Ecommerce website development and Shopify website design grew 42% and 59% respectively over the past year. A launch-ready store needs a customised theme, tested checkout and configured apps, not just a default template.
Ecommerce website development searches grew 42% over the past year. Shopify website design searches grew even faster, up 59%. More founders are launching stores. Many find out too late that a default theme with an untested checkout isn't actually ready to sell.
Skipping any of these is how a store launches with a broken discount code or a payment method nobody tested.
What ecommerce website development actually includes
- A full store build: theme, catalog structure and checkout.
- Shopify theme customization so the store doesn't look like a template.
- Product and catalog setup with variants and collections structured properly.
- Payment gateways, shipping rules and tax configured and tested.
- Apps installed and actually configured, not just added.
- A full QA pass on every page and the checkout flow before launch.
Shopify developer vs. platform-agnostic ecommerce website development
A Shopify developer works inside Shopify's theme and app ecosystem. That covers most stores well. Broader ecommerce website development also covers WooCommerce or a custom build. Use it when Shopify's apps can't cover a specific requirement.
What ecommerce website development costs
Store builds typically run 20 to 80 hours, depending on product count and customisation. At $5.62 to $11/hr depending on plan, that's well under most agency store-build packages. Those often start at $3,000.
Build vs. run: two different jobs
Building the store and running it day to day are different skill sets. Once live, listings, inventory and fulfilment become an ongoing job. See our ecommerce operations checklist for what that looks like after launch.
Launch a store that's actually ready to sell. See the ecommerce development service or start for $1.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Shopify website design cost?
Store builds vary by product count and custom features, typically 20 to 80 hours. Hourly rates from $5.62 to $11/hr beat most agency store-build packages.
Do I need a custom theme or does the default work?
A default theme launches fast but looks like every other store using it. Shopify theme customization is usually worth it once you have real sales to protect.
Will you also run the store after it launches?
Build and ongoing operations are separate services. See our ecommerce operations VA for day-to-day listings, inventory and fulfilment.
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 September 25, 2026. Questions or corrections? Contact us.
Web Development
Shopify website design and ecommerce website development: store builds, theme customization, product setup and checkout, ready to take orders on day one.
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