There are a few ways to open an online store. The two most common ways are to use a shopping cart platform or to build an ecommerce website from scratch using CMS. Both have their pros and cons, and it really depends on your business goals and needs which one is the best fit.

Shopping cart platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, and Volusion offer free plans that allow you to set up a basic store with limited features. These platforms allow you to add products, customize your layout, and track your sales. Once your store is live, you can use their built-in marketing tools to promote it to potential customers.

Ecommerce websites can be custom built using WordPress and hostied on server like BlueHost, HostGator, or SiteGround. WordPress eCommerce websites are not expensive up front, but they offer greater flexibility in terms of design and features. They also tend to be more scalable than shopping cart platforms, meaning that they can handle larger volumes of traffic and transactions.

There is no one answer that is right for everyone; it really depends on your business goals and needs. If you're just starting out, a shopping cart platform may be the best option because it's easy to set up and start selling products. If you're looking to grow your business, then an ecommerce website might be a better choice because it offers greater flexibility and scalability.

Opening an online store can be a great way to start a business or expand your existing one. Here are some basic steps to follow and an estimate of the costs involved:

Choose a platform: You'll need to choose an e-commerce platform to host your online store. Popular options include Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and Magento. The costs for these platforms vary, but you can expect to pay a monthly fee starting at around $29/month for basic plans, and up to $299/month for advanced plans.

Register a domain name: You'll need to register a domain name for your online store. The cost for a domain name can range from $10 to $50 per year, depending on the registrar you choose.

Design your store: You'll need to design your store and create a visually appealing layout that showcases your products. Many e-commerce platforms offer customizable themes and templates, or you can hire a designer to create a custom design for your store.

Set up payment processing: You'll need to set up payment processing so you can accept payments from customers. Popular payment processing options include PayPal, Stripe, and Square. These platforms charge a fee per transaction, typically ranging from 2.9% to 3.5% plus a fixed fee per transaction.

Add your products: You'll need to add your products to your online store, including images, descriptions, and prices. Make sure your product pages are optimized for search engines to help customers find your products.

Launch your store: Once your store is set up, you can launch it and start promoting your products through various marketing channels.

The total cost for opening an online store can vary depending on the e-commerce platform you choose, the cost of any design or development work, and ongoing expenses like payment processing fees and marketing costs. However, you can expect to pay at least several hundred dollars to get started.