Creating an online store for free: what you need to knowCreating an online store for free: what you need to know

Creating an online store for free is often the first idea when you want to sell online without taking a risk. And it's possible: several solutions let you open a store without paying a subscription. But "free" almost never means "no costs". Here are the real options, what they actually cost, and when it's better to move to a store of your own.Creating anan online store for freefree is often the firstfirst idea when you wantwant to sell online withoutwithout taking a risk. AndAnd it's possible: several solutionssolutions let you open aa store without paying aa subscription. But "free" almostalmost never means "no costs".costs". Here are the realreal options, what they actuallyactually cost, and when it'sit's better to move toto a store of youryour own.

Some online tools offer a free plan with a store included. You pick a template, add your products, and the store is live the same day. In return, the tool earns its money another way: advertising for its brand, a subdomain address, a limited number of products, or a commission on each sale.Some onlineonline tools offer a freefree plan with a storestore included. You pick aa template, add your products,products, and the store isis live the same day.day. In return, the tooltool earns its money anotheranother way: advertising for itsits brand, a subdomain address,address, a limited number ofof products, or a commissioncommission on each sale.

Shopify and other platforms offer a trial before the subscription. It's perfect for building the store and seeing whether the tool suits you, but it isn't a free solution: when the trial ends, the subscription starts.Shopify andand other platforms offer aa trial before the subscription.subscription. It's perfect for buildingbuilding the store and seeingseeing whether the tool suitssuits you, but it isn'tisn't a free solution: whenwhen the trial ends, thethe subscription starts.

WooCommerce is free to install on WordPress, which is free too. But a store needs hosting, a domain name and regular updates, and some useful plugins are paid. The software is free; the store isn't. I compare this option with Shopify in creating your online store.WooCommerce isis free to install onon WordPress, which is freefree too. But a storestore needs hosting, a domaindomain name and regular updates,updates, and some useful pluginsplugins are paid. The softwaresoftware is free; the storestore isn't. I compare thisthis option with Shopify inin creating your online store.

Selling through Instagram, Facebook or a marketplace requires no website. The marketplace brings visitors, which a new store doesn't have. In return, it takes a commission, sets its own rules and keeps the customer relationship: your buyer is the platform's customer first.Selling throughthrough Instagram, Facebook or aa marketplace requires no website.website. The marketplace brings visitors,visitors, which a new storestore doesn't have. In return,return, it takes a commission,commission, sets its own rulesrules and keeps the customercustomer relationship: your buyer isis the platform's customer first.first.

• Payment fees: every card transaction has a cost, whatever the solution.Payment fees:fees: every card transaction hashas a cost, whatever thethe solution.
• Commissions: many free plans and marketplaces take a share of each sale.Commissions: manymany free plans and marketplacesmarketplaces take a share ofof each sale.
• Your time: photos, product pages, packing parcels, customer service.Your time:time: photos, product pages, packingpacking parcels, customer service.
• Delivery: packaging and shipping, to include in your price.Delivery: packagingpackaging and shipping, to includeinclude in your price.

• An address like your-store.platform.com inspires less trust than a real domain name.An addressaddress like your-store.platform.com inspires lessless trust than a realreal domain name.
• Search settings are often limited, not always enough to follow the technical SEO checklist.Search settingssettings are often limited, notnot always enough to followfollow the technical SEO checklist.
• You own neither the design nor, sometimes, your customer data: leaving later means starting over.You ownown neither the design nor,nor, sometimes, your customer data:data: leaving later means startingstarting over.
• The truly useful features (discount codes, reviews, several payment methods) are often reserved for paid plans.The trulytruly useful features (discount codes,codes, reviews, several payment methods)methods) are often reserved forfor paid plans.

Selling online, even on a free plan, is a commercial activity: in France you need a registered business, a legal notice, terms of sale and a clear right of withdrawal. Service Public details these obligations.Selling online,online, even on a freefree plan, is a commercialcommercial activity: in France youyou need a registered business,business, a legal notice, termsterms of sale and aa clear right of withdrawal.withdrawal. Service Public details these obligations.obligations.

1. Your sales are regular and commissions weigh more than a subscription would.Your salessales are regular and commissionscommissions weigh more than aa subscription would.
2. You want to be found on Google with your own domain name.You wantwant to be found onon Google with your ownown domain name.
3. You need features the free plan blocks.You needneed features the free planplan blocks.
4. Your brand matters: you want a site that looks like you, not a template shared by thousands of stores.Your brandbrand matters: you want aa site that looks likelike you, not a templatetemplate shared by thousands ofof stores.

Free is for testing an idea, not for building a brand.Free isis for testing an idea,idea, not for building aa brand.

If you just want to know whether your product sells, start for free, on a marketplace or a free plan: it's a low-risk test. Once sales repeat, build a store that belongs to you. To choose between doing it yourself or getting help, I compare the options in freelancer, agency or website builder, and I explain how I work on the e-commerce website page.If youyou just want to knowknow whether your product sells,sells, start for free, onon a marketplace or aa free plan: it's aa low-risk test. Once salessales repeat, build a storestore that belongs to you.you. To choose between doingdoing it yourself or gettinggetting help, I compare thethe options in freelancer, agency or website builder,, and I explain howhow I work on thethe e-commerce website page.