Websites · a store from first plan to first orders

Ecommerce website design: from first plan to first orders

Ecommerce website design from platform choice to the first order: store design, payments, shipping, launch and SEO basics.

Describe your store

Individual quote · from 1–2 weeks

Free first call. I usually reply within 2 hours.

Want to start selling online, but agency quotes are high and stretch over months? Or has your hosted store stopped being enough? I lead the whole project and I'm your single point of contact, and trusted specialists join for complex questions. I tell you plainly what makes sense at your size.

  • A platform picked for your catalog and budget, not for hype
  • Payments, shipping and invoices work from day one
  • A store that is fast on mobile and ready for Google
Vlad Sedenko

Vlad Sedenko

Your online partner at every stage · 12+ years

LinkedIn ↗
12+
years in websites, apps and marketing
150+
projects: I help at every stage, from idea to growth
2–6 wks
from idea to a working product
2 h
usual time to my reply
What a store plan looks likeSample planA fictional homeware ceramics store. All figures are made up.
350
products at launch
3
payment methods
2 wks
to the first order

Choosing the platform

A comparison for this particular store, not a platform ranking.

OptionUpfront costWhen it makes sense
WooCommercemediumfull control, low running fees
Hosted platformlowsimple catalog, few integrations
Custom-built storehighan unusual buying process

Payments, shipping and invoices

Settled before design, because they shape the checkout.

PartChoiceHow it works
Paymentscards, wallets, local methodsone payment provider
Shippingparcel lockers and courierlabels from the store admin
Invoicesaccounting softwareissued automatically

What could delay the launch

Usually not the code, but materials and paperwork.

  • UrgentProduct photos in mixed formats

    Product pages look uneven and the store loads slower.

    Solution: One photo format and automatic resizing on import.

  • To agreeTerms and returns policy not final

    Payment providers usually ask for them when verifying the store.

    Solution: Text from your lawyer, added to the store by me.

Work plan

A small store is ready in 1 to 2 weeks. A larger one launches as a first version and grows in iterations.

  1. Weeks 1 and 2: the first version of the store with key products, payments and delivery. The store takes orders.
  2. Next iterations: full catalogue import, integrations with stock, invoicing and couriers.
  3. Then: analytics, SEO and improvements based on data from the first orders.
  4. A larger scope grows step by step, and we agree the timeline of each stage as we go.

Packages

You get an exact price and date after the first call, before you decide. Hosting or platform fees and payment provider fees are separate.

Store, start to finish

Individual quote

from 1–2 weeks

Your own store with a standard buying process.

  • Platform choice and design of the key pages
  • Payments, shipping and invoices
  • Product import, analytics and SEO basics
  • Launch and an admin walkthrough
Discuss your store

Store with integrations

Individual quote

timeline depends on scope

When the store has to work with other systems.

  • Everything in the start-to-finish store
  • Suppliers, warehouse or accounting software
  • Several languages or currencies
  • Wholesale to businesses with separate prices
Describe the integrations

Already on WooCommerce?

Individual quote

depends on the store

The store works, but it is slow and heavy.

  • Store speed audit
  • Speeding up the current store or a new, faster storefront
  • No loss of products or orders
See WooCommerce speed-up

Selected work

What clients say

  • „We worked with Vlad on a Next.js project. He knew what he was doing from day one, didn't overcomplicate things and came up with better approaches on his own. I especially value his work on the site's performance. Everything was delivered as agreed.”

    George B. CEO, finance company

  • „We needed to build an MVP fast to test our idea in practice. Vlad helped us choose sensible solutions and focus on what we really needed for launch. We didn't try to build everything at once, yet he made sure the project could grow later without starting from scratch.”

    Alex N. Product Manager at StartupX

  • „Vlad got up to speed with our project quickly and pointed out several problems we hadn't treated as priorities. He sorted out our database and security issues. I liked that he didn't just complete tasks but clearly explained why something was worth changing and what the consequences could be.”

    Michał R. CTO at TechCorp

  • „We had an app where every bigger change was becoming a problem. Vlad helped us clean up the code, rebuild some of the older parts and introduce automated tests. Working on new features is much easier now. I also appreciate his patience in explaining technical topics to people outside the development team.”

    Sara K. Product Owner at WebSolutions

Describe your store

Tell me what you sell, how many products you have and whether you already have a website. I'll reply with the platform and scope that make sense, with price and timing.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an ecommerce website cost?

The price grows with the number of products, integrations and languages. Running costs come on top: hosting or a platform subscription and payment provider fees. You get an exact price after the first call.

How long does it take to build an online store?

A small store is ready from 1–2 weeks; a larger one launches as a first version and grows in iterations. What delays a launch is rarely the technical work. It's photos, product descriptions and legal terms, so we sort those out at the very start.

Which platform should I choose: WooCommerce, Shopify or something custom?

It depends on your catalog, budget and plans. A hosted platform gets you started fast with less technical upkeep, but limits changes and has monthly fees. WooCommerce gives more freedom but needs care. I build on WooCommerce or custom. If a hosted platform suits you better, I'll say so before we start.

Do you design the store, or only build it?

Both. I design the key pages: home, categories, product page and cart. If you have a logo and brand colors, I build on them. If not, a visual identity can be added as a separate stage.

Will the store show up in Google right away?

The store launches with SEO basics: a clear category structure, clear page addresses, titles, a sitemap and fast loading. That is a good start, not a ranking guarantee. Traffic from Google is built after launch, and ecommerce SEO is a separate service.

Do you guarantee sales?

No, and nobody honest does. I make sure the store works, loads fast and is easy to buy from. Sales also depend on your products, prices and promotion.

What happens after launch?

You get full access to the store, server and accounts, plus a guide to the admin. If you like, I take on ongoing care: updates, backups and fixes. Or you hand the store to your own team.

Why not an ecommerce agency, and what if you're unavailable?

One senior person leads the project and is your single point of contact, and trusted specialists join for complex questions such as unusual integrations. You don't pay for layers of management. The code, server and accounts are in your name, and notes on how the store works let you hand it to another developer.

I usually reply within 2 hours.

Know-how

Useful reading

Guides that help you prepare for the conversation or do part of the work yourself.

Individual quoteDescribe your store