Online store setup, built around how you sell.

A customer holding a payment card while shopping online on a laptop

A store is more than a product page and a payment button. The right platform depends on what you sell, how customers pay, how orders are fulfilled and what needs to stay synchronized.

What every store needs

The platform can change, but the setup follows the same basic path.

Step 1

Choose the platform

Match the store to the website, budget and existing point-of-sale system.

Step 2

Add what you sell

Products, services, prices, variations, images and inventory.

Step 3

Connect payments

Cards, PayPal, digital wallets or an existing payment provider.

Step 4

Set fulfilment

Shipping, pickup, local delivery, bookings or digital delivery.

Step 5

Test and launch

Taxes, notifications, checkout and a complete test order.

Which platform fits?

There is no single best choice. The useful question is which system removes the most friction for this business.

Shopify

An all-in-one hosted store with products, checkout, orders and apps in one dashboard.

Often fits: a dedicated online retail operation

WooCommerce

A flexible store built into WordPress, with hosting and extensions selected separately.

Often fits: a WordPress website that needs control

Square Online

Connects online orders, items and inventory with Square’s payment and POS ecosystem.

Often fits: selling both in person and online

Clover or another POS

May be the better route when the business already relies on a specific in-store system.

Often fits: keeping existing operations synchronized

What the cost depends on

View setup costs and ongoing fees

A useful quote separates the initial build from the fees charged by the platform and payment provider.

One-time setupStore structure, design, platform configuration, checkout, testing and launch.

Catalogue workHow many products or services must be entered, edited, photographed or imported.

Platform and appsMonthly or annual plans, premium themes, extensions and specialized integrations.

Payment processingA percentage and/or fixed amount may be charged on each transaction.

Ongoing supportProduct updates, promotions, troubleshooting and store maintenance after launch.

Provider prices change. The final estimate confirms the current plan, transaction rates and any paid apps before work begins. You receive a clear list of provider fees separately from my setup work.

Platform references: Shopify pricing, WooCommerce setup checklist, Square Online Canada, and Clover Canada.

Real projects. Connected systems.

A few examples of my work with bookings, payments, shipping and store migrations.

Bookings & online payments

Brickitty Dooda

I configured booking availability and online payments using Square and WooCommerce integrations.

SquareWooCommerceBookings

Visit website

Store migration & shipping

Nanaimo NightOwls

I migrated the online store from WooCommerce to Clover and configured Clover and Canada Post integrations.

WooCommerce → CloverCanada Post

Visit website

PayPal payment setup

YouPower

I configured PayPal payments and corrected an error in the payment settings.

PayPalPayment configuration

Visit website

Start with the way your business sells.

Tell me what you offer, how customers should pay and how orders should be delivered. I’ll help narrow down the platform before quoting the setup.

Ask about an online store