Discovery and operating model
Clarify commercial goals, platform constraints, ownership, payment and operational dependencies.
E-commerce · United Kingdom
Your online store. Ready to sell.
WooCommerce, Shopify and PrestaShop for payment, stock, logistics and SEO requirements. We scope the operating model, test critical checkout journeys and hand over the store and its documentation to your team.
- Platforms
- Delivery gates
- Client ownership
- 14 yearsDelivery experience
- UK-wideRemote delivery
- Client-ownedCode and assets
- ScopedBefore build
- No lock-inHandover included
Platforms
The platform that best fits your business
We're not loyal to any single platform. We recommend whichever makes the most sense for your case, your team and your scale — no hidden commissions or licence costs we haven't explained before you sign.
Most chosen
WooCommerce
Scope confirmed after discovery
Maximum flexibility — Businesses already on WordPress, complex catalogues or bespoke integrations.
- Full code control
- No sale commissions
- WordPress integration
- Unlimited plugins
- Top-tier SEO
Shopify
Scope confirmed after discovery
Ease + scale — Startups and small businesses that want to scale fast without technical hassle.
- Very intuitive dashboard
- Premium third-party apps
- Multi-currency and multi-language
- 24/7 Shopify support
- Automatic scaling
PrestaShop
Scope confirmed after discovery
Large catalogues — Distributors, wholesalers and businesses with customer-specific pricing rules.
- Advanced pricing management
- Massive catalogues
- Native multi-store
- Powerful B2B modules
- Multi-warehouse
Honest comparison
WooCommerce vs Shopify vs PrestaShop
A technical comparison with no commercial favouritism. This is what really differentiates each platform once you're maintaining it for years.
FeatureWooCommerceShopifyPrestaShop
Hosting includedNo (we set it up)YesNo (we set it up)
SEOExcellentGood (URL limitations)Very good
Ease of useMediumVery highMedium-low
Design flexibilityTotalMedium (themes)Total
Native multi-storePluginNoYes
Multi-languageWPML / PolylangNative (limited)Full native
B2B (group pricing)PluginPlus planExcellent native
WordPress integration100% nativeVia pluginExternal
Management mobile appYesYesYes
Not sure which to choose? We'll recommend the best fit for your specific case on the first call — free, no obligation, no commission for pushing one over another.
Sectors
Store patterns we can scope with your team
Every sector has its own rules around returns, logistics, stock and regulation. We identify the operating constraints before choosing a platform or release plan.
Fashion & accessories
Size and colour variants, lookbook, advanced product gallery, size guides, style-based cross-selling. PSD2 compliance, integrated free returns.
Food & drink
Customisable gift packs, batch/expiry stock control, chilled shipping, hygiene traceability, age-verification rules for alcohol.
Hardware & DIY
Large catalogues (5,000+ SKUs), faceted filtering by brand/size/material, product compatibility, technical-reference ordering, downloadable spec sheets.
Health & wellbeing
MHRA-compliant setup (no prescription-only sales), product pages with safety warnings, supplier CSV bulk upload, temperature-controlled shipping.
Bookings & tourism
Availability calendar, multiple occupancy, deposits, cancellation policies, integration with PMS booking engines.
Handmade & unique items
Single-item stock management, personalisation (engraving, monograms), visible production times, pre-orders and waitlists.
Wholesale & B2B
Customer-group pricing, volume discounts, private price lists, payment terms (30/60 days), reference-based ordering and credit lines.
Subscriptions & recurring
Monthly boxes, automatic billing, per-customer pause/resume, automatic dunning on failed payments, loyalty discounts, Stripe Billing or WooCommerce Subscriptions.
Process
From brief to a controlled store launch
Clear phases, named dependencies and approval points before moving to the next stage. Timing follows catalogue readiness, integrations and acceptance testing.
Information architecture and journeys
Define the catalogue, critical journeys, content and approval points before build.
Build and integration checks
Implement the agreed scope and test the checkout, integrations and operational exceptions selected for the project.
Acceptance, handover and launch readiness
Review agreed acceptance evidence, transfer access and documentation, and confirm the launch plan.
Everything included
What comes as standard with every store
No surprise "extras" on the invoice. These are the foundations of every store we launch — no small print.
Payment gateway
Stripe, PayPal, Klarna. Whichever method your customers prefer, with PSD2 (SCA) compliance built in as standard.
Shipping and logistics
Automatic calculation by weight, zone or price band. Integration with Royal Mail, DPD, Evri and marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay.
Invoicing
Integration requirements are mapped to the chosen accounting workflow and validated within the agreed scope.
Genuinely responsive
Mobile journeys are designed and reviewed against the agreed checkout and content requirements.
SSL and security
Security responsibilities, hosting controls, backup ownership and provider settings are made explicit before launch.
Optimised speed
Performance measures are selected for the priority journeys and checked against an agreed baseline before release.
FAQ
Questions about online stores
How much does it cost to build an online store for a UK business?
The cost follows the catalogue, integrations, payment and shipping requirements, content readiness and approval process. Discovery produces a scoped proposal with assumptions, exclusions and acceptance criteria; it is not a generic fixed-price promise.
Which platform do you recommend: WooCommerce, Shopify or PrestaShop?
Platform choice follows the editorial workflow, catalogue model, integrations, ownership needs and operating budget. We document the trade-offs before recommending a route for your team.
Do you set up the payment gateway?
Payment setup is scoped around the provider, customer journeys and merchant-account requirements. Critical checkout paths are tested with agreed evidence before launch; payment-provider compliance remains subject to the provider and the merchant’s obligations.
Can I manage my store myself after launch?
The handover can include an agreed admin walkthrough, operating notes and access transfer. The format, documentation and post-launch support are confirmed in the delivery scope.
Do you integrate the store with my accounting software or ERP?
Yes. We integrate with Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, Odoo and bespoke ERPs via API, Zapier or n8n. Also with marketplaces (Amazon Seller Central, eBay, Etsy), shopping comparison sites, couriers (Royal Mail, DPD, Evri, DHL) and dropshipping suppliers.
Is the store built for SEO and organic traffic?
Technical SEO can include crawlable information architecture, metadata, canonical strategy, sitemaps and structured-data review. Organic performance depends on market, content, competition and implementation, so rankings and rich-result eligibility are not guaranteed.
What do I legally need to run an online store in the UK?
Legal, tax, consumer-rights and data-protection obligations depend on the business, products, customers and jurisdictions. We can identify implementation requirements, but legal and tax wording must be reviewed by the client’s qualified UK advisers.
Do you handle multi-language and multi-currency?
Yes. In WooCommerce with WPML or Polylang plus WooCommerce Multilingual. In Shopify with native translations or Langify. PrestaShop supports it natively. Multi-currency with automatic conversion in Shopify and via plugin in WooCommerce. We have experience in EN/ES/DE/PT/FR. Multi-language SEO needs correct hreflang and URL structure — we advise on the right architecture for your case.
How long does it take to launch my store?
Timing depends on catalogue readiness, integrations, content, payment-provider onboarding, approvals and test results. The plan is phased with named dependencies and readiness gates rather than a universal launch date.
Do you configure VAT correctly for a store selling across the UK and EU?
Tax configuration is implemented from the rules and adviser-approved settings supplied for the merchant. We test the agreed checkout scenarios, while the merchant remains responsible for legal and tax compliance.
Do you include maintenance and security after launch?
Maintenance scope can cover agreed updates, release support, monitoring, backups and reporting. Response times, included work and responsibilities are set in the maintenance agreement rather than implied by the website.
What happens to stock if I sell across several channels?
Stock synchronisation depends on the chosen source of truth, connectors, provider limits and failure handling. We define the integration behaviour and test critical scenarios before release; no synchronisation delay is promised without that scope.
Geographic coverage
Online stores for businesses across the UK
We support e-commerce teams across the UK with scoped platform decisions, checkout journeys, logistics integrations and a client-owned operating model. Legal and tax decisions remain subject to the merchant’s qualified advisers.
London & South
- London
- Bristol
- Reading
- Oxford
- Cambridge
- Southampton
- Brighton
- Norwich
North & Midlands
- Manchester
- Birmingham
- Leeds
- Liverpool
- Sheffield
- Newcastle
- Nottingham
- Leicester
Scotland, Wales & NI
- Edinburgh
- Glasgow
- Aberdeen
- Cardiff
- Swansea
- Belfast
Don't see your city on the list? No problem. We work remotely with businesses across the whole of the UK and the rest of Europe. What matters is the project, not the distance.
Scope your online store before committing to a build
We make the platform choice, delivery dependencies, checkout acceptance criteria and client handover explicit before implementation.