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E-commerce Development

Online Stores Built to Sell

Build powerful online stores that drive sales and delight customers. From simple shops to complex marketplaces, we create e-commerce solutions that scale with your business and maximize conversions at every step.

Launch Your StoreSee Success Stories

Quick Answer: What's the Best E-commerce Platform?

It depends on your business model and technical needs.

Choose e-commerce development if you:

  • Need a custom online store with flexible functionality
  • Want to sell products (physical or digital) with secure payments
  • Have a project budget that varies based on complexity
  • Want a store launched in 2-6 weeks
  • Need inventory management, shipping calculations, and order fulfillment
Platform recommendations: Shopify for quick setup and ease of use, WooCommerce for content-heavy stores with SEO needs, or React for complex custom requirements.

E-commerce Development for Businesses That Want to Grow Online

An online store has more moving parts than any other kind of website. Products, variants, stock levels, payments, shipping rates, taxes, customer accounts, order emails and returns all have to work together, on every device, every time someone checks out. When one piece is set up badly, you feel it as abandoned carts, oversold stock or hours of manual order entry.

We build stores on the platform that fits how you sell. For most businesses that means Shopify, which handles hosting, security and checkout for you. For stores that lean on content and SEO, or that want to avoid monthly platform fees, we build on WooCommerce. When your business logic does not fit either one, such as custom pricing, subscriptions with unusual rules or a marketplace with many sellers, we build a custom store in React.

Our team in Mississauga works with retailers, wholesalers, makers and service businesses across the GTA and North America. Every project starts with a free consultation, where we look at your catalogue, your order volume and the tools you already use. Pricing depends on scope, so you get a fixed quote before any work begins. If you want a sense of budget first, read how much a website costs.

Every online store we build includes

  • Custom store design matched to your brand
  • Mobile-first product, cart and checkout pages
  • Payment gateway setup with cards and digital wallets
  • Shipping zones, carrier rates and tax rules configured
  • Product catalogue with categories, filters and search
  • Product schema, clean URLs and on-page SEO
  • Google Analytics and conversion tracking
  • Training so your team can manage products and orders

E-commerce Industry Statistics

Why the details of your store, from shipping to mobile checkout, matter so much.

$6.3T
global e-commerce sales (2026)
62%
of online shoppers expect free shipping
3.2%
average e-commerce conversion rate
40%
of sales happen on mobile devices

Sources: Statista E-commerce Report, 2026 · Baymard Institute Checkout Usability Study, 2025 · Monetate E-commerce Quarterly, Q4 2025 · Google Mobile Commerce Insights, 2026

E-commerce Features We Build

Everything your store needs to take orders, get paid and keep customers coming back.

Shopping Cart & Checkout

A smooth shopping experience with optimized checkout flows that reduce cart abandonment.

Payment Processing

Secure payment gateways supporting multiple payment methods and currencies.

Inventory Management

Real-time inventory tracking with automated low-stock alerts and reordering.

Order Fulfillment

Automated order processing with shipping integrations and tracking.

Customer Accounts

Personalized customer portals with order history and wishlist functionality.

Analytics & Reporting

Comprehensive sales analytics and business intelligence dashboards.

Types of E-commerce Websites We Create

From direct-to-consumer shops to multi-seller marketplaces, we build the store your business model needs.

B2C Online Stores

Direct-to-consumer e-commerce platforms with personalized shopping experiences.

  • Product Catalogs
  • Customer Accounts
  • Reviews & Ratings
  • Loyalty Programs
  • Email Marketing
  • Social Commerce

B2B Marketplaces

Business-to-business platforms with bulk ordering and custom pricing.

  • Bulk Pricing
  • Quote Requests
  • Account Management
  • Purchase Orders
  • Credit Terms
  • Sales Reps

Multi-Vendor Platforms

Marketplace solutions allowing multiple sellers with commission management.

  • Vendor Management
  • Commission Tracking
  • Separate Dashboards
  • Payment Splitting
  • Review Systems
  • Seller Analytics

Our E-commerce Development Process

From initial consultation to launch, we guide you through every step of creating your online store with a proven 14-21 day timeline.

1

Initial Consultation & Planning

We start with a comprehensive consultation to understand your business goals, target audience, and specific e-commerce needs. We discuss your product catalog, payment preferences, shipping requirements, and design preferences, and determine whether Shopify, WooCommerce, or a custom solution is best for your business model.

2

Design & Development Phase

We build your custom store with a focus on user experience, mobile responsiveness, and conversion optimization. We build your product catalog, set up payment processing, configure shipping options, and integrate any necessary third-party tools, with regular updates on progress throughout.

3

Client Feedback & Revisions

We present your store for review and gather your feedback on design, functionality, and user experience. The speed of your feedback directly impacts our timeline: prompt responses help us stay within the 14-21 day delivery window, while delayed feedback may extend the timeline accordingly.

4

Testing & Launch

Before going live, we test checkout, payment gateways, inventory management, and mobile responsiveness. Once you've given final approval, we launch your store and provide training on managing your new e-commerce platform.

Choose the Right Platform for Your Store

Whether you need a new e-commerce website or updates to your existing store, we've got you covered.

Hosted and all-in-one

Shopify Stores

Professional Shopify stores with custom themes, apps, and integrations. Perfect for businesses focused on selling with built-in payment processing and hosting.

  • Custom Store Design
  • App Development
  • Payment Integration
  • Inventory Management
  • Store Updates & Maintenance

Best for: Businesses that want to focus on selling, not servers

Built on WordPress

WooCommerce Stores

WordPress-powered e-commerce solutions perfect for content-rich stores, blogs with shopping, and businesses that need extensive customization and SEO capabilities.

  • Custom WordPress Themes
  • Advanced SEO Features
  • Content Management
  • Custom Functionality
  • Store Updates & Maintenance

Best for: Content-heavy stores and businesses avoiding platform fees

Built from scratch

Custom React Stores

Fully custom storefronts and ordering systems for businesses whose pricing, products or workflows do not fit a standard platform.

  • Custom Checkout Logic
  • Subscriptions & Recurring Billing
  • Custom Pricing Rules
  • API Integrations
  • Store Updates & Maintenance

Best for: Complex, high-traffic or unique business models

Shopify vs WooCommerce vs Custom

A quick side-by-side to help you narrow down the right platform before we talk.

ShopifyWooCommerceCustom (React)
Typical launch time2-4 weeks2-4 weeks6-12 weeks
Hosting & securityIncludedYou manage (or we do)You manage (or we do)
Monthly platform feeYesNoNo
Content & bloggingGoodExcellentCustom-built
CustomizationHigh, within ShopifyVery highUnlimited
Ongoing maintenanceLowRegular plugin and core updatesDeveloper-managed
Best forMost online storesContent-heavy storesUnique business logic
Want more detail? Read WordPress vs Shopify or our Shopify vs WordPress for e-commerce guide.

Planning an Online Store That Works

Practical advice we give every client before a single page is designed.

Choose a platform for where you will be in three years

Moving platforms later is possible, but it costs time and money. Before you pick, think about how many products you expect to carry, whether you will sell wholesale, whether you plan to run a blog alongside the store, and how much you want to handle yourself.

  • Catalogue size and number of variants
  • Retail only, or wholesale and B2B too
  • Who will update products day to day

Get your product data in order first

Most launch delays come from product data, not design. Gather titles, descriptions, prices, variants, weights and at least a few good photos for each product before development starts. A clean spreadsheet makes import fast and keeps your categories and filters consistent.

Make shipping costs clear early

Surprise shipping costs at checkout are one of the most common reasons shoppers leave. Show shipping rates or a free shipping threshold on product pages and in the cart, not just on the last step. If you offer local pickup in the GTA, say so up front.

Set up Canadian taxes and payments correctly

Selling across Canada means charging the right GST, HST or PST based on where the customer is. We configure tax rules by province, connect Canada Post and other carriers for live rates, and test payments with real cards and digital wallets before launch.

Platforms and Integrations We Work With

The tools behind the stores we build, from the storefront to payments and shipping.

Shopify

Hosted e-commerce with custom themes, apps and Shopify Plus

WooCommerce

WordPress-based stores with full control over code and content

React

Custom storefronts and ordering systems for unique requirements

Stripe, PayPal & Square

Card payments, digital wallets and buy-now-pay-later

Canada Post, UPS & FedEx

Real-time carrier rates, labels and tracking

Google Shopping

Product feeds and analytics tracking for paid and free listings

E-commerce Development in Mississauga

PrimaryDM is based in Mississauga, Ontario. We serve clients throughout the GTA including Toronto, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, and Milton. We also work with businesses across Canada and the United States.

Whether you're a Mississauga retailer launching your first online store or an established business migrating to a new platform, we provide local e-commerce development services with face-to-face consultations and hands-on support.

Looking for a local partner specifically? See our page on e-commerce development in Mississauga.

Why choose a local Mississauga e-commerce developer?

  • Face-to-face meetings and consultations when needed for better collaboration
  • Understanding of local business needs and competition in the GTA market
  • Same time zone for real-time communication and support
  • Support for local businesses in the Mississauga and GTA community
  • Familiarity with Mississauga market conditions and customer behavior
Schedule a Free Consultation

E-commerce Development FAQs

Common questions about our e-commerce development services.

Ask Us Anything
What's the best e-commerce platform?
Shopify is best for pure e-commerce businesses wanting quick setup, built-in payment processing, and ease of use. WooCommerce (WordPress) is best for content-heavy stores, blogs with shopping, and businesses wanting maximum customization. Custom React solutions are best for complex requirements, high-traffic stores, or unique business models. At PrimaryDM, we recommend platforms based on your specific needs: products sold, technical requirements, and growth plans. Read our Shopify vs WordPress comparison for detailed analysis.
Shopify vs WooCommerce: which is cheaper?
WooCommerce is often more cost-effective long-term with a one-time setup investment instead of ongoing monthly fees. Shopify has lower upfront costs but requires monthly subscription fees. WooCommerce requires self-hosting and maintenance, while Shopify includes hosting, security, and automatic updates. Choose WooCommerce if you want to avoid monthly platform fees and have technical support. Choose Shopify if you want all-in-one convenience with managed hosting.
How much does e-commerce development cost?
E-commerce development costs vary significantly based on platform and complexity. A basic Shopify or WooCommerce store takes 2-4 weeks to develop. A custom e-commerce store with advanced features takes 4-8 weeks. Enterprise e-commerce with multi-store, headless commerce, or complex integrations takes 8-16 weeks. Additional considerations include hosting, payment gateway fees, and optional maintenance plans. After a free consultation we give you a fixed quote before any work begins. See how much a website costs for a breakdown of what drives the price.
Can I build an online store myself?
Yes, platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce are beginner-friendly and you can build a basic store yourself in 1-2 weeks. However, DIY e-commerce stores often suffer from poor conversion rates (1-2% vs 3-5% professional stores), weak product photography, limited customization, and security vulnerabilities. Professional e-commerce developers optimize checkout flows, reduce cart abandonment, integrate advanced features (subscriptions, memberships, custom shipping), and ensure mobile responsiveness. Budget 40-60 hours to learn and build yourself, or hire a developer to launch a conversion-optimized store in 2-4 weeks while you focus on products and marketing.
What's included in e-commerce development?
Complete e-commerce development includes: custom store design (homepage, product pages, cart, checkout), product catalog setup (categories, filters, search), payment gateway integration (Stripe, PayPal, credit cards), shipping configuration (real-time rates, zones, free shipping thresholds), tax automation (by region), inventory management (stock tracking, low-stock alerts), mobile optimization, SEO setup (product schema, clean URLs), SSL certificate, training on managing the store, and 30 days post-launch support. Advanced features like subscriptions, memberships, or custom integrations cost extra.
Which e-commerce platform should I choose?
The best platform depends on your needs. Shopify is great for quick setup and ease of use. WooCommerce offers maximum flexibility with WordPress. Custom React solutions are ideal for complex, high-traffic stores. We help you choose based on your products, budget, and growth plans.
How long does it take to build an online store?
A basic Shopify or WooCommerce store takes 2-4 weeks. Custom e-commerce platforms with advanced features like custom checkout, inventory management, and integrations typically take 6-12 weeks.
What payment methods can my store accept?
We integrate all major payment gateways including Stripe, PayPal, Square, and platform-native solutions. Your store can accept credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay), and buy-now-pay-later services.
Can you migrate my existing store to a new platform?
Yes, we handle complete store migrations including product data, customer accounts, order history, URL redirects for SEO, and design recreation. We ensure zero downtime and no loss of search engine rankings.
Do you offer Shopify vs WooCommerce consulting?
Yes. Shopify is a hosted solution with lower maintenance and great for businesses wanting simplicity. WooCommerce is self-hosted with more customization options and no monthly platform fees. We analyze your specific needs to recommend the right fit.
How do you handle e-commerce SEO?
We optimize product pages with structured data, clean URLs, fast loading speeds, mobile responsiveness, proper category architecture, and rich snippets. We also set up Google Shopping integration and analytics tracking.
Can you set up shipping and tax calculations?
Yes, we configure automated shipping rate calculations, real-time carrier rates (USPS, UPS, FedEx, Canada Post), tax automation by region, and free shipping thresholds. We ensure compliance with local tax regulations.
Do you provide ongoing e-commerce support?
Yes, our support includes product updates, security patches, performance optimization, platform updates, new feature development, and analytics monitoring to help maximize your store's revenue and conversion rates.
Do you build dropshipping stores?
Yes. We build dropshipping stores on Shopify and WooCommerce, including supplier app setup, automatic product imports, pricing rules and order routing, so orders go to your supplier without manual copying. We also set up clear shipping-time messaging so customers know what to expect. Learn more about our dropshipping store development.
Can you connect my store to my accounting or inventory software?
Yes. We connect online stores to accounting, inventory, email marketing, shipping and ERP tools, either through existing apps and plugins or through a custom API integration when no ready-made connector exists. The goal is that orders, stock levels and customer data move between systems without anyone re-typing them.
Can you improve my existing store instead of rebuilding it?
Often, yes. If your platform is a good fit, we can redesign key pages, speed up the site, clean up the product catalogue, fix checkout issues and improve SEO without starting over. We review the store first and tell you honestly whether an update or a rebuild makes more sense.

Related Services

Shopify Development
Custom Shopify themes, apps and Shopify Plus
WooCommerce Development
Flexible stores built on WordPress
Dropshipping Development
Stores connected to your suppliers

Ready to Launch Your Online Store?

Let's create an e-commerce platform that drives sales, delights customers, and grows with your business. Tell us about your project and we'll provide a detailed proposal.

What happens next?

  • 1.We'll review your project requirements
  • 2.Schedule a discovery call within 24 hours
  • 3.Provide a detailed proposal and timeline
  • 4.Begin development with your approval