When is custom worth it over Shopify or Magento?

When stock platforms cannot deliver your business model or competitive advantage without prohibitive customisation. Examples: complex B2B pricing engines, marketplace models, deep CRM and ERP coupling, or content models stock platforms cannot represent. We recommend stock platforms first and custom only when justified.

Custom engagements live or die on the architecture document. Free discovery rewards shallow scoping. Paid discovery (one week) produces a written architecture document and a fixed quote for the build that the customer owns regardless of whether they continue with us.

Do you build the backend or just the storefront?

Both. Headless storefronts on Next.js or Remix, backend services in Node, Go or Rust depending on the requirement. Architecture document confirms the stack.

What about ongoing maintenance?

Custom builds need ongoing engineering, not maintenance. We continue past launch under a retainer of named engineers; alternatively we hand over to your in-house team with a documented handover and four weeks of paired support.

Can you take over a half-finished custom build?

Sometimes. We need a code audit first to confirm the existing work is salvageable. The audit is a separate engagement priced at the same rate as a code quality audit; output tells you honestly whether to continue or rebuild.

E-Commerce Development

Custom Website Development

Custom web development beyond stock ecommerce platforms. Headless storefronts, microservices, custom commerce engines.

Timeline: 16 to 32 weeks
Discovery: Paid + written architecture
Stack: Next.js / Remix
Handover: Full architecture docs

Overview

What it is.

Custom web development for the cases where a stock ecommerce platform does not fit. Headless storefronts on Next.js or Remix consuming Shopify, Magento or BigCommerce APIs. Microservice architectures for stores at scale. Custom commerce engines where business logic does not belong in a template. These are larger engagements (16 to 32 weeks) and we work fixed-price only after a paid discovery week that produces a written architecture document.

What you get

Deliverables.

Paid discovery week with written architecture document
Custom storefront on Next.js or Remix
Backend services as scoped
API layer over chosen commerce platform
CI/CD pipeline and infrastructure as code
Observability and monitoring
Full architecture documentation
Operations runbook

Honest limits

What it isn't.

Suitable only when scale or differentiation justifies the engineering investment
We do not recommend custom builds when Shopify or Magento can do the job
Long timelines need committed product and engineering ownership from your side

Not sure if it's a fit? Email us. We'll tell you straight.

How it works

From inquiry to handover.

01
1. Paid discovery (1 week)
Architecture document, stack recommendation, integration map, written fixed quote at the end.
02
2. Foundation (Weeks 1-4)
Infrastructure provisioned. Core services scaffolded. CI/CD set up.
03
3. Build (Weeks 5-24)
Storefront and backend services built in priority order. Weekly demos.
04
4. QA + launch (Weeks 25-32)
End-to-end QA. Performance and security baselines. Production cutover.

Frequently asked

Questions we get from people about to book.

When is custom worth it over Shopify or Magento?: When stock platforms cannot deliver your business model or competitive advantage without prohibitive customisation. Examples: complex B2B pricing engines, marketplace models, deep CRM and ERP coupling, or content models stock platforms cannot represent. We recommend stock platforms first and custom only when justified.
Why paid discovery?: Custom engagements live or die on the architecture document. Free discovery rewards shallow scoping. Paid discovery (one week) produces a written architecture document and a fixed quote for the build that the customer owns regardless of whether they continue with us.
Do you build the backend or just the storefront?: Both. Headless storefronts on Next.js or Remix, backend services in Node, Go or Rust depending on the requirement. Architecture document confirms the stack.
What about ongoing maintenance?: Custom builds need ongoing engineering, not maintenance. We continue past launch under a retainer of named engineers; alternatively we hand over to your in-house team with a documented handover and four weeks of paired support.
Can you take over a half-finished custom build?: Sometimes. We need a code audit first to confirm the existing work is salvageable. The audit is a separate engagement priced at the same rate as a code quality audit; output tells you honestly whether to continue or rebuild.

Ready to start?

Tell us about your project.

A member of our team reads every message. Replies within one business day. No sales call required.

See all services

E-Commerce Development

Custom Website Development

Custom web development beyond stock ecommerce platforms. Headless storefronts, microservices, custom commerce engines.

Timeline: 16 to 32 weeks
Discovery: Paid + written architecture
Stack: Next.js / Remix
Handover: Full architecture docs

Overview

What it is.

What you get

Deliverables.

Paid discovery week with written architecture document
Custom storefront on Next.js or Remix
Backend services as scoped
API layer over chosen commerce platform
CI/CD pipeline and infrastructure as code
Observability and monitoring
Full architecture documentation
Operations runbook

Honest limits

What it isn't.

Suitable only when scale or differentiation justifies the engineering investment
We do not recommend custom builds when Shopify or Magento can do the job
Long timelines need committed product and engineering ownership from your side

Not sure if it's a fit? Email us. We'll tell you straight.

How it works

From inquiry to handover.

01
1. Paid discovery (1 week)
Architecture document, stack recommendation, integration map, written fixed quote at the end.
02
2. Foundation (Weeks 1-4)
Infrastructure provisioned. Core services scaffolded. CI/CD set up.
03
3. Build (Weeks 5-24)
Storefront and backend services built in priority order. Weekly demos.
04
4. QA + launch (Weeks 25-32)
End-to-end QA. Performance and security baselines. Production cutover.

Frequently asked

Questions we get from people about to book.

When is custom worth it over Shopify or Magento?: When stock platforms cannot deliver your business model or competitive advantage without prohibitive customisation. Examples: complex B2B pricing engines, marketplace models, deep CRM and ERP coupling, or content models stock platforms cannot represent. We recommend stock platforms first and custom only when justified.
Why paid discovery?: Custom engagements live or die on the architecture document. Free discovery rewards shallow scoping. Paid discovery (one week) produces a written architecture document and a fixed quote for the build that the customer owns regardless of whether they continue with us.
Do you build the backend or just the storefront?: Both. Headless storefronts on Next.js or Remix, backend services in Node, Go or Rust depending on the requirement. Architecture document confirms the stack.
What about ongoing maintenance?: Custom builds need ongoing engineering, not maintenance. We continue past launch under a retainer of named engineers; alternatively we hand over to your in-house team with a documented handover and four weeks of paired support.
Can you take over a half-finished custom build?: Sometimes. We need a code audit first to confirm the existing work is salvageable. The audit is a separate engagement priced at the same rate as a code quality audit; output tells you honestly whether to continue or rebuild.

Ready to start?

Tell us about your project.

A member of our team reads every message. Replies within one business day. No sales call required.

See all services

Custom Website Development

What it is.

Deliverables.

What it isn't.

From inquiry to handover.

1. Paid discovery (1 week)

2. Foundation (Weeks 1-4)

3. Build (Weeks 5-24)

4. QA + launch (Weeks 25-32)

Questions we get from people about to book.

Tell us about your project.

Custom Website Development

What it is.

Deliverables.

What it isn't.

From inquiry to handover.

1. Paid discovery (1 week)

2. Foundation (Weeks 1-4)

3. Build (Weeks 5-24)

4. QA + launch (Weeks 25-32)

Questions we get from people about to book.

Tell us about your project.