exemple business plan ecommerce

How to Write an Ecommerce Business Plan [Examples & Template]

Published: January 11, 2024

If you have a promising idea for an online e-commerce business , it’s important to create an e-commerce business plan to ensure your vision has enough stock to be profitable.

Having a business plan for your online store will help you define your target market, establish your monthly and quarterly sales goals, and increase the likelihood of long-term e-commerce success.

In this post, we’ll go over an online store business plan and how you can create one for your e-commerce startup. Let’s get started.

What is an e-commerce business plan?

An e-commerce business plan is a document that outlines your business and its goals, analyzes your industry and competitors, and identifies the resources needed to execute your plan. It also lists the e-commerce retailers you’ll use to distribute your products and the marketing strategies you’ll use to drive sales.

Whether a company operates as a startup or has years of operations and growth under its belt, an e-commerce business plan is essential for evaluating a business and determining areas of improvement.

An e-commerce business plan is essential, with increasing numbers of shoppers conducting business online. It's estimated this number has reached over 2 billion . An e-commerce business plan keeps you organized and is useful when seeking investors who need to understand your company.

So, let’s dive into some examples of e-commerce business plans and what goes into writing one using our free template .

Free Business Plan Template

The essential document for starting a business -- custom built for your needs.

• Outline your idea.
• Pitch to investors.
• Secure funding.
• Get to work!

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

E-commerce Business Plan Template

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How to Make an Ecommerce Business Plan for Your Startup

Darren DeMatas

February 28, 2024

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In addition to receiving commissions generated through affiliate marketing, we are able to fund our independent research and reviews at no extra cost to our readers. Learn more.

So you’ve decided that you want to quit your day job and start your very own ecommerce empire. That’s great!

But before you become the next Jeff Bezos  (and definitely before you quit your job!), it’s worth spending some time thinking about a business plan. In this article, we’ll dive into the key elements of an ecommerce business plan, which is very different than writing traditional business plans.

Why You Should Create a Business Plan

We know that starting an ecommerce business is exciting, and it can be tempting to jump right in without constructing a business plan. READ: PLEASE DON’T DO THIS.

If you haven’t put your ideas, questions and concerns on paper, then you haven’t given your business model enough thought .

Taking the time to write a business plan might seem like a lot of work, but it can save you a lot of time and money in the long run by better preparing you for potential challenges and opportunities that you’ll face as a first-time entrepreneur. Think of it as a roadmap for your new business venture.

It’s exciting to start your own ecommerce business. However, you want to be well prepared and not jump into anything without having a solid, foolproof ecommerce business plan in place.

After all, you wouldn’t jump out of a plane without a parachute, so why start a business without a safety device in place? That safety device is your business plan.

The business plan is the brainstorming process that ensures your concept and goals are realistic.

This is more than just mental notes. True business plans take your ideas , questions, and concerns and put those in writing.

As you start creating your business plan, you’ll soon understand that it’s more than a single piece of paper with handwritten details on it. It’s a clearly constructed format of how your business will be created, how it will operate, and what you hope the future holds in terms of a successful ecommerce business.

When you write your business plan, be sure to have a target audience in mind. Are you going to look for investors or put a Kickstarter campaign into motion and use this as your descriptive platform? If so, make sure that your business plan contains everything the audience would want to know about your business (and more!). Many traditional funding solutions require a business plan in order to give you capital. However, there are alternative solutions, such as  Payability  that specialize in ecommerce and don’t require credit checks, a business plan, or any complicated paperwork. They can also get you approved in as little as 24 hours.

When your business plan is completed, you should have achieved the following goals:

• Knowledge:  A greater sense of knowledge of the business aspects.
• Resources:  The resources you’re going to need to make your business successful, such as partners, money, employees, etc.
• Road Map: Have clear set goals to take you from the very beginning of your business and onward.
• Viability: In other words, is your business possible? Will you have enough profit margins to keep the doors open long-term?

Now that you know why you should create a business plan, it’s time to move on to how you can create your business plan and get started putting your ecommerce business into motion.

How to Start an Ecommerce Business Plan

At the very beginning of the planning stages, it’s a good idea to develop a framework for your business model. This business model will continue to evolve as you create each section of your ecommerce business plan, so don’t strive for a perfect completed plan on the first try. You will be making tweaks to the plan of certain steps along the way.

There are many ways to sell products online and different business models  to pursue. Research and learn from successful ecommerce business examples in the market. The exact business model you follow will be one that makes the most sense with your resources, skills, and interests.

In order to create the best online business plan with your product in mind, you need to figure out the following things:

What are you selling?

The first step to creating an online business is to learn the absolute basics of what you can sell.

• Physical products: Clothing , shoes, home goods
• Digital products: Software as a Service products, ecourses, ebooks
• Services: Consulting services, home cleaning

Who are you selling to?

• Business-to-Business (B2B): You are selling to organizations, corporations, and non-profits rather than individual customers
• Business to Consumer (B2C): This means you are selling to individual consumers rather than businesses
• Marketplace: You are acting as a middleman by bringing businesses and (B2B or B2C) customers to one website.

How are you sourcing your product?

• Manufacture in-house: You make your product or service in-house
• Third-party manufacturer: You outsource the manufacturing of your product or service to a third-party manufacturer
• Dropship: You partner with a dropship manufacturer. Basically, this means that they make your product, package it and ship it directly to your customer while your company handles the entire customer relationship.
• Wholesale : You buy goods or services from other companies in bulk and re-sell those products on your online store

Additional References

• Entrepreneurship: Business & Marketing Plans
• Small Business and Entrepreneurship
• Entrepreneurship Resources
• Business Plan Resources

Executive Summary

The executive summary will be written according to your goals, and it’s recommended that this is done at the very end of your business plan completion. This will ensure that you include all of the important factors about your business and present your ideas in a concise and complete way.

Some of the features you’ll include in the executive summary include information showing that you’ve done your research, you have concrete sales forecasts, and the main details about your brand.

Business Model

When you’re figuring out your business model, you have to consider four different areas:

• Monetization strategy
• Product/industry
• Target market
• Sales channel

Monetization Strategy

The monetization strategy delves into the methods you are going to use to sell your products.

This strategy will look at different product monetization methods, including white label, private label , affiliate marketing, wholesale, dropshipping, and even selling ads.

Product/Industry

The product industry section is where you summarize your main niche.

For example, “Vegan Skincare Products.”

Target Market

In the target market section, you will write a sentence or so on who your target market, or ideal customer, is in the community.

If you’re selling vegan skincare products, your target customers might be women who embrace the vegan lifestyle and use natural skincare products in their daily beauty regimen.

Sales Channel

The sales channel refers to where you’re going to sell your products.

For example, you might be selling your products on your own website, and this should be entered in this section.

Business Overview

This next section covers your company overview.

This section of your business plan will cover various features of your company, including the following:

• Company type
• Domain name
• Value proposition
• Brand traits

The brand name section lists your business name or brand name.

This is an extremely important aspect of your business plan as it’s what will set the tone for everything that follows.

Pick a brand name that’s simple yet unique and is something that can be used in a wordplay manner, if desired, but not pun-worthy.

Company Type

The company is how your business operates. For example, you might label your business as an LLC , S-corporation, sole proprietor, or some other type of business organization.

The best way to determine how you should categorize your company is to speak to your accountant. There are various tax and legal aspects to forming your business in a certain way.

Speak with the professionals in the company and corporation formation field to determine how to label your company and which company type best benefits your business in a variety of ways.

Domain Name

This section is where you list your domain name.

Choose a domain name that is memorable and embraces the overall traits and features of your business.

And, when choosing a domain name, be sure to think of SEO aspects when doing so. You’ll find out just how much all of these things tie together and ensure a frequently-visited website is the end result.

Keep in mind that with ecommerce, the domain name is just as important as the brand name. Maybe even more so!

Value Proposition

A value proposition is a short, crisp statement that will gauge how clear your idea is. Write this section as if you had one minute to explain your business to a potential investor or customer and then practice it over and over again.

The value proposition can be used on your ecommerce store as your company description.

Here’s a good example: Say you’re looking to start a hiking company called Atlas Hiking Co. which sells premium performance hiking shirts. A possible company description could be the following:

Atlas Hiking Co. is a lifestyle hiking company that produces high-performance hiking shirts for outdoor lovers. Our proprietary SPF40 fabric is one of the lightest fabrics on the market, providing mountain lovers with maximum comfort, both from a breathability and sun-protection standpoint. Our product is made in the U.S.A. and a portion of our profits are donated to preserve national parks around the country.

Pay special attention to all the sensory words !

The mission statement in your business plan is the “why” of it all.

For example, why you started the business, why you are selling the products you are selling, etc., can all be added to this section of your business plan.

You can make this portion as simple or detailed as you like. Just make sure to properly and clearly explain your business mission.

The vision part of the business plan is your “how” in the grand scheme of things. It is the dream you have for your company and the path you’re going to take to realize that dream.

When you write the vision portion of the business plan, think long-term. What are you hoping to achieve, not just in the near future but for the long haul of the life of your business?

Look into the future and plan out where you see your business in 5, 10, even 20 years from now.

This will help you construct the rest of your business plan if you know where you want your business to head, now and in the future.

Brand Traits

The brand traits section is a short section in your company overview.

Basically, in the brand traits section you’re going to want to list three to five words that describe your brand.

Think of your brand personality and describe it using a few separate powerful words.

The personnel section lists all individuals, including yourself, who will be involved in the daily operations of your business. You can create a separate section for a full operations plan or add that later.

Some business owners choose to handle all duties on their own or with a partner, while others will hire individuals to fill the following roles:

• CEO (usually the business owner)
• Management team
• Customer service/logistics
• PR/Social media specialist
• SEO manager
• Advertising manager

Competitive Market Analysis

Here’s a fact you can bank on: there has never been a successful e-commerce entrepreneur that didn’t understand his/her target market cold.

That’s why this section is one of the most important in the entire business plan. It will force you to understand the industry in which you operate, the overall industry analysis and outlook, the existing competition, and your target customer demographic.

Market Segment

The market segment portion of the business plan will help you to put your ideas down on paper, make them more focused, and get your team together.

This area will include your niche selection, target market, and competitive analysis.

Niche Selection

The niche section  provides an overview of your niche, why you selected it, whether there’s a micro niche included, and the type of niche you’ve chosen.

The purpose of this section is to crystalize the ideas that you have and make sure they are understandable and viable.

The target market section covers an overview of your target market plus describes your market segments.

Ask yourself who your  target customer  is (population size, age, geography, education, ethnicity, income level) and consider whether consumers are comfortable with buying your product category online.

When listing the target market information, make sure to mention your target audience size as this is important for ensuring that your audience will be adequately covered.

Competitive Analysis

With the competitive analysis portion of your market analysis, you want to list your market leader and direct and indirect competitors.

After you mention who these entities are, you need to list the characteristics of each one, such as domain name, business model, monthly traffic, and pricing range.

However, before you even get started in writing this section, you need to spend several hours researching your target market.

Here are some of the most efficient ways to research a particular market:

Industry reports

Google is your best friend. Look for any recent industry reports on your market of choice. This will give you a good sense of how much growth the industry is experiencing, why this growth is happening, and what are the largest customer segments. In our example of Atlas Hiking Co., we should research the outdoor apparel market.

Let’s say that through our research of the outdoor apparel industry, we discovered that there was a huge boom in youth hiking apparel. Perhaps parents were increasingly concerned about their kids’ exposure to UV rays while hiking, so they began to spend more money on their kids. We could use this valuable information to guide our business strategy.

There’s only so much you can read online. Go to a nearby store that sells similar products to yours and interview the store representative. The store rep has interacted with hundreds of interested customers, which can lead to thousands of valuable insights! It’s amazing how these insights can translate into a meaningful business opportunity.

Here’s an example:

If I were going into Billy’s Outdoor Store to research the outdoor apparel market, I would probably ask Billy the following:

• What are your best-selling products?
• What are your worst-selling products?
• Find products similar to yours and ask the representative his/her favorite features on products similar to yours.
• How much are customers generally willing to spend on these types of products?
• Do customers make repeat orders of any of these products?
• Do you get a lot of customers that are looking to buy last-minute hiking gear before they go on a hike?

Competition

Create an Excel spreadsheet of all of your competitors. In your spreadsheet, you should have the following columns:

• Competitor Name
• Price point
• Product Description
• Key Features (e.g., fabric, waterproof, slim fit, etc.)

What is the competition missing? Is there a gap in the offering? Where you can add some additional value?

After conducting the competitor analysis, Atlas Hiking Co. might find that the competition’s hiking shirts offer very few features at a low price point, but no one offers a luxury hiking shirt with additional features at a higher price point.

This is just an example of the types of insights one can gain from market research which can drastically alter your business model.

Keyword Research

By using Google’s keyword planner  and trends pages, you can get a good sense of how in demand your product is and whether it’s trending upward or downward. Google is great for a general idea, just don’t bank on it.

Some other keyword tools you can use for keyword research include Ahrefs, JungleScout, and Viral Launch. Check out this list  for more ideas.

Trade shows

Are there nearby trade shows that you can go to? Again, creating connections with other people in your industry is a surefire shortcut to countless hours of reading on the internet. Trade shows are also a great opportunity to talk to competitors, meet manufacturers, and better understand where things are heading in your industry.

Once you finish researching the relevant industry, you should summarize your findings by answering the following questions:

General Industry

• How big is the overall industry?
• How big is the specific sub-industry in which you intend to operate?
• Where has most of the historic growth in the market come from?
• Why is this the right time to enter this market?
• What are the sub-segments that are poised for future growth (e.g., youth apparel)?
• How crowded is the product category with competition?
• How is your competition distributing its product (online, retail, wholesale, etc.)?
• What’s missing from the competition’s product offering?

Products and Offers

So we know we want to sell hiking shirts, but how do you research specific products?

But for some of us, we’re not quite sure what we should sell. To succeed in online retail, you need a product that is trending upwards in a growing niche.

Different types of products

Some of the different types of products include the following:

• Convenience products: Frequent purchase products, little effort on buying
• Shopping products: Less frequently purchased in between purchases, little more effort and planning, shop around
• Specialty products: Strong brand preference and loyalty, will buy no matter what the price

The various types of niches include the following:

• Hobby niches
• Lifestyle niches
• Problem niches
• Weird/embarrassing niches

Existing products

Come up with detailed specifications for each product or service you intend to sell. If it’s a hiking shirt we’re selling, we would want to have:

• Detailed sketches of the shirt
• Fabric weight, materials, type
• Key features (e.g., pre-shrunk, water-proof, SPF 40)

Future product pipeline

What are other products that you have in the pipeline? Perhaps once you’ve successfully sold hiking shirts, you’re able to leverage your manufacturing relationships to provide hiking socks and shorts. Include that information in this section.

The products and services section will cover the various selling categories of items.

These product offerings will include the following:

• Core product

Each product group will have its own purpose in your sales catalog. For example, tripwire is the product that brings customers to your ecommerce store or online marketplaces  while the core product is your main seller.

Knowing what products you’ll include within each section allows you to have a firm grasp on what your main product will be and how the other types of products will work alongside your main product.

This section will also cover the search volume and Amazon pricing range.

You’ll need to calculate your true costs. You have to make sure you don’t overestimate your margins.

To tabulate your total true costs, you need to write down the costs in the following areas:

• Target price
• Supplier cost of the product
• Total cost per unit
• Net profit per unit
• Profit margin per unit

Once you complete the pricing portion, you’ll have everything on one sheet and readily accessible whenever you need it.

Marketing Plan and Operations

So, now you’ve concluded that you have a great business idea, and it’s in a growing market. That’s fantastic – but how are you going to drive traffic to your ecommerce website and get customers to buy it ? And how much can you afford to spend on your product?

Marketing  is everything. It’s important that your marketing efforts match your business model.

If you have a website and no marketing, your site won’t have any visitors. With no visitors, you will make no sales. Then how do you grow and sell your ecommerce business (if that’s your long-term goal)? Even with the best possible products, nobody will buy them if they aren’t directed to them in some way.

In order to come up with a marketing strategy, you need to first know your customer inside out. You should be able to answer such questions as:

• How old is your customer?
• Where does your customer live?
• What is the population of your customer base?
• What is their education level?
• What is their income level?
• What are your customer’s pain points?

With so many channels to reach your customer, which one is best for you?

Once we know pretty much everything there is to know about our target customer, we can shift focus to our marketing strategy. You want to choose marketing strategies that equal positive conversion rates. What channels should you use to grab the attention of your customer demographic? Some of the key marketing channels include:

Paid Marketing

• Pay-per-click – this online marketing typically involves using Google Shopping campaigns  and managing a product data feed.
• Affiliate sales networks – Allowing other blogs and websites to sell your product for a cut of the revenue. List the different affiliate sale networks that you plan to promote through.
• Facebook ads ⎯ Ads posted on Facebook to draw in buyers through social media means.
• Influencer marketing ⎯ Hiring industry influencers to get the word out about your product through their social media platforms and contacts.

Organic Marketing

• Social media (Facebook, Instagram , Pinterest, etc.): What is your strategy for social media, and where will you dedicate your attention?
• Search Engine Optimization : Create and promote awesome content so people find your product organically through search.
• Content marketing: Figure out how you’ll use content marketing in your business. Consider various article topics that will persuade your target audience to buy your products.
• Blogger networks: could be organic or paid through affiliate sale programs.
• Key bloggers: Develop a list of the key bloggers in your product category. For Atlas Hiking Co., this might be an influencer that blogs about the best hiking trails in America.

Finding the optimal mix of these advertising tools depends 100% on your customer segment as well as your product type. For example, a SaaS product targeting millennials will require an entirely different marketing strategy than an e-commerce physical product targeting baby boomers. Perhaps that should be a post on its own for another day!

How much should you spend to acquire a customer?

In order to understand this, we need first to discuss a concept known as customer lifetime value or LTV. In essence, this is a formula that helps you better understand how much an average customer will spend over time.

Here’s  a good read on how to calculate LTV.

It’s important to remember that for new businesses, you don’t have a lot of data on customer purchase habits so it’s a good idea to be more conservative with your assumptions in calculating LTV.

Let’s say, for Atlas Hiking Co., I determine that the average LTV per customer is $300. This means that over time, the average customer will spend $300. Let’s say, on average, if I receive $300 in revenue, $100 of that will translate to gross profit before I factor in my marketing costs (basically, I’m just subtracting the cost of making the shirts).

Knowing that my gross profit is $100 per shirt is a critical piece of information because it tells me that I can spend up to $100 in marketing to acquire a customer and still be profitable!

Some of the marketing options include social media marketing and content marketing.

Think about your business model and then line up your marketing budget. Your marketing budget may include the following items:

• Sales/branded content
• SEO/blog content
• Facebook/Instagram ads
• Influencer marketing
• Marketing tools
• Niche advertising

Choosing The Right Technology

With so much technology and SaaS products out there, it’s important to understand the various moving parts and diagram how they all integrate with one another.

Some of the different elements include:

• Shopping Cart Platforms  – e.g., Shopify , BigCommerce , WooCommerce , or any open-source platform
• Hosting – Nexcess , BigScoots , Kinsta , WPX
• Payment Processo r – e.g., Stripe, Paypal
• Fulfillment Center – e.g., Amazon, ShipBob
• Apps – e.g., Zipify, BuildWooFunnels, Gelato
• Accounting & Taxes  – e.g., Quicken, Xero
• Marketing Automation – e.g., Klaviyo , Mailchimp
• Marketing Tools – e.g.  Buzzstream, Ahrefs
• Customer Loyalty Programs  – e.g., Antavo, Smile

Come up with a detailed list of the different products and services you need to run your business as well as the monthly and per-transaction cost of each of them. This will be important in understanding the impact of these services on your margins.

Matching your business model to your technology is essential, too. Certain website platforms are better suited for specific sales models.

Email marketing is another type of technology that should be carefully considered and matched up correctly with your business model.

Keep in mind that it takes, on average, 6-7 interactions with a brand before someone makes a purchase, so you need to keep using technology to get them back to your website.

As you explore the technology options and find out ways to draw potential customers in and keep them happy while they’re there, here are some key points to keep in mind:

• What you say about yourself and your products with your website content
• How you respond to questions on live chat and email support
• How to make use of chatbots
• How you connect on social media
• The information you send through email marketing
• What bloggers and influencers say about your brand
• How existing customers review your company
• How you advertise
• How you establish loyalty beyond sales

After you figure out your technology methods, you have to come up with a technology budget.

The business plan must also include the operations side of things. Determine who will be your manufacturer, secondary manufacturer, and shipping and fulfillment  provider.

When looking at supply chain costs and options, ShipBob  is an ecommerce fulfillment provider you can consider.

Financial Plan

When figuring out your financial plan, evaluating and pinpointing your startup costs  is essential.

The focus of the financial plan is how long it will take for you to make your money back. You also need to figure out if you need a business loan .

Traffic and conversion rates will help you determine how long it will be until you start making money back.

You’ll also want to use an income statement to detail financial information.

This section is used for financial projections, such as forecasting sales, expenses, and net income of the business. Ideally, you’ll want to create a monthly Excel balance sheet showing the following:

• Projected revenue:  First, come up with your projected number of units sold and then come up with your projected revenue (Projected Revenue = # of Units Sold * Average Sales Price).
• Fixed expenses:   these are expenses that are fixed no matter how much you sell. Typically, these relate to monthly SaaS subscriptions, employee salaries, or rent.
• Variable expenses  – these expenses change in direct proportion to how much you sell. Common examples include the cost of goods sold and credit card payment processing fees.

This helps business owners better understand what they need to achieve to hit their profit goals. In reality, projections are usually always off the mark, but it’s good to give yourself some measurable goals to strive for.

This section should aim to answer the following questions about your product offering:

• How much product do you need to sell per year to meet your income goals for the business?
• What are the margins on your product? If you sell one hiking shirt for $50, how much do you make after paying your supplier, employees, and marketing costs?
• What is the lifetime value of a customer?
• How much can you spend to acquire customers? If you conservatively project that the average customer will spend $300 over time on your shirts, then you can afford to spend an amount less than $300 to acquire that customer using the paid marketing channels described previously.
• Do you have any big capital expenditures early on that would require you to need to bring in investors?
• Can you improve gross margins by making bigger orders from your suppliers?

There are various acquisition channels that will help your traffic to convert including:

Your revenue plan will contain a 12-month revenue forecast plan to help you map out each month of earnings.

There are different business earning models you can go through to determine how much you can make with your business.

You want to calculate how much traffic costs. This all depends on the methods you use to gain traffic to your site.

As you determine what your profit might be with your ecommerce business  or ecommerce businesses, there are certain math formulas to use:

• The profit equation
• Break-even analysis
• Units needed to achieve the profit target

You should also consider how you will use fintech companies in your ecommerce business.

What are the key elements of an ecommerce business plan?

The main components of an eCommerce business plan include the executive summary, company description, market analysis, organization and management structure, product line or service, marketing and sales strategy, financial projections, and funding request, if applicable.

How do I create a budget for my ecommerce business?

Start by estimating your initial startup costs and ongoing expenses. Consider costs like website development, inventory, marketing, shipping, taxes, and any necessary licenses or permits. It’s also important to factor in a contingency plan for unexpected costs.

How do I find the right product to sell?

Research is fundamental. Look at market trends, customer needs, and competitor products. Use tools like Google Trends or social media platforms to understand what customers are currently interested in. Always consider your passion and knowledge about the product too, as this can drive your business forward.

How can I differentiate my product from competitors?

Differentiation can come from unique product features, superior customer service, better pricing, or a compelling brand story. Understand what your competitors offer and how you can do it differently or better.

Wrapping Up Your Business Plan

Careful planning is crucial to get your e-commerce business from the planning phase to the launch phase and to ensure its successful future.

Going through the exercise of writing a business plan will cement your own understanding of your business and your market. It will also position you to take advantage of lucrative opportunities while mitigating harmful threats to your business down the line.

Your turn! Have you written a business plan for your online store? Do you have anything to add? Tell us about it in the comments below!

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Ecommerce Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Business Plan Outline

• Ecommerce Business Plan Home
• 1. Executive Summary
• 2. Company Overview
• 3. Industry Analysis
• 4. Customer Analysis
• 5. Competitive Analysis
• 6. Marketing Plan
• 7. Operations Plan
• 8. Management Team
• 9. Financial Plan

Whether you are planning to start a new ecommerce business or grow your existing business, you’ve come to the right place to create your plan.

We have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their own ecommerce company.

Below are links to each section of a sample ecommerce business plan to help you write your ecommerce business plan:

Next Section: Executive Summary >

Ecommerce Business Plan FAQs

What is an ecommerce business plan.

An ecommerce business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your ecommerce business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can  easily complete your ecommerce business plan using our Ecommerce Business Plan Template here .

What Are the Main Types of Ecommerce Companies?

An Ecommerce business can really be anything that is able to be sold on the internet, it is an online business. Ecommerce companies range from virtual clothing websites, furniture store websites, electronic devices and accessories, toy stores, etc. These companies can have a warehouse where they store and ship their own inventory or utilize a dropshipper who is a third party company who receives the order straight from the website, fulfills the order, and ships directly to the consumer.

No matter what type of online business you will operate, you will need to know how to make an ecommerce business plan. An ecommerce business plan template is key to creating a solid business plan.

What Are the Main Sources of Revenue and Expenses for an Ecommerce Business?

The primary source of revenue for an ecommerce company is the products that are sold on the website.

The key expenses for an ecommerce company are the costs to maintain a warehouse and shipping costs. There are also payroll costs that need to be factored in for the personnel who will be handling all product fulfillment and shipments. If utilizing a dropshipper, a key expense is the fees that will need to be paid to the dropshipper for fulfilling the orders and shipping directly to the consumers.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Ecommerce Company?

Ecommerce businesses are most likely to receive funding from banks. Typically you will find a local bank and present your business plan to them. A major source of funding for an ecommerce company are angel investors, crowdfunding, or funding from friends and/or associates.

An investor will want to see a solid business plan complete with a strong financial plan (income statement, balance sheets and cash flow statements).  It should also include a comprehensive marketing strategy, details of your business model, an overview of your management team and  market research on your target market. You can quickly complete your plan using our Ecommerce Business Plan Template here .

Where Can I Get an Ecommerce Business Plan PDF?

You can download our free Ecommerce business plan template PDF here . This is a sample Ecommerce business plan template you can use in PDF format.

Other Business Plan Templates

Clothing Line Business Plan Template Clothing Store Business Plan Template Beauty Supply Store Bookstore Business Plan Template

How to write an ecommerce business plan (with examples & templates) 

• Ecommerce unpacked

Ecommerce Unpacked Team Author

Updated: December 7, 2022 11 minute read

Related Topics

An ecommerce business plan is designed to help you focus on your goals before launching your online store. A cohesive plan can help guide your decision-making process, convince potential investors, and prove the viability of your products or services.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 20% of small businesses fail within the first year. Poor planning is often to blame. Without a good roadmap, it’s hard to make good decisions about your products, brand, and customers. 

Ready to craft a winning ecommerce business plan? This article will go over each element you’ll need, and how to create it. Plus, we’ve included links to several ecommerce business plan templates at the bottom of the article .

Key takeaways

• An ecommerce business plan is a key document not only for convincing potential investors and recruiting team members, but also for helping you vet and refine your business idea.
• An ecommerce business plan is a single document that contains your current business strategy for selling online and plans for the future of your business.
• Your business plan is a living document that can (and should) change as your business grows and your strategies evolve.
• There are a number of business plan templates available online, which can serve as starting points.

What is an ecommerce business plan?

An ecommerce business plan is a single document containing both your current business strategy for selling online and a roadmap for the future of your business. If you have a management team, they should have a hand in crafting this document, and you’ll likely share it with a wide variety of people, including potential investors. 

Harvard Business Review advises that entrepreneurs who write business plans are more likely to succeed than those who do not. That said, a business plan should be a living document. As your business grows and changes, your plan should change, too.

How to develop an ecommerce business plan

Your business plan should include the following:

• An executive summary describing your business model
• A business overview describing your mission and purpose
• A market analysis describing your competitors and industry
• A deep description of your products and services
• An analysis of your marketing plans
• A financial plan, including your liabilities and potential expenses

Let’s dig into each element so you can start assembling your plan. 

1. Executive summary

An executive summary outlines your business model in succinct and compelling terms. Use it as a summary of the other items in your business plan and focus on the positives. Make sure to use enticing language to help keep your readers engaged.

Your executive summary should answer the following questions:

• What sets you apart from competitors?
• Do you already have customers and traction in your industry?
• Do you have patents or other proprietary elements?
• Is your marketing plan special in some way?

You can also structure your executive summary by using these general categories:

• An introduction to your company
• The problem your potential customers face
• Your proposed solution
• Why it matters right now

Most executive summaries fit on a single page. It’s okay to go a little longer if needed, but be sure to keep it lean, concise, and engaging.

2. Business or company overview

This section should include a detailed company description. Think of this as a deep dive into who you are, what you do, and what’s motivating you to launch this online business. 

Your business overview should include:

• Your mission statement , stating what your company hopes to accomplish
• A description of your ideal customers , expressing the demographic groups you hope to sell your products or services to
• Your business structure , showing how many employees you have or plan to have, if your business is nonprofit or for-profit, etc.
• Your domain name , which shows how shoppers will find your store online
• Your value proposition , which states what sets you apart from your competitors
• A team profile , laying out who works with you in important positions, such as Customer Service Manager, Marketing Manager, etc.

3. Competitive market analysis

A recent survey by Crayon found that businesses have an average of 25 competitors . In the competitive market analysis section of your business plan, you’ll identify your top competitors and explain why you’re a better choice for your customers.

Consider starting with a SWOT analysis, which examines the following:

• Strengths : What makes your company stronger than the others? You might cite your financing plan, your customers, or any relevant patents you hold. 
• Weaknesses : What might keep you from beating out the competition? This might include product similarity, low funding, or a lack of market recognition.
• Opportunities : What external factors might help you win market share? This might include labor shortages, a favorable economic forecast, or a recent legislative ruling. 
• Threats : What external factors might harm your business? This might include impending taxes, sourcing problems, or a lack of skilled employees.

A SWOT analysis can help your market research, but don’t stop there. You must also dig deep into indirect competitors and similar products to show that you fully understand why your company is set up to succeed. 

4. Explain your products & services 

This section shows what products and services you offer your target customers. 

Get as detailed as you can here. If you’re providing a physical product, explain what it’s made of, how big it is, what makes it useful or unique, how long it takes to make just one, and so on. Make sure to include visuals as well as written information.

If you offer a virtual product, you can use this section to share technical specifications, including the operating system your product needs, how fast it works, what it does, and so on. 

If you’re developing new products, include details on this, too. The more informative this section is, the better. 

5. Marketing plans 

This section shows how you intend to attract customers to your online store once it’s up and running. 

There are a range of marketing tactics to consider, including:

• Social media: You could reach new customers through organic content and paid advertising on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. 
• Email marketing: You could tell existing and potential customers about sales and products through email campaigns. 
• Content marketing: You could create blog posts, ebooks, videos, and other forms of content containing information relevant to your target customers. 
• Affiliate marketing: You could partner with relevant influencers (like bloggers, YouTubers, and TikTokers) who can tell their audience about your products or services.  
• Search engine optimization (SEO): You can create content (including product pages) with relevant keywords to help companies like Google find and serve up your store in certain search results. 

Companies tend to spend marketing dollars in predictable ways.

Don’t be afraid to mix up your marketing plan, but make sure to detail why you’ve made each strategic decision, and outline the key performance indicators (KPIs) you plan to use to measure the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. 

6. Financial plan

In this section, you’ll explain your financial projections and liabilities. If you hope to get investors, this is perhaps the most important part of your ecommerce business plan.

In this section, include data about the following:

• Projected revenue: How much will you sell, and at what price point?
• Fixed expenses: How much will you spend on software, staff, and rent?
• Varied expenses: How much does it cost to make and ship your products? Include any costs here that could rise as your product takes off.

Include a current income statement and balance sheet, but also create a six-month and 12-month projection. 

If you’re using credit cards or business loans to fund your startup, include that data here. And if you’re using the business plan to secure financing, describe how you will use that money. 

Why ecommerce stores need a business plan 

These are a few key reasons you should put in the time and effort to create a good ecommerce business plan. 

To guide decision making 

To launch and manage a successful business, you’ll make countless decisions quickly. An effective business plan can help you make better-informed decisions, replacing gut feelings with facts and carefully vetted strategies. 

For example, you’ll know exactly who your potential customers are. And you’ll know just what marketing tools you plan to use to reach that target audience. When it’s time to launch your marketing campaign, this information can help you save time and avoid costly mistakes. 

To prove the viability of a new business

You think you have a great idea for an ecommerce business. But do you have data that suggests this concept is a winner? 

Creating an ecommerce business plan will force you to dive deep into the metrics behind this question. If you emerge confident in your idea, your business plan stands a better chance of convincing others. What’s more, this process can help work out issues that could block your success down the road.

For example: You may believe you’ve hit on a new product your target customers will love. But as you start writing your business plan, you might uncover supply chain issues that could undercut the viability of your business. You can then look for a solution to these issues, or move on in search of another idea. Either way, you’ve avoided a pitfall. 

To communicate ideas to shareholders

Whether you need investors or a loan to get started, your business plan can serve as a funding application. It will lay out how much money you need, how you’ll spend it, and how you plan to get profitable. 

Detailed data can help these others understand why they should help fund your new business.

Sample business plans for ecommerce startups

Below, you’ll find links to several business plan templates. Think of these as examples for inspiration, not as rigid structures to follow. 

Keep in mind that your business plan is about your business, not anyone else’s. While these samples can get you started, you’ll need to write your own unique version.

NoHassleReturn.com business plan

Bplans, a provider of free business plan templates, has a sample business plan for a fictional company called NoHassleReturn.com. It provides an expansive view of how a traditional enterprise organization could shift to an online business model. 

Firstcry.com business plan

Upmetrics.co, a provider of business plan software, created a business plan for a fictional provider of eco-friendly baby supplies. The entire plan comes in at 22 pages, and is packed with data.

Note the financial plan included in this example. The fictional company needs funding, and that ask is detailed in a clear and compelling way. This example also demonstrates how anyone can highlight crucial aspects of an online store, such as funding or staffing.

Lean startup format business plan 

The Small Business Administration created two business plan models, including the so-called “lean startup format,” which is a good fit for ecommerce companies.  

Consider this an ecommerce business plan for entrepreneurs who want to present a high-level summary without digging too deep. 

eGrocery Business Plan

Ecommerce Business Plan Writers designs all sorts of business plan templates. The sample ecommerce business plan for a fictional grocery store caught our eye, as it highlights all of the unique offerings and services this new company might provide. 

Dig deep into this business plan, and you’ll see a section connecting buyers to distributors for fast and convenient deliveries. This is a business-to-consumer plan investors might love. 

Achieve your goals faster with a solid business plan 

It’s easier and more effective to develop a marketing strategy, cohesive hiring program, and production schedule with an ecommerce business plan. Writing one takes time, but doing it can increase your chances of finding success in the ecommerce world. 

FAQs about an ecommerce business plan

Why should i start an ecommerce business.

An ecommerce business often deals with less overhead than a brick-and-mortar store. These businesses also don’t require customers to visit in-person to make a purchase. You can save money on rent, employees, and signage, while your customers benefit from speed and convenience.

What are ecommerce business models?

The most common ecommerce business models include:

• B2C (business to consumer) , in which a business sells products to individuals. This can also include DTC (direct to consumer) in which a business delivers a product directly to the consumer, forgoing distributors or retailers.
• B2B (business to business) , in which a business makes products for other businesses
• B2G (business to government) , in which a business makes products for government clients
• C2B (consumer to business) , in which a consumer makes products sold to businesses

These labels aren’t necessarily exclusive—some companies sell products to businesses as well as consumers. 

How do I start an ecommerce business?

It depends on the ecommerce model you choose. Creating a business plan is a great place to start. From there, you’ll need to register your business, get the proper permits and licenses, develop your products, launch your online store, and market it. 

[1] The True Failure Rate of Small Businesses (Entrepreneur)

[2] 118 Ecommerce Statistics You Need to Know (Similarweb)

[3] When Should Entrepreneurs Write Their Business Plans? (Harvard Business Review)

[4] How to Write an Executive Summary (Inc)

[5] Business Is Becoming More Competitive (DMN)

[6] You Are Doing Your Marketing Wrong (and I Have the Data to Prove It) (Neil Patel)

[7] Top 6 Reasons New Businesses Fail (Investopedia)

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Ecommerce Business Plan Guide + Sample

July 6, 2023

Adam Hoeksema

Welcome to the ever-evolving world of ecommerce—a space where countless businesses are launching every day. If you've landed here, we're guessing you too are gearing up to start your own ecom business. Yet, entering ecommerce is not just about setting up a website and listing products—it involves a robust plan that encompasses every aspect from customer acquisition to cash flow forecasting. That's why we've crafted this comprehensive guide. This Ecommerce Business Plan Guide, complete with a sample business plan, should help you check this project off the list. 

Although we focus on ecommerce financial models , we know that some of our clients also need a full business plan, so I decided to take a deep dive into the topic.  I plan to cover:

• Why write a business plan for an ecommerce business?
• What to include in an ecommerce business plan?
• Ecommerce business plan outline

How to Analyze the Market for an Ecommerce Product?

How to analyze the competition in ecommerce, how to estimate customer acquisition costs in ecommerce.

• How to Create Financial Projections for an Ecommerce Brand?
• Example Ecommerce Business Plan?

Ecommerce Business Plan FAQs

With that as our guide, let’s dive in!

Why write a business plan for an ecommerce business? 

It might feel like writing a business plan is a waste of time, and honestly, writing a 40 page plan probably is a waste of time.  So why write a business plan?  I like to say that you write a business plan primarily because the people with the money (the lenders and investors) are asking for your business plan and projections.  

Although I think a business plan could be a good exercise for any ecommerce startup, I know the real impetus for writing a business plan is likely the fact that your potential investors or lenders are asking for one.  

What to include in an ecommerce business plan? 

I don’t think your business plan needs to be a 100 page dissertation, our ecommerce business plan example is roughly 10 pages.  We include the following sections:

Ecommerce Business Plan Outline

We suggest the following business plan sections for your ecommerce business plan:

• Executive Summary
• Company Description
• Market Analysis
• Product and Service Offerings
• Marketing Plan & Customer Acquisition
• Operating Plan
• Financial Plan

Analyzing the market for an ecommerce product is a vital step in any business plan. It gives you a better understanding of your potential customers, competitors, and overall market dynamics. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you do this effectively:

• Identify Your Target Audience: Understanding who will buy your product is crucial. Segment your audience based on demographic and psychographic factors. This might include age, gender, location, lifestyle, interests, income, and more. Analyzing these factors will give you a clear picture of who your customers are and what they need.
• Market Size Estimation: Determine the size of your potential market. This involves looking at the number of potential customers who might be interested in your product. Market size can be categorized into three segments: total available market (TAM), serviceable available market (SAM), and serviceable obtainable market (SOM).

I like to use Google Keyword Planner Tool to see how many people are searching for keywords related to the product I plan to sell as a quick and free way to estimate the market size.  For example, let’s assume that we are selling a yoga mat.  According to Google Keyword Planner Tool there are roughly 90,000 monthly searches for that keyword. 

To put some additional rough math to the opportunity, the first organic search result will often get roughly 40% of the clicks, and a solid ecommerce site will have a 3% conversion rate of visit to purchase.  So if you ranked first and received roughly 36,000 clicks with a 3% conversion rate you could sell 1,080 mats per month. 

• Competitor Analysis: Understanding your competitors is as important as understanding your customers. Identify your direct and indirect competitors, analyze their products, pricing, marketing strategies, customer reviews, and their market share. This will help you identify gaps in the market that you can exploit.

Read More: How to Write a Business Plan Competitor Analysis

• Trend Analysis: Investigate current market trends related to your product. Look at the growth of the market, customer preferences and behavior, and the impact of technology and environmental factors.

I like to suggest using Google Trends to see trends in popularity in your market.  If we stick with our yoga mat example we can see the following seasonal trends and trend over the last 5 years for the search term yoga mat. 

• SWOT Analysis: Carry out a SWOT analysis - strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to your ecommerce product. This analysis will help you understand your product's position in the market.
• Pricing Analysis: Understand the pricing strategies of your competitors and the pricing willingness of your potential customers. It will help you to set a competitive and profitable price for your product.
• Regulatory Environment: Check the regulatory environment related to your product. It includes legal regulations, trade policies, and standards that might impact your ecommerce business.
• Customer Behavior and Preferences: With the help of analytics and customer feedback, understand what drives customer behavior. Consider their shopping habits, their product preferences, and what influences their buying decisions.

Each of these steps will provide valuable insights that can shape your ecommerce product's marketing strategy, positioning, pricing, and much more. Remember, market analysis is an ongoing process—it needs to be repeated periodically as markets evolve over time.

There are a couple of tools that I like to use when analyzing the competition in ecommerce.  

• Google’s Ads Transparency Tool – with this tool you can simply enter in the domain name of a competitor and Google will show you all of the ads that they are running.  This is a nifty way to get an idea of ads that might be working well and areas you might be able to compete. 
• Ahrefs – Ahrefs will allow you to look up a competitor’s website and you can see how much organic traffic they are getting and exactly what keywords are sending that traffic. For example, REI ranks 3 rd organically for the keyword “yoga mats” so we looked up their Yoga Mats page on Ahrefs and found that they receive roughly 2,200 organic visits per month to that page:

We can also see what keywords are sending the most traffic to that page below where I have highlighted the monthly organic traffic estimate for each keyword. 

I like to use Google Keyword Planner Tool to estimate customer acquisition costs as well.  As we saw with the Yoga Mat example below the average cost per click to advertise for that keyword was between $0.39 cents and $3.13.   

Again if we stick with a 3% conversion rate and assume 50 cents per click that means you are likely to spend roughly $16 to acquire one customer.  Not a whole lot of room for margin in this business right?  In this case you would need to hope that you can sell multiple products to the same customer over time.  

Your customer acquisition costs will be a fundamental assumption in your financial model.  Let’s dive into that next. 

How to Create Financial Projections for a Bar Business Plan

Just like in any industry, the ecommerce business has its own unique factors that impact financial projections, such as online traffic, conversion rates, and customer acquisition costs. Utilizing an ecommerce financial projection template can simplify the process and increase your confidence. Creating accurate financial projections goes beyond showcasing your ecommerce venture's ability to generate sales; it's about illustrating the financial roadmap to profitability and the realization of your online business goals. To develop precise projections, consider the following key steps:

• Estimate startup costs for your ecommerce business, including website development or platform setup, inventory acquisition, branding and marketing expenses, and initial fulfillment and shipping costs.
• Forecast revenue based on projected online traffic, conversion rates, average order value, and potential growth in customer base.
• Project costs related to product sourcing or manufacturing, packaging, shipping, and fulfillment services.
• Estimate operating expenses like website maintenance, hosting fees, digital marketing expenses, customer support, and administrative costs.
• Calculate the capital needed to launch and sustain your ecommerce business, covering initial expenses and providing working capital for continued growth.

While financial projections are a critical component of your ecommerce business plan, seek guidance from experienced professionals in the ecommerce industry. Adapt your projections based on real-world insights, leverage industry resources, and stay informed about digital marketing trends and evolving consumer behavior to ensure your financial plan aligns with your goals and positions your ecommerce venture for long-term success.

Example Ecommerce Business Plan

Explore our E-commerce Business Plan, presented below. If you prefer, you can access a downloadable Google Doc version of this bar business plan template, allowing you to personalize and tailor it to your specific needs. Additionally, a helpful video walkthrough is available, guiding you through the process of customizing the business plan to perfectly align with your unique Ecommerce business.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary:

• Business Description
• SWOT Analysis

Marketing and Sales Strategy

• Branding and Identity
• Website, menu, and social media platforms
• Marketing materials and promotional items
• Marketing mix

Operations Plan

• Organizational Structure:
• Location and Facility:
• SOP (Standard Operating Procedures):
• Health and safety protocols:

Financial Projections

• Startup Costs and Use of Funds
• Annual Sales, Gross Profit and Net Profit
• Key Financial Ratios
• Income Statement at a Glance
• Income Statement Annual Summary
• Cash Flow Statement Annual Summary
• Balance Sheet Annual Summary

I. Executive Summary

Our ecommerce store, "Eco-Friendly Fashion," aims to provide consumers with stylish and environmentally-friendly clothing options. 

Our target customer is the eco-conscious, fashion-forward individual who is looking for sustainable alternatives to fast fashion.

The ecommerce market is growing rapidly, and there is a growing demand for sustainable fashion products. We believe there is a gap in the market for an ecommerce store that offers a wide range of eco-friendly clothing options at affordable prices. Our unique selling proposition is to offer high-quality, stylish clothing that is also environmentally friendly, at a price that is accessible to our target customer.

We plan to launch with a product line of 50 items, including t-shirts, hoodies, and dresses, made from organic cotton and recycled materials. Our products will be manufactured in fair trade factories, ensuring ethical labor practices. Our initial funding will come from personal investments and a small business loan. Our financial projections show that we will break even in the third year of operation and achieve a profit by the fourth year.

II. Company Description

Eco-Friendly Fashion is a newly established ecommerce store that will offer a wide range of eco-friendly clothing options for both men and women. The company was founded by two friends, Jane Doe and John Doe, who share a passion for sustainability and fashion. Jane has a background in fashion design and John has experience in ecommerce and marketing.

Eco-Friendly Fashion is a limited liability company (LLC) registered in the state of California. Our team also includes a product sourcing specialist and a freelance graphic designer. Our office and warehouse are located in Los Angeles, CA.

III. Market Analysis

The global ecommerce market is expected to reach $4.9 trillion by 2021, with a significant portion of this growth coming from the fashion industry. Consumers are increasingly turning to ecommerce for their fashion purchases, and there is a growing demand for sustainable fashion products.

Our target customer is the eco-conscious, fashion-forward individual, aged 18-35, with a moderate to high income. This demographic is highly concerned about the environmental impact of their clothing choices and is willing to pay a premium for sustainable fashion options.

Competitors in the eco-friendly fashion market include established brands like Patagonia and smaller, niche brands like Tentree. However, these brands tend to focus on outdoor and athletic wear, rather than everyday fashion, and their products can be expensive. Our competitors in the sustainable everyday fashion market include companies like Reformation and Everlane, but these brands have limited product offerings and their products can also be expensive.

Our marketing and sales strategies will focus on leveraging social media, influencer marketing, and targeted online advertising to reach our target customer. We will also attend sustainable fashion trade shows and events to network and showcase our brand.

IV. Product and Service Offerings

Eco-Friendly Fashion will launch with a product line of 50 items, including t-shirts, hoodies, and dresses, made from organic cotton and recycled materials. Our products will be manufactured in fair trade factories, ensuring ethical labor practices. Our products will be designed in-house, with a focus on creating stylish, on-trend pieces that are also environmentally friendly.

Our pricing strategy will be to offer high-quality, stylish clothing at a price that is accessible to our target customer. Our products will be priced slightly higher than fast fashion options, but lower than sustainable fashion competitors like Reformation and Everlane.

We will continuously expand our product line and source new materials and manufacturing partners to ensure we are always offering the latest in sustainable fashion. In addition to our clothing line, we will also offer a recycling program for customers to trade in their old clothing for store credit. This will further demonstrate our commitment to sustainability and encourage customers to make more sustainable fashion choices.

V. Marketing Plan & Customer Acquisition

Our plan to grow our ecommerce business and reach our financial targets will follow a 5 pronged marketing approach in order to acquire customers. 

Brand Awareness:

• Partner with influencers and bloggers in the sustainable fashion and lifestyle space to feature your products and increase brand exposure.
• Utilize social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook to showcase your products and educate your audience on the importance of environmentally responsible and ethically sourced apparel.
• Participate in local events and festivals that align with your values to increase visibility and connect with potential customers in person.

Content Marketing:

• Create a blog that features articles on sustainable fashion and how your products are made in an environmentally responsible and ethical manner.
• Offer styling tips and suggestions for incorporating eco-friendly fashion into everyday outfits to engage and educate your audience.
• Share customer testimonials and reviews on your website and social media channels to build trust and credibility with potential customers.

Email Marketing:

• Build an email list by offering an incentive such as a discount code to customers who sign up.
• Send newsletters that include information on new product launches, sales, and events.
• Use email automation to send abandoned cart reminders and follow-up emails to potential customers who have shown interest in your products.

Paid Advertising:

• Utilize targeted Facebook and Instagram ads to reach a wider audience and drive traffic to your website.
• Partner with eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle websites to run display ads and reach potential customers who are already interested in these topics.
• Consider using Google Ads to target customers who are actively searching for environmentally responsible and ethically sourced apparel.

Referral Program:

• Encourage satisfied customers to refer friends and family by offering a discount code or other incentive for each successful referral.

VI. Operating Plan

Eco-Friendly Fashion will operate as an online ecommerce store, with all sales taking place through our website. Our website will feature a user-friendly interface, detailed product descriptions, and multiple payment options. We will also offer free shipping on all orders within the United States, with the option for international shipping at an additional cost.

Our fulfillment and delivery strategies will include partnerships with established logistics companies to ensure efficient and cost-effective shipping. We will also implement a comprehensive returns and exchanges policy to ensure customer satisfaction.

Our ecommerce platform will be powered by Shopify, which offers a range of tools and integrations to manage our website, inventory, and customer data. We will also use a customer relationship management (CRM) system to track customer interactions and improve our marketing and sales strategies.

VII. Financial Plan

Our start-up costs will include the cost of product development and manufacturing, website development, marketing, and rent for our office and warehouse. Our initial funding will come from personal investments and a small business loan.

Our financial projections show that we will achieve $75,000 in sales in the first year, increasing to $500,000 in the second year and $1 million in the third year. Our expenses will include product manufacturing, marketing, salaries, and other operating costs. Our projections show that we will break even in the third year of operation and achieve a profit by the fourth year.

To minimize risk, we will continuously monitor our financial performance and adjust our strategies as needed. We will also implement a thorough risk management plan, including carrying appropriate insurance coverage and implementing strong data security measures to protect our customer information.

All of the unique financial projections you see below were generated using ProjectionHub’s Ecommerce financial projection template . Use PH20BP to enjoy a 20% discount on the template. 

Startup Costs:

Projected Financial Summary:

Annual Sales, Gross Profit and Net Profit:

Key Financial Ratios:

Watch how to create financial projections for your very own ecommerce business:

Income Statement:

Balance Sheet:

Cash Flow Statement:

VIII. Conclusion

Eco-Friendly Fashion is poised to fill a gap in the sustainable fashion market, offering a wide range of stylish and environmentally friendly clothing options at affordable prices. With a growing demand for sustainable fashion and our commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices, we are confident in our ability to succeed in the competitive ecommerce market.

Our team is dedicated to offering the highest quality products and customer service, and we are excited to bring our vision of sustainable fashion to life. Our next steps include finalizing our product line and manufacturing partnerships, launching our website, and beginning our marketing and sales efforts.

How do I start an ecommerce business?

To start an ecommerce business, you'll need to identify your target market and products, create a business plan, set up an online store or website, source or create products, establish secure payment and shipping methods, and implement marketing strategies to drive traffic and sales.

Which ecommerce platform should I use for my online store?

Popular ecommerce platforms include Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and BigCommerce. Consider factors such as ease of use, customization options, scalability, pricing, and integration with other tools or marketplaces when choosing the right platform for your business.

How can I drive traffic to my ecommerce website?

You can drive traffic to your ecommerce website through various strategies, including search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, content marketing, influencer partnerships, email marketing, paid advertising, and utilizing marketplace platforms such as Amazon or Etsy.

What are the essential elements to include in product descriptions for ecommerce?

Essential elements for product descriptions in ecommerce include clear and concise product titles, detailed descriptions highlighting key features and benefits, high-quality product images, pricing information, sizing or specifications, and customer reviews or testimonials, if available.

How can I optimize the checkout process to increase conversions?

To optimize the checkout process, streamline the steps involved, offer guest checkout options, provide multiple payment methods, ensure security and trust indicators, display shipping options and costs upfront, minimize form fields, and offer incentives such as discounts or free shipping for completing a purchase.

About the Author

Adam is the Co-founder of ProjectionHub which helps entrepreneurs create financial projections for potential investors, lenders and internal business planning. Since 2012, over 50,000 entrepreneurs from around the world have used ProjectionHub to help create financial projections.

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How to finance a small business acquisition.

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How to Acquire a Business in 11 Steps

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E-Commerce Start-Up Business Plan

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NoHassleReturn.com

Executive summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. it describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">, opportunity.

As E-commerce continues to accelerate, so does the problem of merchants and manufacturers needing to process returns. The average rate of returns for Internet-based companies is 9%. In the coming year the value of returned merchandise was $1.5 billion. Every one of these transactions involves financial processing. Many of them require physical shipping of physical goods, plus processing the goods as received. This is a huge hassle. 

NoHassleReturn.com strives to position itself as a strategic partnership between online merchants, Web hosting companies and portals, shipping companies, and online payment agents such as credit card issuers. Due to demand aggregation, the strategy will produce reduced or totally free shipping of returned merchandise to consumers. This differentiating element will multiply the consumer acceptance factor and will draw more revenues to all participating companies. The proposed program is therefore a win-win solution to all parties involved. Moreover, the software architecture and website format will be wireless-friendly thus designing the service in such a way that consumers will later be able to easily use it via cellular phones and other personal wireless devices

E-commerce continues to accelerate and the amount of money spent on purchases made through the Internet shows no sign of decline. During the past holiday season (November 20 to December 19), retailers saw online revenues quadruple, jumping 300% to about $11 billion and far exceeding expectations, according to a study by Shop.org and Boston Consulting Group. The study of 30 retailers in such categories as apparel, books and music, home and garden, specialty foods and electronics showed a 270% growth in the number of orders. The study indicated that online sales were growing at 145% annually and it projected online retailer revenues of more than $36 billion for last year. An earlier study conducted by Ernst & Young, before the holiday frenzy, already estimated that total revenues for online retail and consumer products for the calendar year just completed were around $25-30 billion. Currently, the average rate of returns for Internet-based companies is 9%. In the coming year the value of returned merchandise was $1.5 billion. This indicates an amazing opportunity.

Competition`

The company foresees three types of competition for the services we offer: Direct

If we prove successful, others will follow. Our most worrisome competition would be combining delivery and/or courier services, like something of this type owned or partnered with UPS or FEDEX. 

The first competitors to the new service are the online retailers themselves. Since NoHassleReturn.com will need to strike partnerships and strategic agreements with retailers in order to offer its services, they are classified as internal competitors. 

With NoHassleReturn.com, at least one selling opportunity will be given to retailers while consumer is on the Web–something a partnership with a carrier cannot provide. Moreover, serving as a demand aggregator NoHassleReturn.com should be able to arrange necessary agreements and provide consumers with greatly reduced, or even free, shipping for all returned merchandise.

Thinking in reverse to the previous paragraph, service providers such as Mail Boxes Etc. and PostNet may try to forge strategic partnerships with numerous online retailers to simplify the return process. 

Our mission is to enhance customer service of online merchants, boost their customer retention and increase their sales. We strive to improve the overall image of the online merchant and therefore stimulate growth of online shopping. We put our efforts to increase customer satisfaction when consumers deal with retailers, to enhance the interaction process when retailers communicate with consumers, and to streamline the problem resolution order in all possible ways.

Expectations

NoHassleReturn.com’s financials are conservative yet quite promising. Once they are up and running and sign up some merchants as customers, NoHassleReturn.com will quickly gain momentum and generate impressive sales. 

Financial Highlights by Year

Financing needed.

We need $50,000 to start. We will get that from the two owners to start $25,000 each.

Problem & Solution

Problem worth solving, our solution.

NoHassleReturn.com is an e-commerce start-up company positioning itself to become the market leader in offering online merchants and consumers a uniform and trouble-free way to return merchandise purchased online. The company offers a business-to-business solution to online merchants of physical, non-perishable products. The company utilizes a consolidation approach in handling all product returns that allows online merchants to instantly save bad sales, restore customer satisfaction and stimulate repeat sales, while offering consumers a convenient, centralized online location to claim returns. By creating a new service category and utilizing the first-mover advantage, NoHassleReturn.com positions itself for rapid growth and gains a strong opportunity to raise entry barriers for possible competition.

Target Market

Market size & segments.

E-commerce continues to accelerate and the amount of money spent on purchases made through the Internet shows no sign of decline. During the holiday season (November 20 to December 19), retailers saw online revenues quadruple, jumping 300% to about $11 billion and far exceeding expectations, according to a study by Shop.org and Boston Consulting Group. The study of 30 retailers in such categories as apparel, books and music, home and garden, specialty foods and electronics showed a 270% growth in the number of orders. The study indicated that online sales were growing at 145% annually and it projected online retailer revenues of more than $36 billion for 1999. An earlier study conducted by Ernst & Young, before the holiday frenzy, already estimated that total revenues for online retail and consumer products for the calendar year 1999 were around $25-30 billion.

While a notable amount of positive publicity about the Internet shopping has recently appeared in the media, the number of problems encountered by online shoppers actually increased more dramatically than the sales figures. According to a poll conducted by WebAssured.com, the number of complaints filed between November 25, 1999 and January 13, 2000 was up 404% over the same period last year. Over 62% of the respondents claimed they had experienced at least one problem with an online transaction. Misrepresentation/misinformation and delivering defective products each accounted for at least 22% of all complaints. In the breakdown of types of problems occurred, delivery of a wrong item accounted for 17.2%. These kind of problems ultimately result in product returns that cause additional costs to the consumers and both costs and lost revenues to the retailers.

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When a wrong, defective, or misrepresented item was delivered to a consumer, the return process often proved uneasy. According to recent findings by PC Data Online, 30% of all consumers who returned items found the return process difficult. It is apparent that existing return procedures are inadequate and sometimes irritating. The solution, however, does not lie in forcing all online retailers to establish a "no-questions-asked" return policy and to post it clearly at the top of their websites. The entire sequence a consumer has to follow, starting from looking up the procedures on the Web and then having to make a trip to UPS or the Post Office, has to be streamlined. There is clearly a need, as well as an opportunity, for a new service company to improve the overall return process for online shoppers. As a result, the consumer satisfaction will be enhanced and it will translate into increased repeat sales for online retailers.

Market Segmentation

As stated in the previous section, the estimated online retail revenues were around $25-36 billion. Both sources providing the estimates indicated that only merchants selling physical products (books, CDs, electronics, apparel, etc.) were included in the breakdown by category. No mention was made of services such as online hotel reservations, news subscriptions, or online brokerage being included in the total figures. However, it would be advisable to use a more conservative approach when estimating the total revenues of online merchandise sales. Presented below are estimates for Internet retail sales made by National Retail Federation shortly after the 1998 holiday season.

Competition

Current alternatives.

Direct Competitors

Based on the current intelligence, there is no independent company out there specializing in a "returned merchandise" service to online consumers. No single company is known to be employing a concept of establishing a single point of presence on the Internet for consumers to claim returns. The current situation allows the new company to gain the first-mover advantage and build entry barriers for any possible new entrants.

Internal Competitors

The first competitors to the new service are the online retailers themselves. Since NoHassleReturn.com will need to strike partnerships and strategic agreements with retailers in order to offer its services, they are classified as internal competitors. Retailers may perceive that their internal return procedures are adequate and fully meet customer demands. However, the discussion under the Need Assessment section of this plan clearly indicated that there are significant drawbacks and shortcomings in the return process across the entire industry. Even companies like Amazon.com that touts a quick and easy return policy now sees its customers go to Barnes & Noble superstores to return books. Partnering with brick-and-mortar retailers may be seen as a solution by some e-tailers. However, from the consumer perspective, there still will not be a centralized location to return merchandise, no quick and easy return procedure, and no savings on shipping costs. Consumers may end up having to go from one physical retailer to another to return various items.

Online retailers may try to partner with carriers and service providers such as UPS, Mail Boxes Etc., or Rite Express. Reportedly, eBay.com is working out an agreement with Mail Boxes Etc. to appoint them as a preferred/exclusive service for product returns. eBay.com may receive rebates per shipment for directing its clients to Mail Boxes Etc., but consumers again will have little or no benefit. The standard shipping rates are applied, the choice of carriers is now limited, and online merchants are not informed about product returns ahead of time so that bad sales could be saved. With NoHassleReturn.com, at least one selling opportunity will be given to retailers while consumer is on the Web–something a partnership with a carrier cannot provide. Moreover, serving as a demand aggregator NoHassleReturn.com should be able to arrange necessary agreements and provide consumers with greatly reduced, or even free, shipping for all returned merchandise.

 Channel Competitors

Thinking in reverse to the previous paragraph, service providers such as Mail Boxes Etc. and PostNet may try to forge strategic partnerships with numerous online retailers to simplify the return process. But as it was described, online retailers will be shortchanged in overall customer satisfaction, information exchange, total costs, and additional selling opportunities. Consumers, on the other hand, will lose out on the limited number of "exclusive" carriers for particular retailers, and uniform simplicity in the return process will not be achieved. Moreover, both Mail Boxes Etc. and PostNet combined do not have sufficient physical presence in the market.

Carriers such as UPS and FedEx may try to enter the arena. Those organizations have extensive networks of facilities, experience in shipping, and a track record of quality. The U.S. Postal Service has recently started a TV advertising campaign of a service for online merchants that allows consumers to print return labels online. This is a step towards addressing the shipping end of the return problem, but it falls short of saving bad sales and creating new selling opportunities for merchants. No single shipping company can fully provide the range of benefits the proposed company can. NoHassleReturn.com will be able to arrange strategic alliances with numerous carriers and even play one against the other in negotiating rate reductions and preferential service terms for both merchants and consumers. Being a smaller company with a focus on the e-commerce community, it will also have a greater degree of flexibility in adjusting to customer needs.

Our Advantages

At NoHassleReturn.com, we feel we provide a value-added service to a variety of consumers. By having a safe and easy-to-use return service, the company benefits more people than simply the average customer.

Merchants Advantages

• Increase revenues! NoHassleReturn.com turns the systemic problem of product returns into new selling opportunities.
• Enhance customer satisfaction and retention with the quick and easy return process and boost repeat sales! NoHassleReturn.com provides the opportunity to instantly deal with returns, save bad sales, and turn unhappy customers into loyal patrons.
• Improve customer service with a simple, trouble-free way to return merchandise! NoHassleReturn.com makes it easy for consumers to return products and follow return procedures.
• Simplify the shipping hassle for consumers! NoHassleReturn.com provides the option to print a shipping label since pre-printed labels sometimes get lost or misplaced, which provides added convenience and peace of mind to consumers.
• Improve inventory management and logistics! NoHassleReturn.com immediately alerts you when your customer initiates the return process so that you can act on it right then, not when the merchandise arrives at your door.
• Fine-tune your internal efficiencies and product offerings! NoHassleReturn.com provides you with invaluable new data on all your product returns by customer group, product category, etc., so you can analyze your operations better.
• Enhance your image! NoHassleReturn.com underscores your customer orientation, which you can use to promote your business.

Consumers Advantages

• Return merchandise with ease! NoHassleReturn.com provides one centralized online location with a simple and trouble-free way to return merchandise in just a few easy steps.
• Buy online, return online! No need to call in or email your merchant if authorization is required–NoHassleReturn.com does the communication for you.
• No need to look up every single merchant for return policies every time! NoHassleReturn.com summarizes it for your particular item and makes sure the return time frames are followed.
• Generate a shipping label! NoHassleReturn.com generates a shipping label for you so that you do not have to worry about misplacing the pre-printed label or spending extra time at a shipping company’s counter if the pre-printed label is not included.
• Reduce or eliminate shipping costs! Through strategic alliances, NoHassleReturn.com reduces or completely eliminates the cost of shipping.
• Keep track of your returns! If you would like, NoHassleReturn.com will remind you to ship the claimed item and will maintain a file of your returns for your records.
• Increase awareness in the community! NoHassleReturn.com serves as a "returned merchandise credit bureau," providing discrete information to consumers on merchants and to merchants on consumers.
• Cross reference marketing leads! NoHassleReturn.com maintains a database of purchases that help custom-target online buyers in a more efficient way.
• Improve the overall image of the online merchant! NoHassleReturn.com enhances customer service of online merchants and overall customer satisfaction by simplifying and streamlining the return process.

Keys to Success

In order for the company to operate, a number of specific ingredients are needed. Following are things to put in place before the service can be offered.

• Retrieve all pertinent information on a participating merchant.
• Match appropriate return procedures against the returning item.
• Present procedures to the consumer in the most concise format.
• Provide reference to the merchant’s entire return policies if requested.
• Inform the merchant of the entire transaction as it occurs.
• Gain authorization from the merchant to return merchandise if needed.
• Present the merchant’s website to consumer for selling opportunities.
• Provide confirmation emails to the customer of the actions taking place if requested.
• Interact with the merchant’s database for further customer details if needed.
• Maintain a record of the transactions for the company’s own database.
• Develop successful relationships with online merchants to facilitate exchange of information.
• Develop strategic alliances with online merchants, shipping companies, and credit card issuers to negotiate reduction or elimination of the shipping costs to consumers on returned merchandise.
• Design, maintain, and promote a user-friendly website, the corporate trademark, that offers an easy and trouble-free merchandise return procedure for consumers.

Marketing & Sales

Marketing plan.

Because the company’s service is a business-to-business program, it will be initially promoted to online merchants by direct sales force. Personal selling will be necessary to reach decision makers within online organizations. At first, contacts will be made with Internet service providers, such as America Online, that host online stores and shops. America Online claims to have 20% of the total Internet service provider market in the U.S. Therefore, arranging a strategic partnership where NoHassleReturn.com becomes the preferred or exclusive choice for all returned merchandise bought at AOL.com shops will be invaluable for establishing a well-recognized brand and building up entry barriers for any possible competition. Ideally, a company’s banner with a notation "For an Easy, Trouble-Free Product Return Click Here" will be visibly displayed throughout the shopping section of AOL.com. Portals such as Yahoo! will be approached as well. Reportedly, Yahoo! hosts nearly 6,000 merchants where it charges each merchant at least $100 to $300 per month. Arranging a strategic partnership with Yahoo! will provide a strong leverage in negotiating return contracts with individual merchants. Similar to that of America Online, the company’s banner will be displayed throughout the entire shopping section of Yahoo!

Large online merchants such as Amazon.com and Buy.com will be targeted by the direct sales force during the first stage as well. Those companies have already achieved significant volumes of sales–and therefore product returns–and will find the uniform return process of much benefit to them. Strong "category killers" such as eToys and CDnow are also first sales targets. Auction houses such as eBay.com and uBid.com will be approached with a service offer for products sold to consumers by merchants and direct manufacturers.

Wherever possible, smaller online retailers will be personally approached by the sales force. To stimulate awareness and service penetration among smaller players, industrial marketing techniques will be utilized. Those will include advertising in specialized publications such as Internet World and Red Herring, as well as referral fees for retailers who already use the service. Email campaigns will be used to reach decision makers at smaller companies. The email messages will have an invitation to the NoHassleReturn.com website where a specially designed presentation will explain the benefits of the new service. An invitation to be contacted by a service consultant to discuss details will be included.

The company plans to offer its services right before Thanksgiving 2000. In order to stimulate a quicker adoption of the services, the remainder of the year 2000 will be offered free of charge.

It is estimated that the initial expenses to hire a sales force and a customer service unit of up to five people during the first year will be close to $400,000. Another $200,000 will be needed for sales program development, marketing activities, and training (excludes advertising). The initial compensation package for sales force will include a nominal base salary and a progressive commission structure. This should ensure that during the early stage of the company’s growth not only that sales targets are met, but also that customer (customer here means merchant) satisfaction and retention are fully addressed. The sales force will initially be located at the corporate headquarters. A territorial approach will later be implemented, with sales people located in regions. After one year, sales force members will split into two distinct groups. The first group will include pure sales people, the "go-getters" who will be placed in regions and will work on pure commissions. The commission structure will become more progressive and rewarding for such individuals, including a bonus structure. The estimate for an average commission paid on sales is approximately 5-10%. The second group will include client care professionals who will concentrate on customer satisfaction and retention to ensure the continuity of the program. These individuals will remain at the headquarters and will have a base salary with a bonus structure. The base salary for client care professionals is in the mid-five figures. Industrial advertising and promotional expenses in 2000 are estimated at $250,000.

It is also a possibility to sell the services to merchants via the Internet hosting service providers, portals, and software developers. Those companies will then serve as distributors and agents, compensated on commissions. This approach will eliminate the need for a large sales force. The final layout will depend on how quickly agreements with companies such as America Online and Amazon.com are negotiated, how aggressively they will be able to promote the services, and on what conditions.

The following diagram describes the customer approach (customer here means merchant).

Service consultants are the direct sales force that approaches prospective customers with service offers. Once a customer has been signed, a service consultant will only approach the client with new service offers and product upgrades. A client care professional is then assigned to each customer to deal with all customer service issues. Each customer will be advised to direct all service inquiries to the professional. A professional will also proactively call on customers to ensure high quality of service and customer satisfaction. The consultants and professionals will have direct communication lines between themselves to ensure open information exchange and a quick and efficient problem-resolution culture. This structure will guarantee an aggressive sales approach, client-oriented service, and efficient post-sales support.

NoHassleReturn.com will strive to eliminate the shipping costs to consumers by means of strategic agreements with online merchants, shipping companies, and credit card companies. As stated in the last quote, 58% of all product returns were due to merchants’ faults, hence merchants will have to reimburse shipping costs to consumers in those cases. NoHassleReturn.com therefore proposes that 65% of a given shipping cost should be allocated to corresponding merchants. Due to demand aggregation, the company will be able to negotiate a shipping rate discount with companies such as UPS or FedEx. Hence 20% of shipping costs should be allocated to shipping companies in a form of a discount. Credit card issuers such as Chase and BancOne currently offer a 5% rebate to consumers on purchases with selected online merchants. It is therefore feasible to arrange an agreement with credit card companies and/or issuers to include a 5% shipping cost rebate on all returned merchandise. Since product returns are only 9% of all purchases, it will not represent a large cost to credit card companies to add this differentiating feature to their products. These allocations in total will cover 90% of the shipping cost. The remaining 10% will be absorbed by NoHassleReturn.com via a special "instant rebate."

NoHassleReturn.com will charge merchants a program fee that will average only 0.5% of a given merchant’s total sales. Also, the company will charge a low per-claim fee of 12% of each item’s listed price (each item that has been claimed through the company’s website). However, of the 12% charged per item, up to 4% will be instantly given back to merchants to cover the remaining portion of the shipping cost. The previous table indicates that the 4% rebate is sufficient to cover the remainder of the shipping cost in the first product category. It is actually far more than sufficient in other product categories (refer to ASC Coverage Ratio). NoHassleReturn.com can then decide whether to offer merchants a reimbursement of the remaining portion of shipping costs only or a flat 4% "instant rebate" regardless of shipping costs. For the purpose of this business plan and financial projections, a flat 4% "instant rebate" was used thus reducing the per-claim fee from 12% to 8% across the board.

As it was stated in a prior chapter, retailers should see an average sales increase of at least 15% due to the service offered by the company. On the other hand, based on the proposed pricing structure the service should not cost merchants more than 1.5% of their total revenues. The cost-benefit ratio of 10 will be a strong promotional point for NoHassleReturn.com.

While it is a possibility to charge merchants commissions on all sales made through the company’s website (when consumers claim their returns), it would not capture all sales stimulated by the company. The program will increase consumer satisfaction and loyalty. However, when consumers start buying more due to the program’s effect but dealing directly with the merchant, the company will not receive any commissions and will in effect be giving its services away for free. Hence both fees charged should fully reflect the benefits of the easy-return procedure, early information on all returning items, restored customer satisfaction, selling opportunities created during the claim process, and all repeat sales thereafter.

The company also plans to draw revenues from advertising on its website, but for the purpose of this business plan advertising revenues will be considered negligible. A fee/rebate agreement may be arranged with such companies as UPS and Mail Boxes Etc. for bringing customers to them for shipping needs. Other revenue generating activities such as affiliate programs with VISA, American Express, or Citibank can be arranged to promote certain credit cards as a preferred method of payment online. Those revenues will also be omitted in the financial projections. Once the company has generated a sufficient customer database, it may also market information to retailers and other organizations for a fee. Any fees and payments NoHassleReturn.com could generate from consulting activities in the field of product returns will not be included in the financial projections either.

The service positioning in the eyes of online merchants is imperative to the success of the enterprise. The service proposed by the company is a business-to-business solution offered to online merchants of physical, non-perishable products. However, because online consumers will deal directly with the company via its website, the proposed solution also incorporates some features of a business-to-consumer service. It is therefore of utmost importance to clearly define what this company offers is a customer service & customer satisfaction program for online merchants. The most unique feature is that the proposed company takes the systemic problem of product returns and turns it into new selling opportunities for online merchants.

It is also important to note that NoHassleReturn.com does not try to position itself as a competitor to any incumbents with a similar service, online merchants, or shipping companies. The proposed company strives to position itself as a strategic partner to all parties participating in handling product returns. If nothing else, NoHassleReturn.com should be viewed as an outsourcing company to online merchants with the core competency and focus in handling returned merchandise.

The service offered by NoHassleReturn.com is designed to enhance customer retention and loyalty by offering an easy and trouble-free merchandise return process to online shoppers. According to Jupiter Communications, the goal of the 1999 holiday season was not about generating impressive sales, but rather securing long-term relationships. Retailers now need to focus on retention and loyalty. NoHassleReturn.com will help to achieve just that through establishing lasting, productive relationships with online merchants. Providing an easy, uniform, and trouble-free return process to all online shoppers will enhance the overall image of online merchants. While the number of retailers continues to grow, consumers will not have to look up every single one to find out about return policies and later keep abreast for possible changes. A centralized Internet location–the company’s website–will retrieve, summarize, and present the appropriate policies. Based on product information, it will make sure the correct procedures are used. The company’s banner with a notation "For an Easy, Trouble-Free Product Return Click Here" will be placed visibly on retailers’ websites and will serve as a symbol of customer orientation and care.

Moreover, the shipping process will be streamlined. Customers will be able to generate a shipping label on the company’s website thus reducing the hassle at the shipper’s counter. Although some online retailers already supply pre-printed shipping labels for sold items, customers sometimes lose, or throw away, those labels when they first see and like the products they ordered. Shortly after they may change their mind and would like to return a particular item, but the label is gone. With the proposed program, the label is always available online so that consumers can have peace of mind and also reduce the amount of documents they need to keep just in case. The service therefore offers a dual benefit to consumers. The retailers may then choose to stop including a pre-printed return label with every outgoing shipment thus reducing costs of selling. From a shipping company’s perspective, the shipping process is streamlined because the online-generated label will have all the necessary information, possibly including a tracking number if it is going to be shipped by UPS. That way consumers do not have to spend time at UPS counters filling out forms–both a customer service and operations improvement for UPS. NoHassleReturn.com will be a strategic merger between online merchants, carriers, and their partners targeted at overall improvement of customer satisfaction and ultimately the bottom line of merchants.

Another important feature of NoHassleReturn.com is that shipping of returned merchandise should be free of charge to consumers. (Means of achieving it are discussed in more detail in the Pricing and Revenue Generation section.) This differentiating feature will tremendously increase the consumer acceptance factor of the proposed service. The fact that products purchased online can be returned in an easy and trouble-free way, and that shipping is also free, will help expand the entire online shopping industry. The added convenience and peace of mind consumers will gain with NoHassleReturn.com will translate into more shopping with those online merchants that participate in the NoHassleReturn.com program.

When customers go through the sequence of online entries on the company’s website, the retailer whose product is being claimed for return will be offered at least one selling opportunity. At the end of the sequence the retailer will be able to target the consumer with any new sales offers as its website will appear onscreen. Should an exchange or replacement be preferred by the customer during the online return process, the retailer will receive an additional selling opportunity as its website will appear with offers during that step. These opportunities will translate into more sales for retailers. This will also stimulate customer retention, which means repeat sales. All in all, the program will increase customer satisfaction and generate more sales.

The program has a number of unique features. First, it alerts the retailer that a particular customer is claiming a particular product for return as it happens. That way the retailer knows about it as it occurs and not when the merchandise arrives at its warehouse. This allows to plan ahead. Since 9% of all products are returned, this feature offers useful information to better handle logistics and inventory.

Secondly, and more importantly, by asking consumers during the online sequence why they want to return a particular item merchants gain an invaluable piece of information. If the reason for return is defective product (30% of all reported returns), the retailer can save the sale and turn an unhappy customer into a delighted one by sending a new item right away. If the reason for return is wrong color, wrong size, or wrong product altogether (28% of all reported returns), the retailer may choose to send the correct product right then, thus instantly restoring customer satisfaction and saving a bad sale. It will be up to the retailer to decide on payment and credit terms of the exchange. These benefits ultimately translate into increased customer retention, reduced costs, more sales, and improved bottom line.

It is estimated that the program will generate an average sales increase for merchants of at least 15%. Online shopping is still at the early stage of consumer adoption. As stated earlier, about half the people who have not shopped online cited the cost and hassle of returns as a significant factor for not shopping online. Another recent survey found that 89% of online buyers said that return policies influenced their decision to shop with an online retailer. Consumers demand not only convenience but peace of mind. The proposed program offers both and it should increase the number of online shoppers, thus causing a market expansion for online merchants. The first retailers who implement the proposed program will also be able to differentiate themselves and capture a larger market share in their respective segments. Once embraced by the majority of online merchants, the program will become an industry standard.

It is important to note that during the entire process the company will not ask for, or try to gain access to, consumers’ credit card numbers. This will significantly limit possible liabilities and security/confidentiality concerns.

Milestones & Metrics

Milestones table, key metrics.

Our Key Metrics: 

• Active clients
• Active client leads
• Monitor Facebook and Twitter and reach out to customers who tweet at us or about us
• Easy to understand website and have a online chat and telephone number for questions 
• # of referrals from strategic alliances 
• # of customer who use us month after month 
• # of returns handled and from which company 
• cost of processing returns, make it as streamlined and well thought out as possible 

Ownership & Structure

Those activities that are not crucial to the corporate success (i.e. payroll) will be outsourced or subcontracted. Below are brief summaries of major responsibilities for corporate officers.

• Board of Directors : oversees the overall strategic direction and progress of the company. Specific areas include operational soundness, financial stability, and long-term well-being of the corporation.
• President : responsibilities include strategic guidance of the enterprise, exploration of expansion opportunities, and strategic alliance facilitation and management.
• Chief Executive Officer : the main responsibility is to maintain a strategic fit between the corporate resources and external factors. Responsibilities include running of the overall day-to-day operations, technological and operational soundness, and financial stability.
• Director of Finance and Operations : responsibilities include financial oversight, safeguarding of assets, and human resources management.
• Director of Information Technology : responsibilities include overall technological efficiency, software development, and information control.
• Director of Sales and Marketing : responsibilities include sales generation, marketing programs development, and public relations.

Management Team

There are two principals that are responsible for the idea and the progress of the firm up. They recognize as the companies quickly grows, certain positions such as CEO and CFO will need to be filled. The company was founded by Steve Logic and Dan Codder. Steve has spent the last ten years at Federal Express. While at FedEx, Steve was responsible for their logistics system. Steve has the incredible skill of perceiving business needs and creating a solution to address the need. At FedEx, Steve was the architect behind their benchmarked logistic system that has the ability to track customer packages and share the information with the client. What this meant for FedEx is that they could tell the customer exactly where their package is at any one point. This logistics system is the main driver behind FedEx’s exponential growth. Dan Codder is a twenty-year veteran in the computer industry. Self taught, Dan has worked at IBM, Cadence, Tektronix, and several other companies. Dan has the ability to design and write computer code very quickly and accurately. NoHassleReturn.com will leverage Dan’s skills for the completion of their customer service software engine.

Personnel Table

Financial plan investor-ready personnel plan .">, key assumptions.

• $4.1 million investment
• Status quo in market developments related to returns as part of traditional commerce is online commerce.
• Competition as we foresee it in the plan. 

Revenue by Year

Net profit (or loss) by year, use of funds.

START-UP REQUIREMENTS

Start-up Expenses

Stationery etc. $50

Brochures $450

Insurance $100

Research and development $400

Expensed equipment $1,100

TOTAL START-UP EXPENSES $3,000

Sources of Funds

The two co-owners will each contribute $25,000, for a total startup of $50,000. 

The plan depends on $4.1 million investment in the first month. 

Projected Profit & Loss

Projected balance sheet, projected cash flow statement.

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Des startups aux petites entreprises en passant par les grandes marques, un grand nombre d'entreprises peuvent bénéficier d’une plateforme e-commerce.

Grâce à leur présence en ligne, elles peuvent vendre leurs propres produits ou services à des millions d’utilisateurs, sans même avoir à les rencontrer.

Dans la société actuelle, les consommateurs veulent faire leurs achats en ligne, depuis leur canapé. De plus, les boutiques en ligne offrent un choix beaucoup plus vaste que les magasins de la région. Ainsi, le e-commerce offre une solution flexible pour les entreprises, mais aussi pour les acheteurs.

La création d'une boutique e-commerce suscite l'envie de nombreux entrepreneurs. Souhaitez-vous vous lancer dans cette activité ? Il est nécessaire de commencer par établir un bon business plan.

En effet, le business plan d'une boutique e-commerce peut vous permettre de mieux apprécier la rentabilité de votre projet.

Tout d'abord, lors de la phase de recherche, vous allez étudier vos concurrents potentiels et vérifier s'il existe des opportunités pour vous sur le marché.

Pendant l'élaboration du business plan, vous allez analyser vos dépenses de démarrage ainsi que vos dépenses récurrentes. Avec un prévisionnel financier bien construit, vous serez en mesure de savoir s'il est facile d'atteindre le seuil de rentabilité ou non.

Un business plan bien rédigé peut également servir de support pour débloquer des fonds et lancer votre projet e-commerce. En effet, si vous demandez un prêt à votre banque, lancez une levée de fonds auprès d'un investisseur privé ou demandez une subvention pour votre projet e-commerce, il vous sera demandé un business plan.

Sans méthode ni structure, la rédaction d'un business plan e-commerce peut facilement nécessiter une trentaine d'heures. C'est un exercice difficile, puisqu'il y a beaucoup d'informations à traiter, à analyser, à rédiger et à mettre en forme. C'est un long chemin au cours duquel on peut faire de nombreuses erreurs.

Que faut-il inclure dans le business plan d'une plateforme e-commerce ? Existe-t-il un plan prédéfini ? Comment estimer le chiffre d'affaires de votre boutique e-commerce ? Quels sont les ratios financiers à présenter dans le business plan ? Comment évaluer le seuil de rentabilité d'une plateforme e-commerce ?

Dans cet article, nous répondons à ces questions.

Enfin, notez que notre équipe étudie régulièrement ce marché. Elle collecte des données, les analyse et les synthétise. Tout le fruit de son travail se trouve dans le pack complet pour une boutique e-commerce .

La rédaction du business plan d’une plateforme e-commerce

Pourquoi rédiger un business plan pour une boutique e-commerce .

La mise en forme d'un business plan avant la création d'une boutique e-commerce permet de : - étudier les chiffres et données qui caractérisent le marché du e-commerce - analyser les changements sur le secteur du e-commerce - identifier les facteurs de réussite d'une plateforme e-commerce - identifier le profil de vos futurs clients et leurs besoins - réfléchir à une bonne proposition de valeur pour votre projet - étudier les boutiques e-commerce concurrentes ainsi que leurs forces et leurs faiblesses - repérer des avantages concurrentiels pour votre boutique e-commerce - synthétiser, à travers le Business Model Canvas, le modèle économique de votre projet - construire une stratégie de développement sur 3 ans (en identifiant chaque étape) - analyser les risques liés à la gestion d'une boutique en ligne - prouver la future rentabilité de votre projet à un investisseur financier

Nos experts ont veillé à mettre en place un business plan pour une plateforme e-commerce , qui répond bien à tous ces points.

Quels éléments inclure dans le business plan d'une plateforme e-commerce ?

Ce type de document regroupe un lot important d'informations, de chiffres et d'études.

Toutefois, il est essentiel de bien les regrouper afin d'avoir un business plan propre et concis.

C'est ce que nous avons fait dans notre business plan pour une plateforme e-commerce , qui comporte cinq parties décrites ci-dessous.

La partie introductive du business plan révèle l' “Opportunité de Marché” . Dans cette partie, on va lister les données et les chiffres du marché du e-commerce. Nous tenons à donner des chiffres récents. Ceux-ci sont donc mis à jour deux fois par an par nos équipes.

Cette partie présente également les dernières avancées du secteur du e-commerce (l'utilisation du machine learning pour les recommandations, les recherches vocales, le commerce conversationnel semi-automatisé, le e-commerce éthique et durable ou encore les boutiques 3D).

Pour conclure, on évoque les éléments qui permettent à une plateforme e-commerce d'atteindre son seuil de rentabilité.

Après cela, il y a la partie "Présentation de l'entreprise" . Elle permet de présenter les grandes lignes de votre boutique e-commerce (Quels types de produits sont commercialisés sur la plateforme ? Quel est le modèle économique de la boutique e-commerce ? À quoi ressemble la charte graphique de la plateforme ? etc.).

Cette partie évoque aussi la proposition de valeur de votre boutique e-commerce. Elle se termine par la présentation du porteur de projet (la personne à la tête de ce projet d'entreprise).

Vient ensuite la partie intitulée “Étude de Marché” qui va permettre de lister les segments de marché de votre boutique en ligne.

On y présente aussi les différents concurrents à travers une étude concurrentielle. Cette partie contient, entre autres, une matrice SWOT, un outil permettant de présenter les forces et faiblesses de votre projet, tout en listant les opportunités et menaces présentes sur le marché.

La partie “Stratégie” , va, elle, nous aider à présenter une stratégie à long terme, comportant des actions spécifiques qui vous permettront de devenir rentable.

On y présente, entre autres, un plan marketing qui donnera lieu à une croissance durable.

Enfin, ce business plan présente une partie appelée “Finances” , qui est là pour dévoiler l'ensemble des indicateurs financiers de votre boutique e-commerce.

Comment établir l'Executive Summary pour une plateforme e-commerce ?

Vous pouvez télécharger et utiliser notre Executive Summary pour une plateforme e-commerce .

Pour bien rédiger l'Executive Summary de votre boutique en ligne, il faut respecter certains critères.

Tout d'abord, l'Executive Summary doit rester court, 2 pages maximum. En réalité, il sert d'introduction au business plan de votre boutique e-commerce.

Par ailleurs, il doit être percutant. En effet, il doit persuader le lecteur que votre boutique e-commerce constitue un projet viable.

Ne faites pas de fautes d'orthographe et mettez en avant les points forts de votre projet d'entreprise (par exemple : frais de livraison raisonnables, lancement de remises exceptionnelles, offre de bons d'achat, transactions sécurisées, protection des données utilisateur ou encore respect des délais de livraison).

Comment établir l'étude de marché d'une plateforme e-commerce ?

Vous pouvez télécharger et utiliser notre étude de marché pour une plateforme e-commerce .

L'étude de marché de votre boutique e-commerce permet d'appréhender les critères externes à votre projet, comme la demande du marché, les innovations du secteur ou encore le nombre de concurrents.

Chaque projet d'entreprise devrait débuter par une étude de marché.

Comment bien la rédiger ? Il faut regrouper un certain nombre d'éléments.

Voici les informations comprises dans la partie "Étude de Marché" de notre business plan conçu pour une plateforme e-commerce : - les chiffres et analyses récents du marché du e-commerce - les dernières innovations propres à ce secteur - les segments de clientèle de votre boutique en ligne - l'analyse des plateformes e-commerce concurrentes - des exemples d'avantages concurrentiels - l'analyse SWOT complète pour une plateforme e-commerce

Les points importants du business plan d'une plateforme e-commerce

Comment définir le business model d'une plateforme e-commerce .

Le business model, ou modèle économique, d’une plateforme e-commerce est la vente de produits ou de services en ligne et leur livraison .

Une plateforme e-commerce peut vendre ses propres produits ou ceux d'un fournisseur. Elle peut également être un distributeur en dropshipping.

Une plateforme e-commerce est, en général, spécialisée dans un type de produits. Les produits sont classés, selon leur catégorie, dans un catalogue bien organisé et accompagné de descriptions détaillées.

Une boutique en ligne peut s'occuper elle-même de la livraison des produits ou collaborer avec des plateformes de livraison. Elle propose également un service après-vente pour le renvoi des produits défectueux.

Souvent, dans un business plan, on synthétise le business model de sa future entreprise à l'aide d'un Business Model Canvas.

Ce canevas permet de facilement comprendre les tenants et aboutissants de votre futur projet, notamment la proposition de valeur, la structure des coûts, les différentes ressources, etc.

Notre business plan adapté à une plateforme e-commerce contient, bien évidemment, un Business Model Canvas adapté à ce secteur.

Quels sont des exemples de segments de marché d'une plateforme e-commerce ?

La segmentation du marché consiste à diviser un ensemble de clients en plusieurs groupes d'individus similaires.

Dans votre cas, il faudra segmenter les personnes susceptibles d'effectuer des achats sur votre plateforme e-commerce.

Pourquoi segmenter ? Cet exercice vous permet de structurer la présentation de vos clients dans votre business plan. Une fois votre entreprise créée, il vous permettra de communiquer plus efficacement (en segmentant, par exemple, les offres et les messages de votre boutique e-commerce en fonction des groupes).

Parmi les segments de marché auxquels votre boutique en ligne peut s'adresser, citons les personnes à la recherche de meilleures offres en ligne, les personnes actives et souvent occupées ou encore les jeunes de la génération Y.

Dans notre business plan conçu pour une plateforme e-commerce , vous trouverez une étude de segments de marché adaptés à cette activité

Comment réaliser l'étude concurrentielle d'une plateforme e-commerce ?

Vous ne serez pas seul sur le secteur du e-commerce.

Il y a aussi les boutiques e-commerce concurrentes .

Votre business plan doit inclure une étude de ces plateformes. Vous devez identifier leurs principales caractéristiques, ainsi que leurs atouts et aussi leurs handicaps.

Repérez les manquements des offres concurrentes : des prix trop élevés, une expérience utilisateur insatisfaisante ou encore un service client rarement disponible.

Pourquoi se concentrer sur ces points ? Ces éléments entraînent incontestablement de l'insatisfaction chez les différents clients de ces boutiques e-commerce. Tirez parti de cette situation en créant des avantages concurrentiels pour votre boutique en ligne.

Un avantage concurrentiel désigne tout ce qui permet à votre boutique en ligne de surpasser ses concurrents sur le marché.

Voici quelques exemples d'avantages concurrentiels possibles pour une plateforme e-commerce : - des tarifs raisonnables et conformes au budget du marché - la proposition de certains produits exclusifs - le développement d'une application mobile pour votre boutique en ligne - la mise en place d'un bon service client - un site web optimisé et une charte graphique travaillée - la présence de différents moyens de paiement - etc.

Téléchargez notre business plan pour une plateforme e-commerce afin d'obtenir une étude concurrentielle pré-rédigée, ainsi qu'une liste d'avantages concurrentiels adaptée à ce secteur.

Comment rédiger la matrice SWOT d'une plateforme e-commerce ?

La matrice SWOT constitue un outil stratégique qui permet de bien comprendre les forces et faiblesses d'une entreprise, comme votre boutique e-commerce.

De plus, cet outil va nous aider à présenter les opportunités ainsi que les menaces possibles.

Une matrice SWOT correctement élaborée doit être synthétique et bien structurée. C'est un exercice difficile pour les novices qui élaborent souvent des SWOT mal structurés, peu convaincants et illisibles.

Or, tout comme le Business Model Canvas, la SWOT a la particularité de présenter, de manière synthétique, un grand nombre d'informations sur votre boutique en ligne instantanément.

Pour obtenir une analyse SWOT complète, rédigée et modifiable, téléchargez notre business plan pour une plateforme e-commerce .

Comment établir la stratégie marketing d'une plateforme e-commerce ?

Dans le business plan de votre boutique e-commerce, il faudra exposer une stratégie sur le long terme visant à assurer le développement de votre projet.

La stratégie marketing englobe l'ensemble des décisions à mettre en place pour attirer davantage de clients susceptibles d'acheter les produits proposés sur votre plateforme.

Parmi ces initiatives, il y a la création d'un site vitrine pour votre boutique e-commerce. Celui-ci va permettre à vos clients de vous trouver en ligne. Il doit comporter les informations essentielles concernant votre boutique en ligne.

Il faudra également optimiser son référencement (SEO) et, en particulier, certains mots-clés pour que votre boutique e-commerce figure en tête des résultats de recherche de Google.

Afin d'être certain d'apparaître en tête des résultats de recherche, vous pouvez également investir dans ce que l'on appelle des "campagnes".

Votre boutique e-commerce devra également maintenir un certain dynamisme sur les réseaux sociaux. La régie publicitaire Facebook Ads vous permet de promouvoir votre boutique en ligne et son offre auprès d'utilisateurs précis. Il s'agit d'un moyen efficace d'attirer des clients.

La promotion de votre boutique en ligne ne se limite pas à internet. Il existe également différents supports physiques. Vous pouvez, par exemple, concevoir des cartes et des dépliants afin de gagner en visibilité.

Enfin, vous pouvez mettre en place différents partenariats avec d'autres acteurs qui vous permettront de développer votre activité.

Il existe de nombreuses stratégies et décisions marketing à explorer. Retrouvez-les dans notre modèle de business plan pour une plateforme e-commerce .

Les éléments financiers du business plan d'une plateforme e-commerce

Un business plan correctement élaboré comprendra une démonstration financière complète.

Il faut, en particulier, établir des estimations du chiffre d'affaires de votre boutique en ligne.

Combien vous rapporte une transaction en moyenne ? C'est la première question à laquelle il faudra répondre. Cela dépend beaucoup de votre gamme de produits : prenez le prix moyen et déduisez 10% (pour rester conservateur). Ensuite, multipliez ce chiffre par le nombre d'achats potentiels.

Il est important que ces prévisions soient cohérentes. Notre prévisionnel financier adapté à une plateforme e-commerce comprend un système de vérification pour vous accompagner. Dans ce prévisionnel, les prix des produits et autres variables sont modifiables.

Aussi, il faut mettre en place un budget prévisionnel pour votre boutique e-commerce. Ce budget devra inclure tous les frais de démarrage ainsi que les montants associés.

L'étude de rentabilité constitue également un élément majeur du business plan de votre boutique en ligne. Elle vous permet de connaître le revenu que votre activité doit générer pour atteindre son seuil de rentabilité. Cette approche vous permet également d'avoir des estimations sur les bénéfices futurs de votre boutique e-commerce.

Il faut aussi analyser les différentes dépenses de votre boutique e-commerce. Par exemple, on retrouve le coût de fabrication et d'expédition des produits, le coût de l'emballage, l'achat des stocks de produits ou encore la rémunération du personnel du service client.

Pour finir, le niveau de performance financière de votre projet d'entreprise peut également être étudié grâce au tableau des SIG, à l'étude du BFR ainsi qu'à certains graphiques et ratios financiers.

Bien entendu, ces éléments sont présents dans notre modèle financier adapté à une plateforme e-commerce .

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Vous souhaitez sauter le pas et vous lancer dans l’aventure e-commerce pour vendre en ligne mais ne savez pas vraiment par où commencer. Business plan, seuil de rentabilité, budget prévisionnel, compte de résultat, fonds de roulement… sont des éléments qui vous semblent compliqués ? Voici tous nos conseils pour vous assurer un démarrage e-commerce optimisé !

Tout d’abord, sachez que le lancement d’un e-commerce est une étape clé. Un faible nombre d’employés et peu d’investissements ne signifient pas que tout sera plus facile. Il faut penser avant tout "création d’entreprise" !

Si vous visez un chiffre d’affaires conséquent ou un taux de croissance fort grâce à un site accueillant un nombre important de potentiels clients uniques par jour, il faudra investir du temps et de l’argent. Commençons donc par le commencement : vous devez définir un plan incorporant l’ensemble prévisionnel de vos coûts (réalisation du site, agence marketing, publicité, etc), sur un document Excel par exemple. Voici tous nos conseils pour vous accompagner dans le lancement de votre site e-commerce !

Faire un bon business plan : comment et pourquoi ?

L’une des erreurs que font régulièrement les e-commerçants en herbe, c’est d’investir beaucoup trop de temps dans l’établissement d'un modèle de business plan et de l’argent dans le lancement de leur site.

Avant même de démarrer la réalisation de ce fichier comprenant votre budget prévisionnel, il convient de tester le potentiel de votre offre, de votre produit en vente, toutes les hypothèses et tous vos objectifs.

Une étude de marché, la plus précise qui soit (clientèle, besoin, dépenses, prix moyen, budget, offre, taux de croissance, sites concurrents…), ne pourra pas répondre formellement à la question de la viabilité de votre projet de vente de produits en ligne.

Ainsi, avant même de vous lancer dans l'étape rédaction, vous devez vous assurer que votre business plan, vos hypothèses et votre offre soient viables et rentables. Pour cela, vous pouvez créer une 1ère version de votre e-commerce avec de faibles coûts.

Avec la solution e-commerce WiziShop , vous avez 3 jours d’essai gratuits (puis 1 € le premier mois) pour préparer votre e-commerce et commencer à vendre vos produits. WiziShop se charge de toute la partie technique. La plateforme vous propose également un accompagnement par des business coach, une IA d'aide disponible 24h/7j et une formation e-commerce complète offerte (démarrage du ou des sites, ajout produit, prix de vente, offre promotionnelle, acquisition SEO, SEA, rédaction, etc).

Avec cette 1ère version de votre e-shop, vous allez pouvoir analyser les premiers retours de potentiels clients. Rien de mieux pour la mise en place de votre présentation d'activité qu’une étude de cas basée sur des analyses concrètes !

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Pourquoi faire un business plan de site internet ?

En travaillant sur un site marchand , vous pouvez rencontrer un certain nombre de problématiques telles que : le positionnement, la rentabilité, les cibles visées, les moyens… Avant de penser aux méthodes de gestion de votre entreprise, il faut parfois penser à faire adhérer les investisseurs à votre projet. Soyez-en certains, l’adhésion des investisseurs ne se fera pas sans un business plan bien ficelé.

Beaucoup d'entrepreneurs redoutent cette étape. Fastidieux, précis, pointilleux... Vous n'avez pas le droit à l'erreur lors de cette étape cruciale du démarrage de votre activité.

Bien que cet exercice soit perçu comme une montagne difficile à gravir, pour simplifier la tâche, il vous faudra suivre quelques éléments clés. Heureusement, nous sommes là pour vous aider sur le sujet en vous aiguillant vers des solutions simples et un processus précis.

Savoir présenter son projet (sur PowerPoint ou sur Excel par exemple)

Depuis le temps que vous y pensez, vous maîtrisez parfaitement votre sujet. N’oubliez pas cependant que si votre projet vous semble clair, il n’en va pas de même pour tout le monde. Vous devez être en mesure de faire comprendre votre projet à tout intervenant. Votre plan d'action va donc traduire votre projet de manière précise aux yeux de tous.

Cela sous entend que votre projet de e-commerce soit déjà assez précis. Il ne sert à rien d’entamer un business plan si votre projet est encore au stade embryonnaire. Au sein de votre modèle de présentation, il va falloir énoncer les objectifs de votre futur e-commerce.

Une fois que vous commencez à dessiner les contours de votre parcours de futur entrepreneur, vous pouvez petit à petit noter les grandes lignes de votre activité à venir. La clé de votre travail préliminaire sera de mettre en forme votre avenir : l'écriture et la construction de votre concept seront au centre de votre attention.

Quelles sont vos forces ? Vos faiblesses ? Vos prix par rapport à la concurrence ? Quelle stratégie souhaitez-vous mettre en place pour votre communication ? Quels sont vos objectifs ? Mais avant tout : quelle est votre cible et quels seraient vos concurrents ?

Comme pour les autres types de commerce, une boutique en ligne doit savoir à qui elle s'adresse. Votre e-commerce est-il réservé à des particuliers ou des professionnels ? À une zone géographique particulière ? À une catégorie socio professionnelle ? Votre business Plan doit être capable de répondre à cette question.

Toutes les questions et toutes les réponses doivent faire l'objet de différents fichiers que vous allez constituer afin de bâtir un plan solide. Powerpoint, Word, Excel ou tout autre support seront les bienvenus pour soutenir vos idées et mettre en forme vos réflexions.

Votre présentation doit mettre en lumière un dernier aspect, et non des moindres, de votre futur e-commerce : son organisation. La gestion d’une boutique en ligne ne se limite pas à attendre les nouvelles commandes de ses clients : il faut un site fini, attirant, correctement référencé, souvent actualisé… Il doit donc définir qui sera en charge de quoi et par quels moyens.

Savoir chiffrer ses besoins

La rédaction d’un business plan pour un e-shop s’adresse avant tout aux investisseurs. Un simple cahier des charges reste suffisant pour un e-commerce qui n’a pas de besoin de financement immédiat.

Taux de croissance, cout moyen, prix, budget, hypothèses... Cette partie va consister à traduire de manière chiffrée les éléments décrits dans la présentation de votre projet. Il y a finalement assez peu de chiffres à renseigner dans le business plan d’un futur e-commerce, mais l’estimation de ces chiffres n’est pas un exercice aisé.

Dans un premier temps, il va falloir répertorier les coûts nécessaires à la réalisation de votre e-commerce : ces coûts comprennent principalement le lancement de votre site, les premiers stocks, les coûts d’hébergement et les formalités de votre société. Une fois la valeur totale de création de votre e-commerce connu, il va falloir s’intéresser à son financement : combien êtes-vous en mesure d’apporter et quelle somme devez-vous emprunter ?

Établir des prévisions d’activité de votre future boutique en ligne est un exercice beaucoup plus complexe. En effet, au moment du business plan, il est très difficile d’estimer correctement le montant de vente que réalisera votre e-commerce. Ces estimations doivent rester cohérentes avec le type d'article vendu, le choix de la cible, la stratégie adoptée, par rapport à votre secteur.

Créer une entreprise et gérer une boutique en ligne n’est donc pas une chose aisée. Il faut suivre un cheminement pertinent, tout en ayant une visibilité limitée. Pendant et après la rédaction, il faut toujours penser à votre trafic (recevoir un maximum d'utilisateurs) et à la conversion des utilisateurs (pour les transformer en client).

Cette partie trafic ne doit pas être laissée au second plan mais doit faire partie intégrante de votre comptabilité d'origine. Cette acquisition de trafic se découpe en plusieurs activités et dépenses :

• Trafic gratuit, sans achat : SEO, réseaux sociaux, email marketing, SMS marketing, etc. ;
• Trafic payant au coût par clic (CPC) : Ads sur les réseaux sociaux, SEA (Google Adwords par exemple), achat de liens, contenus promus, comparateurs ;
• Trafic payant au coût par mille (CPM) : emailing de masse, display, etc. ;
• Trafic payant au coût par action (CPA) : affiliation, etc.

Tous ces éléments doivent faire partie de votre plan afin de ne jamais être pris au dépourvu mais aussi pour montrer à vos futurs partenaires votre sérieux ainsi que la fiabilité de votre concept.

Le business plan d'un site : présentations, client type et étude de marché

Dans un premier temps, faisons la différence entre business model et business plan :

• Le business model – ou modèle économique - est, pour faire simple, le concept qui va apporter de l’argent à une entreprise. C’est, la plupart du temps, un document exposant la logique d’ensemble de la société.
• Le business plan – ou plan d’affaire - est composé de plusieurs pages. Il explique la totalité du projet d’une entreprise ou d’un entrepreneur en reprenant de nombreux points : activité, clientèle, marketing, gestion des ressources humaines, etc. C’est la mise en page plus complète et évoluée du business model .

Votre business plan doit se rédiger selon différentes sections :

La présentation de l’équipe

Pour effectuer votre audit, vous devez, dans un premier temps, présenter votre société, notamment le personnel impliqué.

• Présentation du porteur de projet e-commerce
• Présentation du personnel de son entreprise avec une hiérarchie. Pour lancer efficacement votre projet, il est d’ailleurs primordial de bien recruter.

Pensez à mettre en avant les compétences de chacun, résumez leur CV, exposez la complémentarité de votre troupe !

La présentation de votre catalogue sur le web

C’est tout simplement la section la plus importante. C’est dans cette partie que vous devez être attractif, convainquant et montrer que votre projet e-commerce en vaut la chandelle ! Elle va déterminer si oui ou non, votre projet est viable et rentable.

Dans l’élaboration de cette partie, vous devez répondre à 4 points :

• Quel est votre projet ? : « Mon projet est… »
• Que vendez-vous ? : « Mon produit est… »
• Pourquoi va-t-il être rentable ? Quel est son potentiel ? Comment allez-vous fidéliser vos prospects ? Vous devez évaluer la situation : « Il a un fort potentiel car…. »
• De combien avez-vous besoin pour monter votre plateforme e-commerce ? Vous devez estimer la trésorerie nécessaire : « Au niveau financier,… »

La présentation du marché

Cette partie va démontrer le potentiel de votre projet e-commerce. Construire une étude est indispensable pour afficher votre positionnement, même si vous êtes une boutique en ligne ! Vous devez répondre là aussi à plusieurs interrogations :

• Quelle clientèle ciblez-vous et pourquoi ? Pour définir facilement vos prospects, mettez en avant les caractéristiques démographiques et les habitudes d’achats de vos consommateurs potentiels (homme/femme; en ligne/en magasin…).
• À quel besoin existant votre projet répond-il ? Vous devez analyser et faire ressortir l’ensemble des facteurs qui vont influencer l’achat de vos articles ou services. Pourquoi votre cible va-t-elle acheter chez vous et non chez vos concurrents ? Vous devez structurer efficacement cette section car elle va vous positionner en tant qu’expert dans votre domaine. Elaborez un vrai plan d’attaque !
• Qui sont vos concurrents ? Vous devez analyser la taille, la cible et les offres de la concurrence (fidélisation, promotion, etc). C’est avec ces éléments que l’investisseur va déterminer vos forces.
• Avez-vous fait des études qualitatives et quantitatives ? Cette partie est aussi importante pour un projet de création d’entreprise, de marque ou pour un e-commerce. Vous devez générer des résultats d’enquêtes précis de vos prospects potentiels. Le questionnaire permettra d’apporter des réponses quantitatives. L’entretien, lui, vous apportera des réponses qualitatives.
• La taille et l’évolution du marché : prouvez l’importance et le potentiel de croissance que vous désirez atteindre. Vous pouvez prévoir des hypothèses sur l’évolution de la société, des statistiques, des opportunités futures sur votre activité…

Encore un peu d’effort, l’accord du lancement de votre projet est tout proche !

Plan d’action et prévisions financières : financement et viabilité du projet de boutique en ligne

Établissez un plan d’action online.

Pour attirer un visiteur sur un site e-commerce, il y a diverses techniques que vous pouvez mettre en place dans votre plan d’action. Pour les détailler dans votre business plan, vous devez opter pour une approche bottom-up. Elle permet d’estimer vos ventes avec les actions marketing entreprises.

• Le référencement payant : Placer votre site e-commerce en top position grâce à une campagne Adwords pour générer plus de trafic et de ventes. Cette méthode a pour but d’augmenter le trafic sur votre site, une tactique d’acquisition imparable ! Voilà la démarche à suivre pour retranscrire votre action marketing Adwords. Cette démarche est assez facile à expliquer dans votre business plan. Elle apportera de la crédibilité à votre projet :
• Votre projet est un site e-commerce de compléments alimentaires. Google Adwords vous informe que pour une somme de 10€ / jour, vous aurez 25 clics sur le lien de votre site web soit environ 0,4€ le coût par clic moyen (CPC).
• Vous pouvez maintenant calculer le nombre de visiteurs uniques / mois sur votre site e-commerce grâce à Adwords. En gardant les chiffres précédents, nous avons 25*30=750 visiteurs avec un budget de 300€ / mois car 0,4*750=300.
• Mais parmi ces utilisateurs, combien vont acheter vos produits alimentaires ? Vous avez donc besoin d’un taux de conversion . Si votre boutique en ligne est déjà lancée, vous pouvez analyser vos données en toute simplicité. (cf. partie « Etudiez la viabilité de votre projet e-commerce« )
• Prenons comme exemple un taux de conversion de 2% avec 750 visiteurs / mois : 750*2%=15 clients / mois.
• Si vos compléments alimentaires coûtent 30€, votre chiffre d’affaires réalisé avec Adwords sera donc de 30×15=450€.
• Le référencement naturel : Adopter une stratégie SEO, pour optimiser son site e-commerce, est un travail de longue haleine. Mais elle vous permettra de positionner votre site dans le top des résultats Google sur le long terme.

Pour financer votre activité, votre e-commerce ou votre société vous devez prévoir un plan de financement qui va permettre de convaincre, non pas avec des mots, mais avec des chiffres. Pièce centrale, c’est elle qui déterminera la viabilité de votre projet.

Définissez votre plan d'affaire

Créer son entreprise, sa marque ou sa boutique en ligne nécessite des investissements. Que ce soit de la part d’acteurs internes ou externes. Pour mener à bien votre projet, vous devez avoir un seul et même objectif : convaincre votre interlocuteur que votre site e-commerce va engranger des profits ! Comme je vous l’ai dit, créer une entreprise ou un site commerce sont des éléments très semblables. Voici la structure d’un business plan e-commerce :

• Chiffre d’affaires généré par mois : pour le calculer, utilisez le taux de conversion, à savoir quand vos prospects se transforment en clients. Il est intéressant de savoir que seulement 0,5% à 5% du trafic d’un site internet, arrivent jusqu’à la confirmation de la commande. Grâce aux calculs effectués précédemment, avec un certain investissement publicitaire, que ce soit via Adwords ou l’affiliation, vous pourrez évaluer approximativement le nombre de visites / jour sur votre plateforme e-commerce. Avec ces données, vous aurez déjà la possibilité de mettre en place un chiffre d’affaires potentiel.
• Marge brute et panier moyen : en moyenne, un client sur un site e-commerce achète 1 article. Dans cette partie, vous devez déterminer la valeur de vos ventes. Autrement dit, vous devez connaître vos données ! Toujours dans l’exemple du site de compléments alimentaires, voici comment connaître sa marge : Si j’achète un produit 20 € pour ensuite le revendre au prix de 40 €, j’aurai une différence de 20 €. Pour le moment, nous sommes d’accord ? Mais de cette marge, je vais devoir décompter la valeur de ma publicité, de mon site e-commerce, etc. En imaginant une marge de 30%, si mes produits valent en moyenne 40€ HT pièce, j’aurai donc 40*30% = 12 € HT. Si je réalise 2 commandes / jours, j’effectuerai 24€ de marge / jours, 720€ / mois et 8 640€ / an.
• Charges fixes : ce sont des frais qu’il faut payer régulièrement (souvent par mois). Pour vous donner quelques exemples :
• Coût de réalisation plateforme commerce
• Coût des actions marketing et communication
• Coût de l’hébergement
• Fournitures diverses, etc.
• Charges variables : ce sont des frais qui varient selon l’activité de l’entreprise. Pour vous donner quelques exemples :
• Coût de distribution
• Coût de main d’oeuvre
• Coût dû aux problèmes commandes (colis volés, perdus)
• Coût de commissions, etc.
• Salaire(s) : Pour calculer vos dépenses salariales, multipliez par 2 le revenu net. Le résultat vous donnera la valeur totale des charges (charges salariales, environ 22%, et charges patronales, 42%).
• Impôts et taxes diverses : Pour calculer les impôts et taxes diverses, il faut prendre en compte une contribution de 33% du bénéfice
• Bénéfices : Pour définir vos bénéfices, déduisez toutes les charges de votre marge brute (salaires, fixes, variables,…).

Comment faire un business plan de site internet ?

Pour vous accompagner dans cette étape fatidique de votre projet de boutique en ligne, nous vous proposons d'établir un premier business plan préalable afin de vous positionner sur vos objectifs à venir.

En une seule page, vous pourrez répondre à toutes les questions centrales , nécessaires au démarrage d'une entreprise. Avec ce modèle de business plan gratuit en une page, vous pourrez commencer votre nouvelle vie professionnelle en toute simplicité. Suivez le guide (en format PDF) !

Téléchargez notre modèle de business plan et démarrez votre projet tout de suite !

Comme pour la création d'une entreprise, que ça soit une startup ou autre, vous lancer en tant qu’auto-entrepreneur dans un site e-commerce n’est pas une chose à faire à la légère. Les étapes sus-citées peuvent très bien être prises en compte par un auto-entrepreneur.

Grâce à l’ensemble de ces informations, vous allez pouvoir déterminer la viabilité de votre projet et estimer votre seuil de rentabilité. Il ne reste plus qu’a présenter votre business plan e-commerce à des investisseurs potentiels.

Julie Sansonetti est l'auteur de cet article

Julie est Web Content Specialist chez WiziShop. Passionnée par le digital, elle effectue une veille active sur le secteur et publie sur ce blog des conseils, des actualités et ses dernières trouvailles du web.

johanne le 20 janvier 2011 à 15:33

Yes yes yes! Enfiiiiiiiiiiiin! Un grand merci, vous venez de rendre ma vie plus simple avec ce superbe article et ses pièces jointes. Bravo et merci de penser à ceux qui démarrent!

eric le 17 mai 2017 à 17:23

n’oubliez pas la notion de « cash burn » un site ecommerce dans le meilleur des cas est rentable à partir de la 2è année et en attendant il faut faire face au besoin en trésorerie que les pertes génères

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