When it comes to selling services, finding the right e-commerce platform is paramount. After all, the services and features offered by different platforms vary just as much as the services vendors offer. So how do you find the right fit?
The best e-commerce platform for selling services will depend greatly upon the type of service rendered. Are you selling live music gigs? Writing and editing? Are you a voiceover actor or a cleaning service?
For some entrepreneurs and business owners, the right fit will be a platform that enables them to search for customers based on a geographic location. For others, the best platform for their needs will be specific to their services, like a platform just for writing or just for musicians. For others still, it will be a platform that offers a robust marketplace of customers just waiting to purchase their products and services.
So which e-commerce platforms are the best for selling services? Read on for the top recommendations, and discover some of the most popular platforms that entrepreneurs and businesses use to market and sell their skills.
1. Thumbtack
For entrepreneurs, sole proprietors, small businesses or groups looking to sell their services, Thumbtack is the leading platform of choice. The platform claims it has providers for “just about anything,” meaning sellers of almost any service can find a home marketing their skills on the site.
Why it’s great: Thumbtack is a prime choice thanks to its insanely wide array of services that can be sold on the platform. Entrepreneurs and businesses in just about any industry can utilize the platform to find clients in their local area on the site.
Some of the top industries and services available on Thumbtack include: DJs, event caterers, bartenders, travel agents, painters, cooking lessons, karaoke rentals, photographers, audio recording, tax preparation services, personal trainers, web developers, house cleaning services, home renovation contractors, and many more.
Potential customers can search for services in their geographic region, chat with potential vendors before purchasing a gig, and check availability and book services right through Thumbtack’s website or app platform.
How much does it cost? Thumbtack charges a small fee, called “credits” for contacting prospective leads on the platform, which can be purchased individually or in bundles.
2. Fiverr
Similarly to Thumbtack, Fiverr is a platform in which service providers can list and sell just about any service on the platform. However, instead of searching by local region, gigs can be booked by vendors anywhere in the world.
Why it’s great: Fiverr has taken off lately thanks to the popularity of remote work and the benefits of hiring or working as a freelancer. The services offered on the site are vast, and include writing and editing, graphic design, digital marketing, video and animation, music and audio, programming and tech, administrative work, data processing and analytics, business consulting, genealogy, and much more.
With such a wide range of industries and services through the platform, Fiverr makes it easy for entrepreneurs and businesses of any kind to sell their services through the platform, and reach an established customer base to find success.
Sellers have the ability to set their own prices and timelines for different projects, and can even create custom projects for clients that they work with. The platform prioritizes safety and confidentiality, making it a trusted resource for individuals to buy and sell with confidence and ease.
How much does it cost? Fiverr charges a small service fee on top of purchases made through the platform. A 20% commission fee is also deducted from all sellers’ earnings.
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3. UpWork
UpWork is another heavy hitter in the freelance e-commerce space. The twenty year-old platform has been a leader in the remote work industry long before it was popular, making it a trusted resource for the most established freelancers across multiple industries to sell their services to top agencies and corporations.
Why it’s great: UpWork connects top businesses with individuals selling their services, making both buying and selling easy for all parties involved. The company’s long standing history in the e-commerce space makes it an attractive choice for more experienced freelancers looking to sell their services.
Some of the top services provided on UpWork include design and creative, writing and editing, development and IT, sales and marketing, translation, customer support, administrative tasks, finance, and accounting – essentially, anything that can be done on a computer can be sold as a service via the UpWork platform.
UpWork has attracted the attention of global brands like Microsoft, General Electric, GoDaddy, and Airbnb to source talent from the sites marketplace, making it a no-brainer for freelancers and entrepreneurs hoping to connect with industry leaders to provide their services and work together.
How much does it cost? UpWork charges a small payment processing fee for clients, as well as charges a percentage fee on all freelancers’ earnings.
4. TaskRabbit
Known to provide “help when you need it, at your fingertips,” TaskRabbit is a go-to resource for selling services to local customers. With more than 1.1 million reviews, and partnership with Ikea, TaskRabbit is a trusted platform for those looking to sell a variety of ad-hoc home and errand services, such as furniture assembly, gardening, moving, and cleaning services.
Why it’s great: TaskRabbit’s main goal is to make everyday life easier for its customers. And for those looking to sell services on the platform, they are able to leverage the brand equity of TaskRabbit and its built-in customer base with the potential to reach millions of clients and find great success.
Individuals selling their service on TaskRabbit, called “Taskers” can sign up to help their neighbors with a variety of services, including handyman services, moving and hauling services, personal assisting, minor home repair jobs, painting, yard cleanup and removal, delivery services, laundry services, hanging pictures, Ikea furniture assembly, TV mounting, furniture delivery, light installation, closet organization, and more.
For those with a knack for handy tasks, the platform offers a robust audience of potential customers, and the ability to easily sign up and start selling services in their local area. Customer reviews and “Tasker Stories” on the TaskRabbit site make it easy to find reliable service providers, and Taskers can easily build up a great reputation and grow their businesses exponentially.
How much does it cost? Taskers set their own prices for services, and TaskRabbit charges a service fee as well.
5. Guru
Trusted by more than 3 million people to buy and sell services, Guru offers a trusted platform for freelancers to sell their services across a variety of industries.
Why it’s great: Guru offers a great platform to sell freelancing services in a straightforward way, with no frills or hoops to jump through. Freelancers and clients can choose from a variety of different payment agreements, working on an hourly, recurring, task-based, or fixed price basis.
The site is utilized by more than 800,000 employers globally to find the right service providers, with more than $250 million paid to freelancers across more than a million invoices in the history of the platform.
Individuals looking to sell or purchase services via Guru can do so in the following industry areas: programming and development, administrative and secretarial, engineering and architecture, writing and translation, legal, sales and marketing, design and art, business and finance, education, and training.
The key selling points of using Guru include the platform’s credibility, security, 24/7 support, flexibility, and value.
How much does it cost? Guru charges a small handling fee for each invoice.
6. Handy
For those who have a knack for putting things together or helping out around the house, Handy is a great e-commerce platform for which to sell these types of services.
Why it’s great: Handy makes it easy to oversee all aspects of service providership, from booking and managing appointments, to messaging with potential clients, to sharing locations and real time status updates all from an app that’s easy to use and navigate for clients and sellers alike.
From cleaners to handymen to smart home installers, Handy Pro sellers are able to gain access to hundreds of jobs in their location and build their own schedule right from the Handy app. Top pay rates, flexible scheduling, and easy payment processing make it an appealing choice for service providers to sell their talents.
The services on Handy are home-improvement based, and include home cleaning, furniture assembly, hanging pictures and shelves, TV mounting, moving help, handyman services, electrical, painting, moving, window treatments, and other home improvement projects.
How much does it cost? The platform charges a small fee on each job booked through the platform.
7. Care.com
Care.com is a mainstay in the caregiving industry, making it a go-to platform for any type of caregiver to sell their services and find clients in their local areas. The world’s largest destination for care, the platform was founded in 2006 with the understanding that quality family care is both a fundamental human need and a key driver of economic growth and empowerment.
Why it’s great: For those looking to sell their caregiving services, Care.com is the go-to platform to do so, thanks to its stellar reputation and long standing history of matching top-notch service providers with those who need them for a decade and half.
Whether it’s child care, school support, senior care, housekeeping, pet care, or special needs services, Care.com provides caregivers a platform for finding high-quality jobs and access to benefits that can lead to a sustainable, meaningful career.
Individuals can set up profiles under their specific specialty area, as well as highlight special certifications and skills that best qualify them for specific jobs. Customers can seek talent based on geographic location, availability, and other client reviews.
How much does it cost? Care.com has varied pricing based on the type of membership needed.
8. Wag!
One particular service that may be surprising to find sold online is dog walking and pet sitting. While at first glance this doesn’t seem like something there would be a big online market for, there’s actually a huge demand for pet care services in the e-commerce space, and Wag! is home to more than 150,000 pet caregivers selling their services through the platform.
Why it’s great: For those looking to sell their pet sitting and dog walking services, Wag! offers a robust marketplace of potential clientele right in your neighborhood. Wag!’s on-demand dog walking service is a great platform for vendors in this space thanks to the flexibility, technology, and safety offered by the platform. Services that can be rendered on the platform include dog walking, pet sitting and boarding, drop-in visits, in-home training, virtual training, and more.
All pet caregivers are protected with up to $1 million in damage protection and 24/7 customer support, so dog walkers providing services through the platform can do their jobs worry-free.
How much does it cost? Wag charges a percentage of the fees for each service rendered.
It can take a bit of work to find the best e-commerce platform for selling services, especially since the scope of services offered varies so widely. Luckily, there are e-commerce platforms that are a fit for just about any service, from home renovation, to caregiving, to freelancing, and more.
By doing the proper research, and comparing the benefits and features of different e-commerce platforms, you are sure to be able to find the best fit for your specific business needs.
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