Is BigCommerce the Right E-commerce Platform for Your Business?

When it comes to building an online store, choosing the right e-commerce platform is crucial. One of the top contenders in this space is BigCommerce, a platform designed to help businesses of all sizes create, manage, and grow their online stores. But with so many options available, is BigCommerce the best fit for your business? In this review, we’ll take an in-depth look at BigCommerce, covering its pros and cons, pricing, features, and more, to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your specific needs.

What is BigCommerce?

BigCommerce is a leading e-commerce platform founded in 2009 that provides businesses with the tools they need to build and run an online store. It’s a fully hosted solution, meaning you don’t have to worry about managing the technical aspects of running a website. With BigCommerce, you can sell products online, manage inventory, process payments, and more, all within a single platform.

But while BigCommerce is popular, it’s essential to determine if it’s the right choice for your business based on your goals, experience level, and specific requirements.

Pros of Using BigCommerce

1. Scalability
   • Handles Growth Effortlessly: One of BigCommerce’s strongest selling points is its scalability. The platform is built to support businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises. As your business grows, BigCommerce can handle increased traffic and sales volume without compromising performance.
   • No Transaction Fees: Unlike some other e-commerce platforms, BigCommerce doesn’t charge transaction fees, which means you keep more of your profits as your sales grow.
2. Comprehensive E-commerce Features
   • Extensive Product Management: BigCommerce offers a robust set of product management tools. You can easily add and manage a wide range of products, including physical, digital, and even services. The platform supports product options, custom fields, and bulk pricing, which is ideal for businesses with complex product catalogs.
   • Advanced SEO Features: BigCommerce is built with SEO in mind. It offers features like customizable URLs, metadata, and automatic sitemaps, which help your store rank higher in search engine results. This is crucial for driving organic traffic to your online store.
   • Multi-Channel Selling: With BigCommerce, you can sell on multiple channels, including Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Instagram, and Google Shopping. This multi-channel integration helps you reach a broader audience and boost your sales.
3. Design Flexibility
   • Customizable Templates: BigCommerce provides a wide range of fully customizable templates. Whether you’re a novice or have some design experience, you can create a professional-looking store that reflects your brand’s identity. The platform also allows for HTML, CSS, and JavaScript customization for more advanced users.
   • Responsive Design: All BigCommerce themes are responsive, meaning your store will look great on both desktop and mobile devices. This is particularly important as more consumers shop on mobile devices.
4. Built-In Security
   • PCI Compliance: BigCommerce is PCI DSS compliant, meaning it meets the security standards required to process credit card payments securely. This is crucial for protecting your customers’ sensitive data and ensuring that your store is a safe place to shop.
   • SSL Certificate: Every BigCommerce store comes with a free SSL certificate, which encrypts data transmitted between your customers and your store. This not only protects customer information but also helps build trust with your audience.
5. Excellent Support
   • 24/7 Customer Support: BigCommerce offers 24/7 customer support via live chat, phone, and email. Their support team is knowledgeable and can assist with everything from setting up your store to troubleshooting technical issues.
   • Extensive Knowledge Base: For those who prefer to find answers on their own, BigCommerce offers a comprehensive knowledge base, including tutorials, guides, and a community forum.

Cons of Using BigCommerce

1. Pricing Structure
   • Monthly Sales Limits: One of the main drawbacks of BigCommerce is its pricing structure, which is based on your annual sales. Each pricing tier comes with a limit on the amount of sales you can make per year. If your sales exceed this limit, you’ll be automatically upgraded to the next tier, which can result in higher costs.
   • No Entry-Level Plan: Unlike some other platforms that offer a low-cost entry plan, BigCommerce’s cheapest plan starts at $39 per month. This might be a barrier for very small businesses or startups with limited budgets.
2. Design Limitations
   • Learning Curve for Customization: While BigCommerce offers customizable templates, the platform can be somewhat complex to navigate, especially for those without technical experience. Advanced customization often requires knowledge of HTML, CSS, or JavaScript, which could be a hurdle for beginners.
   • Limited Free Themes: Although BigCommerce offers a variety of themes, the selection of free themes is somewhat limited. If you want a more unique design, you may need to purchase a premium theme, which can add to your costs.
3. Complexity for Small Stores
   • Overkill for Small Businesses: BigCommerce’s robust feature set can be overwhelming for small businesses or those just starting out. If you only need basic e-commerce functionality, you might find BigCommerce’s comprehensive suite of tools to be more than you need, potentially leading to unnecessary complexity.
4. Limited Blogging Features
   • Basic Blogging Tools: If content marketing is a significant part of your strategy, you may find BigCommerce’s blogging capabilities lacking compared to platforms like WordPress. The blogging tools are basic and may not offer the flexibility needed for more advanced content strategies.
5. App Store Costs
   • Additional Costs for Advanced Features: While BigCommerce offers a wide range of built-in features, some advanced functionalities require third-party apps, which often come with additional costs. This can make the platform more expensive as you add more capabilities to your store.

BigCommerce Pricing and Plans

BigCommerce offers several pricing plans, each designed to meet the needs of different types of businesses. Here’s a breakdown of their main plans:

1. Standard Plan
   • Cost: $39/month
   • Features: Unlimited products, file storage, and bandwidth, multi-channel selling, single-page checkout, professional reporting tools, no transaction fees. Suitable for businesses with up to $50,000 in annual sales.
2. Plus Plan
   • Cost: $105/month
   • Features: All Standard Plan features plus customer segmentation, abandoned cart saver, persistent cart, stored credit cards. Suitable for businesses with up to $180,000 in annual sales.
3. Pro Plan
   • Cost: $399/month
   • Features: All Plus Plan features plus Google customer reviews, product filtering, custom SSL, advanced reporting. Suitable for businesses with up to $400,000 in annual sales.
4. Enterprise Plan
   • Cost: Custom pricing
   • Features: Tailored solutions for large businesses, including unlimited API calls, custom pricing, priority support, and more. Suitable for businesses with over $400,000 in annual sales.

FAQs About BigCommerce

1. Is BigCommerce suitable for small businesses?

• BigCommerce is highly scalable, making it suitable for small businesses that anticipate growth. However, very small businesses or those with simple needs might find the platform’s extensive features overwhelming and potentially more than they need.

2. Does BigCommerce charge transaction fees?

• No, BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees on any of its plans, which can result in significant savings compared to other platforms that do charge these fees.

3. Can I customize my BigCommerce store?

• Yes, BigCommerce offers customizable templates and allows for advanced customization using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. However, this may require some technical knowledge, especially for more complex customizations.

4. How does BigCommerce handle SEO?

• BigCommerce is designed with SEO in mind, offering features like customizable URLs, metadata, and sitemaps. These tools can help your store rank higher in search engine results, driving more organic traffic to your site.

5. Is BigCommerce good for large-scale e-commerce operations?

• Yes, BigCommerce is well-suited for large-scale operations due to its scalability, robust feature set, and ability to handle high traffic and large product catalogs. The Enterprise Plan offers additional support and customization for very large businesses.

Is BigCommerce Right for You?

Deciding whether BigCommerce is the right e-commerce platform for your business depends on several factors, including your business size, goals, and technical experience.

• For Small to Medium-Sized Businesses: If you’re a small or medium-sized business looking for a platform that can grow with you, BigCommerce is a strong contender. Its scalability, robust e-commerce features, and multi-channel selling capabilities make it ideal for businesses that anticipate growth. However, the complexity of the platform might be more than you need if you’re just starting out or have a very small product catalog.
• For Large Enterprises: BigCommerce shines when it comes to supporting large-scale e-commerce operations. The platform’s ability to handle high volumes of traffic and sales, coupled with its extensive feature set and customization options, makes it a great choice for large businesses. The Enterprise Plan offers tailored solutions that can meet the specific needs of large enterprises.
• For Businesses Focused on SEO: If driving organic traffic is a key part of your strategy, BigCommerce’s built-in SEO features will be highly beneficial. The platform’s focus on SEO can help improve your store’s visibility in search engine results, potentially leading to more traffic and sales. The customizable URLs, metadata, and sitemaps make it easier to optimize your store for search engines, which is crucial for long-term growth.
• For E-commerce Entrepreneurs Looking for Multi-Channel Selling: If you’re looking to expand your reach by selling on multiple platforms, BigCommerce is an excellent choice. The platform’s seamless integration with major marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram allows you to manage all your sales channels from one central dashboard. This not only saves time but also ensures consistency across different sales platforms.
• For Businesses Needing Advanced Customization: If your business requires a high level of customization, BigCommerce offers the tools you need. Whether it’s through its wide range of customizable templates or the ability to edit HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, BigCommerce provides the flexibility to create a unique online store. However, this might require some technical expertise, so it’s something to consider if you’re not comfortable with coding.

Final Thoughts

BigCommerce is a powerful and flexible e-commerce platform that offers a wide range of features designed to support businesses of all sizes. Its strengths lie in its scalability, comprehensive e-commerce tools, multi-channel selling capabilities, and strong focus on SEO. For businesses that plan to grow and need a platform that can scale with them, BigCommerce is a robust option.

However, the platform’s pricing structure, which increases as your sales volume grows, and its complexity might be a drawback for smaller businesses or those just starting out. If you’re running a small business with simpler needs, you might find BigCommerce’s extensive feature set to be more than you require, potentially leading to unnecessary complexity and higher costs.

Ultimately, the decision to choose BigCommerce should be based on a careful evaluation of your business’s current needs and future goals. If your business aligns with the strengths of BigCommerce, such as scalability, multi-channel selling, and advanced customization, it could be the right choice to help you grow your online store.

FAQs Recap

• Is BigCommerce suitable for small businesses?
  Yes, BigCommerce is scalable and can support small businesses, but its extensive features might be overwhelming for very small businesses or those with simple needs.
• Does BigCommerce charge transaction fees?
  No, BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees on any of its plans, which can be a significant advantage over other platforms.
• Can I customize my BigCommerce store?
  Yes, BigCommerce allows for extensive customization through its templates and by editing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, though this may require some technical expertise.
• How does BigCommerce handle SEO?
  BigCommerce is designed with SEO in mind, offering customizable URLs, metadata, and sitemaps to help improve your store’s search engine rankings.
• Is BigCommerce good for large-scale e-commerce operations?
  Yes, BigCommerce is well-suited for large-scale operations, offering the scalability, features, and support needed to manage high traffic and large product catalogs.

So, Is BigCommerce Right for You?

BigCommerce is a comprehensive e-commerce platform that excels in supporting growing businesses and large-scale operations. Its strong suite of e-commerce tools, scalability, and focus on SEO make it a powerful option for businesses looking to expand their online presence and reach.

If you’re a small to medium-sized business with growth ambitions, or a large enterprise needing a robust platform, BigCommerce is worth considering. However, for very small businesses or those just starting, the complexity and cost may be more than you need.

By evaluating your business’s needs, goals, and level of experience, you can make an informed decision about whether BigCommerce is the right e-commerce platform to help you achieve success.