Ecommerce website development is the build of your online store: design, product setup, checkout and launch. A developer sets it up on Shopify or WooCommerce, tests it and hands it over. You pay by the hour.
Ecommerce website development is the work of building your online store so it can take orders. It covers the design, the products, the checkout and the launch. A good build is simple to use and easy for you to run.
Shopify website design or WooCommerce?
Shopify website design suits owners who want a store that runs with little upkeep. Hosting and security are handled for you. WooCommerce suits owners who already use WordPress or need custom features. A WooCommerce developer can build almost anything, but you manage more yourself. Choose the one you can run after launch.
What to prepare before online store development
- Products. Photos, names, short descriptions and prices in one sheet.
- Brand. Your logo, colours and a few sites you like.
- Policies. Shipping, returns and contact details.
- Payments. Your payment provider account, created by you.
Good preparation saves hours, and hours are what you pay for.
What ecommerce website development includes
- Theme setup and layout for phone and desktop.
- Product pages, collections and menus.
- Payments, tax and shipping settings.
- Test orders from start to finish.
- Launch, plus a short guide on how to edit your store.
How to launch an online store without surprises
Agree the page list and features first. Ask for an hour estimate for each part. Review a test version on your phone before launch. Then keep a small block of hours for fixes in the first month.
After launch
A store needs steady care: new products, order checks and updates. You can keep the same person for the build and the day-to-day work, or hand the running of the store to an ecommerce support assistant.
Where AI helps
Your developer is a real person. AI helps with first drafts of product text and routine code checks. A person reviews everything, and a team lead checks the result before you see it.
What it costs
Pay-as-you-go is $12 an hour. A dedicated developer starts from $5.62 an hour. See the ecommerce website development service, the pricing page, or read the Shopify website design cost guide.
Ready to build? See pricing or start for $1.
Frequently asked questions
What does ecommerce website development include?
Choosing a platform, setting up the theme, adding products, payments and shipping, testing checkout and launching the store.
Should I choose Shopify or WooCommerce?
Shopify is simpler and hosted for you. WooCommerce runs on WordPress and gives more control. Pick the one you can manage after launch.
How is ecommerce website development priced?
By the hour, from $5.62 an hour on a dedicated plan. Ask for an hour estimate for your pages and features before you start.
What is doing this yourself costing you?
Doing it yourself: $2,165 a month of your time.
The same hours at our $12/hr pay-as-you-go rate: $520. Dedicated plans start at $5.62/hr.
Simple maths from the numbers you enter. It assumes a VA can take on those hours.
Start for $1Written by the MyRemoteVA team. Search-trend figures come from Google Trends. Prices shown are our current plans. Last updated October 3, 2026. Questions or corrections? Contact us.