E-commerce Specialists
18 expert e-commerce agencies in your area
Why Invest in Professional E-commerce Development?
UK e-commerce sales exceeded £120 billion in 2024, with online retail growing 15% year-on-year. A professional e-commerce site isn't just a shop—it's a 24/7 salesperson that never sleeps, doesn't take holidays, and can serve unlimited customers simultaneously.
The agencies listed below specialise in building secure, scalable e-commerce platforms that convert visitors into customers. From Shopify stores to custom WooCommerce solutions, they understand payment processing, inventory management, shipping integrations, and conversion optimisation.
Choosing Your E-commerce Platform
Shopify
Best for: Quick setup, ease of use, less technical knowledge required
- £29-£299/month subscription
- 2.5-3.5% + 20p per transaction
- Hosted platform (no server management)
- 1000+ integrations available
- Excellent for dropshipping
WooCommerce
Best for: Flexibility, lower running costs, WordPress users
- Free plugin (hosting £20-£100/month)
- 1.5-3% payment gateway fees
- Complete control and customisation
- Extensive plugin ecosystem
- Great for content + commerce
Magento
Best for: Large catalogues, B2B, enterprise requirements
- Open source or £15K-£50K/year licence
- High hosting costs (£200-£1000+/month)
- Extremely scalable and powerful
- Complex, requires specialist developers
- Multi-store, multi-currency native
18 E-commerce Specialists
Swindon, Wiltshire, SN1 1AA
Contact via website
Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 2BB
01793 886294
Swindon, Wiltshire, SN25 4FF
01793 250233
Bristol, BS4 4DD
Contact via website
Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX2 2BB
01865 582777
Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX3 3CC
Contact via website
Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 8HH
Contact via website
Reading, Berkshire, RG1 1AA
Contact via website
Reading, Berkshire, RG4 4DD
0118 380 0201
Reading, Berkshire, RG1 7GG
07789 644231
Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 1BB
07449 169314
Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 3DD
01249 783196
Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 1AA
Contact via website
What to Look for in an E-commerce Developer
- E-commerce portfolio: Live stores processing real transactions, not just demos
- Platform expertise: Specialisation in Shopify, WooCommerce, or Magento
- Payment integration experience: Stripe, PayPal, Worldpay, SagePay integration
- Security credentials: PCI DSS compliance knowledge, SSL implementation
- Conversion optimisation: A/B testing, checkout optimisation, abandoned cart recovery
- Inventory & shipping: Royal Mail, DPD, Hermes integration experience
- Mobile commerce: Mobile-first design, progressive web app capability
- Analytics setup: Google Analytics 4, conversion tracking, revenue reporting
Find E-commerce Developers in Your City
Wondering about costs? Read our comprehensive UK pricing guide to understand what you should pay for e-commerce development.
Need a content site with WooCommerce? Check out our WordPress specialists for expert WooCommerce development.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an e-commerce website cost in the UK?
E-commerce websites in the UK typically cost £3,000-£15,000 depending on complexity. Basic Shopify stores start around £3,000, custom WooCommerce sites run £5,000-£10,000, and bespoke e-commerce platforms with advanced features like multi-currency, B2B functionality, or custom integrations can exceed £15,000. Factor in ongoing costs of £200-£800/month.
Which platform is best for e-commerce: Shopify, WooCommerce, or Magento?
Shopify is best for quick setup and ease of use (£29-£299/month), ideal if you're not technical. WooCommerce offers flexibility and lower running costs but requires more technical knowledge—great for existing WordPress users. Magento suits large-scale enterprises with complex requirements and high transaction volumes. Most UK SMEs choose Shopify or WooCommerce.
What's the ongoing cost of running an e-commerce site?
Ongoing e-commerce costs include hosting (£20-£100/month), payment gateway fees (1.5-3% per transaction), SSL certificates (£50-£150/year), maintenance (£100-£500/month), inventory management tools, and marketing. Budget £200-£800/month minimum for a professional e-commerce operation. Shopify includes hosting but charges higher transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments.
How long does it take to build an e-commerce website?
E-commerce sites typically take 6-12 weeks to build. Basic Shopify stores can be done in 4-6 weeks, custom WooCommerce sites need 8-10 weeks, and complex multi-vendor or enterprise e-commerce platforms may take 3-6 months. Timeline depends on product catalogue size, custom features, payment integrations, and content readiness.
Do I need PCI compliance for my e-commerce site?
Yes, if you process card payments, you need PCI DSS compliance. However, if you use Shopify Payments, Stripe, or PayPal, they handle PCI compliance for you (redirect checkout). If you store card details on your server, you need full PCI Level 1 compliance which is expensive and complex. Most SMEs use payment gateways that handle compliance, so you only need basic security measures like SSL certificates and secure hosting.
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