3 Website Platforms for Your Subscription Box Business | EP 151

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Is tech holding you back from launching your subscription box? There are so many decisions to make. One of the first is choosing the right platform for you and your business. There are hundreds to choose from. But not all of them are right for subscription box businesses. 

So many people get stuck here, overthinking and over-researching. Decision paralysis sets in and they fail to make any progress at all. But it doesn’t have to be that way - I’m here to help. 

In this episode, I break things down for you to make it as simple as possible. I talk you through my top three website platforms and the pros and cons of each. The truth is, no one platform is perfect for every subscription box business. But there is one that’s right for you! 

Option 1 - WordPress/Woocommerce 

• WordPress is the platform and Woocommerce is the plug-in needed to sell products. Woocommerce Subscriptions is the plug-in needed to sell recurring products like a subscription box. 
• Costs 
• WordPress = FREE
• Woocommerce = FREE
• Woocommerce Subscriptions = $200-$300 per year
• Pros of WordPress/Woocommerce
• Flexibility and customization
• Built for blogging and content management
• You own and control your data and content
• No ongoing transaction or monthly fees
• Cons of WordPress/Woocommerce
• Learning curve can be steep
• Maintenance and updates 
• Server resources - as you grow and scale, you will have to upgrade and pay more for server hosting 

Option 2 - Shopify

• Shopify is an eCommerce platform that allows you to create an online store and sell products. It offers a wide range of tools and features specifically for product-based businesses. 
• Costs
• Start at $39 per month for Shopify Basic
• A subscription processing app is needed - prices range from free to hundreds of dollars a month plus transaction fees 
• Pros of Shopify
• User friendly 
• App add-ons - huge variety via the Shopify app store
• Supports a wide variety of payment processors 
• Scalability 
• Cons of Shopify
• Monthly costs
• Limited blogging and SEO capabilities
• You don’t own your site

Find more in-depth information about all of these platforms and a deep dive into the Subscription Apps on Shopify inside the Launch Your Box Training Library. Not a member yet? Joinlyb.com!

Option 3 - Subbly

• Subbly is an all-in-one subscription box platform that provides tools for managing and launching a subscription-based business. 
• Costs 
• Start at $29 a month for basic plan 
• Pros of Subbly 
• Ease of use
• Built-in subscription management features
• Built-in marketing tools including discount codes, promotional offers, and customizable checkout pages 
• Cons of Subbly 
• Limited design customization
• Limited integrations 
• You don’t own your site

My tips for choosing a website platform: 

• Don’t get overwhelmed by your options - go with one of these three. 
• If you already have one of these sites, don’t change it. Build your subscription on it. 
• Decide which features as most important to YOUR business. 
• Evaluate the costs. 
• Just. Get. Started. Don’t let tech stop you from moving forward. 

Join me for this episode where I share my top three website platforms for subscription box businesses and the pros and cons of each. Don’t let tech stop you from moving forward.