Creating an eShop: What Do You Need to Build a Modern Online Store?
For those of you who have decided to develop an online commercial activity by creating an eShop, we have prepared a concise and practical guide with useful information covering all stages involved in launching and building your online store.
Preparation and planning are essential if you want to increase your chances of success. From the very beginning, it is important to have a realistic business plan and, of course, an appropriate budget.
Equally important is building a reliable team of partners that includes your accountant, a specialized legal advisor, and an experienced eCommerce company that can fully undertake the technical aspects of creating and operating your online store, including design, development, training, technical support, and more.
To make your first steps easier, we have gathered and outlined the most important stages involved in creating and launching a new eShop.
1. Starting an eShop
Registering the Business with the Tax Authorities and Relevant Organizations
If you already operate a business, the process is easier because you have already completed your tax registration.
If you do not yet have a company, you will need to establish one in order to issue the required sales documents, as Greek legislation requires businesses to issue the appropriate invoices and receipts.
The main steps required to establish a new company include:
Temporary registration with the relevant Chamber of Commerce and verification of the desired company name. In the case of eShops, you may choose between the Professional or Commercial Chamber, depending on the business activity.
Obtaining confirmation of registration with the relevant social insurance authority, which will then be submitted to the competent Tax Office.
Registering the business with the tax authorities and obtaining a Tax Identification Number (AFM).
Completing final registration with the relevant Chamber and registration with the General Commercial Registry (GEMI).
Today, through the Greek Independent Authority for Public Revenue's digital myAADElive platform, it is possible to start a business and obtain a Tax Identification Number online via video call without visiting a tax office in person.
In any case, you should consult or use the services of an experienced accountant or tax advisor who can manage many of the individual steps required for the formal establishment of your business.
In addition, you will need a cash register or certified tax mechanism for issuing receipts, as well as integration with the myDATA platform for recording and monitoring your business's income and expenses in the electronic accounting books of the Greek tax authorities.
How Are eShops Taxed?
Tax rates are determined by the legal form of the company operating the online store, such as a sole proprietorship, limited partnership, general partnership, limited liability company, private company, public limited company, and so on.
Business Activity Codes for an eShop
The business activity codes you need depend on the commercial activity of your company, just as they would for a physical retail store.
For sales carried out through an eShop, there is a dedicated category of business activity codes beginning with 47.91, described as “Retail trade conducted by mail-order businesses or via the Internet.”
Consult your accountant regarding whether any additional business activity codes are required.
eShop Without a Physical Store
Regarding the company's registered office, one of the important advantages of an eShop is that opening a physical retail store is not necessary.
You may only need a warehouse or other appropriate commercial space from which your products are distributed and which can serve as the company's legal registered address.
ESHOP FUNDING PROGRAMS
Find out about available ESPA subsidies for eShops and eCommerce solutions, as well as digital services aimed at upgrading your business and improving its competitiveness.
2. Legal Protection and Legislation
It is advisable to avoid simply copying the necessary legal texts, such as Terms of Use or GDPR policies, from competitors' online stores.
Allocate a reasonable budget to hire a legal professional specializing in eCommerce who can properly prepare and legally protect your eShop.
Some of the steps you should complete with the assistance of a specialist include:
Carefully prepare appropriate Terms of Use and a Privacy Policy that legally protect your business. Terms of Use are an essential means of protection both for the company offering products and services through the online store and for the customer.
Clearly define your policies regarding orders, payments, shipping, and product returns. Transparent policies help increase customer trust in your company.
Protect your company's intellectual property rights, such as trademarks, patents, applications, and other assets.
Implement an appropriate personal data protection policy in accordance with GDPR.
Regarding the legislation governing online stores, the fundamental legal framework for eCommerce operations is established by Directive 2000/31/EC.
As consumer participation in eCommerce increased, the European Union developed a strategy for creating a free and secure Digital Single Market, where citizens can make cross-border online purchases and businesses can sell products and services across all EU Member States.
More specifically, through Directive 2000/31/EC on Electronic Commerce in the EU, the European Union established rules and standards regarding certain legal aspects of information society services, particularly eCommerce and online stores operating within the European market.
Some of the online services covered by the Directive include:
Online stores and eShops selling goods
Travel services such as tickets and accommodation
Financial services
Professional services provided by teachers, lawyers, doctors, and others
News and information websites
Advertising services
Directive 2000/31/EC was incorporated into Greek legislation through Presidential Decree 131/2003.
More information regarding eCommerce legislation can be found on the relevant GRECA page.
3. Creating an eShop: What Is Required for Professional Development and Complete Support?
How Do I Choose the Right Company to Build My eShop?
The company responsible for the development of your eShop is an extremely important factor in your business plans.
Make sure you start methodically and with proper preparation, working alongside specialized technical partners with extensive experience in eCommerce technologies.
When selecting the experts who will undertake the design, development, and operational support of your online store, make sure they meet most, if not all, of the following criteria:
Several years of experience in the development of eShops and eCommerce systems using advanced web and mobile technologies.
A broad client portfolio that includes established B2B and B2C eShops, websites, and portals.
Proven expertise and technical knowledge in software development and integrations required for connections, customizations, and extensions, such as ERP, CRM, analytics platforms, courier companies, payment systems, supplier systems, and more.
Data migration services for processing and transferring information to the new eShop, including products, categories, orders, customers, and other data.
An experienced technical support team, as the support requirements of an eShop are considerably greater than those of a simple web platform or marketing website. Technical support is one of the most important criteria when choosing an eShop development company because online stores include numerous and sometimes highly complex functions and services.
A proven customer-centric approach with an emphasis on the quality of services and solutions provided.
Which eShop Platform Should I Choose?
Selecting the right eShop platform is essential for the future expansion and adaptation of your online store.
Once your eShop begins operating, it is almost certain that you will soon need to expand or modify it with additional functions and services.
If the software platform cannot meet increasing operational and business requirements, you may be forced to invest in a new and more modern solution sooner than expected.
As a general guideline, the average lifecycle of an eCommerce platform is approximately three to five years.
You should therefore consider choosing one of the most popular eCommerce platforms, particularly open-source solutions supported by large developer communities that regularly release new versions, such as PrestaShop and WooCommerce.
This can help reduce the risk of becoming locked into outdated technologies.
How Long Does It Take to Build an eShop?
The eShop development process usually takes anywhere from three weeks to six or seven months.
The required timeframe depends on the scope and complexity of the services offered, the integrations required, and the minimum volume of operational data needed before the online store can enter production, such as products, categories, discounts, content, brands, and more.
Ready-made eShop packages can typically be set up and become operational in less than one month.
Specialized online stores featuring custom design, advanced user experience elements, and complex integrations generally require an average development period of around four months.
How Much Does It Cost to Build an eShop?
The cost of implementing an online store varies depending on the type of solution being offered.
For ready-made eShop packages, the cost generally ranges from €500 to €2,000, depending on the number of features and the hosting, support, and training services included.
For specialized or custom eShop solutions, the cost generally ranges from €5,000 to €15,000, depending on the complexity and scope of the required functionality and services.
Another significant cost factor is the eCommerce platform selected.
As a general guideline, we recommend using a specialized eCommerce platform, either an open-source solution such as PrestaShop, WooCommerce, or Magento, or a cloud-based service built on open interoperability standards, such as Shopify or BigCommerce.
By choosing a widely used platform for your online store, you are more likely to find reliable technical experts at competitive rates, while also gaining access to a larger ecosystem of additional functions and services from third-party software providers, including plugins and web services.
What Determines the Cost of Building an eShop?
The cost of creating an eShop is generally determined by the following factors:
User interface design, including whether the project uses a fully custom design or adapts an existing theme.
The number of technical and functional features required.
Whether data needs to be migrated from an existing website to the new one, including products, customers, orders, discounts, SEO URLs, and other information.
Custom functionality and integrations with ERP systems, CRM platforms, suppliers, and other systems.
Content creation, entry, and management within the eShop, including text and images.
What Are the Main Categories of eShop Systems?
When creating an eShop, you can generally choose between the following categories of eCommerce CMS platforms:
Proprietary. This involves the use of CMS software licensed by the company that develops and owns the platform. It is one of the oldest models and continues to be successfully used mainly by large organizations due to the relatively high cost of licensing and customization. Examples include Adobe, SAP, Oracle, and Elastic Path.
Software as a Service (SaaS). This is a modern software delivery model in which the provider centrally hosts the CMS platform, either in the cloud or on dedicated infrastructure, and licenses access through a subscription model. Examples include Shopify Plus, Salesforce, and Commercetools.
Open Source. This refers to software with publicly available source code that allows direct improvements, modifications, and extensions. A significant advantage of open-source CMS platforms is that their licensing permits redistribution and modification. Examples include WooCommerce, PrestaShop, Magento, and OpenCart.
4. Choosing a Shipping or Courier Company
The rapid growth of eCommerce in Greece in recent years has naturally led to the development of many new courier companies.
There are many options available, so it is advisable to conduct some market research and request quotations from as many courier providers as possible.
Some of the best-known courier companies in Greece include:
ACS Courier, Geniki Taxydromiki, ELTA Courier, Speedex, Easy Mail, Svuum, BoxNow, and Stoferno.
In addition to cost, which can often be negotiated, important criteria to consider include:
The courier company's reputation and reliability.
Its geographical coverage throughout Greece, including remote or difficult-to-reach areas and any additional delivery charges.
Pickup and delivery times.
The electronic shipment and cash-on-delivery tracking and monitoring system, which should ideally integrate with your eShop.
The management and cost of product returns.
Saturday and public holiday delivery options.
Give your customers alternative delivery options and offer as much flexibility as possible.
Your online store should ideally support integrations with multiple courier companies and automate shipping processes across more than one provider.
5. Payment Methods
As with shipping, you should make the purchasing process easier for your customers by providing several alternative payment options.
Payment methods can be divided into two main categories.
Online Payments
These are electronic payments completed entirely through the eShop via an integration with the corresponding online payment system.
Popular online payment systems in Greece include:
Payment systems offered by Greek banks for credit card payments, such as Alpha Bank and Eurobank through Cardlink, National Bank through i-bank eCommerce, ePOS Paycenter, and Piraeus Bank through Winbank.
Well-known payment gateways such as PayPal, Skrill, Viva Wallet, EveryPay, and others.
Digital wallets such as Google Pay and Apple Pay, allowing customers to make fast and secure mobile payments.
IRIS Online Payments, enabling customers to pay directly for online purchases through their bank's e-banking system.
PayByBank, an automated bank deposit method using a unique transaction code, providing customers with a simple and secure way to make real-time payments from their bank accounts.
Offline Payments
These are payments completed after the purchase has been submitted and outside the eShop.
They usually require more time for collection and confirmation.
Nevertheless, they remain popular among Greek online stores because many Greek consumers still consider them relatively secure payment options.
The most common offline payment methods include:
Bank deposit
Cash on delivery through a courier company
Payment and pickup from a physical store
Detailed information regarding the process and technical requirements for connecting your eShop to each payment system can be provided by your eShop development company, your selected bank, and the website or documentation of the corresponding payment gateway.
6. Customer Support – Customer Service & Helpdesk
Customer service is one of the most important functions of an online business.
Because your customers do not necessarily have direct face-to-face contact with you or your employees, providing fast and effective support is essential.
Your eShop operates 24/7, so ideally you should offer extended customer support hours beyond standard retail opening times and provide multiple communication channels, such as:
Telephone
Email
Live chat
Web-based helpdesk platforms
A fundamental principle of good customer service is responding quickly to customer requests.
To make sure customer messages are not forgotten, you should use helpdesk management software, ideally integrated into the back-office environment of your online store.
You should be able to monitor customer interactions and ensure that properly trained employees respond to all questions and requests successfully and within a reasonable timeframe.
7. eCommerce Digital Marketing
Effective promotion of your eShop requires the preparation of a comprehensive marketing plan that defines the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the campaigns and marketing channels you will use to promote your business and products.
In the era of omnichannel marketing, an effective eCommerce marketing strategy requires a multi-dimensional approach.
There are many online platforms and communication channels available. Some of the most important include:
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Search Engine Marketing, such as Google Ads
Social media marketing and advertising through Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and other platforms
Price comparison websites such as Skroutz, BestPrice, and GLAMI
Marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay
Email marketing platforms such as Mailchimp, Sendinblue, and Omnisend
Display and native advertising
Retargeting
YouTube and Vimeo
Content marketing
If you are not familiar with digital marketing or do not have enough time to manage campaigns yourself, consider working with digital marketing specialists with proven experience in the markets in which you plan to operate.
8. AI eCommerce Advertising Platforms
A new generation of highly advanced omnichannel advertising management platforms is emerging, with the primary objective of automating advertising campaigns across major digital channels such as Google, Facebook, and Instagram with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
These platforms allow even non-specialist users to manage eCommerce advertising campaigns more effectively.
Using Artificial Intelligence algorithms, machine learning, and big data technologies, these platforms are transforming the advertising industry at multiple levels, from creating advertisements and targeting audiences to purchasing media and managing campaign performance.
Although the creative process involved in producing campaign content, including advertising messages, images, and videos, is unlikely to become completely automated through AI software, many digital marketing companies recognize that significant parts of their work may be transformed and redefined by machine learning and Artificial Intelligence tools.
Platforms such as Criteo, AdScale, Madgicx, AdRoll, and WordStream use innovative technologies and AI algorithms to automate and optimize advertising performance for thousands of eShops worldwide.
You do not need to be a marketing expert to advertise professionally.
By using a modern advertising management platform, you can automate your eShop's advertisements across multiple channels while saving both time and costs.
9. What Do You Need to Increase eShop Sales?
Effective promotion and advertising are essential for increasing traffic from the right audience, but traffic alone is not enough to guarantee the commercial success of your online store.
What you need is not simply visitors, but satisfied customers.
To achieve this, you need the expertise of the company responsible for designing and developing your eShop.
The goal should be to create a modern online sales system with the highest possible conversion rate.
This requires a strong customer experience and mechanisms designed to increase both sales and Average Order Value (AOV), including:
Cross-selling and up-selling mechanisms, such as accessories, “customers also bought,” and two-in-one offers
Discounts and discount coupons
Gift cards and gift lists
Loyalty and reward points systems
Product configuration
Product and accessory bundles
Checkout offers
Deals of the month, week, or day
Personalized offers and messages
Easy product search
Fast checkout
10. Integrations and Automation
Time is money, and because competition is stronger than ever, businesses today need to serve their customers faster and more effectively.
By connecting your online store with the systems used by your suppliers or B2B customers, you can reduce operating costs, increase sales, and minimize errors in business transactions.
Connecting your eShop with your company's ERP, CRM, or commercial management software, such as SoftOne, Megasoft, Epsilon Net, or Entersoft, can save valuable time and resources while improving customer service and order-processing times.
Make sure the eShop platform you choose includes the appropriate tools and automation mechanisms required to make day-to-day operation and administration as efficient as possible.
Creating and operating a successful online store is too important to leave in inexperienced hands.
Plan your project carefully, coordinate all necessary activities, and make sure you begin with the guidance and support of experienced professionals.
More information about how to launch a new eShop, specialized eCommerce technologies, services, and ready-to-use solutions is available here.
If you would like more immediate information or support, contact us so that we can arrange a telephone meeting or an on-site visit to discuss your plans and identify the areas where we may be able to assist you.