, but the good news is launching your webshop can be way more cost-effective than starting a traditional brick-and-mortar business. You’ll save on renting a physical space for your store as well as maintenance and utilities. You also don’t need full-time staff on site to make sales and help customers, since almost everything is done online.
That said, there are a few essential costs you’ll have to budget for. The most obvious cost is your product — and not only do you have to source it, but it will require branding too. How much does this cost overall? It depends on the product you sell, how much volume you order at the outset, and who you contract to help with branding. Most webshop owners start with 50 to 100 units of product, so if each product costs €10 wholesale, you’re looking at a minimum of €500–€1000 on stock alone.
Additionally, you’ll have to register your business, which costs around €70. You’ll also have to cover VAT registration, for tax purposes, which starts at €50.
Another cost to budget for is website development and hosting, including setting up your online store platform and designing your website. Depending on your technical skills, you might choose to hire a web developer or try user-friendly platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce. Each of these platforms set their own subscription fees, and domain, hosting, and payment processing fees will be ongoing costs.
How to start a webshop in 2024 from scratch
1. Identify your product and niche
Not sure what to sell? Take your time with this step. You might want to go for a product you’re passionate about — great! This can contribute to the longevity of your business, since you’re more likely to stick it out if the going gets tough. That said, make sure you do thorough market research. Have a look at which products are trending; you can use SEO tools like Google Trends to see what people tend to search for in your area.
Consider how costly the product is. If a product costs too much to make or buy wholesale, it might not bring in much profit, and if shipping costs are sky-high, there’s no point trying to sell it online. Also make sure to look at your competitors and what they’re selling. Is there a significant way to improve upon their offering? Are there gaps in the market where you are?
Order a reasonable volume of product to start off with so you can test out whether your product sells or not. If you don’t get it right the first time, come back to the drawing board.
2. Create a business plan
Every successful business starts with a well-thought-out plan, since not having one is like trying to get somewhere without any directions. Your business plan, at the very minimum, should include the following:
- Executive summary
- Business description
- Market analysis and strategy
- Product description
- Organisation and management
- Operating plan
- Marketing and sales strategy
- Financial projections
Make sure it’s detailed and comprehensive, so if you’re ever in doubt, you can go back and refer to it for the way ahead.
3. Register your business
Once you’ve finalised your business plan, it’s time to make your webshop official. Registering your webshop business is crucial for legal compliance and legitimacy. Begin by visiting the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE) website and follow the instructions for business registration. Prepare necessary documentation, including identification and business details, and pay the required registration fees. Upon successful registration, you’ll receive an official business number; this means you can legally operate!
4. Develop your branding
Don’t underestimate the value of good branding. If you create an identifiable brand that appeals to customers, they’ll think of your business before scouting your competitors for the same product.
During this phase, you’ll design your logo and choose your colour scheme and typography. These should reflect your brand’s personality and leave a lasting impression on potential customers. Your branding elements should remain consistent across all channels, including your website and social media profiles, and across all marketing materials and packaging. If you’re not a creative at heart, consider enlisting the services of a professional designer.
5. Build your online store
Building your online storefront can either be a walk in the park or a lengthy, complex affair. It all depends on what you want from your website. Whether you design it yourself or enlist the help of a professional, make sure your website is user-friendly with modern design elements and compelling product descriptions and imagery. Also integrate secure payment gateways so customers feel your site is trustworthy and make sure your site is optimised for mobile, since many customers use their phones to make purchases.
6. Implement your marketing strategy
Once your webshop is up and running, you’ll need to drive traffic towards it to generate sales. Use a combination of digital marketing strategies, like search engine optimisation (SEO), social media marketing, email marketing, and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. In order to market effectively, you’ll have to create engaging content and track the performance of your marketing efforts to optimise them. If this isn’t your forte, consider outsourcing.
7. Provide stellar customer service
Good customer service will help you build long-term relationships and foster customer loyalty. Keep an open line of communication via email and telephone to address customer concerns and enquiries promptly. Streamline the shopping experience, provide hassle-free returns and refunds, and solicit feedback to continuously improve your products and services. Positive word-of-mouth and customer reviews can significantly impact your webshop’s reputation and credibility.
8. Adapt and improve where necessary
Webshop finally up and running? Congrats! Make sure to continuously monitor performance metrics like traffic, conversion rates, average order value, and customer retention. Analyse this data closely to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for improvement. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new strategies, technologies, and tactics to stay ahead of the competition and keep up with evolving market trends. This adaptive approach will set your webshop up for long-term success.
Grow your webshop with Storo Self Storage
Once the orders start flooding in and the demand for stock keeps climbing, one question remains: Where do you store all your products? Eventually, your operation will outgrow your garage but you might not need an entire warehouse for stock storage.
Storo meets you in the middle. With our wide range of unit sizes, you can select just as much space as you need, and pay for no more or less. Let’s keep those profit margins high! Plus, your products couldn’t be more secure in our care.
Consider us your new business partner and don’t hesitate to contact us for your webshop storage. We’ve got all the space you need to grow when business is booming!