01Map the sale
Product, variant, discount, tax, shipping, payment, refund, and customer-service steps.
Map platform fitEcommerce platform research
Choose a store platform around the work you will actually do
Compare storefront, checkout, payments, inventory, content, support, and switching risk before moving products and customer data into a platform.
Decision snapshot
CatalogModel complexity first
PaymentsTrace the complete fee path
ExitVerify usable exports
6operating models
3working planning tools
1repeatable evidence method
Jul 2026research review date
Quick direction
Start from the work, not the brand
Choose the condition that will shape daily operations. The recommendation changes immediately and links to the evidence you should collect next.
Starting pairShopify + BigCommerceRefine this shortlist
Compare catalog, order, fulfillment, channel, and app requirements with representative data.
Commerce depth
Design freedom
Technical burden
Evidence workflow
Three checks before a subscription
Move from the sale itself to operating cost and finally to a recoverable exit plan.
01
02Price operations
Subscription, payment fees, apps, themes, migration, maintenance, and support.
Model first-year cost03Test the exit
Export products, customers, orders, content, media, redirects, and financial records.
Open migration controlLaunch guides
Work through the controls between platform selection and launch day
Use evidence-led checklists for launch readiness, catalog data, shipping promises, cost planning, and platform migration.
Open the guide centerPlanning workspace
Turn research into a working decision
Each tool produces a concrete artifact: a shortlist, a cost model, or a migration control list.
Cost anatomy
A cheap plan can still produce an expensive operation
Model recurring software, payment fees, setup, migration, and internal work separately.
Build your cost modelEditorial shortlist
Three different operating models
Use the cards to compare workload and control before reading feature details.
Commerce-first platform
Shopify
Merchants who want a mature hosted commerce system, broad app marketplace, and room to scale operations.
- Model
- Hosted commerce
- Setup
- Fast
- Control
- Medium
Main cautionApps, themes, payment choices, and international features can increase cost and operating complexity.
Strengths
Open Shopify research- Large commerce ecosystem
- Strong inventory and order workflows
- Broad channel and fulfillment integrations
Site builder with commerce
Wix
Small catalogs and service-led brands that care about visual editing, appointments, content, and straightforward setup.
- Model
- Website builder
- Setup
- Fast
- Control
- Low
Main cautionComplex catalogs, deep multichannel operations, and highly customized fulfillment may outgrow the simpler workflow.
Strengths
Open Wix research- Flexible visual editor
- Useful site and service features
- Approachable setup for small teams
WordPress commerce
WooCommerce
Teams that already manage WordPress and need control over hosting, code, content, extensions, and data.
- Model
- Self-hosted plugin
- Setup
- Technical
- Control
- High
Main cautionThe owner is responsible for hosting quality, updates, security, backups, extension compatibility, and technical maintenance.
Strengths
Open WooCommerce research- High ownership and flexibility
- Strong WordPress content fit
- Large extension ecosystem
Buyer due diligence
Your store is an operating system, not only a website
The platform affects how products are entered, money is collected, orders are fulfilled, support is handled, and data can be recovered or moved.
- Confirm
- One complete product-to-refund workflow
- Record
- Every paid app and manual workaround
- Export
- Products, customers, orders, content, and media