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E-Commerce

Shopify or custom build? A decision framework

Five questions that usually settle the platform debate before it becomes an argument.

14 March 2026 · 7 min read

The platform decision is rarely about features. It is about where your complexity actually lives.

Ask first where your complexity sits: catalogue, pricing, fulfilment or content. Shopify handles catalogue and checkout complexity extremely well; deeply custom pricing logic and B2B workflows often push toward a custom build.

Second, consider your team. A platform your marketing team can operate independently is worth more than technical elegance nobody can maintain.

Third, be honest about integration requirements. If your ERP dictates order flow, that constraint usually outranks every design preference.

Finally, price the total cost across three years, including maintenance and platform fees — not just the initial build.

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