Hi all! I currently operate my shop 100% on instagram but am looking to streamline the checkout process and be able to sync my website and instagram.

I want to started building out a website but can’t decide which would suit me best. I would say I process around 1000 orders a year for my unique items (usually only 1 in stock)

Looking for cost effective, easy checkouts and easy shipping integration.

For a small business to sell physical and printable products - Shopify vs. Wordpress vs. Squarespace vs. Wix? I also may have a long-term blog so lots of writing.

It's very important to me to have my own website shop, not JUST be on marketplaces such as Etsy, Amazon, etc.

I've looked over lots of conversations and articles on this topic but am still unclear.

Is this correct? What I think what I overall hear people saying is:

• Squarepace and Wix are known as easy for anyone to make a website (which REALLY appeals to me). They're an ongoing cost and nickel-and-dime you for many features. They're more learning curve than some may realize. It's debatable how well SEO can do there. I'm unsure if they're good for ecommerce.

• Shopify is easy for anyone to set up and maintain. It's limited in what it can do but that also makes it easier than Wordpress and maybe way less moving parts that can cause problems or complication. It's I guess more expensive than Wordpress - yet if no website developer person is needed then there is not that cost. So in that sense is it way cheaper than Wordpress? It has some limits such as can't sell restricted products but I doubt any of my product ideas are on restricted list (haven't read that list yet). Shopify has been enjoyed and recommended by some seemingly long-term successful shops and artists.

• Wordpress does more customization than the other options ever can. I don't really know specific examples of when this could matter to me cause that is probably stuff I wouldn't realize I want until I dive into setting up a shop. One example I heard was to be able to design checkout page to look different ways. One concern is I heard Shopify isn't great for products with customization. I definitely want custom options for some of my notebooks. Another concern is it sounds not beginner-friendly or easy (and I spent countless hours years ago trying to learn CSS or code or whatever only to then be told I had done it all wrong and in comparison Squarespace ended up seeming EXTREMELY appealing and easy and fun). I heard mixed things even on Elementor and Astra after thinking maybe those are the ticket to Wordpress fun ease. That makes me think if I pick Wordpress I'd need to hire an expensive builder/maintainer. Startup costs being even higher would make life much harder and slow the whole business down. Other concern is when I've heard Wordpress can be full of need for updates, plug-in problems, so many options some find it overwhelming, etc. I don't know if it's easily mobile-friendly which is one thing I love about Squarespace. But yes, some say Woocommerce is better than Shopify. I guess it depends what details the business needs?

-- PLEASE answer this in a super "layman's terns," simple, understandable way, keeping in mind I am absolutely not experienced at website design and am limited in how much time, energy, learning curve I am open to putting in to learning website design. I love graphic design and copywriting and branding but all those are different topics. The actual tools and structure of websites such as codes and plug-ins is what I mean I am barely knowledgeable in and barely open to directing my energy into learning. (There are only so many houes each day so we all must choose what interests/skill-building to focus on.) I love the idea of DIYing it all and not having to find money for expensive web designer and especially don't want to feel chained to years of needing a designer to update for me (though maybe I should reframe this; like I'd far rather always need a mechanic my whole life than learn to completely fix/maintain my own car).