What you need to build an ecommerce site, and where to start
Building an ecommerce website means choosing a platform that handles product listings, shopping carts, and payment processing, then adding your products and connecting a way for customers to pay. The main decision is whether to use a dedicated ecommerce platform like Shopify or WooCommerce, or a general website builder with ecommerce features added on. Dedicated platforms come with payment processing and inventory tools built in. General builders let you start simpler but may charge more per transaction or limit what you can do as you grow.
You will also need a domain name (the web address customers type), a way to accept payments, and product information ready to upload. Most platforms handle hosting — the server space your site lives on — so you do not have to arrange that separately. The whole process from choosing a platform to launching typically takes one to four weeks, depending on how many products you have and how much customization you want.
Key Takeaways
- Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce are the most common platforms, each with different costs and limits on what you can customize.
- You will need a domain name, payment processor (Stripe, PayPal, or your platform's built-in option), and product photos or descriptions before you start.
- Dedicated ecommerce platforms charge monthly fees but include hosting and payment tools; general website builders are cheaper upfront but may cost more per sale.
- Most platforms let you launch a basic store in a day or two, but adding multiple products, setting up shipping, and testing checkout takes longer.
Shopify versus WooCommerce versus other platforms
Shopify is a hosted platform, meaning Shopify runs the servers and you do not install anything. You pay a monthly subscription (starting around $29 to $39 per month for basic plans), and Shopify handles hosting, security updates, and backups automatically. Shopify includes payment processing through Shopify Payments or lets you add Stripe, PayPal, or other processors. The trade-off is that you cannot modify the underlying code, so customization is limited to what Shopify's theme system and app store allow.
WooCommerce is a plugin for WordPress that turns your WordPress site into a store. You pay for WordPress hosting separately (usually $5 to $30 per month), then WooCommerce itself is free. You can modify the code directly, so customization is nearly unlimited — but you need to handle security, backups, and updates yourself or pay someone to do it. WooCommerce works with any payment processor, including Stripe, PayPal, and Square.
BigCommerce is another hosted platform similar to Shopify. It costs more upfront (starting around $29 per month) but includes more features on lower-tier plans, like unlimited product listings and staff accounts. Like Shopify, you cannot modify the code directly, but the theme system and app store are extensive.
General website builders like Wix, Squarespace, and Weebly all have ecommerce features, but they charge transaction fees on top of monthly plans if you use their payment processing. For example, Wix charges 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction if you do not use Wix Payments. If you plan to sell more than a few items per month, a dedicated ecommerce platform usually costs less overall.
Setting up your store: domain, hosting, and payments
Your domain name is your store's web address — for example, mystore.com. You can buy a domain through your ecommerce platform (Shopify and BigCommerce both sell domains), through a registrar like Namecheap or GoDaddy, or through your hosting provider if you use WooCommerce. Domains cost $10 to $15 per year. If you use Shopify or BigCommerce, the platform handles pointing your domain to your store automatically.
Hosting is where your website files live on a server. If you choose Shopify, BigCommerce, or another hosted platform, hosting is included in your monthly fee. If you choose WooCommerce, you need to buy hosting separately from a provider like Bluehost, SiteGround, or Kinsta. WooCommerce hosting typically costs $5 to $30 per month depending on how much traffic you expect.
Payment processing is how customers pay you. Most ecommerce platforms offer their own payment processor (Shopify Payments, for example) or let you add a third-party processor like Stripe or PayPal. Payment processors charge a fee per transaction — usually 2.9% plus 30 cents for credit cards, or a flat percentage for PayPal. Some platforms also charge a monthly gateway fee if you use an outside processor. Compare the total cost of the platform fee plus payment processing fees before you choose.
Adding products and setting up checkout
Once your platform is set up, you add products one at a time or upload them in bulk. Each product needs a name, description, price, and at least one photo. Most platforms let you upload a spreadsheet (CSV file) with multiple products at once, which is faster than entering them individually. You will also set up categories, tags, or collections so customers can browse by type.
Checkout is the page where customers enter their address and payment information. Most platforms provide a default checkout page that you can customize slightly — changing colors, adding your logo, or reordering fields. You cannot usually redesign checkout from scratch on hosted platforms like Shopify, but WooCommerce lets you modify it more extensively.
You will also need to decide on shipping: will you charge a flat rate, calculate shipping by weight and destination, or offer free shipping? Most platforms let you set up multiple shipping methods so customers can choose. If you use a carrier like USPS, UPS, or FedEx, you can integrate their APIs so shipping costs calculate automatically based on the package weight and destination zip code.
Themes, design, and customization limits
Ecommerce platforms provide themes — pre-built designs you can customize by changing colors, fonts, and layout. Shopify has hundreds of free and paid themes. WooCommerce themes are available from WordPress.org and third-party sellers. BigCommerce also offers a theme marketplace. Most themes are mobile-responsive, meaning they automatically adjust to look good on phones and tablets.
On hosted platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce, you customize themes through a visual editor — you do not write code. You can change colors, upload your logo, rearrange sections, and add custom pages. If you need something the theme does not support, you can install apps from the platform's app store, though many apps charge monthly fees.
WooCommerce gives you more control because you can edit the code directly if you know how, or hire a developer to do it. This means you can build almost anything, but it also means you are responsible for making sure updates do not break your site. Shopify and BigCommerce handle updates automatically, so your site stays secure without you doing anything.
Costs: what you will actually pay
The total cost of running an ecommerce site includes the platform fee, payment processing fees, domain, hosting (if separate), and any apps or themes you buy. Here is what a typical store costs per month:
| Platform | Monthly Fee | Payment Processing | Hosting | Typical Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify Basic | $39 | 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction | Included | $39 + fees |
| WooCommerce | Free | 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction | $5–$30 | $5–$30 + fees |
| BigCommerce Standard | $29 | 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction | Included | $29 + fees |
| Wix ecommerce | $27 | 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction | Included | $27 + fees |
If you sell 100 items per month at an average price of $50, you will pay roughly $1,450 in payment processing fees (2.9% of $5,000 plus 30 cents per transaction). On Shopify, your total monthly cost would be around $1,489. On WooCommerce with $15 hosting, it would be around $1,465. The difference shrinks as your sales grow because the platform fee stays the same but payment fees scale with your revenue.
Many platforms offer discounts for annual billing, and some waive setup fees for the first month. Check what is included in each plan — for example, BigCommerce includes unlimited products and staff accounts on all plans, while Shopify limits staff accounts on lower tiers.
Security, backups, and ongoing maintenance
On hosted platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce, the platform handles security patches, SSL certificates (which encrypt customer data), and backups automatically. You do not have to do anything. On WooCommerce, you are responsible for keeping WordPress and plugins updated, running backups, and monitoring for security issues. You can hire a managed WordPress host to handle this for you, which costs more but removes the responsibility.
All ecommerce platforms should have an SSL certificate, which you can verify by looking for a padlock icon in the browser address bar. This encrypts the connection between your customer's browser and your server so payment information stays private. Hosted platforms include SSL automatically. WooCommerce hosting usually includes it too, but confirm before you sign up.
You should also set up backups so you can recover your store if something goes wrong. Shopify and BigCommerce back up automatically. WooCommerce hosting may include backups, but check your hosting provider's policy. Some hosts charge extra for daily backups instead of weekly ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I move my store from one platform to another later?
Yes, but it takes work. You can export your products, customers, and orders from most platforms as a CSV file or through migration tools. Shopify and BigCommerce both offer migration services if you switch to them. Moving from Shopify to WooCommerce or vice versa is possible but requires more manual work because the data structures are different. Plan for a few days of setup time and test everything before you switch.
Do I need coding skills to build an ecommerce site?
No. Shopify, BigCommerce, Wix, and Squarespace all let you build a store without writing code. WooCommerce also works without coding if you use pre-built themes and plugins, but you have more flexibility if you know HTML and CSS. If you want advanced customization on any platform, hiring a developer is usually faster than learning to code yourself.
What is the difference between a free trial and a free plan?
A free trial lets you test a platform for a limited time (usually 14 days) before you have to pay. A free plan is a permanent tier that stays free but has limits — for example, Shopify does not offer a free plan, but WooCommerce is free to use (you only pay for hosting). Wix and Squarespace offer free plans with their branding on your site and limited features.
How long does it take to launch a store?
A basic store with a few products can launch in one to two days. A store with 50 to 100 products, custom branding, and integrated shipping typically takes one to two weeks. If you hire a designer or developer, add another week or two. Most of the time goes into adding products and testing checkout, not setting up the platform itself.
Can I sell on multiple platforms at once?
Yes. You can sell on your own website and also list products on Amazon, eBay, or Etsy. Some platforms like Shopify have integrations that sync inventory across channels so you do not oversell. WooCommerce can also sync with other platforms using plugins. Managing multiple channels takes more time, so start with one platform and expand once you have the process down.