Buying an E-commerce Website v/s Starting one
E-commerce has gained huge popularity in the recent years. It has benefited a lot of companies as well as consumers and has also become a nightmare for the retailers. Indian e-commerce market is expected to reach USD 63.7 billion by 2020 which suggests that there is a huge opportunity for online business owners. e-Commerce sites are designed and developed to speak varied communities with ever changing demands.
Therefore, there are certain things to consider when developing an e-commerce website. Let’s have a look on few-

- Keep the look of the website according to your product.
- Use high-quality images with complete and correct description
- Keep the layout and registration process simple
- Provide call to actions and feedback options
The quintessential question Is whether to buy an existing e-commerce website or start a new one? Read on for a decision. Let’s look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of buying an e-commerce website:
Advantages:
• The biggest advantage of buying an existing e-commerce website is that it has already overcome the initial challenges faced by a start-up
• The company is in a stage where it has already taken care of its research, advertising, website creation, supply chain, SEO services etc.
• There is a set model with suppliers and customers and you just need to look at the opportunities missed by the existing owner or create new business opportunities.
• Bankers and investors are willing to invest in your business as they are more confident dealing with an existing and operational business.
• You automatically inherit the patents and copyrights of the existing business
Disadvantages:
• Upfront capital is required to buy an existing business which may turn out to be more than the cost of setting up a new business.
• It is a huge risk buying any business if not done wisely. Hence it’s better to have a team of people to deal with various parts of acquisition.
• You will not only own the previous owner’s set-up including the machinery and work force but also the image and reputation created by them.
• You risk losing all your money if you are unable to run it successfully.
Now let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of starting up a new e-commerce website:
Advantages:
- Starting the business from scratch means you have complete control on the costs.
• You can work on the quality and ethics of your business and create a good reputation for yourself
• You can hire e-commerce development companies who will take care of the website design, content and basic SEO services
• A successful site owner can sell it to buyers looking to invest in existing businesses in return for huge returns.
• Set your own targets and goals
Disadvantages:
• Setting up a new business is time-consuming and there may be zero returns during the formative years
• You need to have enough back-up to sustain.
• Competition may play a spoilt sport and you may lose all the money.
• You have to build your own resources and may not have trained or experienced staff.
• Bringing traffic to your website can be a daunting task
Buying an existing business and starting a new business both have their pros and cons and it is important to look at all the aspects carefully before deciding which one suits you best.