So Online Store Buddy is a site for anyone deciding whether to start an online store, and which platform to build it on. That covers Shopify, Etsy, Amazon, WooCommerce, Wix and Squarespace, all explained in plain English. And it's for anyone who wants a straight answer on costs, fees and first steps without digging through sales pages and forum arguments.
I'm Lance. Most of what you find online about starting a store is either a sales page from the platform itself, or it's written by someone who gets paid when you sign up. And the real costs are spread across pricing pages, help articles and tax rules.
So I wanted one place that pulls the real numbers together and says plainly what they mean for someone just starting out. And that's basically why I made Online Store Buddy.
So every guide starts with research, and I begin with the platforms' own pricing and help pages. For things like business licenses, sales tax and income tax, I use government sites. Every price and fee on a page shows the date it was checked, because these change often.
I also go through real walkthroughs of each platform, where people click through the signup, the free trial, the plan picker and the fee screens, so the guides show you what you will actually see. And the math on what a sale really pays out after the platform takes its cut is worked out step by step, so you can check it.
Every page also lists its sources at the bottom, so you can check them yourself. And when two sources disagree, or when something isn't confirmed, I'll say that right in the guide.
So if you have a question about starting your store, or you spotted something in a guide that needs correcting, feel free to email me at contact@onlinestorebuddy.com. I look forward to reading as many messages as I can, and your questions help me improve these guides.
Something worth noting is that I don't earn anything from the links on this site, and I have no affiliate deals with any platform or company. Nobody pays to be included. Online Store Buddy is independent, and it isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Shopify, Etsy, Amazon, WooCommerce, Wix, Squarespace or any other company named here. Those names are trademarks of their owners.
And keep in mind that the guides give general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. For decisions about your own LLC or taxes, talk to a licensed professional.
