TL;DR
- We build online stores on WordPress with a store plugin. You own the site and control the design, the code, and the features.
- Shopify is a workable hosted option. Its costs climb as you add the apps most stores need.
- Some payment companies’ website builders cost less each year, but limit how much you can change your pages.
- Selling event tickets? Use an event plugin on your own site, and keep every sale for an event in one system.
Hosted Store or WordPress: The Trade-Offs
- WordPress with a store plugin. Higher yearly costs, because you pay for hosting plus several plugins. You own the site and control the code, which matters for accessibility and privacy compliance.
- Shopify. A monthly plan, plus apps. As we tell clients, “The apps most businesses actually need push the monthly cost up fast.” Shopify also charges third-party transaction fees if you don’t use Shopify Payments.
- A payment company’s website builder. Often the lowest yearly cost, with no separate hosting. The one we reviewed let you change colors and fonts, but not the page structure.
If you want to customize your store’s design, WordPress is the way to go.
How We Help You Choose
- We look at what your competitors use.
- We ask how you sell. Online only, in person too, or both? On a tablet or a phone?
- We send two or three options with pros, cons, and their yearly add-on costs.
- We check reviews and connections before we recommend a theme or tool.
Our goal, in Beth’s words: “We want to scope your store for success, not just excitement.”
Only Selling a Few Products?
You may not need a full store. Simple buy buttons, with orders filled by hand, can work for a handful of products. If you use an outside supplier, you can also send shoppers to that supplier’s storefront to check out.
Selling Tickets and Promoting Events
- Use an event plugin or event theme on your own site. A theme’s built-in events feature is often only a listing, not a full event system.
- Keep every sale for an event in one system. Tickets and sponsorships sold in separate tools don’t show up together.
- Review public event submissions before they post, or you open yourself up to spam bots.
- Selling at the door? Connect your booking tool to your in-person payment system.
What Webmaster For Hire Recommends
- Don’t go plugin heavy. Every add-on is one more thing to update, and many cost money every year.
- Know what you’d own before you commit. See Can I Leave an All-in-One Website Provider Without Rebuilding?
- Protect your payment forms from bots. See What Kinds of Businesses and Websites Do You Work With?
:: Common Questions ::
What Do You Build Online Stores On?
WordPress. We no longer work in Shopify. When Shopify is the better fit for your business, we’ll recommend it, but you’ll need a Shopify developer to build and manage your store. See our eCommerce Website Development page.
Planning an Online Store?
Request a consultation, and we’ll scope it with you.
