Ecommerce scope must be specific
A 20-product Shopify store, WooCommerce site and custom marketplace are very different. Define product count, payment gateway, shipping partners, GST needs, coupons, returns and admin workflow before asking for quotes.
Situations this page is built for
- You want to sell products online.
- Marketplace commissions are high and you need your own store.
- You need product catalogue, cart and checkout.
- You want Shopify, WooCommerce or custom ecommerce.
- You need integrations with shipping, payment or inventory tools.
Documents and details usually required
- Product list, categories, prices and images.
- GST, business and bank/payment gateway details.
- Shipping rules, zones and courier partners.
- Return/refund policy and terms.
- Brand assets and content.
- Required integrations such as WhatsApp, CRM, inventory or accounting.
Practical process before hiring
Define store model
Single brand, multi-vendor, digital products, subscriptions or B2B each need different architecture.
Choose platform
Shopify, WooCommerce or custom depends on budget, scale and control needs.
Plan checkout operations
Payment, tax, invoice, shipping, returns and email/SMS updates must work together.
Launch with tracking
Set up analytics, search indexing, product SEO and conversion tracking.
What to expect in India
| Work type | Typical price range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Shopify/WooCommerce store | Rs. 35,000 - Rs. 1,00,000 | 2-5 weeks |
| Custom ecommerce with integrations | Rs. 1,00,000 - Rs. 5,00,000+ | 6-12 weeks |
| Maintenance and improvements | Rs. 5,000 - Rs. 50,000 per month | Ongoing |
Prices vary by documents, urgency, city, professional experience and whether previous periods need cleanup.
Common red flags and mistakes
- Starting design before product data is ready.
- Ignoring shipping and GST invoice workflow.
- No plan for returns/refunds.
- Choosing custom development when a platform store is enough.
- Skipping speed and mobile checkout testing.
What to mention when you post
- Your business type, target customers and the main goal of the website.
- Approximate page count, must-have sections and example websites you like.
- Whether you need WordPress, Shopify, custom development or help choosing the stack.
- Required features such as forms, payments, WhatsApp, booking, catalogue, login or admin panel.
- Launch deadline, budget range and whether content/images are ready.
How to choose the right professional
- Ask for live portfolio links, not only screenshots.
- Confirm source-code/admin access ownership after final payment.
- Check whether mobile responsiveness, SEO metadata, analytics and sitemap are included.
- Use milestone-based payments tied to design, development, testing and launch.
- Clarify post-launch bug fixes, content edits and maintenance charges.
Questions people ask before hiring
Which platform is best for ecommerce?
Shopify is simple and hosted, WooCommerce is flexible with WordPress, custom development fits unique workflows.
Do I need GST for ecommerce?
GST requirements depend on your business and marketplace/channel. Ask a tax professional for your case.
Can developers upload products?
Yes, but confirm number of products and whether data cleanup is included.
Can WorkIndex compare ecommerce developers?
Yes. Post product count, platform preference and integrations to compare quotes.