How do I pick a tool to set up an online storefront for my business?

- [Morten] So, you decided to move your business online, now what? The next step is finding tools and services to fit your needs, both short term and long term. Here we move into the world of e-commerce, and there are a lot of tools and services on offer. The key is to know how to navigate the options and find what works for you. E-commerce tools falls into two main categories. SaaS, software as a service, offerings where you pay a monthly or yearly fee to run an online store on an existing service, and Self-hosted and often open source offerings, where you set up and manage your own service on your own hosting solution. Each of these options have benefits and drawbacks. SaaS services are pretty much plug-and-play. You sign up, set up your store, populate it with products, configure payment options and other settings, and take the site live. The SaaS provider handles hosting, security, taxes, shipping and other requirements for you. Common complains about SaaS e-commerce services are they often take a flat fee for use plus a small share of your profits, typically between one and 3%. And that often comes in addition to any online payment charges imposed by whatever payment provider you choose. Popular SaaS e-commerce solution include Shopify, BigCommerce, Simvoly, 3dCart and more. If you're considering a SaaS e-commerce solution, do your due diligence, check out the different offerings, what services they provide, what they charge, and whether they meet your specific requirements. If you bring on a contractor to help you out, ask them what services they are familiar with and what solutions they recommend for your business. Self-Hosted services are far more hands-on. You set up and configure the software itself on your own host, then set up the store, populate it with products, configure payment options and other settings, and then take the site live. You are now responsible for hosting, security, taxes, shipping and all other requirements and importantly, you are on the hook if anything untoward happens, like a security breach. Common complaints about Self-Hosted services include a high level of complexity in setting up and running the store, significant risk incurred by the business, and ongoing overhead cost in setting up and maintaining a Self-Hosted solution. Popular Self-Hosted solutions include WooCommerce, a plug-in and extension to WordPress, Magento and PrestaShop. If you're considering a Self-Hosted e-commerce solution, my recommendation is to bring on a contractor with significant experience working with your chosen solution. For most businesses, my recommendation is to use a SaaS solution for your online store. The benefits of having a company dedicated to e-commerce and all its challenges, including security and taxes, far outweigh the costs incurred. That said, many businesses have had major success with Self-Hosted and open source solutions, so you need to figure out what choice is the best one for your particular business needs. Finally, remember this, once you start providing online services, customers will have a reasonable expectation that your products or services will continue to be offered online, even after the crisis has passed. Moving online, you're not just making a decision for right now, you're making a decision for the future of the company. This can be a major opportunity, and it also means taking on new risks, so take the time to plan your next steps and carve a sustainable path into the future for yourself, your staff, and your business.