Creating or acquiring an e-commerce: which option is more profitable in 2026?
Introduction
Online commerce continues to grow in Switzerland. In 2026, the sector represents a concrete opportunity for entrepreneurs. But faced with this potential, one question arises: should you create an e-commerce from scratch or acquire an existing online shop?
Both approaches involve different investments, distinct risks and variable profitability horizons. Creating allows you to build exactly what you want, without legacy or constraints. Acquiring offers an immediate operational base: customers, turnover, established processes.
This decision is not just a matter of personal preference. It depends on your financial situation, your experience, your risk tolerance and the time you can dedicate to the project. An entrepreneur with limited capital and strong technical expertise will make a different choice from a professional in career transition with substantial capital but seeking quick returns.
This guide compares both options factually. You will find concrete figures, an analysis of advantages and disadvantages, and essential decision criteria for 2026. If you are hesitating more broadly between creating or acquiring a business, the principles remain similar.
📌 Summary (TL;DR)
Creating an e-commerce requires an initial investment of 10,000 to 50,000 CHF and 12 to 24 months before profitability. Acquiring costs between 50,000 and 500,000 CHF but generates immediate revenue with an established customer base. The choice depends on your available capital, your technical expertise, your risk tolerance and your profitability objectives.
📚 Table of contents
Creating an e-commerce: initial investment and timeline
Creating an e-commerce requires an initial investment between 15,000 and 50,000 CHF depending on the project's scope. Costs include the platform (Shopify, WooCommerce), design, initial stock, and especially customer acquisition marketing.
Realistic timeline: 6 to 18 months before reaching profitability. The first months generate little or no revenue. The failure rate in the first year exceeds 60% for new e-commerce businesses.
Creating means building an audience from scratch, testing the market, and absorbing fixed costs without guarantee of success. For a detailed comparison, consult our article on buying a business or starting your own.
Acquiring an existing e-commerce: immediate advantages
Acquiring an e-commerce brings concrete benefits from day one: established turnover, active customer base, functional operational systems, and verifiable financial history.
Profitability starts immediately if management is competent. No need to build brand awareness or test the market: everything is already in place.
The acquisition cost is generally calculated on a multiple of EBITDA (2 to 4x) or annual turnover. Browse the companies for sale on Leez to explore opportunities. To maximise value after acquisition, discover our advice on loyalty and subscriptions.
Financial comparison: creation vs acquisition
Creation: Investment 15,000-50,000 CHF, profitability timeframe 6-18 months, high risk (60% failure), high customer acquisition cost, negative cash flow in the first year.
Acquisition: Investment 80,000-300,000 CHF (depending on valuation), immediate profitability possible, moderate risk (verifiable history), existing customers, positive cash flow from the first month.
Concrete example: an e-commerce generating 200,000 CHF turnover with 15% margin is valued between 60,000 and 120,000 CHF. The equivalent creation requires 12-18 months and a minimum of 40,000 CHF without guarantee of reaching this level.
Creation: when it's the right choice
Creating an e-commerce is suitable if you have a very specific niche or an innovative product difficult to find on the existing market.
Ideal profile: limited budget (less than 50,000 CHF), time available to build progressively, strong appetite for risk and experimentation, technical skills in digital marketing.
Creation allows you to shape the project according to your vision, without taking over existing elements. Ideal for testing a product innovation or targeting an unexploited segment.
Acquisition: when it's the right choice
Acquiring is relevant if you are seeking quick profitability and have capital (minimum 80,000 CHF). You secure the investment through verifiable financial history.
Ideal profile: skills in management and optimisation rather than pure creation, willingness to develop an existing base, moderate risk tolerance, short profitability horizon.
Acquisition suits entrepreneurs who prefer to improve a functional system rather than start from scratch. Consult our guide on first steps in business acquisition to structure your approach.
Key decision criteria for 2026
Four objective criteria to decide:
- Profile: creative/innovator → creation; manager/optimiser → acquisition
- Available capital: less than 50,000 CHF → creation; more than 80,000 CHF → acquisition
- Risk tolerance: high → creation; moderate → acquisition
- Profitability horizon: 12-18 months → creation; immediate → acquisition
2026 trends (omnichannel, sustainability, personalisation) favour acquisitions: integrating these elements on an existing base is faster and less risky than building from scratch.
Financing your e-commerce project
Creation: own funds, SME bank loans, crowdfunding, business angels for innovative projects. Required budget: 15,000-50,000 CHF.
Acquisition: bank loan with guarantees on financial history, simplified LBO, personal contribution (30-40% of price). Required budget: 80,000-300,000 CHF depending on valuation.
Leez connects with a network of experts (fiduciaries, financial advisers) to structure financing. No obligation, but support available to secure your project.
Creating or acquiring an e-commerce in 2026? Both options are viable, but respond to different profiles and objectives. Creation suits entrepreneurs who have time, an innovative concept and a limited budget. Acquisition is aimed at those who prioritise immediate profitability, have capital and want to minimise risks.
The decision rests on three criteria: your risk tolerance, your time horizon and your financial resources. An existing e-commerce generates turnover from day one and benefits from an established customer base. A creation offers more creative freedom but requires 18 to 36 months before reaching profitability.
Are you considering acquiring an e-commerce? Explore the e-commerce businesses available on Leez and access verified opportunities with transparent financial data. For personalised support, our network of experts can guide you in valuation and negotiation.
