Retail brands may get the most attention, but service-oriented businesses are the backbone of the global economy. In the United States, professional services are responsible for over 75% of all business revenue. This means that the services sector offers countless opportunities for new entrepreneurs, but also that a head-turning website is vital if you want to stand out from the crowd. Is Shopify a good platform for service businesses?
Can Shopify Be Used for Services?
Shopify is a major player in the world of ecommerce, powering more than 3.2 million websites in the United States. Shopify’s built-in tools for website security, payment processing, shipping, and transaction management are a natural fit for online stores. But even though many of these businesses focus on products, you can also use Shopify to sell services.
One reason Shopify works for service businesses is that it simplifies website creation and management. There’s no need to mess around with coding or complicated systems. The “what you see is what you get” editor means you can customize different parts of your shop just by dragging, dropping, clicking, and typing. Adding pages, categories, images, and videos is a breeze.
And once you finish adding pages for your services, you’re practically ready for launch. The financial tools are ready to go, whether your clients want to pay with Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Apple Pay, or another option.
In a word, Shopify is easy. It’s an excellent platform for small businesses, but it has the flexibility to scale as your services do.
What Businesses Use Shopify for Their Services?
With the right plug-ins, any service business can use Shopify, even ones that charge by the hour. That said, Shopify’s e-commerce origins are a better match for companies that offer a variety of well-defined services with specific prices.
Restaurants and Coffee Shops
Restaurants, bistros, delis, and coffee shops are considered part of the service industry, but they sell food and drink as a product. This means every restaurant site needs integrated payments processing and point-of-sale support. Popular website builders like Magento and Wix aren’t designed for this, but Shopify works perfectly.
Whether you sell gnocchi and gelato or burgers and shakes, you can add menu items to your site easily. Include mouthwatering descriptions, vibrant images, and optional add-ons. You can use Shopify for in-house restaurant services and direct-to-customer deliveries.
Event Organizers
Event planners are another big category of businesses that use Shopify for their services:
- Weddings
- Corporate events
- Business conferences and trade shows
- Concerts
- Sporting events
- Music and food festivals
Some event organizers are third-party consultants, such as wedding planners and florists. Other times, venues offer their own event packages. Stadiums, theaters, and convention centers are a few examples.
Shopify makes it easy to highlight venue locations, services, and experiences. Events on Shopify give customers the freedom to select everything from conference rooms and decor to photo booths and outdoor tents.
Photographers
Shopify helps photography businesses show off individual services and digital products at the same time:
- Wedding photography
- Expert photo and video editing
- Digital photos and albums
- Food and beverage photography
- Product launch posters, promotional materials, and physical media
With Shopify apps, you can set up and manage bookings, accept partial payments, and offer digital downloads for your clients.
Caterers and Personal Chefs
Similar to restaurants, catering websites are a natural pairing with e-commerce platforms like Shopify. Potential customers are more likely to choose your services if they can see your offerings in detail.
With Shopify’s “build-your-own-bundle” apps, your clients can select menu options with ease. Some Shopify stores specialize in preparing nutritious meal kits for health-conscious families using a subscription-based model.
Branding, Marketing, Graphic Design, and Content Creation Professionals
Marketing firms can use Shopify to streamline the ordering process for clients. For example, businesses looking for expert blog posts can purchase content by word count. You can offer video content, social media management, and PR consulting services this way.
Graphic design studios can charge per service or per hour for logo design and brand assessments. Shopify works especially well for promotional materials (e.g., business cards, mugs, calendars, and embroidered shirts).
Does your firm use an all-inclusive model instead? Shopify can support monthly packages and marketing subscriptions.
Local Service Businesses
Shopify’s convenience and payment processing features improve customer service for plumbing, HVAC, residential carpet and window cleaning, and commercial janitorial services. With the right apps, local clients can get custom proposals based on room dimensions (or window count, etc.) in minutes instead of days.
Are There Any Downsides To Using Shopify for a Service Business?
There’s no getting around the fact that Shopify is primarily made for ecommerce, not marketing. Compared to complex platforms with customer analytics and marketing automation tools (HubSpot, Oberlo, etc.), Shopify’s out-of-the-box features can fall short in terms of design customizability.
On the other hand, if easy-to-use, zero-code, plug-and-play controls sound like music to your ears, Shopify is a great fit for your service business. Website costs depend on your Shopify plan (about $29/month on average) and any apps you need.
How Can You Use Shopify for Services Effectively?
To create the best website possible for a service business on Shopify, you need to understand how Shopify works.
Take Advantage of Ecommerce Features
Having a website on Shopify and not letting your customers pay online is like owning a Ferrari and never driving it. Go beyond information pages and FAQs. Whenever possible, “sell” your services with specific categories and prices.
Include Upsell Opportunities
Don’t ignore opportunities to give your clients white-glove services and increase the overall value of the project. Use Shopify’s features to recommend add-ons and premium upgrades. For example, wedding planners can offer luxury decor or specialty day-of services.
Use Shopify Apps Strategically
To keep your costs down, select Shopify add-ons carefully. Decide what features you need to elevate the customer experience and increase your profits. Event companies may use an app to sell merch on-site. Other apps help with bundles, subscriptions, and partial payments.
Test Drive Shopify for Services Today
Both Shopify and many Shopify apps offer free trials. This means you can see ahead of time how your service business would work on Shopify. At StayTuned Digital, we have a complete range of Shopify apps for service businesses. Request a demo today.