Happy Saturday, friends! This first week of the month has been such a whirlwind that I almost forgot to post my first blog of September (better a day late than not at all). In my last post, I mentioned I was considering switching my website host from Shopify to Square, and today I want to share a little more about what’s behind that decision.
Pros and Cons of Shopify
When I launched Annie Sharae Creations, Shopify felt like the right fit. It connected seamlessly with my print-on-demand providers, which made fulfilling orders almost effortless. I also loved the built-in reports during tax season and the many integration options for marketing and exposure.
But as I’ve shifted my focus from selling directly to consumers toward working with clients, Shopify hasn’t been as flexible as I’d like. The platform is powerful, but restructuring my site to highlight my services has been more challenging than I expected. On top of that, the annual cost (about $375) starts to feel steep when I weigh it against the value I’m actually getting in this stage of my business.
Pros and Cons of Square
While helping my mom with her creative project, I did a lot of research on website platforms, and Square kept coming up as a favorite for service-based businesses. It’s more user-friendly for building client-focused sites, and the subscription runs about $100 less than Shopify.
That said, there are trade-offs. For example, I’ll lose the automatic connection between my print-on-demand account and my storefront. I’ll still offer my notebooks for purchase, but I’ll need to manually process orders through my print-on-demand provider. There’s also the uncertainty of how reporting and data transfers will shake out.
Closing Thoughts
I titled this post Knowing When to Adapt because it’s one of the biggest lessons I’ve embraced this year as an entrepreneur. Moving into the last quarter, I believe switching to Square will better serve my clients, give me more control over my business finances, and allow me to align my website with where Annie Sharae Creations is headed.
Of course, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous about the process of moving everything over; it’s going to take time and energy. But I also feel encouraged. Change has a way of sparking new momentum, and I’m hopeful this shift will inspire me to show up more on social media and dive back into my email marketing with fresh energy.
Until next time,
xx Annie