Want to sell online in Singapore? An e-commerce website opens your business to customers 24/7. Here is everything you need to know about setting up an online store.
Platform Options
- Shopify - Easiest to use, $29-299/month, great for beginners
- WooCommerce - WordPress plugin, flexible, lower ongoing costs
- Magento - Enterprise-level, complex, expensive
- Custom build - Full control, highest cost
For most Singapore SMEs, Shopify or WooCommerce are the practical choices.
Essential Features
- Product catalog - Photos, descriptions, variants, pricing
- Shopping cart - Easy add, edit, and checkout
- Payment processing - Credit cards, PayNow, GrabPay
- Shipping integration - Calculate rates, generate labels
- Inventory management - Track stock levels
- Order management - Process, fulfill, track orders
- Mobile optimization - 60%+ of purchases are mobile
- SSL security - Required for payment processing
Payment Gateways for Singapore
- Stripe - Popular, 3.4% + $0.50 per transaction
- PayNow - Local favorite, lower fees
- GrabPay - Popular with younger customers
- eNETS - Direct bank debit
- Atome/Pace - Buy now pay later options
Offer multiple payment options to reduce cart abandonment.
Costs to Expect
- Platform fees - $0-299/month depending on choice
- Design and setup - $2,000-15,000 one-time
- Payment processing - 2-4% per transaction
- Hosting - $20-100/month (included in Shopify)
- Apps and plugins - $0-200/month for additional features
E-commerce success depends on more than just having a store. Plan for marketing, fulfillment, and customer service. Start simple, learn from customers, and scale what works.