what e-commerce actually looks like
E-commerce is an incredibly powerful tool for business growth. Making sales in your sleep as customers from all over discover your amazing products online, click "buy," and eagerly await their package.
At its core, the process is simple, but it relies on several systems working together perfectly. The key is to go in with a clear plan and the right partner.
e-commerce platforms
Caregiver Candle & Co
Your e-commerce platform is the software that runs your entire online store. It manages your products, displays them beautifully, and provides the checkout experience. For most businesses, we recommend starting with a powerful, user-friendly platform like Shopify, Squarespace, or Wix.
Think of Shopify as the dedicated e-commerce powerhouse. It's built from the ground up specifically for selling products. It excels at managing large inventories, offers robust analytics, and has a massive ecosystem of apps to add almost any functionality you can dream of. If selling products is the primary focus of your business, Shopify is often the best bet.
Squarespace is a beautifully designed, all-in-one platform known for its stunning templates. While it also offers excellent e-commerce capabilities, it's an ideal choice for businesses where content and branding are just as important as the store itself—think artists selling prints, consultants selling courses, or boutiques that rely heavily on storytelling.
Wix is also a fantastic choice for business owners who are visually-minded and want more advanced creative features on their site. It's an all-in-one solution for boutiques, artists, and service-based businesses that also sell products or want to manage a truly custom-designed site with a straightforward inventory. Its highly intuitive and flexible layout and commerce options are perfect for achieving big goals.
payments
Your payment processor is the secure "digital cash register" that handles the money. It securely processes credit card payments, protecting both you and your customer. Popular and trusted options like Stripe and Square integrate seamlessly with platforms like Shopify and Squarespace. They handle the complex work of payment security and PCI compliance so you don't have to. While free to use, they take a small percentage of each transaction.
Connect your website and bank account to your payment processor, and you’ll start seeing your revenue appear in your business’s books. Remember, depending on your location or state, you’ll most likely receive a *tax form, such as a 1099 K, from your processor at the end of the year stating the amount you were paid out.
fees, taxes, and fulfillment
Setting up an online store involves several costs that are crucial to factor into your business plan and product pricing.
Every time you make a sale, your payment processor takes a small cut. This is a standard cost of doing business online. These credit card and transaction fees are typically around 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction. It’s not a huge amount per sale, but it's essential to account for it.
If you're selling physical goods, you'll likely need to collect *sales tax. This means you'll need the proper tax status and forms, like a *sales and use tax permit from your state. E-commerce platforms can help you automate tax collection, but you need to configure them correctly.
You'll need to budget for fulfillment costs such as boxes, mailers, bubble wrap, tape, printing supplies, and postage to get the package to your customer. Platforms like Shopify often have built-in tools that offer discounted shipping rates, which is a huge plus.
*Friendly disclaimer: We’re branding experts, not accountants, so you should always consult with a tax professional about your specific obligations.
prep & ongoing work
Building the site’s design and function is only part of the process. Inputting every single product detail, including titles, compelling descriptions, SKUs, prices, weights for shipping calculations, and multiple high-quality photos, takes a long and determined initial investment of time and resources. But being able to make sales while sleeping is a game-changer for many businesses.
Investing in clean, professional, and lifestyle product photos is non-negotiable. Customers can't touch or try on your products. Your photos have to do all the heavy lifting.
SEO is how new customers find you through Google. Writing detailed, keyword-rich product descriptions and alt-tags helps search engines understand what you sell so they can show your products to the right people.
Lastly, you have to drive traffic to your store. Regularly marketing your products on social media and engaging with your community is key to bringing in a steady stream of new customers.
start selling today
Setting up an e-commerce business is a big project, but it’s an incredibly rewarding one. With thoughtful planning and the right partner, you can build a powerful engine for growth.
We help Maryland-based businesses find the right platform, build beautiful and effective e-commerce websites, and develop marketing plans to attract customers. Beyond the site itself, we can help with all your branding needs, from designing custom packaging that wows your customers to refining the overall customer experience.
Ready to start your e-commerce journey? Let's talk.