Ecommerce website development in Melbourne

Shopify is a practical choice when you want hosting, security, checkout and platform updates handled for you. Apps add features, although their subscriptions create recurring costs. Deeper checkout changes are limited to the Shopify Plus plan, so check your checkout requirements before choosing it.

WooCommerce fits a business already using WordPress, particularly when the store sits alongside substantial content. You have control over the code, data and hosting, but someone needs to maintain the hosting, updates, security and plugin compatibility. That responsibility should have a clear owner before the store goes live.

A custom or headless storefront, such as Next.js connected to a commerce back end, suits unusual catalogues, configurators and content-led brands. It takes more build effort, and later changes generally need a developer. We recommend a platform after learning how your products and operations work, so the choice reflects what your team needs to manage.

Australian Consumer Law applies to businesses selling goods and services in Australia, and a store policy cannot override consumer guarantees. Your returns and refund wording needs to reflect that. We provide the store pages where shoppers can read those policies before buying.

Commercial emails and texts need the customer’s permission, and unsubscribe requests must be acted on within the required period. We set up the email connection with a permission choice and an unsubscribe route. For card payments covered by Australia’s surcharge removal, we configure checkout without those surcharges.

These materials and decisions help define the store and its checkout.

• Product spreadsheetInclude names, descriptions, prices, SKUs, variants, stock, categories, weights and package sizes.
• Product photosKeep the original files, with consistent backgrounds and an image for each colour variant.
• PoliciesPrepare plain-language shipping, returns, refund, privacy and terms wording.
• Gateway documentsGather business registration, bank and identity details, and apply for an account in your business’s name.
• Delivery and tax decisionsChoose your couriers, delivery areas and charges; check applicable taxes and price display with your accountant.

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  Losing old URLs

  When moving platforms, map old product and category URLs to their closest new pages and use permanent 301 redirects, including for dropped products.

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  Adding too many plugins

  Review what each app or plugin does and remove unused ones. Each can add scripts, admin clutter and conflicts.

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  Testing only in sandbox mode

  Place a low-value order using live payment settings, then refund it. Check the currency, order email and payment connection.

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  Hiding delivery charges

  Show delivery and tax estimates on product or cart pages so shoppers see likely costs before the final checkout step.