What Is Bigcommerce?
BigCommerce is a cloud-based e-commerce platform that enables businesses of all sizes to create an online store. The platform provides users with everything they need to design, build, and manage their store. It also offers templates, powerful tools for managing inventory and orders, and integrations with popular payment processors and shipping carriers.
How Does Bigcommerce Work?
BigCommerce works by hosting your website on its servers and providing you with a platform to build your store. Setting up a BigCommerce store is relatively simple and can be completed in minutes.
Once your store is up and running, you will be able to manage it using the BigCommerce control panel. This platform provides you with all the tools to add products, process orders, and track shipping and inventory levels.
Key Features of Bigcommerce
Bigcommerce offers users a wide range of features and tools to help them build and manage their stores. Some of the key features of the platform include:
- A drag-and-drop website builder: The BigCommerce website builder is easy to use and enables you to create a professional-looking website without prior experience or design skills.
- A wide range of templates: BigCommerce offers a wide selection of templates to choose from, so you can find a design that suits your business.
- Integrated payment processing: BigCommerce integrates with popular payment processors such as PayPal and Stripe so that you can accept payments on your website.
- Inventory management tools: The BigCommerce platform includes tools to help you manage your inventory, such as the ability to track stock levels and set up automatic reordering.
- Order management tools: BigCommerce provides users with powerful tools for managing orders, such as the ability to create discount codes and offer free shipping.
- Shipping integrations: BigCommerce integrates with popular shipping carriers such as FedEx and UPS so that you can offer shipping on your website.
Is Bigcommerce Shop Free?
No, BigCommerce is not free. However, the platform does offer a 30-day free trial so that you can try out all of the features before committing to a paid plan.
How Much Does Bigcommerce Cost?
The cost of using BigCommerce varies depending on the size and scope of your project. The platform offers three different pricing plans:
- Standard: $29.95/month
- Plus: $79.95/month
- Pro: $299.95/month
The Standard plan includes all of the basic features you need to create a professional online store. In contrast, the Plus and Pro plans include additional features such as unlimited products, abandoned cart recovery, and advanced reporting.
Is Bigcommerce Easy to Use?
Yes, BigCommerce is easy to use. The platform offers a drag-and-drop website builder and a wide range of templates to help you get started. The integrated payment processing, inventory management, and order management tools make it easy to run your store.
What Are the Benefits of Using Bigcommerce?
There are many benefits of using BigCommerce, including:
01. Affordable pricing plans
One of the main selling points of Bigcommerce is its pricing plans. The platform offers a very affordable option for businesses just starting out that allows you to create a professional website without breaking the bank. Even as your business grows and you need more features, the pricing remains competitive.
In addition, Bigcommerce offers a wide range of features that can be tailored to your specific business needs. Whether you’re selling products online or want to create a website for your brick-and-mortar store, Bigcommerce has the features you need to succeed.
02. User-friendly platform
Another big selling point of Bigcommerce is its user-friendliness. The platform is designed to be easy to use, even for those with no prior experience in website design or e-commerce.
The drag-and-drop website builder and wide range of templates make it easy to create a professional website. In contrast, the integrated payment processing, inventory management, and order management tools make it easy to run your store.
03. Wide range of features
One of the main advantages of using Bigcommerce is the wide range of features it offers. Whether you need a basic website or a fully-fledged e-commerce store, Bigcommerce has the tools and features you need to succeed.
04. Excellent customer support
It’s worth mentioning that Bigcommerce offers excellent customer support. If you have any questions or problems, you can contact the customer support team 24/7 via phone or live chat.
05. Scalability
Another significant advantage of using Bigcommerce is its scalability. Thanks to its scalability and robustness, many big businesses use Bigcommerce to power their online stores. As your business grows, you can easily upgrade your plan to access more features and tools.
06. Secure platform
When it comes to e-commerce, security is always a top concern. Fortunately, Bigcommerce is a very secure platform. All data is stored on secure servers, and all transactions are encrypted.
Even if you’re not handling sensitive data, knowing that your website is secure is essential. Bigcommerce offers the peace of mind to know your website is safe and secure.
07. SEO friendly
Another significant advantage of using Bigcommerce is that it’s SEO friendly. The platform includes all of the latest SEO features and tools, so you can easily optimize your website for the search engines.
08. Mobile responsive
In today’s world, your website must be mobile responsive. Fortunately, all Bigcommerce templates are mobile responsive, so you don’t have to worry about creating a separate mobile version of your site.
09. Built-in blogging platform
If you’re looking to drive traffic to your website, Bigcommerce has you covered. The platform includes a built-in blogging platform to create and publish blog posts easily.
10. Integration with social media
Another significant advantage of using Bigcommerce is its integration with social media. You can connect your Bigcommerce store with your Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest accounts with just a few clicks.
This makes it easy to promote your products on social media and drive traffic back to your website.
11. Abandoned cart recovery
If you’re running an e-commerce store, losing a sale due to an abandoned cart is one of the most frustrating things. Fortunately, Bigcommerce includes a powerful abandoned cart recovery feature. This feature allows you to recover lost sales and boost your conversion rate.
12. Competitive pricing
Bigcommerce is a very competitively priced platform. The Standard plan starts at just $29.95 per month, while the Plus and Pro plans start at $79.95 and $299.95 per month. Whether you’re just starting out or have been in business for years, Bigcommerce has the right plan for you.
13. 30-day free trial
If you’re unsure whether Bigcommerce is right for you, the platform offers a 30-day free trial. This gives you ample time to try out the platform and see if it fits your business.
14. Money-back guarantee
In addition to the free trial, Bigcommerce also offers a 60-day money-back guarantee. This means that you can try out the platform risk-free. If you’re not satisfied for any reason, you can cancel your account and get a full refund.
As you can see, there are many good reasons to use Bigcommerce. Whether you need a basic website or a fully-fledged e-commerce store, Bigcommerce has the tools and features you need to succeed. The platform is also competitively priced and offers a free trial and money-back guarantee.
Are There Any Downsides to Using Bigcommerce?
While Bigcommerce is a great platform, it’s not perfect. There are a few downsides to using the platform, which include:
01. Limited design options
One of the most significant disadvantages of using Bigcommerce is its limited design options. While the platform offers a wide range of templates, they’re not very customizable. If you’re looking for a highly customized website, Bigcommerce may not be the right platform.
02. Limited app options
Another downside of using Bigcommerce is its limited app options. While the platform does have a wide range of apps, they’re not as comprehensive as those offered by other platforms, such as Shopify.
03. Migration can be complex.
If you’re migrating from another platform to Bigcommerce, the process can be pretty tricky. Bigcommerce does not offer an automated migration service, so you’ll need to migrate your data manually. This can be a time-consuming and complicated process.
04. Limited customer support
Another downside of using Bigcommerce is its limited customer support. While the platform does offer 24/7 customer support, it’s not always very helpful. You’ll need to rely on the community forums for help in many cases.
05. Not suitable for small businesses
While Bigcommerce is an excellent platform for medium to large businesses, it’s not suitable for small businesses. The platform can be pretty expensive and complicated for small businesses to use.
What Type of Business Is Bigcommerce Good For?
Bigcommerce is an excellent platform for businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re just starting out or have been in business for years, Bigcommerce has the tools and features you need to succeed. The platform is also competitively priced and offers a free trial and money-back guarantee.
Some of the businesses that Bigcommerce is particularly well suited for include:
01. Online stores
If you’re looking for a platform to build an online store, Bigcommerce is a great option. The platform offers everything you need to create a successful online store, including powerful e-commerce features, a wide range of templates, and competitive pricing.
02. Medium to large businesses
If you’re looking for a platform that can scale your business, Bigcommerce is a good option. Bigcommerce is also an excellent platform for medium to large businesses. The platform offers a wide range of features and tools and competitive pricing.
03. Businesses that need a custom website
If you need a custom website, Bigcommerce is also a good option. While the platform’s templates are not very customizable, they can be customized to some extent. If you’re looking for a highly customized website, Bigcommerce may not be the right platform.
04. Businesses that sell internationally
If you sell products or services internationally, Bigcommerce is a good option. The platform offers a wide range of features and tools for businesses that sell internationally, including currency conversion, tax management, and shipping options.
05. Businesses that need a multilingual website
If you need a multilingual website, Bigcommerce is also a good option. The platform offers a wide range of features and tools for businesses that need a multilingual website, including language translation, currency conversion, and tax management.
Does Bigcommerce Take a Percentage of Sales?
Bigcommerce charges a 2.59% + $0.49 per transaction fee for all of its plans. This fee is the credit card processing fee you’ll need to pay. But it doesn’t charge any additional transaction fee like other eCommerce platforms. For example, Shopify charges an additional 2% transaction fee (if you are not using their in-house payment processor) per order.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are both pros and cons to using Bigcommerce. Overall, the platform is an excellent option for businesses of all sizes. However, it’s not suitable for everyone. Suppose you’re looking for a highly customized website or need a platform with comprehensive app options. In that case, you may want to consider another platform.
If you’re looking for an easy-to-use platform that’s competitively priced and offers all the features you need to succeed, Bigcommerce is a great option.
Need Help with Setting Up Your Bigcommerce Store?
If you need help setting up your Bigcommerce store, I can help. With 18 years of experience as a web developer and designer, I can help you create a professional, successful online store. Contact me today to learn more.
FAQs
What are the disadvantages of BigCommerce?
There are a few disadvantages to using BigCommerce that you should be aware of:
- BigCommerce takes a percentage of sales, which can eat into your profits.
- It can be challenging for smaller businesses, as it is designed for larger businesses.
- BigCommerce’s stock has been dropping recently, which could affect its long-term viability.
Does BigCommerce take a percentage of sales?
No, BigCommerce only charges the credit card processing fee but doesn’t charge an additional transaction fee like other eCommerce platforms.
Which is easier to use, Shopify or BigCommerce?
Shopify is generally considered to be easier to use than BigCommerce. However, this is subjective and depends on your needs and preferences.
What are the 3 advantages of BigCommerce?
BigCommerce has a few advantages over other eCommerce platforms:
- It is designed for larger businesses with more features and functionality.
- It offers a wide range of integrations, making running your business easier.
- BigCommerce’s stock has been relatively stable recently, which gives it some long-term viability.
Is BigCommerce good for small businesses?
BigCommerce can be good for small businesses, but it is designed for larger businesses. If you’re a small business owner, you might want to consider another eCommerce platform that is more geared towards your needs.
Is BigCommerce better than Magento?
This is a difficult question to answer, depending on your specific needs and preferences. However, the general opinion seems to be that BigCommerce is better suited for larger businesses. In comparison, Magento is better for smaller businesses.
Does BigCommerce have an affiliate program?
Yes, BigCommerce does have an affiliate program. However, it is not as popular or well-known as other eCommerce platforms’ affiliate programs.
How do I dropship on BigCommerce?
Dropshipping on BigCommerce is relatively easy to set up. First, you need to find a supplier that offers dropshipping services. Second, you need to set up your products in your BigCommerce store. Finally, you need to set up your shipping options and rates.
