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20 Key eCommerce Requirements You Must Fulfill Before Launching Your Store

February 23, 2025

Ramin Popal

Setting up an online store is exciting, but the process can be overwhelming, especially for first-time store owners. There is a lot to think about, and without proper guidance, it’s easy to miss something crucial. For instance, you must meet various eCommerce requirements before launching your store. 

These requirements cover legal, operational, and technical aspects of running an online store. This guide breaks down the key eCommerce requirements to help you prepare for your store launch and How to Find a Supplier for Your Product. 20 key ecommerce requirements you must fulfill before launching your store.

AI Store Builder can help you achieve your objectives. With easy setup and an intuitive interface, the AI store builder makes finding and customizing a store template easy.  Then, it uses artificial intelligence to help you populate your store with content, product suggestions, and website copy.

What Are the Foundations of a Successful eCommerce Store?

People Working - eCommerce Requirements

Nail Down Your Niche to Build a Profitable eCommerce Business.

Finding a supplier for your product is one of the most critical steps to take before launching your eCommerce store. You can have a beautiful website and an effective marketing strategy, but if you don’t have the right products to sell, your business won’t succeed. This is why it’s crucial to find and vet suppliers before you open your online store. Once you receive your products and ensure they meet your standards, you can start making sales and fulfilling customer orders immediately.

1. Identifying Your Target Audience

Understanding your ideal customers helps you tailor your marketing and product offerings to their needs. Consider:

Demographics 

Age, gender, income level, location.

Psychographics

Interests, values, lifestyle habits.

Shopping Behavior

Where they shop, what influences their purchase decisions, and preferred payment methods.

Pain Points

What problems do they need solutions for?

Example

If you sell luxury skincare products, your audience might be women aged 30-50 who are interested in self-care and have disposable income to spend on premium products.

2. Selecting the Right eCommerce Platform

Choosing the right platform is crucial because it determines your store’s functionality, scalability, and ease of management.

Popular eCommerce Platforms

  • Shopify – Best for beginners, an all-in-one solution with easy setup and built-in features.
  • WooCommerce – Best for WordPress users who want flexibility and control.
  • BigCommerce – Best for scaling businesses with an extensive product catalog.
  • Magento – Best for advanced users needing custom solutions.
  • Squarespace / Wix eCommerce – Best for small businesses with simple product offerings.

Why Shopify? Shopify is one of the most user-friendly platforms, offering pre-built templates, smooth payment processing, and a range of third-party integrations.

3. Setting Up a Business & Legal Compliance

Running an eCommerce store means operating as a legitimate business entity. To avoid legal issues, you should:

Register Your Business

Depending on your location, you may need to register as a sole proprietorship, LLC, or corporation.

Obtain Necessary Licenses & Permits

Some products (e.g., cosmetics and health supplements) require certifications or special permits.

Set Up Tax Compliance

Ensure you understand sales tax regulations based on where your customers are located.

Create Legal Pages

Your website should include:

  • Privacy Policy – explains how customer data is collected and used.
  • Terms & Conditions – Outlines store policies and customer rights.
  • Refund & Return Policy – Clarifies how refunds, exchanges, and returns are handled.

Tip

Many eCommerce platforms provide built-in tax calculation tools, and Shopify has automatic tax collection settings for different regions.

4. Choosing the Right Business Model

Your eCommerce business model determines how you source and fulfill products. Here are the most common models:

1. Dropshipping (Best for Low Startup Costs)

  • How It Works: You sell products without holding inventory—suppliers ship directly to customers.
  • Pros: Low overhead, no inventory storage required.
  • Cons: Lower profit margins and potential supply chain issues.
  • Example: Selling trendy phone accessories using AliExpress dropshipping.

2. Print-on-Demand (Best for Custom Designs & Low Risk)

  • How It Works: Products (e.g., T-shirts, mugs, phone cases) are printed only after ordering.
  • Pros: No upfront inventory costs, unique product offerings.
  • Cons: Slower fulfillment times, limited product selection.
  • Example: Selling custom motivational gym T-shirts with unique designs.

3. Wholesale & Bulk Selling (Best for Large-Scale Operations)

  • How It Works: You buy products in bulk and store them for fulfillment.
  • Pros: Higher profit margins and better control over inventory.
  • Cons: Requires upfront investment, storage space, and shipping logistics.
  • Example: Selling wholesale skincare products to spas and salons.

4. Private Label & Manufacturing (Best for Building a Unique Brand)

  • How It Works: You create a custom-branded product through a manufacturer.
  • Pros: High profit margins and complete control over branding.
  • Cons: It requires a sizeable initial investment and product development time.
  • Example: Launching a private-label organic tea brand.

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20 Key eCommerce Requirements You Must Fulfill Before Launching Your Store

People Discussing - eCommerce Requirements

1. Find Profitable & In-Demand Products  

Before setting up your store, you must ensure that the products you plan to sell have high demand and good profit margins. Use Google Trends, Amazon Best Sellers, and competitor research to identify trending products. Analyze profitability by considering product cost, shipping fees, and expected retail price. Consider products with low competition but consistent demand. 

How AI Store Builder Helps

AI Store Builder provides 20 trending products in every Shopify store setup, ensuring you sell what’s already proven to work.  

2. Select a Reliable Supplier or Fulfillment Method  

Your store could face shipping delays, quality issues, and customer complaints without a reliable supplier. Choose between dropshipping, wholesale, private labeling, or print-on-demand based on your business model. Verify supplier reliability using supplier ratings, reviews, and communication response times. Consider local vs. international suppliers for faster shipping. 

How AI Store Builder Helps

It provides trusted suppliers with every store setup, eliminating the guesswork in supplier selection.  

3. Choose the Right eCommerce Platform  

Your eCommerce platform determines your store’s functionality, scalability, and customization options. 

Shopify

Best for ease of use and built-in features. 

WooCommerce

Best for WordPress users who need flexibility. 

BigCommerce

Best for scaling with an extensive product catalog. 

Magento

Best for enterprise-level customization. 

Why Shopify? AI Store Builder sets up your store on Shopify, which is ideal for beginners and experienced sellers.  

4. Create a Well-Designed & User-Friendly Website  

Your website should be aesthetically appealing, easy to navigate, and optimized for conversions. Choose a high-converting theme with clear call-to-actions (CTAs). Ensure easy navigation so customers can find products quickly—display trust signals such as reviews, testimonials, and security badges. AI Store Builder ensures your Shopify store is built with a user-friendly, conversion-optimized design.  

5. Optimize for Mobile Responsiveness  

With over 70% of eCommerce traffic coming from mobile devices, your store must be mobile-friendly. Use a responsive design that adjusts to different screen sizes. Ensure fast-loading of pages for mobile shoppers. Optimize mobile checkout for a smooth buying experience.  

6. Secure & Multiple Payment Gateways  

Offering multiple payment methods increases conversions and reduces abandoned carts. Set up Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and credit card options. Offer buy now, pay later (BNPL) services like Klarna and Afterpay. Ensure secure payment encryption (SSL certification).  

7. Implement a Fast & Reliable Website Hosting Solution  

A slow website leads to higher bounce rates and lost sales. Choose a fast-loading theme optimized for performance. Use a content delivery network (CDN) to speed up load times. Optimize images and minimize unnecessary plugins. 

AI Store Builder Helps

It optimizes store speed automatically, ensuring fast load times for a smooth shopping experience.  

8. Set Up a Clear Shipping & Return Policy  

A well-defined shipping and return policy builds customer trust. Offer transparent shipping timelines and costs, state return eligibility, and refund policies. Provide free shipping incentives to boost sales. AI Store Builder provides pre-written shipping and return policy templates to make setup hassle-free.  

9. Create SEO-Optimized Product Pages  

Each product page must be SEO-optimized to rank higher on Google and drive organic traffic. Use keyword-rich product titles and descriptions. Write unique product descriptions that highlight benefits. Optimize alt text for images to improve search engine visibility.  

10. Upload High-Quality Product Images & Videos  

Customers rely on visuals when shopping online, so high-quality images are essential. Use high-resolution photos with multiple angles. Include zoom-in features for better product details. Create short product videos showcasing how items are used.  

11. Set Up Automated Customer Support Tools  

Excellent customer service increases trust and reduces chargebacks. Install live chat support to answer real-time queries. Use AI-powered chatbots for 24/7 customer assistance. Offer FAQ pages to address common concerns.  

12. Establish a Robust Inventory & Order Management System  

Efficient inventory management prevents overselling and fulfillment issues. Use tools to track stock levels in real time. Set up automatic restocking alerts. Ensure a smooth order fulfillment workflow.  

13. Create a Compelling About Us & Contact Page  

Customers want to know who they’re buying from. Share your brand’s story on an authentic About Us page. Provide easy-to-find contact information (email, phone, social media). Display trust symbols like Better Business Bureau (BBB) accreditation.  

14. Build an Email Marketing System Before Launch  

Email marketing is essential for customer retention and abandoned cart recovery. Set up welcome email sequences for new subscribers. Automate cart abandonment emails to bring back potential buyers. Offer incentives like discount codes for first-time buyers.  

15. Install Facebook Pixel & Google Analytics  

Tracking website data allows you to optimize ads and improve conversions. Use Facebook Pixel to retarget visitors with ads. Install Google Analytics to monitor traffic and sales performance. Set up conversion tracking for better insights.  

16. Optimize Your Checkout Process  

A complicated checkout process leads to high cart abandonment rates. Enable one-page checkout for faster transactions. Allow guest checkout to reduce friction. Offer multiple payment options.  

17. Develop a Social Media Presence  

A strong social media presence drives traffic and builds brand trust. Create Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest business pages. Schedule consistent posts and product promotions. Work with micro-influencers for brand awareness.  

18. Establish a Loyalty & Rewards Program  

Customer retention is just as necessary as acquisition—offer points-based rewards for purchases. Provide exclusive discounts for repeat customers. Create a referral program to encourage word-of-mouth sales.  

19. Ensure Legal Compliance & Data Security  

Protecting customer data is mandatory. Implement GDPR and CCPA compliance policies—Encrypt customer information with SSL security. Clearly state privacy policies and cookie consent.  

20. Run a Test Purchase Before Launch  

Before going live, test your store’s functionality. Check product listings, checkout process, and email confirmations. Ensure shipping rates and payment processing work smoothly. Fix any bugs or technical issues before launch.  
At AI Store Builder, we create a complete Shopify store for you in under 10 minutes. We include 20 trending products, trusted suppliers, and a dropshipping course that others charge thousands for. Plus, you get live support calls and community access. Skip the headaches of store setup, product research, and supplier hunting - we handle it all so you can focus on growing your business. Get your store built for you in less than 10 minutes today!

Related Reading

Common Challenges New eCommerce Businesses Face & How to Overcome Them

People Working on Laptop - eCommerce Requirements

Speed and User Experience: How to Avoid Losing Customers Before They Even Make It to Checkout

High website speed is a must for eCommerce success. If your site takes too long to load, customers will get frustrated and abandon their session. 

Cart Abandonment: Why It Happens & How to Reduce It

A high cart abandonment rate is one of the most common struggles for eCommerce stores. Even Amazon — the king of online shopping — has a cart abandonment rate of 45%. 

Customer Acquisition Costs: Why They Matter & How to Lower Them

For eCommerce businesses, customer acquisition costs (CAC) can be astronomically high — mainly if you rely on paid ads to make sales. In fact, without a solid organic traffic strategy, acquisition costs can exceed profit margins. 

Product-Market Fit: Why It’s Crucial for Your Success

Product-market fit means selling a product that a specific target audience wants. You will likely struggle with low sales if you don't have it. 

Branding & Customer Trust: Why They Matter & How to Improve Them

Customers who don’t recognize your brand are less likely to trust you. Stores without brand identity, story, or consistency feel generic and forgettable. 

eCommerce Marketing Strategy: Why You Need One & How to Build It

Many new stores launch without a solid marketing plan and rely too much on paid ads. No strategy = no traffic = no sales. 

Shipping: How to Avoid Delays & Keep Customers Happy

Long delivery times = unhappy customers and negative reviews. Customers expect fast and reliable shipping options. 

Inventory Management: Why It Matters & How to Get It Right

Poor inventory management can lead to overselling products you don’t have, causing refunds and customer frustration. 

Customer Service: How to Avoid Getting Bad Reviews

When customers have questions or concerns about their orders, they expect timely responses. Slow responses lead to bad reviews. 

Repeat Customers: Why You Need Them & How to Get More

Acquiring new customers is 5x more expensive than keeping existing ones. Without retention strategies, you lose potential lifetime value (LTV).

Get Your Store Built for You in Less Than 10 Minutes Today.

Products don’t just materialize out of thin air. You need to source goods from somewhere to find a reliable supplier. To run a successful dropshipping business, you need to find a trusted supplier to partner with. This will ensure that your customers receive quality products promptly. Your supplier can make or break your business, so take the time to find the right one.  

Start by looking for suppliers specializing in the products you want to sell. For example, if you sell pet products, look for a supplier that specializes in pet products rather than a generic wholesaler. Next, do your research to find out what their business reputation is like. Look for online reviews, and ask other dropshippers about their experiences with the supplier. Finally, order a sample to ensure the products meet your standards before selling them to your customers. 

At AI Store Builder, we create a complete Shopify store for you in under 10 minutes. We include 20 trending products, trusted suppliers, and a dropshipping course that others charge thousands for. Plus, you get live support calls and community access. Skip the headaches of store setup, product research, and supplier hunting - we handle it all so you can focus on growing your business. Get your store built for you in less than 10 minutes today!

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