Nobody talks about operations. Here's the unglamorous stuff that actually keeps a business running.
Operations isn't glamorous. It's invoicing, shipping, customer service, accounting. But it's what separates real businesses from hobbies.
Revenue, expenses, inventory, customer info: set up a spreadsheet before your first sale. I didn't do this early enough, and it cost me in lost profit margins.
You don't need expensive software. A simple Google Sheet works perfectly fine when you're starting.
When an order comes in, you need to know exactly what to do. Who packs it? How long does it take? What's the shipping process? Write it down. Then automate as much as possible.
Every customer interaction is a chance to turn someone into a repeat customer or a brand advocate. Respond quickly, solve problems, go above and beyond when it's reasonable.
Cost per unit + platform fees + shipping + returns = your true cost. Price above that with enough margin to cover marketing, mistakes, and growth.