01
Begin with the operating model
Document products, variants, inventory locations, markets, taxes, shipping, payment methods, promotions and fulfilment. The right platform is the one that handles everyday operations reliably, not the one with the longest feature list.
02
When Shopify fits
Shopify can suit teams that value a managed platform, predictable core maintenance and a broad app ecosystem. Check app dependency, transaction arrangements, theme flexibility and the cost of specialised requirements before committing.
03
When WooCommerce fits
WooCommerce can work well for businesses already using WordPress or needing control over content and hosting. It also creates responsibility for updates, security, performance and compatibility, so ongoing technical ownership must be clear.
04
When custom work is justified
Custom commerce should solve a genuine operational or customer-experience constraint that standard platforms cannot address cleanly. It brings flexibility but also more responsibility for testing, maintenance and future development.
05
Run a scored comparison
Score options against must-have workflows, content management, integrations, team skills, total ownership cost and likely changes over the next few years. Prototype the risky parts before building the full store.
Next step
Apply this to your business.
Tell us what you are building, improving or automating. We'll help identify a practical starting point.
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