Do I need a webshop or a website?
If you sell physical products that people order online, you need a webshop. If you provide services or mostly sell in your own shop, a good website is usually enough, and that saves you a lot in cost.
What it really comes down to: does money change hands on the site or not?
The simplest way to choose is this question: does someone need to be able to pay on your site? With a webshop the whole sale happens online. The customer picks a product, adds it to a basket, pays, and you ship it or set it aside. Payment, stock and shipping all come into play.
A website does something different. It shows who you are, what you do and why people should come to you, and makes sure they can reach you easily. Paying happens later: in your shop, at the customer's home, or after you have sent a quote. Once you know the answer to that one question, you pretty much know what you need.
When a website is enough (and a good bit cheaper)
If you provide a service, you are not selling a box but yourself and your craft. Think of a hairdresser, coach, physio, bookkeeper, painter or gardener. Your customer wants to know that you exist, that you are good and how to book an appointment. You do not need a shopping basket for that.
A tidy website that is easy to find on Google, that shows what you do and that has a clear button to call, email or plan an appointment, does exactly what is needed. The same goes if you mostly sell in your own shop, like a baker or florist: people find you online and then simply buy at the counter.
With us a website starts at €49 per month with the Start package. Want to let customers book an appointment online? That is in Website Compleet for €139 per month. A real webshop costs more, so it pays not to build what you will not use.
When you really need a webshop
If you sell physical products that people want to order from home, a webshop is the right choice. Say you sell jewellery, clothing, care products or regional goods, and you want someone to be able to order on a Sunday evening at eleven without you having to be there. Then you need online payment, stock and shipping, and that is exactly what a webshop handles.
Be honest with yourself though: a webshop is more work. You need good product photos, you have to keep your stock up to date, arrange shipping and sometimes handle returns. That comes with the territory and it is perfectly doable, but it is not a button you just switch on.
A webshop starts with us at €119 per month. We take care of the build, hosting and maintenance, so you can focus on your products and customers.
Not sure? Start small and grow later
If you are somewhere in between, you do not have to build big straight away. If you only sell a few products, a full webshop is often overkill. A regular website with an order button or a payment request per product can be enough. That keeps things simple and cheap, and lets you first see whether the demand is there.
If it takes off and you want to expand to a real shop later, we simply add it on. So you do not have to choose now as if it is forever. Our advice is usually: start with what you truly need today, not with what you might want in three years. A site that fits your business as it is now brings you more than an expensive shop that stays half empty.
Still not sure?
Feel free to call or message Nathalie, and we will think along honestly with you, even if the answer is that you need something smaller than you thought. You get clear advice and, if you like, a free trial sketch of what your site could look like. No obligations, just a quick chat.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still add a webshop to my website later?
Yes. Many business owners start with a website and expand to a webshop later as demand grows. We add the shop on then, so you do not have to pick the most expensive option now for something you may only use in a year.
I only sell a few products. Does it really have to be a whole webshop?
Usually not. For a handful of products a regular website with an order button or a payment request is often enough. That is simpler and cheaper. If you sell larger volumes or want to handle stock and shipping automatically, only then does a real webshop become worthwhile.
What does a webshop cost compared to a website?
With us a website starts at €49 per month and a webshop at €119 per month, both including build, hosting and maintenance. A webshop costs more because more is involved, such as payment, stock and shipping. Pay the first year up front and the one-off €195 start fee is waived.