E-commerce Website Development: Complete Guide 2025
Everything you need to launch a successful online store
E-commerce Platform Options
Shopify (₹20,000-₹3,00,000/year)
Best For: Beginners, dropshippers, quick launch
Pros:
- Easy setup, no coding required
- Built-in hosting and security
- 1000+ apps and themes
- 24/7 support
Cons: Monthly fees, transaction fees, limited customization
WooCommerce (₹50,000-₹2,00,000)
Best For: WordPress users, medium flexibility
Pros:
- Free plugin (only pay for hosting)
- Highly customizable
- Thousands of extensions
- Full control over data
Cons: Requires technical knowledge, need to manage hosting/security
Custom Development (₹1,50,000-₹10,00,000+)
Best For: Unique requirements, scalability, brand control
Pros:
- 100% customization
- No platform fees
- Optimized performance
- Unique features
Cons: Higher upfront cost, longer development time
Essential E-commerce Features
Must-Have Features:
- Product Catalog: Categories, filters, search
- Shopping Cart: Add, remove, update quantities
- Secure Checkout: SSL, PCI compliance
- Payment Gateway: Razorpay, Stripe, PayPal
- User Accounts: Order history, wishlists, addresses
- Inventory Management: Stock tracking, alerts
- Order Management: Processing, shipping, returns
- Mobile Responsive: 70% of shopping is mobile
Advanced Features:
- Product recommendations (AI)
- Abandoned cart recovery
- Multi-currency support
- Customer reviews & ratings
- Email marketing integration
- Analytics & reporting
- SEO optimization
Payment Gateway Options (India)
Razorpay
- Transaction Fee: 2% + ₹3 per transaction
- Setup: Free
- Best For: Indian businesses
Stripe
- Transaction Fee: 2.9% + ₹3 per transaction
- Setup: Free
- Best For: International sales
PayPal
- Transaction Fee: 3.5% + ₹3 per transaction
- Setup: Free
- Best For: Global buyers
E-commerce Development Cost Breakdown
Initial Setup Costs:
- Domain name: ₹1,000/year
- SSL certificate: Free - ₹5,000/year
- Web hosting: ₹10,000 - ₹50,000/year
- Design & Development: ₹1,50,000 - ₹5,00,000
- Product photography: ₹20,000 - ₹1,00,000
- Payment gateway setup: Free
Ongoing Costs:
- Hosting & maintenance: ₹20,000 - ₹1,00,000/year
- Payment gateway fees: 2-3.5% per sale
- Marketing: ₹50,000 - ₹5,00,000/year
- Email service: ₹5,000 - ₹30,000/year
Launch Checklist
- Legal Setup: Business registration, GST, terms & conditions, privacy policy
- Product Catalog: High-quality images, detailed descriptions, pricing
- Payment Integration: Test all payment methods thoroughly
- Shipping Setup: Rates, zones, tracking integration
- Security: SSL certificate, PCI compliance, data encryption
- Testing: All features, different devices, browsers
- SEO: Product descriptions, meta tags, sitemap
- Analytics: Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel
- Marketing: Social media, email list, launch promotions
- Customer Support: Chat, email, phone support setup
Tips for E-commerce Success
- Mobile-first design: 70% of shoppers use mobile
- Fast loading: 1-second delay = 7% conversion loss
- High-quality images: Multiple angles, zoom capability
- Clear CTAs: "Add to Cart" should stand out
- Trust signals: Reviews, security badges, return policy
- Simple checkout: Guest checkout, minimal steps
- Abandoned cart emails: Recover 30% of lost sales
- Product recommendations: Increase average order value
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