Are you looking to start an e-commerce business? You’re not alone. Starting an e-commerce business has become easier and more accessible than ever before, with platforms such as Shopify and Amazon, making it possible for anyone to build an online store in minutes (and keep it up-to-date with minimal effort). When you factor in the number of people who prefer to shop online, you’ve got all the tools you need to start a successful e-commerce business without breaking the bank. Here are five steps to help get your e-commerce business up and running successfully!

The key question you should ask yourself before launching a new online store is whether or not there’s a good opportunity for selling your product online. If you can answer yes, then you’re on your way to starting an e-commerce business! Since we already determined that there’s potential for selling your product or service online, it’s now time to figure out how much competition there is and how likely people are going to buy from you.

If you have no experience with e-commerce, then Shopify is a great place to start. The platform takes care of all of your hosting, payments and page building, making it simple for anyone to create and run a business website. If you’re ready to get started on your own Shopify store, here are some steps you can take today.

Consider what products to sell, keeping your target audience in mind. Once you’ve determined your niche, it’s time to create a brand identity for your store by creating a logo and choosing colors, fonts and imagery that best represents your products and services. If you have little design experience or no budget for design help, there are plenty of online resources available for free or at low cost (such as canva.com) that can help you get started with these important components of branding your business.

Before you take your products to market, test them on a small group of customers. If they’re truly compelling and offer great value, they’ll do well and should be ready for larger-scale distribution. If not, adjust accordingly. You can even use crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter or Indiegogo—for both preorders and full funding—to get your products tested with a broader audience before spending money on inventory.

Getting your brand in front of new audiences is one of the most important things you can do. Marketing and advertising are integral parts of growing a successful brand, no matter what industry or sector you’re a part of. If your customers have never heard of you before, they likely won’t buy from you—at least not right away. Build your brand, and get it in front of your target audience!

Success in your business will require being adaptable. Be willing to make changes based on what’s best for you, for your audience and for your business. As we mentioned earlier, there’s no one size fits all formula that works. And since you can expect traffic spikes from time to time (and possibly even prolonged periods of downtime), it makes sense that you do whatever it takes to keep yourself and your site running as smoothly as possible.

Good Luck!