Brochure site or e-commerce: which one does your SME need?

Before starting a web project, the same question comes up: do you need a brochure site or a real online store? The right call depends mostly on how you make money.

The brochure site: present and convert

A brochure site showcases your business, services and credibility. Its job is to generate contact or quote requests. It's the right fit for service businesses, professionals and shops that sell in person.

E-commerce: sell online

If you sell products customers can order and pay for online, you need e-commerce: catalogue, cart, secure checkout and order management. It's a bigger build, but it's essential once online sales are part of the model.

How to decide

• You sell services → brochure site.
• You sell products payable online → e-commerce.
• You want to start simple and grow → brochure site, with an e-commerce module added later.

Good news: a well-built brochure site can take an e-commerce module later. You can start with today's budget and grow the site as the business grows.