Flexible hours, fancy cars, a lovely mansion, a nice watch, and traveling around the world — check. These are some of the things that attract most people, and possibly you, to starting an eCommerce or dropshipping business. But is it really the daily life you can expect once you have a full-time eCommerce business?
Sorry, but the short answer is no.
Not what you expected, right?
I know you’ve seen videos online and heard about eCommerce store owners making passive income and living the life. They go on vacations all over the world and own fancy sports cars. But before you brand me as a dream killer, let’s get some things straight first.
First, a successful eCommerce empire can afford you such luxuries and possibly more. Secondly, whereas running such a business is not your typical 9-5 job, it also requires a lot of work. So, if you think starting an eCommerce business is your ticket to easy riches, think again.
Lastly, full-time eCommerce business owners don’t spend all day every day cruising on yachts or relaxing at a beach waiting for cash to trickle in.
So, what’s it like in the day of a full-time eCommerce business owner? In this article, I’ll give you an overview of what my day is like as I ensure my business empire continues growing to provide you with a rough idea of what to expect.
An Early Start
To ensure that my workload is easily manageable throughout the day, I like waking up early in the morning. Immediately after getting out of bed, I take a refreshing glass of cold water.
In addition to increasing alertness and fueling your brain, drinking water the first thing you wake up has several benefits. So, I strongly recommend that you make it part of your daily routine.
I Check My Slack Messages
Running a full-time eCommerce business requires using several different tools and systems to streamline processes and enhance coordination. One such tool I use is Slack. It comes in handy when communicating with colleagues and clients.
The last thing you want as an eCommerce store owner is bottlenecks or other challenges derailing the process. So, before attending to anything else, I take about 15 minutes to read and respond to my Slack messages. This ensures that all urgent matters are addressed before the workday officially begins.
Get in Some Exercise for the Body and Mind
As with most other things in life, it is difficult to run and scale your online business empire if you do not take care of yourself properly. Good health and a mind ready to take on challenges are invaluable assets.
This is why I spend one hour working out in the morning as I listen to an audiobook. For me, the audiobooks that I prefer are autobiographies. Then, after the workout session, I take a cold shower, making me even more alert and ready for work.
I Get to My Desk by Eight AM
Officially, my day begins at 8 AM. This is when I get to my desk and begin tackling the day-to-day activities of my online business.
Some of these activities include:
Meetings
Over the last five years, Ecommerce Empire Builders has been fortunate enough to grow from an unknown brand to a relatively popular one. During this period, our team has grown to over 30 people, and we always have plenty of clients at any given time.
To ensure everything is going as planned, a significant portion of my day is spent meeting colleagues and clients.
Client Work
The eCommerce journey has plenty of stops in between. If you are new to it, it may be intimidating to begin. This is why we assist people such as yourself in starting and running successful online empires.
Depending on clients’ needs, budgets and availability, we offer different levels of support through services such as:
- Business in a Box: This is for individuals who have the budget to start a full-time eCommerce business but not the time. Our team will handle all the tasks so that you do not have to worry.
- Advertising Management: We help you reach your target audience by reaching them when they’re ready to make a purchase.
Some of our other services also include Facebook image creation, email sequences, and market research. As such, I also spend time handling such activities for my clients.
Research
As you prepare to venture into eCommerce, you should know that it’s anything but static. At any given time, there are developments taking place. These can range from products in high demand to effective marketing strategies.
Therefore, I spend a lot of time each week monitoring the trends and doing product research. This helps me and adjust my approach accordingly and ensure the support I offer clients is beneficial.
I’d love to tell you that it only takes a couple of hours for me to get everything done, and the rest of the day is for me to use as I please, but that’s not the case.
Usually, my day ends at 6 in the evening. Of course, I’ll have some 10–30-minute breaks now and then to rejuvenate. During these breaks, I love taking walks with my wife and daughter.
Discipline Is Key
At this point, you now have a clear picture of what it takes to be a full-time eCommerce business owner. While it can be very rewarding, I strongly believe it’s not for everyone.
This is because there’s not only a ton of work involved, but you will also have teams and clients counting on you. Depending on the scale and nature of your business, this comes with a lot of pressure.
So, if you are not ready to take on such responsibilities, you’re better off not running an eCommerce business full-time. However, this is not to say you shouldn’t start one. As with most people, taking it as a side hustle is also an option.
Now that you know a day in the life of a full-time eCommerce owner is like, it’s time to start building your empire. At Ecommerce Empire Builders, we’re here to help you. Sign up for my free webinar, where I’ll take you through the steps I took to create a full-time income online. Also, subscribe to my YouTube channel for insights and business tips.