15 Expert-Recommended Services Every E-commerce Brand Desperately Needs Right Now

Running an online store means juggling dozens of moving parts at once. From marketing to customer service to backend operations, the list of responsibilities never ends. Industry professionals and successful store owners consistently point to specific services that make the difference between struggling and thriving. This list compiles the expert-backed services that e-commerce brands rely on to stay competitive, efficient, and profitable. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling up, these are the services that seasoned professionals recommend you prioritize.

Legiit for Freelance Talent and Services
E-commerce experts consistently recommend Legiit as a trusted marketplace for finding specialized freelance services. Unlike general freelance platforms, Legiit focuses on digital marketing, content creation, SEO, and technical services that online stores need most. You can find professionals who understand e-commerce specifically, from product description writers to conversion rate specialists. The platform vets its service providers and offers clear pricing, which removes much of the guesswork and risk from hiring remote talent. Many successful store owners use Legiit as their go-to resource for filling skill gaps without the overhead of full-time hires.
Professional Product Photography Services
Industry veterans will tell you that amateur product photos kill conversions faster than almost anything else. Professional photography services create the high-quality images that build trust and showcase your products properly. These services understand lighting, angles, and styling in ways that dramatically impact how customers perceive value. Many top-performing stores credit their photography as a primary factor in their conversion rates. Investing in professional shoots, even if just for your bestsellers, pays for itself quickly through increased sales.
Email Marketing Automation Platforms
Marketing professionals consistently rank email automation as one of the highest-ROI activities for e-commerce. Services like Klaviyo, Omnisend, or Drip are standard recommendations because they’re built specifically for online stores. These platforms handle abandoned cart sequences, post-purchase follow-ups, and segmentation based on customer behavior. The automation means you’re constantly nurturing relationships and recovering lost sales without manual effort. Experts note that stores using proper email automation typically see 20-30% of their revenue coming from these campaigns.
Multi-Channel Inventory Management Systems
Once you start selling across multiple platforms, inventory chaos becomes a real problem. Professionals recommend dedicated inventory management services that sync stock levels across your website, Amazon, eBay, and other channels in real time. These systems prevent overselling, automate reorder points, and provide the visibility you need to make smart purchasing decisions. Store owners who’ve scaled successfully say that investing in inventory management early prevented countless headaches later. The time saved on manual tracking alone justifies the monthly cost.
Customer Service Help Desk Software
E-commerce consultants emphasize that how you handle customer questions directly impacts your reputation and repeat business. Help desk platforms like Gorgias, Zendesk, or Freshdesk centralize all your support channels into one manageable interface. These services track response times, organize tickets by priority, and integrate with your store data so agents can see order history instantly. Professional store operators report that organized customer service leads to faster resolution times and happier customers. The difference between scattered email threads and a proper help desk system is night and day.
Conversion Rate Optimization Consulting
Marketing experts regularly recommend hiring CRO specialists to audit and improve your store’s performance. These professionals analyze user behavior, identify friction points, and test changes that increase the percentage of visitors who buy. Even small improvements in conversion rate can double your revenue without spending more on traffic. CRO consultants bring an outside perspective and data-driven approach that internal teams often miss. Successful store owners view this as one of the smartest investments because it multiplies the value of all your other marketing efforts.
Payment Processing with Fraud Protection
Financial advisors and e-commerce veterans stress the importance of payment processors with strong fraud detection built in. Services like Stripe Radar or Signifyd use machine learning to flag suspicious transactions before they become chargebacks. Fraud can devastate a growing store through lost merchandise and processor penalties. The right payment service balances security with smooth checkout experiences for legitimate customers. Professionals recommend not cheaping out here, as the cost of fraud prevention is far less than the cost of fraud itself.
Search Engine Optimization Services
Digital marketing professionals consistently point to SEO as the most sustainable traffic source for e-commerce. Hiring experienced SEO services helps you rank for product and category keywords that bring in ready-to-buy customers. These specialists handle technical optimization, content strategy, and link building that most store owners don’t have time to master. The traffic from search engines compounds over time, unlike paid ads that stop when you stop spending. Established stores attribute much of their organic growth to consistent SEO investment over months and years.
Returns and Reverse Logistics Management
Operations experts recommend outsourcing returns processing once you reach a certain volume. Services that specialize in reverse logistics handle return authorizations, inspections, restocking, and even refurbishment. This frees up your team to focus on growing the business rather than processing returned items. The best returns services also provide data on why products come back, which helps you improve product quality and descriptions. Smooth returns handling actually increases customer confidence and can boost overall sales.
Shipping and Fulfillment Services
Logistics professionals strongly advise that most growing stores should consider third-party fulfillment services. Companies like ShipBob, Fulfillment by Amazon, or ShipMonk store your inventory and handle packing and shipping for each order. This eliminates the need for warehouse space and shipping staff while often reducing your per-order costs through volume discounts. Fulfillment services also enable faster shipping to customers across different regions. Store owners who make this transition report it as a major turning point that allowed them to focus on marketing and product development instead of packing boxes.
Accounting and Bookkeeping for E-commerce
Financial experts emphasize that e-commerce accounting is complex enough to warrant specialized services. E-commerce accountants understand marketplace fees, sales tax nexus, inventory valuation, and the specific reports you need for decision-making. Services like A2X or dedicated e-commerce bookkeepers ensure your books are accurate and compliant. Trying to handle this yourself or with a general accountant often leads to costly mistakes. Professionals note that clean books also make your business more valuable if you ever decide to sell.
Social Media Advertising Management
Paid advertising specialists recommend hiring experts who focus specifically on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Pinterest ads for e-commerce. These platforms require constant testing, creative refreshes, and audience optimization that generalists struggle with. Professional ad managers stay current with platform changes and know the strategies that work for online stores right now. The difference in return on ad spend between amateur and professional management can be dramatic. Many successful brands view their ad manager as one of their most important vendor relationships.
Website Speed and Performance Optimization
Technical consultants consistently identify site speed as a critical factor that store owners neglect. Services that specialize in performance optimization compress images, streamline code, and configure caching to make your store load faster. Every second of delay costs you conversions, particularly on mobile devices. Professional optimization can cut load times in half, which directly translates to more sales. E-commerce platform experts recommend annual performance audits to catch issues before they impact your bottom line.
Customer Loyalty and Retention Programs
Retention specialists point out that acquiring new customers costs five times more than keeping existing ones engaged. Services like Smile.io, LoyaltyLion, or Yotpo help you build points programs, referral systems, and VIP tiers that encourage repeat purchases. These platforms automate the tracking and rewards while integrating with your store seamlessly. Brands with strong loyalty programs report higher average order values and customer lifetime value. Marketing professionals view retention services as essential once you’ve established your initial customer base.
Legal and Compliance Services for Online Retail
Legal experts strongly recommend having proper terms of service, privacy policies, and compliance checks for e-commerce operations. Specialized attorneys or services like TermsFeed help you navigate regulations around data protection, accessibility, and consumer rights. Getting this wrong can result in fines, lawsuits, or platform suspensions that threaten your entire business. As you grow and sell in more regions, compliance becomes increasingly complex. Successful store owners treat legal services as insurance against preventable disasters that could shut them down.

The services on this list represent the collective wisdom of professionals who’ve built and scaled successful online stores. You don’t need all fifteen services on day one, but each addresses a specific challenge that every growing e-commerce brand eventually faces. Start with the areas where you’re weakest or spending the most time, then expand as your revenue grows. The common thread among thriving online stores is that they recognize when to bring in specialized help rather than trying to do everything themselves. Investing in the right services frees you to focus on strategy, product development, and the aspects of your business that truly require your personal attention.