For newcomers aiming to build a long-term successful online store, the first step isn’t hiring freelancers or learning everything yourself. Many beginners wonder whether to hire experts from platforms like Fiverr to handle website building, marketing, or design, or to do everything themselves. My perspective: don’t start with hiring—start with your product.

Step 1: Define Your Product and Business Logic

Ask yourself:

• What is your product?

• Why would people buy it from your store?

Your core business logic must be crystal clear. Without understanding why your store exists and why customers will choose you, no amount of marketing or technical work will guarantee success.

Step 2: Choose the Right Platform

Here’s a quick summary of options for building your online store:

SaaS Platforms (beginner-friendly, no coding needed):
Shopify, BigCommerce, Squarespace Commerce, Wix eCommerce, Weebly/Square Online, Shift4Shop, Volusion, Ecwid by Lightspeed, Sellfy, Selz, Shopline, Shoplazza

Self-Hosted Platforms (require some coding or tools like ChatGPT):
WooCommerce, OpenCart, Magento, PrestaShop, SucShop (lightweight), Shopware, Sylius, nopCommerce, Bagisto, Spree Commerce, Medusa.js, Reaction Commerce, Saleor, Odoo eCommerce, Drupal Commerce, VirtueMart, CS-Cart

Headless Commerce Solutions (for professional developers):
CommerceTools, Elastic Path, Fabric, Vue Storefront, Medusa.js, Saleor, Spree Commerce

Step 3: Focus on Sales, Not Busywork

In online business, sales are everything. Avoid spending months learning website coding, graphic design, or product photography—that’s a rabbit hole that kills momentum. Let specialists handle their craft:

• A web developer who builds stores daily

• A product photographer who shoots products professionally

• An SEO expert who knows how to rank sites

Your time is better spent on activities that drive revenue:

• Researching what customers actually want

• Testing different products

• Talking to potential buyers

• Optimizing your sales funnel

• Building relationships with suppliers