FREE Download: Start your own online business checklist

This guide includes:

• How to plan your business

• How to set up your marketing

• How to build your website

• And more!

All in a simple goal-oriented format.

* Disclaimer * Some of the posted links are affiliate programs. By clicking these links, I may receive monetary compensation. This will not alter the price or change the buyer's experience.

In 2022, more people are taking their side hustle full-time than ever before.  The internet is the tool allowing these dreams to come true.  This platform levels the playing field.  You can have untold reach to find and attract customers to your offerings.  Here, you have the power to speak to people across the globe, looking for exactly what you are selling.

If you have been on the fence about launching your business, now is the time.  This is the sign you have been waiting for!

If you are a service provider or a creative looking to launch your business, the e-commerce game might be right for you.  You can have the most obscure, niche products and still find your tribe.  There is always someone out there who is your perfect person.  An online business makes it easier than ever to allow them to discover you!

So many new and exciting products and businesses pop up every day.  The internet allows them to find their demographic and be profitable.  You can connect with people who will truly appreciate your products or services.  People who are searching for alternatives to the ordinary.

If you have been on the fence about launching your business, now is the time.  This is the sign you have been waiting for!  Start your website, put up your shingle, and stake your claim!

If you need more convincing, this is the perfect article for you.  Here we will be discussing the benefits of starting a business online.  These benefits are compared to having a brick-and-mortar storefront.  If you want to chat in person about some of your hesitations, I am always available for coffee!  Or, if you just need help organizing your to-do list, grab this FREE how-to start a business checklist to get you started.

Why You Should Start an Online Business

I have always been a great employee.  I was dedicated to my work and went above and beyond to produce exceptional results for my job.  This was endlessly frustrating when I encountered a micro-managing supervisor.  I knew I continually did the best job possible.  I had complete confidence in my ability to perform a task, and if I was ever in doubt, I was not afraid to ask.

I found it easy to be entrusted with extra duties or special projects.  That was never the problem.  The issue was that employers often do not want to compensate you for this.  It is easy to get extra duties, but getting a raise is not so simple.

Once I finally found faith in my ability to produce these same results for myself, I knew there was no other way.  If I was going to finally get the recognition and pay that I wanted, I would have to go out and create my own company—one where I could make the decisions and set my own pay. 

As I explored different business ideas, one decision stayed constant.  My business would have to be based online.  I needed the freedom and the reach that the internet offered.  I wanted to be able to choose my hours and my daily tasks.  This kind of flexibility was not possible with a brick-and-mortar. 

I knew starting up that I would have to do the heavy lifting on my own.  This means that I had to juggle every position on any given day.  One day I’m a social media manager.  Next, I edit content and design the website.  On the third day, I would be chatting with clients and consulting.  There were so many hats!  Building my business online allowed me to switch between them without being locked into specified business hours.

Global access

By putting up your online shingle, you have instant contact with anyone with internet access across the globe.  It has never been easier to get this kind of reach. 

You no longer have to make sure that your business has a prime location, on a busy street, in the middle of downtown.  Now, your brand can instantly become international.  You can find and welcome customers from anywhere you are willing and able to do business. 

Physical products may be confined within the restrictions of your shipping company; however, for service-based companies, the world is your oyster.

Rent and utilities are often the largest expense to storefronts.  You no longer have this problem.  You also don’t have to worry about foot traffic or seasonal and weather changes impacting your visitors. 

There are countless ways to drive traffic to your website from anywhere.  This gives you even more flexibility because you can create a marketing strategy that matches your specific strengths and preferences.

Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Now that websites can handle nearly every part of the transaction, business hours are a thing of the past. 

Your store is always open, regardless of the time differences between you and your customers.  While you may have the odd occasion when you have to have real-time communication outside of office hours, that is the exception, not the rule. 

With a detailed and customer-friendly website, you can simplify nearly every process of your customers’ journey.  This means that your customers can help themselves to your wares anytime.  Then, when you are ready, you can ship them at your convenience. 

Online ordering and checkout of physical and digital goods

There are so many different options for handling the payment and distribution of your products.  Your website can handle nearly every aspect of the sale once you have set it up. 

Online shopping carts are more intuitive than ever.  There are countless ways for your customers to pay if you are willing to set up these systems. 

Many websites now have shipping software built into their platform for added convenience if you sell physical products. 

The process is even more simple if you sell digital creations, as the websites can distribute these items for you.  Purchasing the merchandise will lead your customers to an automatic download that they can access at their leisure.  Once the product is up, your work is essentially done.

Passive income, anyone?

Online scheduling platforms for services

You no longer have to worry about hiring and supervising reception staff if you are a service provider.  It’s easier than ever to add the ability to book online to your website.  This lets your clients browse your calendar and decide what times work best for their schedules.

This is entirely hands-free for you.  You no longer have to do the back-and-forth dance of trying to book appointments.

You will also find that many clients prefer this method.  They don’t want to wait on hold or have to talk to anyone.  They can quickly visit your website anytime during the day or night and book their appointment.

Those who prefer to book with a person simply make their next appointment at the end of each session.

I use Squarespace to run both my website and my scheduling.  It’s incredibly easy to use and has a ton of features that I never even knew I needed.  I simply set up the times I am available to take appointments and set how far ahead someone can book.  As things come up, I can effortlessly block time, all from the back end of my website.

I also have my scheduler integrated with my calendar and zoom, so once a client books an appointment, Squarespace instantly:

• collects payment,

• schedules the zoom meeting,

• blocks it off in my calendar,

• sends me a notification,

• and sends a confirmation email to the client. 

All I have to do is show up! 

Even if I were not an affiliate for Squarespace, I would be extremely excited about these features.  In fact, I was a customer first.  I was able to build Absolutely Studying using these elements.  They allow me to automate the onboarding process of my students so I can focus on what I love.  Once I started mentoring other businesswomen, I realized how often I was singing their praises and eventually signed up as an affiliate.

Reduction of labour costs

When you are just starting out, expenses are always a top concern.  Businesses often go under simply because they can not afford the staff needed to run them.  This is often linked to those pesky business hours of a storefront.  You have to be available when you say you will be open.  If customers come by and are greeted with an unexpected closed sign, they will probably not return.

Overworked owners try to cover every aspect of a brick-and-mortar business, but they can fall short.  They simply can’t be everywhere at once.  There are too many jobs to be done, too many hats to wear.  It’s exhausting!  Soon they are presented with the problem, hire someone, even if you can’t afford it, or burn yourself out.

When your business is based online, these tasks become easier to juggle.  Because so much of the job is automated by your website, you can cut back on labour costs until you can actually afford the staff. 

You can create longer and more personal relationships with your customers

I’m sure by now you have heard of the know, like, trust factor.  First, potential customers have to get to know you.  Then, they have to grow to like you.  After that, they begin to trust you.  Each of these phases is an essential step to building a lasting relationship.  Customers who feel a strong positive bond with you are more likely to come back again and again.

This trust phase is when they are finally ready to make a purchase. 

Customers follow us through our journey and build much stronger relationships between our websites and social media.  They see us on multiple platforms and likely have interacted several times, even if it is similar.

We become part of their lives before they even make a purchase.  This is how life-long customers and clients are made.  Putting in the time to allow them to get to know you, your mission, and your products will strengthen the bond.  This is the secret to selling without ever pitching.

Have customers from anywhere in the world

Global access to customers changes who buy from us and how. It can also change what products and services we provide.

As you grow your client base, patterns will start to appear.  To build life-long buyers, you will want to respond to those patterns.  You might even discover different needs or pain points you can address from patrons in various regions.

This can lead to something magical—discovering new products in new markets.  Improvements intended for one audience may be warmly received by another.  These other demographics can view this approach as fresh and exciting. 

What an excellent opportunity to anticipate your customers' needs and thrill them!

Work from anywhere in the world

Not only can you entertain customers from anywhere in the world, but you can be anywhere in the world while you do it.

This is a fantastic opportunity if you love to travel or just tend to move around a lot.  You can complete your work from anywhere with internet access.  You no longer have to put your career on pause to make a trip.

Travel the world as you build your business simply by taking your laptop.

This does not just apply to those with wanderlust.  How would you like to work from a café this week? 

Being my own boss came in very handy over the last several months.  First, my youngest son broke his leg.  He required a full hip-to-toe cast which meant I had to stay home with him.  I can’t imagine the reaction I would have had to deal with explaining to my boss I had to call in sick for 6-weeks because someone else was injured.  It literally turns my stomach to imagine that conversation.

After a month and a half, the cast was finally off, and we promptly got sick.  I mean that literally.  Friday, the cast was removed.  Monday, I was too ill to even stand.  To this day, I am still convinced we caught it from our trip to the hospital to have the cast removed. 

Despite our best efforts, it spread throughout the house.  We ended up sick for another 3 weeks!  How could I possibly explain this to an employer?  I would have definitely lost my job.  There is no way I would be granted the leeway to take more than two months off work with no notice.  Not to mention the financial toll that would have taken on us.

Running my own business means I can give myself grace.  I could work when I felt up to it and rest when needed.  I was also able to arrange my schedule to fit my clients when my son was sleeping.  I was able to survive these setbacks and push my business forward.  I am terrified to imagine what would have happened if someone else had signed my paychecks.

Flexible Schedule

A flexible schedule is at the top of everyone’s list.  We all have those days when we want to just break the rules and do things differently.  An online business affords you this luxury. 

Can I tell you a secret?  I write every single one of my blog posts while folding laundry or doing other chores.  I’m not locked to my desk like I would with a typical job.  I can fit my work schedule around my life, and I love it.

Perhaps you prefer to work at night or have a day full of appointments.  When you are running an online business, you have the flexibility to shift your work schedule around your life.  You choose the perfect timing to do the tasks you feel like doing.  You set the deadlines, and you make plans.

As a parent, I can’t tell you how much of a relief it is to have this ability when I am up with a sick child all night.  This is something I used to worry about constantly.  I remember the looks of judgement I would get when I had to call out because my son had a cold or the stomach flu.  As if I could just hit pause on his symptoms until the weekend.  I remember reluctantly paying for, then handing over, sick notes to justify my unpaid time off.  I also remember the resentment building.

No one will notice if I don’t hit my desk right at 9 am.  I can take my time and provide all the cuddles needed without worrying about clients lined up outside my locked door.  I can take my time in the morning, enjoy my coffee, and plan my day.

Convenience

As I mentioned above, I use Squarespace as my web platform because of all the available tools.  These tools save a massive amount of time in running my business.  It manages my clients and schedules, holds my membership area, takes care of my online store, and even sends out my newsletters.

It’s easy to streamline processes into manageable tasks, so I don’t get overwhelmed.  Even though I now have helpers to lighten my workload, I am still an overachieving perfectionist.  I still like to be hands-on in all areas of my business.  This allows me peace of mind knowing that everything is done according to my preferences.

You can create simple systems to complete every task in your business.  In this way, you can ensure that you don’t forget anything.  It also makes it easier than ever to get everything done on the mile-long to-do list.

You can serve an unlimited number of clients at the same time

Because all of your systems are automated by your website, the number of customers served is unlimited.  I use a hybrid model when helping my clients.  I offer free resources on my website for those who just need a nudge in the right direction.  I offer comprehensive DIY packages for those who prefer to do it themselves.  I even have a student membership where I can work with them in groups and offer masterclasses and personal sessions as needed.  Finally, I have one-on-one coaching packages for clients who need additional support. 

I try to keep the number of coaching clients I have enrolled at any time low.  That way, I can devote my full attention to them.  I offer a chat and design programs that will suit their needs.  This way, I am not forcing people into a program that might not fit them.  It also means that I am not constantly running the same scripts every time I log into Zoom!

I can serve everyone on my site between my free resources, my DIY packages, and my membership club.  Anyone can access these items.  Because I have already created, posted, and automated delivery, I have no capacity limits.

People are not lining up at a cashier to purchase packages.  There is no bottleneck for customers to check-in or book an appointment at the front desk because the website handles it in real-time.  Then you just have to deliver the goods or services through your own processes on the back end.  There are no more long lines of impatient customers waiting for someone to help them.

Social media levels the playing field

Before social media, advertising was limited to players with deep pockets.  Small companies starting with no budget could not get in on the action.

Wow, times have changed.  Anyone can advertise on social media with a shoestring budget.  If you don’t have the money, you can spend time building your following and promoting your brand organically.

You can create ad campaigns for pennies a day through Facebook, Instagram, or Google to drive people to your website.  You can promote or pause in the blink of an eye.  If you don’t get the response you need, you can stop and edit the ad.  You can hold it off until your next deposit if you run out of money.  There is so much flexibility.

This may not completely level the playing field, but it definitely takes away some big corporations’ advantages.

You can pivot products and services incredibly quickly with trends

Another significant advantage that a small online business has over giant corporations is its ability to pivot on a dime.  You can think up an amazing new offering, design it, create a mock-up and promote it in a day.  Your timeline is only constrained by your schedule. 

This gives the distinct advantage of pouncing on the short attention span of the internet.  Since you are the only authority, you can offer whatever you want.  There is no red tape to work through and no bosses to pitch to.

Large corporations will get tangled up in bureaucracy for weeks or months, significantly impacting their responsiveness to trends.  Even if they wanted to jump on a trend, it takes months or years to get through approvals.  There are too many chefs in the kitchen.  Each with its own checklist of duties.  Launching a new product takes them forever!

Low overhead costs

Websites are remarkably cheap to create and maintain.  Even with all the bells and whistles, you can run an online company for a fraction of a brick-and-mortar store. 

This, coupled with the decreased labour costs and streamlined procedures, saves a ton of money in the start-up phase.  You can literally start a new business in the afternoon over a cup of coffee.

You can start an online business for $0 if you need to.  There are places to get free sites and offer digital products or services that cost no money to make.

Better customization

Websites now let you customize every aspect of their design.  You can pour your time into your site, making sure it looks just right.

You can also customize the journey of each of your customers.  Social media interaction, email marketing, and demographics collected on our website can help you create a personalized experience for your customers.  This will strengthen your relationship with them and make them feel genuinely appreciated.

Could you imagine how much it would cost to lease a storefront and renovate it?  The cost of materials alone would be astronomical!  This is especially true if you want a posh, intimate feeling for your clients.  You can create this atmosphere online with no money down!

Be your own boss

There is nothing like the freedom of being your own boss.  This opens a whole new chapter in life where you take control of your own destiny.  You can take command of the ship and steer it in any direction you choose.

Sometimes I miss the security of holding a regular job.  When that happens, I quickly snap back to reality and remember that working for others comes with its own anxieties.  Are you ever 100% secure in that job?  Are you sure you will never get fired, or will they never let you go for a cheaper worker?  Unfortunately, the answer is often ‘No.’

Love what you do and do it with pride.  This is your opportunity to build your own legacy.

Scalability

E-commerce allows every business the opportunity to scale on a level that just was not possible for local brick and mortar.  My website easily does the work of 5 people.  That means I already have a headstart on my workforce.

You can remain as hands-on as you like and grow at your own pace.  As you grow, you can be selective of who you hire and what they do.  There is often a blur of front-end workers hired out of desperation when you have a storefront because you just need the bodies. 

With an online business, you can choose to outsource tasks that you don’t want to do or are not good at.  You can often find virtual assistants who can take on specific responsibilities that will lighten the load. 

High margins

Because you can essentially handle the day-to-day of your online business yourself, your margins significantly increase.  You don’t have the high overhead costs of a store-front, utilities, payroll, etc.  It is just you, your time, and the cost of your materials and website.

The cost of running a website is low, as are most of the applications you will use to manage your business efficiently.  This will decrease the cost of administrative fees and increase your margins. 

When you start out this way, you can choose your profits.  Simply work backwards from your target and create a plan.  I do this every year and check in on my progress every quarter.  It works like a dream!

Greater efficiency

Processes can be streamlined mainly because you no longer have to deal with the influx of customers.  You can separate your time between serving clients and running your business.  Spending more time with your clients can create more efficient strategies to build your company.  You will also have the resources to start outsourcing some of the tasks.

That means you can spend more time running your business and creating repeatable systems to get things done.  Streamlining your procedures will boost your efficiency and make it easier for you to put out high-quality products and services.

If you are nervous about hiring help full-time, sites like Fiverr will allow you to hire a freelancer with no strings attached.  Try outsourcing small tasks to different people until you find one you love that is also in your price range.  Once you have discovered them, stick with them and offer increasingly elaborate requests.

Great for niche businesses

Often niche businesses will struggle in local markets because there are just not enough customers to keep them afloat.  When you are operating online, you have immediate access to every member of that niche worldwide.  This clearly amplifies your reach exponentially!

Niche markets excel online partly because your customers can’t find what they are looking for locally.  It is now easier than ever to search up precisely what you are looking for and have it delivered.

Have you ever had an experience where you knew exactly what you wanted but couldn’t find it anywhere?  What did you do?  You probably Googled it!  That is what your clients are doing all over the world!

The online market is the new equalizer in doing business.  More and more customers are looking to the e-commerce market to pick up what they need. 

Why go to the store when you can shop from the comfort of your bed at 3 am?  If you cannot capture these purchases, you are doing your business a great disservice.

If you are still in the launch phase of your business, download this FREE how-to-start business checklist.  This action-based mini-planner will help you set the goals that will motivate you to finally launch your business.  You can create a systematic approach to help you create and launch your official online business with it.  It’s a simple, easy-to-use format that prompts you to set goals for each and every task, ensuring that you stay on track and avoid overwhelm.  Download yours here.

I want to be transparent so that there are no misunderstandings. As an affiliate, I may earn a small commission from any products linked in this post. This is not a sponsored post, and I was not asked to recommend these products. These are products that I genuinely love and want to share with my audience.