Key takeaways
- Budget for the whole buying system, not just the home page and product template.
- Product data, payments, shipping and integrations often drive the biggest differences in scope.
- Platform subscriptions, apps and transaction-related fees continue after launch.
- A discovery phase that maps daily operations produces the most reliable estimate.
In this article
Starter, growing and custom ecommerce scopes
Ecommerce projects tend to fall into three broad scopes.
| Scope | Typical characteristics |
|---|---|
| Starter store | Small catalogue, theme-based design, standard payments and shipping |
| Growing business | Custom design, larger catalogue, filters, email automation, key integrations |
| Custom commerce | Complex products, B2B pricing, ERP or inventory integration, custom features |
The right scope depends on how you operate today and where you expect to be in the next few years.
Product catalogue and content costs
Products are the heart of an online store. Consider:
- How many products and variants you sell.
- Whether descriptions, specifications and images already exist.
- How products should be organised into categories and filters.
- Whether product data comes from another system.
Clean, consistent product data saves time during the build and improves the shopping experience.
Checkout, shipping and payment requirements
Checkout rules are where operational detail matters most.
- Payment options such as cards, digital wallets or buy now pay later.
- Shipping zones, rates, free shipping thresholds and click and collect.
- Tax settings, discounts, gift cards and customer accounts.
- Order confirmation, shipping and abandoned cart emails.
Each requirement is usually straightforward on its own, but together they shape the scope.
Integrations and automation
Connecting your store to other systems reduces manual work but adds setup and testing time. Common integrations include accounting software, inventory or warehouse systems, shipping platforms, email marketing and CRM tools. Ask whether an existing app or connector is available, or whether custom integration is needed.
Platform, maintenance and transaction costs
Ongoing costs typically include:
- Platform subscription or hosting.
- Paid apps, plugins or themes.
- Payment processing and transaction-related fees.
- Maintenance, updates and support.
- Marketing such as SEO, email and Google Ads.
Check current platform and payment provider fees on their official websites at the time you plan, as these change. Our WordPress vs Shopify comparison explains the main platform differences.
Ecommerce discovery checklist
Bring answers to these questions to your first planning conversation:
- How many products and variants will you launch with?
- Who will prepare product descriptions and images?
- Which payment and shipping options do customers expect?
- Which systems must the store connect to?
- Who will manage orders and updates day to day?
- Which reports matter most to the business?
See our ecommerce website design service or contact us to plan your store.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest hidden cost in ecommerce projects?
Product data is often underestimated. Writing descriptions, preparing images and structuring variants for many products takes significant time if the data is not already clean.
Can we launch with a smaller store and grow later?
Yes. Launching with core products and essential features, then adding integrations and automation, is a sensible way to manage budget and learn from real customers.
Do you charge a percentage of sales?
We quote our design and development work as itemised project fees. Platform and payment providers may charge their own fees, which we explain during planning.
How long does an ecommerce build take?
It depends on catalogue size, integrations and content readiness. Discovery provides a realistic timeline before work begins.
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Melbourne Design Studio is a design and development studio in Truganina, Melbourne, with more than 20 years of design and user experience work. Our team plans, designs and builds websites, apps, brands and campaigns, and writes these guides to help business owners make informed decisions.
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