Opening an Online Shop and Points｜How Cashback Works and Choosing a Service Without Losing Out

Opening an Online Shop and Points｜How Cashback Works and Choosing a Service Without Losing Out

Opening an online shop to sell handmade or original products is a category where store openings on BASE, STORES, Shopify, Color Me Shop, and the like are sometimes cashback offers on point sites. The service invests advertising money to recruit new sellers, and part of it comes back as a performance reward to users who open via a point site. On top of that, you can earn cashback on the supplies and packaging you need to start, and on stock and monthly payments.

That said, an online shop isn't done at opening — it's a business you grow by selling. It isn't something to contract a paid plan or unnecessary tools for by cashback size. This guide organizes, as a judgment axis for not losing out, the difference between "earned on free opening" and "earned on paid contract", comparing services by total cost of fees, the break-even between free (fee) type and monthly type, the steps to not miss routing/cashback at opening, and preparation as a business owner including business registration and tax filing. For flea-market apps, see the Flea-Market App Guide; for business-owner procedures, the Freelance & Sole Proprietor Guide; and for expense management, the Accounting Software Guide.

Telling "Earned on Free Opening" from "Earned on Paid Contract"

The first thing to check on an online-shop offer is the cashback condition. It splits broadly into two types, with differing difficulty.

With "earned on free opening" offers, simply opening a shop for free can earn cashback. With services you can start free of initial and monthly fees, like BASE or STORES, the merit is earning with a "let's just try building one" feel. With "earned on paid contract" offers, cashback only lands when you contract a paid plan; the amount is higher, but the monthly payment is the condition. Always check on the offer page whether "free opening alone is enough" or "a paid contract is required" before routing. Contracting a paid plan you don't need for the cashback defeats the purpose.

Compare Services by "Total Cost"

An online-shop building service can't be judged by cheap initial or monthly fees alone. Comparing by total cost including the fees charged each time something sells is the basis.

Even with free initial/monthly fees, high payment or sales fees mean a bigger burden as sales grow. Conversely, a service with a monthly fee but low fees can be cheaper by total cost once sales pass a certain point. The transfer fee and minimum on proceeds quietly add up too, so choose what fits your sales volume by total cost including all of initial, monthly, and the various fees.

The Break-Even Between Free (Fee) Type and Monthly Type

Which service pays off changes with sales scale. Choosing by considering which stage you're at now avoids wasted costs.

• While sales are small: A fee type with free initial/monthly that charges only when it sells (BASE, STORES, etc.) is easy. No fixed cost means low risk.
• As sales grow: A monthly type with low payment/sales fees can be cheaper by total cost even with a monthly fee. Pinpoint the break-even where the fee gap exceeds the fixed cost.
• For serious expansion: Highly extensible, feature-rich services like Shopify gain value as scale grows. Choose by needs like payments, inventory, and overseas support.
• Try free first: Rather than jumping to paid, using a free type to gauge sales before moving to paid/another service is a hand.

Steps to Not Miss Routing/Cashback at Opening

1. ① Route the store openingRoute via the point site before opening on BASE, STORES, Shopify, Color Me Shop, etc. Check the offer on Pointnavi. With "earned on free opening," opening alone may earn it.
2. ② Compare several services by total costCompare by total cost including initial, monthly, payment fee, sales fee, and transfer fee. Consider the free-vs-monthly break-even (sales scale) and choose what fits your volume.
3. ③ Route purchases of supplies/packagingRoute bulk buys of supplies and packaging — boxes, envelopes, cushioning, label printers — via mail order. The shipping tips in the Flea-Market App Guide help too.
4. ④ Pay stock/bills with a cashback methodPay stock, monthly fees, and tools with a cashback method. Manage expenses with accounting software. Accounting Software Guide, Tap Payment Guide, Expiry Prevention Guide.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

• "Contracted a paid plan for cashback and paid the monthly fee without using it": Many services start free. Choose what fits your volume and don't take unnecessary paid contracts.
• "Chose by a cheap monthly fee, and high sales fees lost out on the total": Compare by total cost including payment/sales fees, not just initial/monthly.
• "Thought a paid-contract offer paid on free opening": Misreading the condition means zero cashback. Confirm whether it's free-opening or paid-contract type before routing.
• "Forgot business registration and tax filing": A continuing business needs the procedures. Manage expenses with accounting software.
• "Forgot to route and got zero on the opening": Make re-entering from the point site right before the opening form a habit.

What to Prepare Before Opening

A little sorting beforehand makes it easier to choose a service that fits and prevents gaps in business-owner procedures.

• Estimate your products and volume: What and how much you expect to sell. Volume changes whether free or monthly type is optimal.
• List the features you need: List needs like payment methods, inventory, SNS linkage, and overseas sales, then compare services.
• Prepare supplies/packaging: Boxes, envelopes, cushioning, label printers — route bulk buys via mail order.
• Confirm business procedures: Check whether business registration and tax filing are needed, and consider accounting software for expenses. Freelance & Sole Proprietor Guide.
• Open after routing: Finally confirm you routed through the point site right before the opening. No routing means no cashback.

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