When Should Small Businesses Invest in E-Commerce Website Design?

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for suggestions and real-world advice on this topic: “When Should Small Businesses Invest in E-Commerce Website Design?” I want to understand the best time to take the step from selling only in person or on social platforms to building a full e-commerce site.

I’m especially focusing on e-commerce website design for small businesses, and I’d like to hear when it actually makes sense to make that investment. Is it when sales start to grow? When customer questions increase? When manual order handling becomes too much? Or is it smarter to build a site early, even with a tight budget?

I’m also curious about the signs that a small business is ready—like having a stable product line, repeat buyers, or a clear brand. If you’ve gone through this yourself, what pushed you to invest, and what do you wish you knew before starting?

Any simple, practical tips or lessons would help me a lot. Thanks in advance for sharing your experience and guidance!