Question 1

What is an eCommerce development company?

Accepted Answer

An eCommerce development company is a specialized firm that builds fully functional eCommerce websites and online stores from the backend to the frontend. It consists of experts in coding and programming languages, such as JavaScript, PHP, Python, CSS, and more.

Question 2

What do eCommerce development companies do?

Accepted Answer

eCommerce development companies create online storefronts for their clients. This involves analyzing a specific business's objectives and customer needs, crafting a development plan, establishing web hosting, and launching the eCommerce shop.

Their primary services cover:

Platform selection and integration
Database creation
Inventory management solutions
Order management and fulfillment solutions
Shopping cart configuration and installation
Payment gateway integration
Website security
API integration
QA testing
Site maintenance and ongoing support

Unlike other kinds of developers, they particularly specialize in tools and platforms commonly used by businesses that sell online. These may include:

Shopify
BigCommerce
WooCommerce
Salesforce
And more

Shopify is one of the most popular platforms with a market share of 19% and businesses consider it because of its reliability, powerful marketing tools, and outstanding customer support. As digital shoppers surge past 2.14 billion by 2021 and online retail sales aim for $6 trillion by 2023, eCommerce development is becoming increasingly critical.

Question 3

How much do eCommerce development agencies charge for their services?

Accepted Answer

eCommerce development agencies charge between $30,000 and $200,000+. Here's a breakdown based on the complexity of the eCommerce site:

Website type	Attributes	Average costs
Constructor-based	Drag-and-drop websites with no extensive functionalities	Up to $1,000
Basic site	More structures and essential features	$10,000 - $20,000
Average site	More features and functionalities for a better user experience	$40,000 - $100,000
Complex site	Sophisticated elements and advanced functionalities; potentially cutting-edge technology	$150,000 - $200,000+

Other factors that influence the cost are:

Data imports
Domain name
Hosting
Integration
SSL certificate
Payment gateway
SEO features
And more

The location of the development team also impacts costs. For instance:

Billing method	US-based	Outside of the US
Per project (including design, development, maintenance, and marketing)	$15,000 to $150,000	$17,500 to $30,000
Per hour	$100 to $150	$10 to $40

The top 50 eCommerce development agencies on DesignRush charge an average of $73/hour. Roughly 14.3% of the eCommerce development companies on DesignRush accept projects with a minimum budget of $1,000, while only 2.4% have a $50,000+ minimum budget.

Question 4

How do I choose the best eCommerce web development agency for my business?

Accepted Answer

Consider these steps when selecting the ideal eCommerce web development agency for your business:

Goals and budget: Set your project objectives and allocate a budget.
Research: Find prospective eCommerce development agencies online.
Location and communication: Consider the location and language for effective communication and meeting.
Agency website: Check their websites and blogs to see how they innovate. This will determine if they are up to date with the latest industry trends and actively test and implement these technologies.
References for past projects: Examine the development processes and results by delving into case studies. Also, gauge client satisfaction by seeking out reviews and asking for references.
Shortlisting: Pick up to five agencies and communicate your intentions to work with them.
Proposal: Send them an eCommerce development request for proposal (RFP) and ask for cost estimates with a breakdown.
Client tenure: Inquire about their clientele and the duration of their retainer contracts. This will indicate how consistently they work with clients for long-term engagements.
Developer profiles: Obtain the profiles of team members who will work on your project. This will allow you to understand their strengths, weaknesses, creativity, and processes.
Experience with your preferred platform: Ensure they specialize in the platform you intend to build on. They will have a more comprehensive understanding of that platform's intricacies and nuances.
Total cost of ownership (TCO): Discuss the TCO which includes development costs and post-production expenses for upgrades and maintenance. There should be a careful balance between your expectations and available budget.
Time to market (TTM): Ensure that coding practices are of the highest quality to expedite development time and launch a bug-free website.
Post-development support: Consider supplementary services for your business, like server management, to guarantee the fulfillment of both current and future needs.
Compatibility and ability to execute your goals: Look further beyond knowledge and observe their value for work, culture fit, and management style.
Decision-making: Review contracts and select your ideal agency partner.

You can also go to our Marketplace and tell us about your upcoming project. We'll connect you with up to five of the best agency partners for your eCommerce development project for free.

Question 5

What questions should I ask a potential eCommerce development agency?

Accepted Answer

Ask these questions to a prospective eCommerce development agency:

Its Relevant Background

Have you developed a similar eCommerce website in terms of industry and/or functionality? Where can I see your portfolio?
What are some of your best results in the past?
Why did you choose to specialize in the platforms and technologies you've mastered?
What are your certifications?

Company Services and Processes

How many active eCommerce website development projects do you run currently?
What are your development process and collaboration flow?
How do you ensure the high standards and knowledge of your developers?
How do you handle data migration for inventory, customer information, and other crucial data?
What measures do you take to ensure the security of sensitive customer information, especially during transactions?
Do you comply with industry standards and regulations for data handling and security (e.g., GDPR, PCI-DSS)?
What other relevant services do you typically include in your service packages?

The Project

How many people will work on our website?
What is the expected timeline for our project? What happens if the timeframe is extended?
How do you manage integrations with payment gateways, shipping providers, marketing tools, inventory management/customer relationship management (CRM systems), and other third-party services without compromising site performance?
What strategies do you employ to enhance site performance and reduce load times?
Can you provide guidance on strategies to enhance the site's visibility and conversion rates?
How do you ensure the eCommerce site is mobile-responsive and optimized for various devices?
Who will own the code?
What is the usual total cost of ownership (TCO) for a similar project you've done previously? How did you arrive at the cost estimate for our project?
What is your post-development policy for upgrades and ongoing maintenance? How do you charge for post-launch support?
Is there a warranty to address any possible problems that might arise during the partnership?

Question 6

What are the best eCommerce website development services in the US?

Accepted Answer

The best eCommerce website development service providers in the U.S. are:

Agency	DesignRush rating	Google rating	Top clients
Digital Silk	4.9 (33 reviews)	4.6 (19 reviews)	NASA IBM Microsoft P&G
Sunrise Integration	4.8 (12 reviews)	5.0 (7 reviews)	DHL Maersk Bombas Rebecca Minkoff
Top Notch Dezigns	4.8 (12 reviews)	5.0 (7 reviews)	Stephen Ely Architect Meadowbrook Financial Mortgage Bank Rios Interiors Corp Long Island University
Wanted for Nothing	4.9 (15 reviews)	5.0 (7 reviews)	Nissin Foods Purdue University Brookfield Properties Pravana
Surf	5.0 (39 reviews)	5.0 (18 reviews)	Google The Home Depot KFC Burger King

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