Last year we worked on two projects from the same street in Prague 7. A jewelry maker needed a custom e-shop. A renovation company needed a corporate website with a quote form. The renovation company saved over 2,400 EUR by not building an e-shop they did not need.
Decision framework: product vs. service
You need an e-shop when: you have products with fixed prices, customers can buy without your help, products can be shipped.
A presentation website is enough when: every project needs individual pricing, customers need consultation first, your services cannot be standardized into a catalog.
Four options and what they cost
| Option | Price (EUR) | Online payments | Cart | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation site + form | 1,200 - 3,200 | No | No | 4-8 weeks |
| Site + catalog, no checkout | 1,600 - 4,000 | No | No | 5-10 weeks |
| E-shop (Shopify / WooCommerce) | 2,000 - 6,000 | Yes | Yes | 6-12 weeks |
| Custom e-commerce | 4,000 - 12,000+ | Yes | Yes | 10-20 weeks |
Details in our cost breakdown and pricing page.
The hybrid approach
A website with a product catalog but no cart. Customers see products with prices and photos. Instead of "Buy" there is a quote request form. Works for custom manufacturing, B2B sales, premium products, and small catalogs. Typically 1,600-4,000 EUR.
Platform comparison
Detailed analysis in Shopify vs. WooCommerce.
| Criterion | Shopify | WooCommerce | Custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial cost | 2,000 - 5,000 EUR | 2,000 - 6,000 EUR | 4,000 - 12,000+ EUR |
| Monthly costs | 28 - 120 EUR | 12 - 80 EUR | 8 - 40 EUR |
| Maintenance | Minimal | Moderate | Minimal |
| Flexibility | Moderate | High | Full |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an e-shop if I only have 20 products?
Standard products with 5+ orders/week — yes. Custom products needing consultation — a catalog with quote form at half the cost.
Can I start with a website and add e-commerce later?
Yes. Start with a presentation site, verify demand, then add cart and payments. Build on a platform that allows expansion. More in our small business guide.
The right decision saves money and time
An e-shop is not automatically better than a presentation website. It is a different tool for a different business.
If you are not sure, get in touch. We will tell you honestly what you need. First consultation is free.