Date of publication:
11 Apr. 25How to Choose a Contractor for E-commerce Development: 10 Key Criteria
If you have ever looked for a contractor for developing an online store, then you know how exhausting this process can be. There are hundreds of proposals, prices vary significantly, and every other “expert” promises mountains of gold. But how to choose someone who will really create a quality product, and not just sell you a beautiful presentation?
According to statistics, 70% of businesses change their contractor in the first year, because they do not get what they expected: the site takes ages to load, it cannot be updated without a programmer, or SEO optimization is just words. These are direct losses: of time, nerves, and money.
Today we will talk about 10 key criteria that will help you choose a contractor without fatal mistakes. Where to check a portfolio? How not to fall for marketing traps? Which technologies to choose to avoid dependence on the developer?
What criteria to pay attention to: top-10 criteria
Developing an online store is like building a house. You need a reliable foundation, sturdy walls, and a design that not only attracts but also drives sales. Now imagine that you’ve commissioned the construction to a “specialist” who assures you everything will be perfect. But then it turns out the doors don’t close, the roof leaks, and the stairs lead to nowhere.
With online stores, it’s the same. If you choose the wrong contractor, you risk getting a site that loads slowly, isn’t mobile-friendly, lacks necessary functions, and scares away customers instead of generating profit. Common mistakes when choosing a contractor:
- Relying solely on impressive case studies in the portfolio (they might be from someone else’s projects).
- Choosing based on “where it’s cheaper” (because you’ll have to redo it later).
- Neglecting post-launch technical support (you will need it, trust me).
To avoid these issues, you need to know the key criteria for choosing a contractor. That’s what we will discuss now.
Experience and portfolio: how to distinguish professionals from amateurs
You wouldn’t order an expensive suit from a tailor who only makes clothes for mannequins, right? The same goes for developers: it’s important to look not only at their portfolio but also at how the real projects they’ve done work.
Why isn’t this enough? Many studios and freelancers include only “pictures” of websites in their portfolios. What’s on the inside is unknown. The site may be slow, unmanageable, or may exist only as a beautiful layout.
How to verify experience in practice:
- Find the clients — open the portfolio site and see if it’s still working.
- Check the speed — put the site into Google PageSpeed or GTmetrix and find out if it loads in 2-3 seconds (this is critical for e-commerce).
- Look at the mobile version — more than 70% of buyers visit stores from smartphones, so adaptability is a must-have.
If your budget is limited and time is pressing, it’s worth considering ready-made template solutions on WordPress. For example, 6Weeks offers a quick launch of e-commerce on WP, allowing you to get a working store without months of development.
Specialization and technology: why it’s important to speak the same language with the contractor
Choosing a platform for an online store is like choosing a car: you can take a sports car that requires a professional driver, or a reliable family crossover that starts with ease. And here it’s important that the contractor not only knows coding but also understands business processes and the real needs of your store.
Why is this critical? Developers who work exclusively with custom solutions may insist on complex and expensive technologies, even if you don’t need them. For example, development on Laravel or Symfony sounds cool, but if you have a small shop, a year later you’ll realize that without a team of programmers, even changing a price would be problematic.
What to ask the contractor:
- Which platforms do you work with? If the answer is custom only, without ready-made solutions, it’s a red flag.
- How often do you work with WordPress, Shopify, or OpenCart? If you need a quick start, a store can be launched based on WP in 2-4 weeks.
- What technologies are used in the backend and frontend? If the answer is something like ‘we’ll make something unique’ but lacks specifics, there is a risk of becoming dependent on the developer.
When are ready-made solutions the smart choice? If you don’t need a massive online store with hundreds of filters and complex logic, and value speed and budget, consider ready-made template solutions on WordPress. Templates can be quickly adapted to your business. This is convenient, economical, and painless in terms of development.
Price transparency and additional costs: what you are really paying for
If you’ve ever bought new equipment, you’ve probably encountered a “pleasant” bonus — the basic package doesn’t include a charger, cable, or even a case. A similar story occurs in website development: the price quoted at the start rarely matches the final amount.
How does a business overpay? Often developers quote a price only for the basic functionality, and then it suddenly turns out that:
- Setting up payment systems is extra.
- SEO optimization is a separate service.
- Adaptation for mobile devices — “we didn’t agree on that”.
As a result, the amount doubles, and deadlines stretch over months. How to check if you’re being misled:
- Agree on a detailed technical specification (TS). It should specify everything, down to whether you will have a “Add to favorites” button.
- Inquire about maintenance. If the site is working on a unique engine, clarify who will support and update it.
- Check for hidden charges. Some companies offer a “cheap” site but then make you pay for hosting, SSL certificates, and even security updates.
If you need a website without hidden fees and the ability to edit it yourself, consider ready-made solutions.
Team and communication: how to avoid the ‘telephone game’ effect
Have you ever worked with contractors who initially respond actively to all questions but disappear into thin air after the project starts? It’s a classic scenario. At first, you think you’re working with professionals, but then it turns out your site is being done by an intern who just yesterday googled ‘what is WordPress’.
Why is communication more important than it seems? Contractors may be top-notch at coding, but if they get confused in their answers, don’t provide clear deadlines, and ‘disappear’ when you ask something important – it’s a bad sign. How to check the level of communication:
- Is there a personal manager? If all communication is done through a ‘general’ chat, prepare for chaos.
- How quickly do they respond? If during negotiations they respond after three days, imagine what it will be like during development.
- Do they work with SCRUM/Kanban? This means they will regularly send you updates instead of saying: ‘Wait three months, we’ll show you everything at the end’.
Delivery Time and Guarantees: Why ‘We’ll Do It Quickly’ Doesn’t Always Mean Good
If a contractor promises you an online store ‘in two weeks’, it’s worth either asking what exactly you’ll get or running the other way. Because there are two options: either you will be sold a site builder with minimal functionality, or it will be a raw product that will take months of ‘finishing up.’
Why is it important to understand the real deadlines? Businesses often make a fatal mistake — linking the store launch to a marketing campaign without having real deadlines. As a result:
- The site is not ready yet, but you’ve already invested in advertising.
- Programmers miss deadlines because they initially promised ‘quickly’, then it turned out that 100+ revisions are also work.
- The launch is postponed, and so is the revenue.
How to assess real deadlines:
- Ask for a detailed work schedule. If the contractor just says ‘by the end of the month’, it means they don’t have a clear plan.
- Find out if there are guarantees and penalties for missing deadlines. Reliable contractors specify deadlines in the contract.
- See if they work with an MVP (Minimum Viable Product). This means you’ll get a basic version of the site quickly, and then gradually enhance the functionality.
SEO and Loading Speed: Why Your Site May Lose Customers Before First Order
Imagine: you visit a site to buy something you need, but the page loads slower than a grandmother checking the change at a checkout. What do you do? Most likely, you just close the tab. And you’re not alone: 40% of users close a site if it takes more than 3 seconds to load. Why this matters:
- Google demotes slow sites, meaning less free search traffic.
- Customers won’t wait if a competitor loads faster.
- Even a perfect design won’t save a site if it freezes during checkout.
How to check if your site is ‘flying’:
- Throw it into Google PageSpeed or GTmetrix — if the score is below 80, prepare for problems.
- Check the mobile version — over 70% of purchases are made from phones, yet some developers still create stores that only work on desktops.
- Ask what technologies the contractor uses for optimization — caching, CDN, image optimization. If you get silence in response — run.
Testing Before Launch: How to Avoid Debacles That Kill Sales
Imagine you’re opening a store in a shopping mall, but the door is jammed, the cash register doesn’t work, and the security guard doesn’t allow customers in. Absurd? But that’s exactly how launching an online store without testing looks: everything seems ready, but users cannot properly purchase products. What could go wrong:
- The ‘Buy’ button doesn’t work on the mobile version (and that’s 70% of the traffic!).
- The payment system doesn’t accept cards from certain banks.
- The user doesn’t understand how to place an order because the website’s logic is like a puzzle.
How to properly test a site before launch:
- Check the entire purchasing process on different devices — laptop, smartphone, tablet.
- Let real users test it — have a few acquaintances, who are not involved in development, try to purchase a product.
- Run the site through heatmap services (Hotjar, Clarity) — they will show where users are getting ‘stuck’ and what needs to be fixed.
Support after launch: what will happen if the site ‘breaks down’
Launching an online store is just half of the battle. What follows is a real adventure: updates, bug fixes, changing the assortment, speed optimization. If the contractor disappears after project delivery (as often happens), be prepared for problems. What could go wrong:
- After updating the plugin on WordPress, the store stops working.
- A critical vulnerability appears, and the site gets hacked.
- You need to change the order processing logic, but without a developer, it’s impossible.
What to ask the contractor before launch:
- Does technical support include in the cost? Some companies include it in the package, others charge an extra fee.
- What guarantees do they provide? If bugs appear after launch, who will fix them and at whose expense?
- Is it easy to change content and settings? If your site is made in such a way that even changing the phone number in the contacts needs to be ordered separately — that’s a problem.
Reviews and market reputation: how not to fall for fake ‘experts’
You wouldn’t buy a new smartphone without reading reviews, right? Or book a hotel without checking its rating? Choosing a contractor is no different — reputation says more than any presentation. But there’s a catch: in the IT sphere, reviews are often bought or negative feedback is cleaned up. How businesses fall into the trap:
- Only look at the contractor’s official website, where, of course, all reviews are perfect.
- Rely on ratings the contractor might have manipulated themselves.
- They only read the first 3 comments and don’t delve into details.
How to check if a contractor is truly reliable:
- Look for reviews on independent platforms — Clutch, GoodFirms, Trustpilot, Google Reviews.
- Ask clients directly — find companies that have worked with the contractor and write to them.
- See how the contractor handles criticism — if they simply delete comments, that’s a red flag.
Flexibility and scalability: can your site handle business growth
Launching an online store is just the beginning. If everything goes as planned (and that’s what we’re counting on, right?), in six months you will have more traffic, an increased number of products, and require new features. The question is whether your site is prepared for this. What will happen if you don’t consider scalability in advance:
- The site will start to slow down because it is not designed for high traffic.
- You will have to redesign the structure or even build the store from scratch.
- You will lose customers because users won’t be able to find necessary products, or the site will crash under the load.
How to check if a contractor plans ahead:
- Which CMS or platform do they recommend? If you are on WordPress, it’s important that the site is optimized and supports extensions without “workarounds”.
- Is caching and CDN provided? This is critical if you plan to expand to the international market.
- Is it easy to add new modules and integrations? If connecting a new payment system requires rewriting everything – that’s a problem.
Freelancer, agency, or large firm: who to choose for website development
Choosing a contractor is like choosing a car. A freelancer is like an old sedan that might get moving or might stall at the intersection. A large firm is a luxury car, expensive and requiring complex maintenance. Meanwhile, an agency is a comfortable crossover that balances price, reliability, and scalability. So, who to choose?
Freelancer: budget-friendly but unreliable
Freelancers can be good performers if you need small updates or a website redesign.
Pros:
- Cheap — prices are lower than those of agencies or large companies.
- Quick — you can find someone for urgent tasks.
- Direct communication — no managers, everything is direct.
Cons:
- No guarantees — here today, gone tomorrow.
- One person can’t do it all — if a comprehensive approach is needed, you’ll have to hire others for SEO, design, support.
- Competency level — lottery. You might come across a pro, or you might find a student who just installed WordPress yesterday.
When to choose a freelancer? If you have a developer on your team who can assess the freelancer’s work and monitor them.
Agency: the perfect option for small and medium businesses
An agency is a team of specialists that develops websites, handles SEO, design, and tech support. It’s an “all-in-one” option where you don’t need to oversee every step.
Pros:
- Comprehensive approach — design, programming, optimization, support.
- Experience in various niches — agencies work with stores, corporate sites, blogs.
- Balanced price — more expensive than a freelancer, but significantly cheaper than a large company.
Cons:
- There is a minimum budget — good agencies don’t work for “pennies.”
- Limited resources — large corporations may have more custom solutions, but do you need them?
If you want a site quickly, reliably, and without unnecessary headaches, consider 6Weeks. The team of specialists creates functional online stores on WordPress that are easy to update, maintain, and scale. In just a few weeks, you get a site ready for work.
When to choose an agency? If you need not just a website, but a ready-to-use sales tool, optimized for SEO and with the ability for future expansion.
Large company: if you have an unlimited budget
Large companies work with brands willing to invest substantial budgets in development.
Pros:
- The highest level of expertise.
- Utilization of advanced technologies and custom solutions.
- Full work cycle: marketing, analytics, development strategy.
Cons:
- Very expensive — costs can exceed agency rates by tens of times.
- Slow process — work is planned months in advance.
- Impersonal communication — if you are not a major client, you might be ‘pushed’ to the back burner.
When to choose a large company? If you are already a top player in your niche and looking for custom solutions for unique business processes.
Where to find a contractor
You can find a contractor for your project through several channels. Usually, one of these channels is recommendations: ask acquaintances who have already commissioned a website. You can also review ratings and exchanges. Look at reviews on Clutch, GoodFirms, Freelancehunt. And of course, check portfolios and cases — real results are better than any advertisement.
Conclusion: how to avoid pitfalls and find the perfect contractor
If you’ve read this far, you now know that choosing a contractor for developing an online store is not just about nice design and an attractive price. It’s a strategic decision that will determine whether your business will grow or get bogged down in endless revisions and technical issues. What to remember before choosing a contractor:
- Don’t take portfolios at face value — verify real cases and reviews.
- Inquire about the technology stack — you need a site that is user-friendly and scalable.
- Clarify all expenses in advance — to avoid ‘surprises’ after signing the contract.
- Ensure the team is accessible and communicative — otherwise, any minor issue might become a major problem.
- Test the site before launch — bugs could cost you clients.
- Do not forget about maintenance and updates — a site does not operate independently, it needs care.
- Think ahead — choose solutions that allow your store to grow along with your business.
Before making a decision, create a list of questions for the contractor — this will help you immediately understand how competent and prepared the company is for cooperation.
If you need an online store with a quick launch, consider ready-made solutions on WordPress from 6Weeks — it’s an opportunity to get a functional site without additional risks and delays.
