I've been asked to create an e-commerce website, but I'm not interested in dealing with hosting, VPS setups, or any infrastructure maintenance. I've never done this kind of project before, so I'm wondering if Shopify is really as straightforward as it sounds. Should I just use Shopify and explain to the client that there'll be a service fee for them? I also want to know if I need to learn Ruby on Rails or anything similar to get started.
4 Answers
Why not consider other platforms like WooCommerce or BigCommerce? They might offer more flexibility without the restrictions of Shopify. But honestly, if you want something low-maintenance where you won’t have to keep getting calls after your initial work, Shopify could save you the most hassle. You could always add an annual maintenance fee for any future updates to the site.
Going with Shopify is probably your best bet if you want to avoid infrastructure headaches. It lets you focus on the design aspect, and there are tons of tutorials out there. Just be upfront with your client about the costs involved. If you do a solid custom job, you could even charge them a fee for ongoing maintenance to help down the line.
If you're not comfortable with the technical side of things, Shopify is a solid option since it handles hosting and security for you. It's quite user-friendly, so you can set up an e-commerce site quickly without needing a deep understanding of coding. Just keep in mind that while you can do a lot with it, you might run into limits if you're looking for heavy customization. Plus, there are ongoing fees to consider, but you can present that as a standard platform fee to your client.
Honestly, I would think twice about taking on this job if you're not prepared for it. If it feels too overwhelming now, it might just stress you out more in the long run.
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