Choose the platform around your operating needs
Shopify and WooCommerce can both support serious ecommerce businesses, but the better fit depends on products, internal editing, customisation, integrations, subscriptions and maintenance preferences. Ask the agency why it recommends a platform for your store rather than accepting a default choice.
Make product and migration scope explicit
Clarify how many products are being added or migrated, who supplies descriptions and images, how variants are handled and whether customer/order history needs moving from an existing system.
Compare the full ecommerce scope
| Area | Questions before signing |
|---|---|
| Products | How many products and variants are included? |
| Payments | Which gateways are configured and tested? |
| Shipping | Are rates, zones and rules in scope? |
| Subscriptions | Does the project support recurring payments if needed? |
| Analytics | How are purchases and checkout steps measured? |
| SEO | How are product/category URLs and metadata handled? |
Use Kydos' published ecommerce tiers as a benchmark
Kydos publishes a Basic Store option for up to 50 products using WooCommerce or Shopify with payment gateway setup and basic SEO. Its Advanced Ecommerce scope supports unlimited products, subscription or membership requirements, analytics, custom product/checkout work and dynamic retargeting setup. Both are custom quoted.
Ask who owns the platform and payment accounts
The business should understand who owns the Shopify account, hosting, payment gateway, analytics and any third-party apps. Do not wait until handover to discover that key subscriptions sit under an agency-controlled account.
Compare support after the first sale
An ecommerce site is operational software. Ask how bugs, checkout issues, app conflicts and urgent updates are handled after launch. The post-launch support model matters more here than on a simple brochure website.
Choose the agency that understands the buying journey
Product discovery, category navigation, product detail pages, cart, checkout and post-purchase communication all affect conversion. A strong ecommerce proposal should explain how those stages are handled, not only how the homepage will look.
Compare Kydos before you sign
Kydos offers ecommerce development through WooCommerce or Shopify, with custom quoting based on store scope and functionality.
See Kydos Web & Ecommerce OptionsFrequently asked questions
Should I choose Shopify or WooCommerce?
The better choice depends on your editing needs, customisation, integrations, maintenance preference and existing systems. Ask the agency to justify the recommendation.
Does Kydos build ecommerce stores?
Yes. Kydos offers ecommerce development through WooCommerce or Shopify with Basic and Advanced scopes.
Is product upload normally included?
Do not assume so. Confirm the number of products, who supplies data and whether migration from an existing store is included.
Should ecommerce SEO be included?
Basic SEO setup can be part of the build, but ongoing ecommerce SEO is a separate programme. Clarify category, product and technical work.
What should I ask about payment gateways?
Confirm which providers are supported, who owns the accounts, how test transactions are handled and whether fees are separate.
How should I compare ecommerce agency quotes?
Compare product scope, platform, checkout, payments, shipping, integrations, analytics, SEO, migration, ownership and post-launch support.