Short answer: The first step in taking a traditional business online is not an online store; it's making sure customers can find you, trust you and ask you. Do three things first: a Google Business Profile, an inquiry-focused website and a LINE Official Account. That costs about NT$50K–200K in year one and takes 2–3 months. Once inquiries are steady each month, decide on e-commerce or ads.
The pain: competitors are online and I'm still waiting for referrals
A hardware parts wholesaler in business for 30 years gets almost all customers by referral. New customers have fallen for 2 years, and its sales team found that younger buyers first search Google for "stainless steel screws wholesale Taichung" and find only competitors. The owner wanted an online store and got a NT$400K quote, but the company has 3,000 items with prices tiered by customer, so a store with list prices doesn't fit. This is where many traditional businesses start: they know they need to go online but not which step comes first.
The direct answer: get found first, don't sell directly
For B2B and local-service traditional businesses, customers search, then inquire, then negotiate, so stage one aims at inquiries, not online revenue.
| Item | What it does | Cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Business Profile | Address, hours, product photos, reviews | Free (managed setup about NT$5,000–15,000) | 1–2 weeks |
| Inquiry-focused website | Product categories, specs, case studies, inquiry form | NT$15,000–150,000 | 4–8 weeks |
| LINE Official Account | Inquiry replies, quote follow-up, customer notices | About NT$0–1,200+ a month | 1 week |
The roadmap: three stages for the outward-facing half of digital transformation
See numbers at each stage before moving to the next.
- Stage 1 | Get found (months 1–3, NT$50K–200K): Google Business Profile, inquiry website, LINE Official Account. Metrics: monthly inquiries and the share coming from Google.
- Stage 2 | Systematize (months 4–9, NT$150K–400K): inquiries into a back office, quotes generated online, sales status tracking, optional tiered B2B pricing. Metrics: quote reply time and quote win rate.
- Stage 3 | Integrate (from month 10, NT$300K+): customer-specific online ordering, with inventory and shipping linked to inventory or ERP software. Metrics: online share of orders and sales hours per order.
Most traditional businesses see results in stage 1: 5–20 qualified inquiries a month within 3–6 months of launch is common, provided product pages are specific.
Where to look for government subsidies
Subsidies cut costs, but the rule is "approval first, purchase second."
- The Ministry of Digital Affairs' Administration for Digital Industries runs the SME digital transformation "cloud marketplace" program, subsidizing cloud tools; application windows and amounts change yearly.
- The Ministry of Economic Affairs' SME and Startup Administration runs digital transformation and coaching programs for companies with clear improvement goals.
- Local governments offer industrial upgrade or digitization grants that vary by city and county; ask the local industry development office.
- Note: most subsidies reject items contracted or paid before applying.
Common mistakes: expensive systems nobody uses
The biggest waste when going online is building things you won't use.
- Mistake 1: opening an online store first. For B2B with many items and tiered prices, fixed list prices just give away negotiating room.
- Mistake 2: a website with only a company profile. Customers search for product specs; without product pages, they won't find you.
- Mistake 3: ads first. Without inquiry pages and tracking, you won't know how much business the spend brought.
- Mistake 4: nobody answers inquiries. Win rates drop clearly when replies take over 24 hours, so assign an owner.
- Mistake 5: buying a full ERP at once. Until outside touchpoints are steady, the best internal system has no new orders to manage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the first step for a traditional business going online?
Set up a Google Business Profile, an inquiry-focused website and a LINE Official Account. The goal is to be found and contacted, for about NT$50K–200K in year one.
Does a traditional business need an online store?
Not necessarily. Stores suit few items with fixed prices sold to consumers; for B2B with tiered pricing, an inquiry website is the better first investment.
How long until a traditional business website gets inquiries?
Usually 3–6 months to become steady. Clear specs, applications and case studies on product pages, plus a website link on your Google Business Profile, speed this up.
Are there subsidies for going online?
Yes, worth checking. The Ministry of Digital Affairs' cloud marketplace, the SME and Startup Administration and local governments have programs, but most require approval before purchase.
Next step
ScriptWalker (a Taiwanese Laravel/Flutter custom development studio) offers a free assessment for traditional businesses going online. We look at your products and customer types, tell you which step to start with and what may qualify for subsidies. Websites start at NT$15,000 and systems at NT$80,000, and stage one rarely needs a large upfront budget.
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 0916-224-047
- LINE: @ufv9089p