romeyramshey - Tumblr blog

romeyramshey · 3 years

Text

Top Best Alternatives For Manage Your Online Store

One of the first steps involved in setting up your online business is building a website. And there are many website builders you can use to DIY the whole thing.

About 40% of websites are built on WordPress, an open-source content management system. Standard WordPress websites lack native ecommerce features out of the box; most business owners need the ability to list products, accept payments, track inventory, and fulfill orders, which a default WordPress installation can’t do. This is where WooCommerce, an ecommerce plug-in for WordPress built by Automattic, comes into play.

However, WooCommerce lacks the seamless integrations to help you manage and grow your business. WooCommerce sites feel stitched together and clunky. You're left to figure out web hosting on your own, and the disjointed backend means your various tools are rarely in sync, not to mention other challenges. A WooCommerce alternative like Shopify makes it easier to manage every aspect of your business from a single control center.

The list of WooCommerce alternatives below, which includes both plug-ins for WordPress and new platforms entirely, offers different features and options that may be better-suited for your business—like web hosting, integrations, and customer support.

A quick introduction to WooCommerce

Price: Free (requires hosting)

Free trial length: n/a

Customer support options: Email, support center, and community forum

Mobile app features: Create products, process orders, view analytics; available for iOS and Android

Point of sale (POS): Yes. Compatible with Square, FOOsales, and Lightspeed (costs vary)

Website hosting: Available through third parties for an additional fee

Woocommerce homepage

WordPress started primarily as a content management system for blogs and simple text-based websites but has since added several ecommerce plugins—one of them being WooCommerce.

One benefit of WooCommerce is that you can largely customize your site the way you want. But the downside is that this gets complicated and clunky, so rather than working on your business, you have to fiddle with your website. A stitched together WooCommerce site with a bunch of disparate tools requires lots of maintenance. Integrations break, and you have to troubleshoot every issue. Downtime is costly, especially in ecommerce.

Plus, using WooCommerce requires you use third-party web hosting. This setup adds unnecessary cost and complexity to your site. And without PCI compliance, your store is more at risk.

Ultimately, WooCommerce is a quick solution for WordPress users. If you run a business selling products you should use a commerce platform, not a general website tool with commerce features tacked on.

WooCommerce alternatives for your online store

If you’re not tied to WordPress, there are many dedicated ecommerce site builders you can use instead of WooCommerce. These tools typically come with everything you need to start selling online, as well as optional plugins, apps, and add-ons you can use to further customize and build out your store.

Shopify

Price: Basic Shopify: $29.99/month; Shopify: $79/month; Advanced Shopify: $299/month; 10% discount on annual plans and 20% on biennial plans when paid upfront

Free trial length: 14 days

Customer support options: 24/7 callback phone support; email support; support provided in 19 languages; community forum; support content

Integrated sales channels: Facebook, Instagram, Google, Walmart Marketplace, eBay, and Amazon

Mobile app features: Suite of mobile tools to fully manage your online business

POS: Yes

Website hosting: Included in every plan

Shopify

Shopify is one of the best ecommerce platforms to help you manage every aspect of your online business. It’s easy to get started and simple to manage—you can go underneath the hood if you want to, but you can also maintain, customize, and scale your store without learning to code.

Shopify sites have superfast load times, best-performing checkout on the web. You don’t need a managed host or some third-party checkout—Shopify’s built-in tools are world class.

You can also sell pretty much everywhere. With Shopify’s omnichannel tools, you can sell wherever your customers are—be it online or in person. And we’re constantly looking for new ways to help merchants bring their products to new markets. Check out our recent launch of the TikTok sales channel and our Shop Pay + Facebook/Instagram partnership, for instance—no plugins required.

Shopify also has tons of resources for new and established entrepreneurs alike. An active community forum, ample support documentation, free learning resources, and 24-hour customer support are all waiting to help you through each stage of your business. If you can’t DIY something, you can even hire a trusted Shopify Expert.

And as you grow, you can leverage more tools and resources like Shopify POS, local delivery, and Shopify Capital. Shopify is essentially a WooCommerce alternative you can use when you’re just starting out and through every stage of growth. Read our Shopify vs. WooCommerce comparison to see a more detailed breakdown.

BigCommerce

Price: Standard: $29.95/month; Plus: $79.95/month, or $71.95/month when paid annually; Pro: $299.95/month, or $269.96/month when paid annually; Enterprise custom pricing

Free trial length: 15 days

Customer support options: 24/7 technical support via phone, email, or chat

Integrated sales channels: Google Shopping, Facebook, price comparison engines, eBay, Amazon, Walmart, Etsy, and Instagram

Mobile app features: View analytics, update orders, manage inventory and products, and search for customers; some features are Android-only

POS: Yes

Website hosting: Included in every plan

Bigcommerce

BigCommerce is a powerful WooCommerce alternative that has everything you need to launch a massive online store. The platform caters specifically to large businesses and enterprises with complex needs, so it’s often a platform you graduate to rather than launch with.

Some of BigCommerce’s top features include SEO tools, POS integrations, multi-channel selling, and conversion tools. It’s far more robust and comprehensive than WooCommerce, but perhaps too complex (and pricey) for smaller businesses.

Unlike WooCommerce, BigCommerce isn’t super flexible and customizable. This makes it simpler if you’re handling the website yourself, but can be limiting, especially as your business grows in complexity. Users also say BigCommerce is more of an out-of-the-box solution while WooCommerce requires some extra work to get up and running.

BigCommerce vs. WooCommerce comparison: what are the big differences?

BigCommerce includes web hosting while WooCommerce does not.

WooCommerce is more flexible but requires resources to be so, while BigCommerce offers less creativity but is a simpler platform to use. However, it’s still best if you have a dedicated developer or technical resource to lead site management and maintenance.

Wix

Price: Business Basic: $23/month; Business Unlimited: $27/month; Business VIP: $49/month

Free trial length: No free trial

Customer support options: Callback service available 24/7; knowledge base; community forum

Integrated sales channels: Facebook and Instagram require third-party app Ecwid

Mobile app features: The ability to manage your website, though lacks key business tools like inventory management; requires separate app to use mobile POS

POS: Yes

Website hosting: Included in every plan

Wix

Wix is a beginner-friendly WooCommerce alternative with drag-and-drop editing and customizable templates. As far as ecommerce features go, Wix has tools to let you track orders, accept payments from credit cards and via PayPal, create coupon codes, and establish tax and shipping rules by location. It also creates a mobile version of your site.

Wix vs. WooCommerce comparison: what are the big differences?

Wix is more affordable than managing a WordPress site with a WooCommerce plug-in. Its fees are generally lower. Plus, WooCommerce may require more investments in outsourced developer help.

WordPress and WooCommerce offer more advanced features. So if you’re building a complex online store, WooCommerce is a better choice.

Magento

Price: Custom pricing only

Free trial length: No free trial

Customer support options: Phone support and online help center/technical support resources available

Integrated sales channels: Amazon

Mobile app features: n/a

POS: Third-party extensions available

Website hosting: Not included; requires third-party or self-hosted option

Magnetocommerce

Magento is a WooCommerce alternative that requires lots of technical expertise. To build a website with Magento, you need advanced coding and web development skills. The downsides are cost, resources, and time, but the benefits are that you get to create a site that is wholly tailored to your unique business.

Like WooCommerce, Magento requires third-party hosting, which further adds complexity and cost to launching and maintaining your website. While Magento offers lots of options and flexibility, there are key limitations. For starters, there’s no straightforward way to integrate multi-channel commerce into your Magento site. Likewise when it comes to the ability to accept foreign currency. In today’s marketplace, these are important hurdles to consider.

Magento vs. WooCommerce comparison: what are the big differences?

While both require third-party hosting, Magento is a more flexible and powerful tool compared to WooCommerce. It’s best-suited for businesses with access to high-quality dev resources, either in-house or to a trusted outsourced partner.

Magento’s powerful platform also makes it ideal for complicated product configurations, whereas WooCommerce has less to offer in the way of customization in that area.

WooCommerce alternatives for WordPress

If you’re not ready to abandon WordPress altogether, there are other ecommerce plug-ins you can use instead of WooCommerce.

Shopify Buy Button

Price: $9/month

Free trial length: 14 days

Customer support options: Email support; support provided in 19 languages; community forum; support content

Integrated sales channels: Yes (online store not included)

Mobile app features: Yes

POS: Yes, Shopify POS Lite; POS Pro available at additional cost

Web hosting: n/a

The Shopify Buy Button is a tool that creates an embeddable code merchants can use to add products and an online checkout to any type of website. With just a few clicks, you can generate the code and add it to your WordPress website.

The Shopify Buy Button connects with Shopify’s secure and responsive shopping cart platform to handle all your checkout needs. You can also connect it with more than 100 compatible payment gateways.

Using the Shopify Buy Button is a quick and easy way to sell products from your WordPress website while leveraging Shopify’s powerful suite of business tools.

Shopify Buy Button vs. WooCommerce comparison, what are the big differences?

While you can’t build a website with the Shopify Buy Button—it requires you already have once—you do get access to all of Shopify’s business management tools. This makes it easier to manage all aspects of your business from a single place, instead of relying solely on WooCommerce’s disparate systems.

The Shopify Buy Button is far more flexible than WooCommerce. You can embed the code on any type of website, so you can monetize multiple sites at once. This can be especially useful if you have a bunch of affiliate sites, for example.

Ecwid

Price: Free to build and launch your store with up to 10 products; monthly business plans start at $15 (or $12.50/month if paid annually); no transaction fees

Free trial length: n/a

Customer support options: Email, chat, phone, online resources/documentation

Integrated sales channels: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, Amazon, Ebay

Mobile app features: Design website, manage orders and shipping, inventory management, accept in-person payments

POS: Yes

Ecommerce platform compatibility: WordPress

Ecwid

Much like WooCommerce, you can add the Ecwid plug-in to your WordPress site to add ecommerce functionality. You can also embed the tool on social media and other commerce channels, allowing you to take a truly multi-channel approach to selling online. You can use Ecwid’s multichannel selling features to test which channels are best for you.

Like Wix, Ecwid is an affordable and beginner-friendly tool that takes a lot of the coding and technicality out of building your online store. Other valuable features include centralized inventory and order management that rival WooCommerce.

Ecwid vs. WooCommerce comparison: what are the big differences?

Unlike WooCommerce, you can technically use Ecwid without WordPress. It has an “instant site” tool that allows you to create a very simple and independent ecommerce site. If you want more features, though, you’ll need to use the Ecwid plug-in for WordPress.

WP eCommerce

Price: All add-ons are $99 for a single site, $175 for 2–5 sites, and $250 for unlimited sites

Free trial length: No free trial

Customer support options: Live chat, video tutorials, community forum

Integrated sales channels: n/a

Mobile app features: n/a

POS: No; compatible with Stripe, Square, Mijireh, USA ePay, DPS PX Pay, and Authorize.net

Ecommerce platform compatibility: WordPress

WP Ecommerce

More than 36,000 WordPress websites have the WP eCommerce plugin, an open-source plugin that allows site owners to add ecommerce functionality. Features include shipping modules, secure payments, tax management, and analytics reporting. You can sell both physical and digital products, create coupons, and set up marketing automations.

Overall, WP eCommerce keeps its features functional but simple.

WP eCommerce vs. WooCommerce comparison: what are the big differences?

WooCommerces offers a few more options when it comes to product meta data and promotions. For example, WP eCommerce doesn’t do cross-selling, upselling, or product comparisons.

WP eCommerce has fewer payment processing and email marketing integrations. It also lacks shipment tracking. However, WP eCommerce comes at a lower price point.

Easy Digital Downloads

Price: $99–$299 for single site licenses; $499 for unlimited sites licenses; $6.99 to download the mobile iOS app; extensions available at additional costs

Free trial length: No free trial; you can request a refund within 30 days of purchase

Customer support options: Free basic online help center; extension support requires a valid license key; better support provided through Priority Assistance, available at $99 for 45 days, or $299 for a year

Integrated sales channels: n/a

Mobile app features: Track sales, manage products, create and use discount codes, basic customer profiles

POS: No; integrations with Stripe, PayPal, SOFORT, Authorize.net, ClickBank, and Braintree

Ecommerce platform compatibility: WordPress

Easy Digital Download

Easy Digital Downloads is a WordPress-specific plugin that turns your blog into an ecommerce site for digital products. So if you sell downloads, templates, and other virtual products, it’s a relatively simple tool to get started with. Features include a basic but customizable shopping cart and buy button, discount codes, and analytics reporting. It also has very basic customer profiles with purchase history.

Creators and bloggers in particular would benefit from using this plugin to start selling online. Overally, Easy Digital Downloads is a good WordPress plugin to use if you have simple needs, a small number of SKUs, and digital products.

Learn more: With Shopify's Digital Downloads app, you can upload digital files like videos, songs, and graphic designs as products on your store.

Easy Digital Downloads vs. WooCommerce comparison: what are the big differences?

Users report the customer support team at Easy Digital Downloads to be far more responsive and helpful than the folks at WooCommerce. This is especially valuable if you’re a small team or a one-person operation.

Easy Digital Downloads offers pretty much nothing in the way of SEO. If you’re concerned about search, you’ll want to look at WooCommerce or one of the other alternatives on this list.

MemberPress

Price: Basic: $249/year; Plus: $399/year; Pro:$549/year

Free trial length: No free trial; you can request a full refund within 14 days of purchase

Customer support options: Online help center; if you have a support license you can submit an online support ticket or hire an expert for one-on-one assistance

Integrated sales channels: n/a

Mobile app features: n/a

POS: No; compatible with Stripe, PayPal, and Authorize.net

Ecommerce platform compatibility: WordPress

MemberPress

MemberPress is a WordPress plugin meant for recurring payments associated with subscriptions and memberships. So if you’re looking to turn your WordPress site into something like a subscription box business or a membership community, MemberPress could be a good option.

Features are tailored to creating, managing, and tracking subscriptions. You can view, update, add, and delete members as well as grant access to individual assets. MemberPress integrates with Divi and a number third-party payment gateways and processors, along with other WordPress plugins.

MemberPress vs. WooCommerce comparison: what are the big differences?

With WooCommerce, you can set up recurring payments with an extra plugin, WooCommerce Subscriptions. This plug-in costs $199/year, a more affordable price point than MemberPress, but it doesn’t account for your other WooCommerce fees on top of that.

Shopify is the best WooCommerce alternative

Ultimately, you want to choose an ecommerce platform that suits your business now and can grow with you. WordPress may be a great platform for bloggers and non-ecommerce sites, but WooCommerce is more limiting in terms of supporting business growth.

With a commerce platform like Shopify, you get a full suite of tools with everything you need to run your business now and well into the future.

Digital Content Insider | Buy Today | Digital Content US | Shaligram Shop

#ecommerce

0 notes

romeyramshey · 3 years

Text

How Should I Choose Best Name For My Online Store

Having a strong brand name gives you an immediate advantage when you're first starting your business. As Marty Neumeier writes in The Brand Gap, “The right name can be a brand’s most valuable asset, driving differentiation and speeding acceptance. The wrong name can cost millions... in workarounds and lost income over the lifetime of the brand.” It's important to find the right name when setting up your online store to help it stand out from the crowd. Here are a few pointers on how to find that killer name. 1. Keep it short and simple Having a short, snappy name is great for several reasons: It's memorable, easy to pronounce, and effortlessly fits in the header of your online store's homepage. Finding one can be challenging, though. Brands are launched every day, and names that are appealing to you will undoubtedly appeal to someone else, too. Fortunately, it’s a big world and there’s plenty of room for creative, compelling brand names. Here are a few strategies you can try to get your gears turning: Try different combinations of short words. Two short words that rhyme or that are alliterative (e.g. “Snack Shack”) can be more memorable. Make up a word or tweak an existing one. Tech brands like Google, eBay and Skype have instantly recognizable names, even though they aren't real words. Use a word with personal meaning. It might be a nickname you have for your significant other, your pet's name (a smart idea if your store relates to furry friends), or even your own name. Using a personal name makes your store easier to identify with on a personal level—though note that stores built on personal brands can be more difficult to sell. 2. Be different Conduct market research to discover which names are taken by your direct competitors and try to come up with something completely different. The challenge here is to come up with a name that reflects your niche and the type of products you're selling, without your business name mirroring your competitors. By definition, if you want to be different you have to ‘zig’ when others ‘zag’. For instance, if you're selling electronics and technology products, you might have competitors who use words like "electronics," "technology" and "future" in their names. Avoid using similar words. Instead, think differently and stand out. 3. Consider your online presence Once you have a list of options for your store name, find out if your chosen domain—preferably a .com—is available to be registered. This might be a bit difficult, given that .com is the most popular top-level domain (TLD) and has been for a long time. Having a custom domain name for your store is mission-critical, though you shouldn’t let your search for the mythical “perfect” domain name cause you to procrastinate—everything is open to change, including your domain name. However, there is value in picking a solid domain name that properly represents your brand from the start, so it’s a decision that warrants some thought. You might also consider selling on Amazon, eBay, Etsy or another third-party marketplace in addition to your own online store. Even if that’s not in the plan, it’s a good idea to check your business name idea on popular ecommerce sites to make sure the names are available to you, and so that customers don’t confuse you with another existing business. 4. Get creative with your domain name If the .com for your chosen name isn't available, don’t fret: You still have the option of using a different TLD. The reason .com is the gold standard is that everyone recognizes it, but that doesn’t rule out other TLDs, which are becoming more commonplace as great .com options continue to dwindle. And you can always grab the .com after your business has generated some traction. When they first launched, Shopify store Tattly decided to go with a .ly domain making it www.tatt.ly. Since then, they’ve been able to purchase tattly.com, which is where their site currently lives. Tattly online store While some search engine experts believe Google isn't as friendly to lesser-known domains, you should still be able to

rank just as high as a .com if you have a high-quality site with a good user experience. Plus, going with a snazzy domain is far more unique. Modifiers to consider: [YourBrand][Main Product] (e.g. helmboots.com) Shop[YourBrand].com (e.g. sandytoesshop.com) Get[YourProduct].com (e.g. getflow.com) [YourBrand]co.com (e.g. shopmeekco.com) [YourBrand][industry].com (e.g. lifeinspirithome.com) [Verb][YourBrand].com (e.g. wearpepper.com) [My/Your][YourBrand].com (e.g. mybillie.com) TLDs to consider: .store .shop Based on the product you sell (.shoes, .art) Continuation of your brand name (e.g. muvo.health for “Muvo Health Supplements”, or feugo.clothing for “Fuego Clothing Co.”) 5. Be original Make sure you're legally allowed to use the business name you've come up with. For store owners in the U.S., start by checking The United States Patent and Trademark Office. They have a free database that's a pain in the butt to search, but it's well worth the effort. Also note, the U.S. doesn't have a centralized national register, so trademarks can be made in another country, or even another state. In Canada, you can search through the Canadian Intellectual Property Office website, which is also pretty confusing. The only safe way to be 100% sure is by consulting a lawyer. Once you’ve determined your name is available, go to Google or Bing and see if the names on your list show up. Could you potentially make it to the top of the first page? If you choose a generic name, you’ll have a tough time ranking very well. It’s also important to check Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites you'll want to use for availability. 6. Find new inspiration If you’re short on business name ideas, you might want to give yourself themes to think about. Maybe you look for a business name that has nostalgia or speaks to a trend. Other languages can provide plenty of ideas, too. Inspiration can strike anywhere. Listen to conversations around you, survey your surroundings, and even consider your usual expressions and mannerisms. What are some examples of great names for online stores? Death Wish Coffee Super Ink Clothing The Sock Market Cotopaxi Coffee Joulies Fuego Box Conquest Maps Star Cadet Storq United By Blue 1. Death Wish Coffee A name like Death Wish Coffee can only mean one thing: This is some of the strongest coffee you can buy. The name sets the tone for the brand experience, as does the copy on their website and other marketing channels. It positions the product as some of the strongest stuff on the market, and customers will have to try it to find out if it lives up to its promise. 2. Super Ink Clothing Super Ink Clothing sells printed clothing and accessories to a very specific demographic. “Our paradise lifestyle was made for creative individuals who constantly live in a state of wanderlust!” their About page states. To create their compound name, the brand combined the word “super,” which is associated with positivity and quality, and “ink,” which brings in the idea of the ink printed on the clothing. If you’re stuck between two ideas or words for your store name, you might not have to choose one over the other. 3. The Sock Market The Sock Market has taken a more literal approach to their brand name. The online store sells socks for people of all ages, from babies to adults. Built on the philosophy of bringing high fashion to the sock industry, the name for the online store indicates that it is “the” place to go to for all your sock needs. 4. Cotopaxi There are two meanings for the word “Cotopaxi.” One is a sacred and active volcano in the Andes Mountains in Ecuador. The other is an online store that sells outdoor gear. Rather than inventing a word or coming up with a name from scratch, Cotopaxi borrowed the name from a famous landmark that’s relevant and interesting to their customer base. They even share the story behind the name on their site. 5. Coffee Joulies Coffee Joulies are fake coffee beans that are thermodynamic, so when you place them into your cup of coffee, they’ll help get it to the perfect temperature. So

where did the word “joulies” come from? “Joule is the SI unit of energy; Joule… Joulie… Joulies!” the founders explained in a 2011 article. They found a word that embodied the science they put into the product, and tweaked it to make it their own and more memorable for customers. 6. Fuego Box Fuego is the Spanish word for “fire,” which is quite fitting for an online store that sells hot sauce subscription boxes. The subscription box industry has grown exponentially. Worldwide subscription ecommerce sales increased 4,461% from 2011 to 2016. Many of the most popular brands in this category have box in their name: BarkBox, Birchbox and NatureBox, to name a few. Fuego Box plays on the familiarity of the word box, and a foreign language to hit on the product. 7. Conquest Maps Conquest Maps sells beautiful and unique maps, their core product being the pin board map which is popular among people who love to travel. Keeping the name of the product, maps, in the store name, they added a descriptor in front to convey the brand identity and the journey that the products represent. A conquest is a trip, and customers are reliving their trips through Conquest Maps products. 8. Star Cadet Star Cadet is the result of a series of media, retail and ecommerce business ventures, dating back to 2010. Star Cadet’s brand story is quite long and eventful, with several failed and successful businesses along the way. Formerly called Olan Rogers Supply, a name derived of the founders name, the online brand changed its name to Star Cadet, which also works for the business’s production aspirations for the future. Here’s what founder Olaf Rogers has to say about it: Star Cadet brand name 9. Storq Storq sells products for pregnant women and new moms. Pronounced like “stork,” it’s a unique take on spelling the word. Storks are associated with childbirth, which makes for a fitting and memorable brand name. Plus, the letter Q lends itself to fun branding and design treatments. 10. United By Blue United By Blue is more than just a brand; they’ve created a movement around sustainability and protecting the earth’s oceans and waterways. They sell products designed for enjoying the outdoors. Their customers are quite literally united together and with the brand by their passion for the ocean, rivers, lakes and streams. It establishes a sense of community and reiterates the brand’s philosophies. United By Blue brand name What’s in a name? Finding the right brand name can feel like a daunting task. But it’s absolutely crucial to put time and thought into naming your online store. That’s how customers will come to know, recognize and talk about you — and if the name’s too difficult to remember, you’re missing out on loads of word-of-mouth marketing that doesn’t cost you a single penny. Digital Content Insider | Buy Today | Digital Content US | Shaligram Shop

#ecommerce

0 notes

romeyramshey · 3 years

Text

Every Ecommerce Seller Needs

If you sell into any of the 18 states with a sales tax holiday in 2021 (plus Puerto Rico), you need to understand how these temporary tax-free periods can impact sales tax compliance. Once primarily the concern of in-state businesses, sales tax holidays can now affect online sellers with no physical presence in the state — and they can make a mess of sales tax compliance if not handled properly.

There are numerous traps to watch out for when selling into a sales-tax-holiday state, including but not limited to:

Start and end times.

Participation options.

Qualifying products.

Price restrictions.

Returns and exchanges.

Shipping and handling.

Start and End Times

Between them, 18 states and Puerto Rico are providing at least 31 sales tax holidays in 2021. More states could decide to do the same, though that’s looking increasingly unlikely.

The height of sales tax holiday season is the summer, but they can run at any time of year: The first two tax-free periods in 2021 were held in February; the last will take place after Thanksgiving in New Mexico.

Every sales tax holiday starts and ends at a specific time on a specific date. For example, Florida’s back-to-school sales tax holiday begins Saturday, July 31 and ends Monday, August 9. The Florida Department of Revenue guidance doesn’t get more specific, but Virginia’s tax notice does: The sales tax holiday starts August 6 at 12:01 a.m. and concludes August 8 at 11:59 p.m.

So yes, it may be necessary to calibrate your point-of-sale systems to the minute to ensure they don’t incorrectly apply sales tax to qualifying transactions or extend exemptions to purchases that occur after the end of the holiday. And once you set the time and location of a sales tax holiday, it will be necessary to further refine its scope.

Participation Options

You’ll need to determine whether you need to participate in a state’s sales tax holiday, if you need to collect or exempt applicable local taxes, and if you’re permitted to absorb the tax on nonqualifying items — should you so choose.

Sales tax holidays are mandatory for local jurisdictions in most states, but a handful allow local tax jurisdictions (i.e., cities and counties) to opt out. That’s the case in Alabama and Missouri. Every year, the Alabama Department of Revenue and Missouri Department of Revenue publish lists of participating or nonparticipating jurisdictions. Unfortunately, these lists sometimes change at the last minute, which can cause you to scramble.

Many states also require all businesses to participate in sales tax holidays. Some states, however, provide a choice. Thus, retailers are required to participate in the Massachusetts tax-free period but aren’t required to participate in New Mexico’s back-to-school sales tax holiday.

All businesses open during Iowa’s annual sales tax holiday must participate in it and cannot absorb the sales tax on nonqualifying items. By contrast, Texas allows retailers to pay sales tax themselves rather than pass it on to customers.

After determining these factors, you need to set point-of-sale systems to exempt qualifying products.

Qualifying Products

During the Massachusetts sales tax holiday, most single items of tangible personal property qualify for the temporary exemption. Most states aren’t nearly so generous.

Sales tax holidays typically center on a theme, like back-to-school or emergency preparation. Clothing and school supplies are exempt during a back-to-school event, while batteries, generators, and tarps are exempt during emergency preparation tax-free periods.

However, the exemption may not apply to all products that fall under the covered category. For example, raincoats qualify for Mississippi’s sales tax holiday, but roller blades do not. A fishing vest would qualify unless it helps you float, and you must tax any product not included on the all-inclusive list of eligible school supplies.

Even qualifying items may need to be taxed if they exceed the price restriction.

Price Restrictions

Most sales tax holidays include price caps. In many states that temporarily exempt clothing, a $50 dress would qualify for an exemption, while a $250 dress would not.

There are a few exceptions to the price-cap rule. Maryland’s tax-free period for energy efficient appliances has no price restrictions; nor does South Carolina’s August sales tax holiday or Mississippi’s sales tax holiday for ammunition, firearms and certain hunting supplies.

Massachusetts has an admirably simple threshold: $2,500 per any single item of tangible personal property. It stands in stark contrast to Florida, where this year’s recreation supplies and admissions sales tax holiday exempts the first $50 of the sales price of safety flares, the first $75 of the sales price of paddles, and so forth.

It’s a lot to manage, but with knowledge (and sales tax automation), you can successfully exempt the sales that need to be exempt and tax those that must be taxed. Including layaways.

Layaways

Policies pertaining to layaways also vary from state to state, and often depend on the terms of the sale. For example, consumers can purchase qualifying items tax free in Texas if the item is placed on layaway or the final payment is made during the tax-free period.

No tax applies to any installment payments when a customer puts a product on layaway during Connecticut’s tax-free week. However, you must charge Connecticut sales tax when final payment is made during the holiday on a product placed on layaway prior to the holiday.

It’s simpler in Mississippi: Layaway sales of eligible items don’t qualify for the temporary exemption. Could this be penance for the fact that, for years, Massachusetts gave retailers mere days to prepare for its sales tax holidays?

Shipping and Handling

Tax policies surrounding shipping and handling charges are another bugaboo. In Mississippi, shipping and handling charges aren’t included in the sales price and so don’t affect price caps. Yet these charges must be included in the sales price in Florida, so they can impact the eligibility of a transaction. In fact, Florida requires retailers to apportion shipping and handling charges for each item in a shipment, “to determine if an item is exempt during the sales tax holiday period.”

Sales Tax Holidays Can Expand Your Nexus Footprint

You may think you don’t have to worry about sales tax in states where you’re not registered to collect and remit sales tax. Think again. Tax-free periods can increase your sales tax obligations by expanding your nexus footprint.

Nexus is a connection that enables a state to impose a tax collection obligation on a business. Having physical presence in a state always creates nexus. Today, nexus can also be created solely through sales activity in a state (economic nexus), such as $100,000 in taxable retail sales or 200 separate taxable retail transactions in the current or previous calendar year.

States allow an exception for businesses selling beneath their economic nexus threshold. Unfortunately, thresholds vary from state to state, so while you won’t establish nexus with California until you (and your affiliates) make $500,000 in total combined sales of tangible personal property in the preceding or current calendar year, you’ll need to register in Arkansas after your 200th transaction. This state-by-state guide to economic nexus laws provides state-specific threshold details.

Economic nexus needs to be considered because sales often pick up during sales tax holidays, and a rise in sales can cause a retailer to sail right over an economic nexus threshold. If that happens to you, you could be required to register with the state and start collecting sales tax on the very next transaction.

Digital Content Insider | Buy Today | Digital Content US | Shaligram Shop

#ecommerce

0 notes

romeyramshey · 4 years

Text

Ronaldo trumps Sarri-ball as Juve win another Serie A title

Premier League 2019-20 review: flops of the season

Bachelor in Paradise: Fans lash out at Ciarran Stott for latest dodgy act

Newcastle vs Liverpool result: Sadio Mane seals comfortable win in fitting end to champions’ remarkable campaign

Ronaldo trumps Sarri-ball as Juve win another Serie A title

Gold price hits record high amid fears over coronavirus crisis

Serious mismanagement claims at Epping Gardens Aged Care, more than 77 coronavirus cases linked to facility

Woeful Dockers kick just two goals in a game. Some of the misses have to be seen to be believed

NSW Treasurer stands by icare after millions in underpayment revealed

Aston Villa survive relegation dogfight with late Grealish strike

Chelsea vs Wolves live stream: how to watch the Premier League match online now

PM pushes tax reform back onto the states

Victory goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas moving to Danish club SonderjyskE

Mounties in Sydney’s west and Apollo in Potts Point shut due to COVID-19

Sunlight sets Magic Millions record

Energy giants told to keep helping Aussies

Dr Harry Nespolon has died

Olivia de Havilland, star of ‘Gone With the Wind,’ dies at 104

Garrett Foster brought his AK-47 to protests in Austin. Then he was shot dead.

Without Justin Verlander, Where Do Astros Go From Here?

Actress Spencer Grammer injured after trying to break up altercation, NYPD police source says

Biz Markie at a Maryland-area hospital due to complications with Type II Diabetes

Cristiano Ronaldo scores as Juventus wins ninth straight Serie A title

‘Meet The Press’ returns next Sunday

First Call: Antonio Brown’s new baby, former NBA coach rips Mike Ditka over anthem-kneeling quote

Alex Trebek revealed he struggled with suicidal thoughts during cancer treatment

Rebel Wilson sizzles in a bikini amid her ‘year of health’ weight loss

VIDEO: Hurricane Douglas Passing North Of Oʻahu – 5 p.m. Update

Brett Favre Just Sacrificed His Sacred Status Thanks to Donald Trump

Ronaldo scores to help Juventus claim 9th straight Serie A crown

Celebrate Mick Jagger’s 77th birthday with these Boston-area Stones concert moments

Chelsea vs. Wolves: Live stream, start time, TV channel, how to watch Premier League 2020 (Sunday., July 26)

Michael Thompson perseveres to win 3M Open

Tarek El Moussa and Heather Rae Young are off the market

At least 47 arrested in Seattle protests that police declared a riot

Top ERP vendors

ERP Implementation Partner

ERP Software Solution

Microsoft ERP Solutions

ERP Software For Construction Industry

Fleetwood Mac guitarist Peter Green dies aged 73

Regis Philbin, American TV host who spent 17,000 hours in front of camera, dies of natural causes at age of 88

UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Till fight card and start time

Grimes And Elon Musk’s Awkward Twitter Exchange Was Terribly Timed

China has won control of the South China Sea. Now we wait for Beijing’s next move

NRL admits bunker error in Sharks vs Dragons match, stands down referees

Lotto Powerball jackpots after no one claims massive $23m pool

Spirited Saints march up the ladder with season-defining victory over Port Adelaide

‘Flat out dangerous’: Winx jockey under fire as trainer’s ‘best horse in a decade’ dies in tragic fall

Titans get their man with Fifita signing three-year deal

How one family went from a devastating Sanfilippo diagnosis to advancing science

Norway Lets Tom Cruise Bypass Coronavirus Quarantine To Film ‘Mission: Impossible 7’

Turkey’s Hagia Sophia holds first Muslim prayers since controversial conversion back into a mosque

Cases linked to Colac abattoir outbreak jump, Geelong infections rise Skip to sections navigationSkip to contentSkip to footer Our network Log in OPENMENU The Age SUBSCRIBE0 items in Shortlist NATIONALVICTORIACORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC Cases linked to Colac abattoir outbreak jump, Geelong infections rise

Raiders lose CNK but outlast Rabbitohs in tense struggle

Longtime TV Host Regis Philbin Dies At 88

Blues Guitarist Peter Green, Co-Founder Of Fleetwood Mac, Dies At 73

Jamal Adams trade grades: Jets grab a haul for All-Pro safety

Elon Musk says his Twitter DMs are mostly for swapping memes

HACKED? Was Ray Park’s Instagram hacked and why is the Star Wars actor trending?

Pokemon Go Fest 2020 Guide: Schedule, Rotating Habitats, And More

Chiefs’ Laurent Duvernay-Tardif first player to opt out of NFL season: ‘ I must follow my convictions’

Gainesville teen’s body pulled from Lake Lanier

Like Her ‘Radioactive’ Elements, Marie Curie Didn’t ‘Behave’ As Expected

Angels get first taste of extra-inning fun but run into Matt Olson in bad-luck opener

[WATCH] FALSELY ACCUSED: THE STORY OF EMMETT TILL

WNBA Opening Day takeaways: Sabrina Ionescu debuts; Nneka Ogwumike makes history; players honor Breonna Taylor

Hurricane Hanna Makes Landfall In Texas As The Region Confronts A COVID-19 Spike

After some early chirping between heated rivals, the Brewers quiet the Cubs with an 8-3 victory

Pentagon Has ‘Off-World Vehicles Not Made on This Earth’

LYRICS HAVE FANS WONDERING IF TAYLOR SWIFT AND JOE ALWYN SPLIT

National Tequila Day

Astros rookie Blake Taylor: I’m not gonna lie, I cried

Cardboard cutouts of Mets’ dogs fetch home run ball

PHOTOS: 10 Unforgettable Images From the Red Sox Home Opener

Remembering Beloved Meteorologist Jerry Taft

White Sox show Twins they can slug, too, hit three homers in one inning

Detroit Tigers game vs. Cincinnati Reds: Live scoring updates

Ciara sings ‘Happy Birthday’ to newborn son in adorable video

Dil Bechara: Not the goodbye the actor deserves but the one we needed

PHILLIES DROP SEASON OPENER TO MARLINS, 5-2

Austin Hill cruises to first 2020 Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series win at Kansas

Intel stock savaged as next-gen chip delay expected to be ‘increasingly painful’ to chip maker

The irony of Francisco Lindor advocating Cleveland Indians name change: Hey, Hoynsie

Washington Post settles $250 million lawsuit filed by Nick Sandmann

Many Cardinals have had success against Pirates starter Williams

Season 2 Of ‘Outer Banks’ Is Poised To Break Some Netflix Records

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Panchkula

SEO Services Provider Company Panchkula

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar

SEO Services Provider Company Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Raipura

SEO Services Provider Company Raipura

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Indore

SEO Services Provider Company Indore

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Bhankrota

SEO Services Provider Company Bhankrota

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Thana Shankar Dwari

SEO Services Provider Company Thana Shankar Dwari

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Lucknow

SEO Services Provider Company Lucknow

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Siliguri

SEO Services Provider Company Siliguri

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Sonipat

SEO Services Provider Company Sonipat

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Patna

SEO Services Provider Company Patna

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Bhubaneswar

SEO Services Provider Company Bhubaneswar

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Kanpur

SEO Services Provider Company Kanpur

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Guwahati

SEO Services Provider Company Guwahati

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Imphal

SEO Services Provider Company Imphal

SEO Services Provider Company Pune

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Pune

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Vijayawada

SEO Services Provider Company Vijayawada

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Shimla

SEO Services Provider Company Shimla

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Secunderabad

SEO Services Provider Company Secunderabad

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Mysuru

SEO Services Provider Company Mysuru

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Visakhapatnam

SEO Services Provider Company Visakhapatnam

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Ludhiana

SEO Services Provider Company Ludhiana

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Tiruchirappalli

SEO Services Provider Company Tiruchirappalli

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Bhopal

SEO Services Provider Company Bhopal

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Thiruvananthapuram

SEO Services Provider Company Thiruvananthapuram

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Hyderabad

SEO Services Provider Company Hyderabad

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Ahmedabad

SEO Services Provider Company Ahmedabad

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Thane

SEO Services Provider Company Thane

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Greater Noida

SEO Services Provider Company Greater Noida

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Vadodara

SEO Services Provider Company Vadodara

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Bengaluru

SEO Services Provider Company Bengaluru

SEO Services Provider Company Mangaluru

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Mangaluru

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Kolkata

SEO Services Provider Company Kolkata

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Nagpur

SEO Services Provider Company Nagpur

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Howrah

SEO Services Provider Company Howrah

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Chennai

SEO Services Provider Company Chennai

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Dehradun

SEO Services Provider Company Dehradun

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Jalandhar

SEO Services Provider Company Jalandhar

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Pimpri-Chinchwad

SEO Services Provider Company Pimpri-Chinchwad

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Kochi

SEO Services Provider Company Kochi

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Surat

SEO Services Provider Company Surat

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Faridabad

SEO Services Provider Company Faridabad

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Navi Mumbai

SEO Services Provider Company Navi Mumbai

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company New Delhi

SEO Services Provider Company New Delhi

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Mira Bhayandar

SEO Services Provider Company Mira Bhayandar

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Kozhikode

SEO Services Provider Company Kozhikode

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Rajkot

SEO Services Provider Company Rajkot

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Coimbatore

SEO Services Provider Company Coimbatore

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Durgapur

SEO Services Provider Company Durgapur

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Mumbai

SEO Services Provider Company Mumbai

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Jaipur

SEO Services Provider Company Jaipur

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Ghaziabad

SEO Services Provider Company Ghaziabad

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Chandigarh

SEO Services Provider Company Chandigarh

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Gurgaon

SEO Services Provider Company Gurgaon

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Udaipur

SEO Services Provider Company Udaipur

SEO Services Provider Company Noida

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Noida

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company Dwarka

SEO Services Provider Company Dwarka

Digital Marketing Services Provider Company India

SEO Services Provider Company India