Online Store Readiness Checker

How to read your report

Each area gets a score: Yes counts 2 points, Partly 1 and No 0, shown as a percentage of the most the area can score. An area is marked Ready at 80% or more with no high-priority gaps, Nearly ready from 50%, and Needs work below that. The overall score uses every question you were asked.

The checklist sorts what is left by priority:

• High: things customers or the law expect before you take orders, such as tested payments, delivery fees and times, your contact details, a returns policy, terms and a privacy policy.
• Medium: things that save trouble in the first weeks, such as product codes, stock tracking, refunds and support channels. Product codes and stock tracking become high priority for larger catalogues.
• Low: things that help you grow, such as analytics and a customer email list.

What Ghana’s Electronic Transactions Act asks of online sellers

Several checklist items point to the consumer-protection part of the Electronic Transactions Act, 2008 (Act 772). In summary:

• Section 47 lists the information a supplier makes available where goods are offered. It includes your full name and legal status, physical address and phone number, website and email address, a description of the goods, the full price including transport costs and taxes, how to pay, delivery times, your return, exchange and refund policy, and your privacy and payment security policy. Customers must be able to read and save the terms, correct errors, and withdraw before the order is concluded. If a supplier does not comply, the customer may cancel within 14 days.
• Section 48 says an order must be fulfilled within 14 days unless agreed otherwise. If goods are unavailable, the customer must be told at once and refunded within seven days.
• Section 49 gives consumers 14 days after receiving goods to cancel without reason, with exceptions such as perishable or made-to-order goods.
• Section 50 requires prior consent before sending unsolicited electronic marketing, and a way to unsubscribe.

This is a summary to help you plan, not legal advice. Read the Act or ask a lawyer about your business.

After the checklist

Check that your prices cover delivery, payment fees and returns with the eCommerce profit calculator. If you have not chosen where to build your store, the eCommerce platform comparison compares the options against your needs. The privacy policy generator gives you a first draft to review. When you are ready to build, see our website design and development service.