Starting an Online Business

Want to start selling on eBay, Amazon, or your own store, but don't know where to start? You're in the right place! This section is all about getting you set up with your very own online business.

Learn How to Start a Business

What's a side hustle, and do I need to register my business? What do I need to consider when deciding on a business model? All these questions and more, answered by our seasoned experts ?
How to Start a Dropshipping Business in 2026: A Realistic 7-Step Guide
Quick Answer: How to Start a Dropshipping Business The 7 steps: Choose a profitable niche. Find and vet a dropshipping supplier. Pick your selling platform. Build your store and product pages. Set up legal, tax, payments, and finances. Launch your customer acquisition plan. Run, optimize, and scale. Most dropshipping guides oversell the dream. This one won't. Below you'll get a realistic, step-by-step path to launching a dropshipping store, the actual costs you should plan for, and the supplier playbook we've refined over twenty years of helping more than 137,000 sellers get going. You'll come out with a clear roadmap, a working budget, and a way to spot bad suppliers before they cost you money. Realistic startup budget: $130 to $500 to launch lean, $500 to $1,500 if you want a fair shot at a paid-ad test. We break this down in detail below. Time to lau
By Simon Slade • 15 min. read
How to Choose Between Dropshipping and Wholesale for Your eCommerce Growth and Profit Goals
The eCommerce landscape is evolving fast, online retail sales are projected to hit $7.4 trillion globally. With so much at stake, picking the right supply model for your store isn’t just a detail; it’s a make-or-break decision. Should you chase flexibility with dropshipping, or grab the reins with wholesale? Let’s break down what actually matters, so you can make a move that fits your ambitions (and your wallet). Ready to choose your path?
By Simon Slade • 14 min. read
Launch a Revenue-Ready Online Store in Just 7 Days Without Compromising on Quality or Growth
Launching an online store that’s actually ready to make money-fast-used to take months. Now, with the right playbook, you can go from zero to revenue-ready in just a week, without sacrificing quality. With e-commerce competition fiercer than ever and customer expectations at an all-time high, speed and precision are non-negotiable. Ready to launch smarter, not just faster? Let’s break down how you can ship a store that’s built to last, and cash in, right from day one. The 7-Day Store Opportunity Welcome to the fast lane of e-commerce. The e-commerce landscape is evolving at breakneck speed, and with the right strategy, over 30% of new stores are making their first sale within just a week. But what sets these successful launches apart? They follow a plan that’s not only quick but also revenue-ready from day one. Being "revenue-ready" me
By Simon Slade • 13 min. read

How to Make a Website

Building your own website and store is both exciting and daunting! There are lots of things to consider and the answers aren't always obvious. Learn all the must-know nitty gritty in this section.
Which Platform Powers Your eCommerce Growth and Maximizes SaleHoo Integration: WooCommerce or Shopify
The eCommerce world is booming, Global online retail sales are projected to top $7 trillion. If you’re serious about launching or scaling your store, picking the right platform is make-or-break, especially if you want seamless SaleHoo integration for sourcing and automation. So, which platform fits your vision, WooCommerce or Shopify? Let’s break down the facts, trade-offs, and real-world use cases so you can make a decision that actually works for your business. The Platform Showdown As we look ahead, the eCommerce landscape continues to evolve rapidly, with competition becoming more intense than ever. In this environment, having the right technological infrastructure isn't just beneficial, it's essential. Your choice of platform can significantly boost or hinder your growth, customer satisfaction, and profits. WooCommerce and Shopify stand out as the leading c
By Simon Slade • 18 min. read
12 Essential Elements Your eCommerce Site Needs to Boost Sales in 2026 (with Examples for each!)
As the world of eCommerce evolves, simply having a website isn't enough. Your site must actively convert visitors into buyers, offering a seamless and trustworthy experience. Is your eCommerce site designed to sell? Many sites lose potential sales because they fail to view their storefronts from the customer’s perspective. They might have eye-catching designs, but lack user-friendly elements. By focusing on the right elements that enhance user experience, build trust, and increase functionality, you can boost conversions and stay competitive. Below are 12 essential elements that every eCommerce website should implement to optimize sales. 1. Clear, Recognizable Logo Amazon’s simple yet memorable smile logo is an integral part of their branding. As one of the largest eCommerce giants, Amazon shows the importance of a professional logo in establishing trust and brand recogni
By Agustin Federovisky • 7 min. read
Launch Your Online Store This Month: A Founder-Tested Step-by-Step Path
A step by step guide to successfully starting an online store on Shopify, WooCommerce and more...
By Simon Slade • 19 min. read

Best Online Business Ideas

Still browsing for that winning idea for your future business? We totally get it, so we've collated all the expert resources to inform and inspire you in this section.
19 Best White Label Products to Sell in 2026 (with Supplier Checks, MOQs, and Risks)
White label products can help a business launch a brand without worrying about manufacturing — which happens to be one of the most complicated aspects. Read on to learn more about the 19 best white label products to sell for your brand.
By Michelle Yuan • 21 min. read
Uncover Profitable Underrated Niches for 2026 and Launch Your Next High-Demand eCommerce Venture
The eCommerce landscape is shifting fast, over 70% of new sellers are battling for scraps in crowded markets. But what if you could sidestep the noise and tap into the next big thing before it goes mainstream? In a world where everyone’s chasing the same trends, the real winners are those who spot hidden opportunities early. Ready to discover where the smart money is headed? The Power of Hidden Niches: Why They Matter The failure rate for new online stores is projected to be a staggering 80%, largely because too many entrepreneurs are entering oversaturated markets. Hidden niches, however, offer a significant counter-strategy. These are small pockets of high demand where competition is minimal, presenting a golden opportunity for sustainable business growth. Why are hidden niches so valuable? For one, they cater to loyal and often underserved customers who are a
By Simon Slade • 12 min. read
Breaking Into the Perfume Game: Sell Scents That Convert
Everyone likes to smell good, but does that mean selling perfume online is still viable? We put the perfume industry to the test in our market research lab. See what the data says before you dive into this popular niche.
By Rhea Bontol • 8 min. read

Best Online Business Tools

Did you find that there are more make-or-break details to running an online business than you anticipated? Fear not, these tools and guides will support you on your path to success.
Insider Wholesale Tactics From 20 Years of Watching Retailers Grow
Starting a wholesale business requires the right kind of knowledge, whether building it from scratch or incorporating it into an existing venture.
By Simon Slade • 13 min. read
16 Best AI Tools for eCommerce & Dropshipping (Free & Paid) You Need to Know
AI tools can help you with everything from finding what products to sell to writing product descriptions to managing inventory.
By Simon Slade • 14 min. read
Customer Lifetime Value for eCommerce: How to Measure It, How to Grow It
The world of eCommerce is a competitive one and a successful marketing strategy is one of the best ways to get ahead. It’s simple to say that marketing strategy is important, but much more difficult to determine which marketing strategy is best for you. Thankfully, this can be much easier when you’re making good use of data and statistics. Many marketing techniques focus on increasing Average Order Value, or AOV. AOV isn’t the only important statistic, though. Increasing your customers’ Lifetime Value, or LTV, could be key to long-lasting success. Here, we discuss AOV and LTV, as well as the best ways to improve both metrics for bottom line profitability. Average Order Value: A One-Time Revenue Boost
By Brooklin Nash • 7 min. read
In-depth Courses

Fast-track your success with in-depth eCommerce training from the pros

Learn how to successfully build, launch, and grow your online store with courses taught by world-renowned eCommerce professionals. Exclusive to SaleHoo.
Dropshipping on Shopify

The ultimate guide to building a successful dropshipping store using Shopify. You’ll learn how to choose the right product & supplier, build your store & drive traffic & sales.

Amazon Product Launch

A step-by-step, in-depth guide to launching your first product on Amazon (or any marketplace!) and building a full-time income online in just six days.

Contributing authors