If you sell a product, eCommerce seems like a logical next step to grow your business. But, if you sell a service, you probably haven’t considered starting an eCommerce shop. Well, it’s time to.

You might be thinking, “I don’t sell a thing, though. This definitely isn’t for me. And eCommerce is confusing”. Even though eCommerce started with products in mind, service-based businesses are starting to see the benefits of having a strong online presence and a way for customers to conduct transactions with the brand 24/7.

eCommerce isn’t one-size-fits-all for businesses, but there are a few ways that you can creatively grow your business by bringing it online.

If you’re thinking about exploring e-commerce for your service business, here are a few things to consider:

My clients call me to set up appointments, and that works just fine.

Phone calls are great, but not when people expect you to take them at all hours.

Consumers are increasingly looking for the easiest and most convenient ways to book appointments - i.e. if they’re researching your business at 11:52 pm, they probably want to book at 11:58 pm. Aside from the fact that no one wants to take a business call that late, phone calls also come with issues like busy lines, malfunctioning answering services, and telephone tag.

Offering your customers online booking and payments makes it easy for them to research your business, book an appointment, and prepay without losing momentum. If a potential customer has to wait to get in touch with you, they’ll probably end up going somewhere else.

What exactly would my customers buy in my online shop?

Since you’re not selling a tangible product, you’ll need to strategically package your services. For example, if you offer consulting or coaching services, you might decide to sell 30-minute or 1-hour time slots. If you sell photography services, you could sell photo session packages. You can even sell small accompanying products on your site, like e-books. Whatever it is, make sure that you include good descriptors with a relevant accompanying image.

You’re also going to want to make sure you have a way of only showing customers the time slots you’re available so you don’t get double booked. AppointmentPlus is a scheduling software that makes it simple for your customers to book online. It also sends automated text and email reminders so you don’t have to worry about customers forgetting their appointments.

What types of service-based businesses can bring it online?

Depending on your business model, you might have varying degrees of success bringing your business online. Make sure you do your research and evaluate whether it’s the right choice for you.

Here are some business types that can benefit from eCommerce:

• Cleaning Services
• Business Coaches
• Holistic Health or Nutritionist Businesses
• Photographers
• Pet Groomers
• Yoga studios, dance studios, art studios… you get the picture
• Professional services, like financial advisors or accountants

What about repeat purchases?

An eCommerce payment solution helps secure future business by offering recurring payments for subscription services. Not only is this a great way to gain some financial stability, but it’s also an effective way to retain customers’ ongoing business and loyalty. Check out how Neighbourhood Pet Clinic was able to differentiate and grow their business using a monthly subscription model.

Whether or not you decide to start selling online, having a website and strong online presence is good for building up brand awareness and growing your business’ reach. With 95% of consumers doing online research before committing to making a purchase, you need to present a polished and professional image.