Many first online shops stall for the same reason: people start by comparing software, when the real work is somewhere else. A shop is a small business process on a website. Someone has to describe the products, photograph them, accept payment, pack the parcel and answer questions afterwards. If those parts are clear, the technical choice becomes much easier.
This guide gives you the order of work from the first idea to the day you open the shop, with a checklist you can use on your own. It deliberately does not repeat our comparison of an online shop and a simple website; read that first if you are not yet sure that you need checkout at all. Prices, legal rules and provider conditions change, so use this page for planning and check the current details with the providers and your adviser. Only after the practical part do we explain what Marina IT can do for you.
How to build an online shop: the steps in order
Think of the project as six steps that build on each other. You can work on several in parallel, but skipping one usually returns later as a delay: missing photos hold up the product pages, an undecided shipping rule holds up the checkout, an unchecked legal page holds up the launch.
Write down your answer to each step before you open any software. Even a one-page document is enough, and it will also make a conversation with a web developer shorter and more precise.
- Decide what you sell, to whom, and to which countries you will ship.
- Prepare product data, photos and descriptions.
- Choose the shop system and the hosting around it.
- Set up payment methods and shipping rules.
- Have legal pages and required business information reviewed.
- Test with real orders, launch, and plan the upkeep.
Products, photos and descriptions: what to prepare first
Product content is the part that takes most owners longer than expected, and no shop system can invent it for you. Prepare it before the technical set-up so that the shop can be filled in one go instead of piece by piece. A simple spreadsheet is a good start; most systems can import products from one later.
Photos deserve a short plan. Customers cannot touch the product, so the images and the text replace the shop counter. Use the same background and framing for all items, and add one picture that shows the size in everyday use.
- A product list with name, variants such as size or colour, price, stock and weight.
- Photos from several angles with consistent lighting, plus the originals kept safely.
- Descriptions in your own words: material, dimensions, care, what is included.
- A category structure that a stranger would understand in a few seconds.
- A decision on how to show products that are out of stock.
- Texts in every language of the countries you want to sell to.
Which shop system fits? A neutral comparison
There is no single best shop system; the right one depends on your catalogue, your technical comfort and how much control you want over the data. The table sorts the common routes by what they tend to suit. Treat it as orientation, because features, fees and limits change between providers and versions.
Whatever you consider, ask the same questions. Who hosts the shop and who is responsible for updates? Can you export your products and customers if you ever move? Which payment providers and shipping methods are supported? Does the system handle several languages? Are there monthly fees or a percentage per sale on top of the payment provider's charges?
| Route | Tends to suit | Main limit |
|---|---|---|
| Hosted all-in-one shop builder | Small catalogues and owners who want little technical work | Design and functions are limited to what the provider offers; running fees |
| Shop extension on a content website | Businesses that already have a site and want shop and content together | You or someone else must keep the site, extension and hosting updated |
| Self-hosted dedicated shop software | Larger catalogues and special requirements | More set-up and maintenance effort; needs technical know-how |
| Marketplace in addition to your own shop | Reaching buyers who already search on that platform | Platform rules and fees; the customer relationship stays with the platform |
Payment methods and shipping
Payments and shipping are business decisions before they are technical ones. Offer the payment methods your customers actually use, and keep the number small enough that you can reconcile every order. Check which methods your shop system and your payment provider support together, and note the conditions that the provider sets for opening an account.
Shipping is where many shops lose money quietly. Decide the rules before you build the checkout, and test the packing process with a real product.
- Choose payment methods your customers know, for example card, bank transfer and locally popular options, and confirm that your provider supports them.
- Define shipping zones and the carriers you will use.
- Decide whether shipping is charged by weight, by value or as a flat amount.
- Plan packaging and who prints labels and hands parcels to the carrier.
- Write down your return process in simple steps before the first order arrives.
Legal texts and required information: have them reviewed
An online shop needs more than a nice design. Customers expect clear business details, terms of sale, information about returns and an explanation of how their data is handled. What exactly is required depends on your business form, the products and the countries you sell to, and the rules change.
We do not give legal advice and this page is not a legal opinion. Prepare the topics early, then have the texts and the shop process reviewed by a qualified adviser, for example a lawyer, a gestor or a specialist for consumer and tax questions. Marina IT can place the finished texts in the shop and link them correctly, but we do not draft or approve them.
Test before launch: a checklist
Test the complete order journey on a phone and computer, first with the payment provider’s supported sandbox or test mode. Do not use real card details in a sandbox. If a final live transaction is needed, the owner should agree its amount, fees, fulfilment prevention and refund procedure in advance. Check failed payments and cancellations as well as successful checkout.
Keep a short list of what you tested and what you changed. It becomes the basis for the handover and for the first maintenance review.
- Place a test order with every payment method you offer.
- Check that confirmation emails arrive, in the right language, and are not in spam.
- Go through the shop on a phone, from product page to payment.
- Test the shipping choices, including a country at the edge of your zones.
- Check how prices and taxes are shown, together with your adviser.
- Make sure you hold the admin access, a backup and the account details of every provider.
Upkeep and what drives the cost
An online shop is never finished on the day it opens. Products change, plugins and software need updates, payment providers adjust their conditions, and customers write with questions. Decide early who does this: you, a service provider, or a mix. Our guide on what website maintenance includes explains the routine tasks in plain terms.
We do not quote amounts here because the cost of a shop depends on your situation. These are the factors that move it most:
- The number of products and variants, and whether they can be imported.
- Whether a ready design is enough or the look must be custom.
- Integrations for payment, shipping, accounting or stock.
- The number of languages and countries.
- How much text and photography still has to be produced.
- Ongoing items: hosting, updates, backups, provider fees and your own time.
Help from Marina IT
Marina IT is based in Adsubia and helps on site in the Marina Alta, Safor and Marina Baixa, or remotely where the device and connection allow it. Support is available in English, German, Dutch and Spanish. We help plan the shop, configure the agreed platform, connect your own payment and shipping accounts, import prepared product information and test checkout. You retain control of provider accounts. Business terms, privacy notices and tax settings need review by the responsible owner and appropriate adviser.
Website and SEO work costs €69/h (€17.25 per 15 minutes), billed in 15-minute steps plus 21% IVA. Material and third-party subscriptions are additional; regional travel costs are agreed in advance.
Describe the device, the symptoms and what you want to achieve through the contact page. We agree the scope before work starts. Do not send passwords, verification codes or sensitive documents in your first message.
Questions about this guide
How long does it take to build an online shop?
It depends far more on your content than on the software. A small shop with ready photos and descriptions needs much less time than a large catalogue where every product page still has to be written. Payment provider verification and the review of legal texts can also take time, so plan them early.
How much does an online shop cost?
The main drivers are the number of products, the design, the integrations, the languages and the ongoing fees of the providers. A fixed amount without knowing these would be a guess. Our rate for websites is €69 per hour in 15-minute steps plus IVA, and we discuss the expected effort with you before we start.
Which payment methods should a shop offer?
Those your customers already use, such as card payment and bank transfer, plus a locally popular method if your provider supports it. More methods mean more reconciliation work, so start with a few and add more when orders show a need.
Which legal texts does an online shop need?
That depends on your business, your products and your target countries, and we cannot give legal advice. Have a qualified adviser tell you what applies, then put the texts into the shop. We place them technically but do not write or approve them.
Can I manage the shop myself after the launch?
Usually yes for everyday tasks such as adding products, changing prices and processing orders, if the system is chosen for your skills and you receive a handover. Updates, backups and security need a clear owner, which can be you or a service provider.