Hi all
I built a Wordpress website for a designer-maker friend about 10 years ago. It’s a portfolio site which also includes a simple Buy Now button on each item that links through to Paypal. The whole site is very out of date now and she’s asked me to look into creating a new one. I’ve moved into other areas of work since then, so it’s a while since I’ve built a website from scratch and could really do with some advice about the best ecommerce options. I’m looking at Woocommerce, since the site is already in Wordpress - any thoughts on this or other options (Shopify? Squarespace? ) very appreciated.

I’m also feeling a bit out of touch on how much to charge for building a new ecommerce site and if anyone can suggest ballpark figures on the going rate for this now, that would be a great help. The site has 7 main pages (home, about, workshops, exhibitions, blog, contact and then the portfolio/shop, which will have up to a hundred pieces for sale ranged in different collections). Once I set up the site, my friend knows enough to update and add all the items into the shop herself.

Many thanks

Just install woocommerce. They can then add all their products.

Once testing is complete let them choose a theme. Install, active and configure. Job done. 

Great, thanks so much fisicz - that keeps it simple for me!

Any thoughts on how much to charge for a piece of work like this these days?

 

It all depends on your hourly rate and how much work needs doing.

A decent developer could get woo installed and configured in an hour. Same with a theme.

So that's two hours to update the sate.

If the client wants the products transferring to woo this could take hours and hours. I'd outsource to a freelancer who wouldn't charge a lot. You then pass the cost on to the client plus a bit of commission.

The will probably need a few other things tweaked and adjusted so add on two more hours.

Lets say 6 hours in total. Multiply by your hourly rate and that's how much I'd charge.

Great, that's very helpful, thank you.

On 2/21/2022 at 9:29 PM, Stev1e said:

Great, thanks so much fisicz - that keeps it simple for me!

Any thoughts on how much to charge for a piece of work like this these days?

 

I hope you have done your project well, but if not i wanna share that if you want you can do it free of cost by simply learning on youtube and use woocommerce free themes and some free plugins and chosing woocommerce is the best way in comprasion of other sites.

Shopify is best ecommerce platform and manages all types of businesses. It provides best advanced functionality style and application platform that allows you to install as well as customize the site. Shopify has three premium plans basic plans start with 29USD/month, medium plans 79 USD/month and advanced plans 299USD/month. Best headless ecommerce platforms.

44 minutes ago, ecommercetrends said:

Shopify is best ecommerce platform and manages all types of businesses.

It’s not the best. It’s just one of many that may or may not be suitable for your business.

1 hour ago, BertonHole said:

 It's user-friendly and easily integrates with WordPress. Another option is Magento

That makes no sense. Of course it integrates with Wordpress, that’s its whole purpose.

And magento is not a beginners platform. It needs a lot of configuration by expert developers.

Several popular e-commerce platforms are available, each with its pricing plans. Some of the most popular options include:

Shopify: Shopify is a leading e-commerce platform that offers a range of pricing plans, including a basic plan that starts at $29 per month and an advanced one at $299 per month.

WooCommerce: WooCommerce is an open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress that allows you to create an online store for free, but you will need to pay for hosting, domain, and additional plugins.

Magento: Magento is an open-source e-commerce platform that offers a range of pricing plans, including a free Community Edition and a paid Enterprise Edition that starts at $22,000 per year.

BigCommerce: BigCommerce is a cloud-based e-commerce platform that offers a range of pricing plans, including a basic plan that starts at $29.95 per month and an advanced plan that starts at $299.95 per month.

Salesforce Commerce Cloud: Salesforce Commerce Cloud is a leading e-commerce platform that offers a range of pricing plans customized to the client's needs; this platform is for enterprise-level businesses.

Ultimately, the best e-commerce platform for you depends on your specific needs and budget. It is recommended to consider each platform's features, scalability, and costs before making a decision.

You can find various platforms on internet to build eCommerce store easily like Wix, Zoho commerce, Woocomerce, Bigcommerce, and Bulider.ai

I’ve found that starting small and scaling as sales grow helps keep costs down early on. Monthly fees can add up quick if you’re not getting regular traffic or orders.

On 5/17/2025 at 1:45 AM, Foreverseit said:

I’ve found that starting small and scaling as sales grow helps keep costs down early on. Monthly fees can add up quick if you’re not getting regular traffic or orders.

I’ve found that using AI product descriptions saves loads of time, especially if your store has lots of items. You just plug in some basic info and get back full descriptions that are pretty well-written and ready to go. It's handy if writing isn't your thing or you’re tight on time.

 

Edited May 19, 20251 yr by Foreverseit

Hi,

When choosing the best e-commerce platform and pricing, it’s important to balance functionality, scalability, and affordability. Platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and BigCommerce each have unique strengths, from user-friendly interfaces to highly customizable features. Pricing varies depending on the size of the business, add-ons, hosting, and payment gateway fees. For startups, a cost-effective plan with essential tools may be ideal, while growing businesses often need advanced features, integrations, and analytics. Transparency in pricing, flexibility in upgrading, and strong customer support should always be considered. Ultimately, the best platform is the one that aligns with your business model, budget, and long-term growth goals. 

 

 

Edited August 31, 2025Aug 31 by Rohit557
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