Online shop · 3 November 2026 · 5 min read
Getting an online shop built: 8 questions to settle first
Before you get an online shop built: these eight questions on products, payment, shipping, languages and legal save time, money and nerves.
An online shop is more than a website with a cart. Settling a few questions before the project gets you a more accurate quote and a shop that works from day one. I go through these eight points with every shop client.
- 01
How many products, and how different?
Ten products without variants are a different project than 500 items with sizes and colours.
- 02
Who manages products and stock?
You in the back end, or does data come from an inventory system?
- 03
Which payment methods?
PayPal and card are standard; depending on audience also Klarna, Apple Pay or iDEAL in the Netherlands.
- 04
How will you ship?
Shipping costs, zones, in-store pickup, labels automatic or manual.
- 05
Which languages and countries?
Each language needs translation, each country possibly different tax and shipping rules.
- 06
What's legally required?
Imprint, privacy policy, terms, withdrawal notice, prices with VAT and shipping costs.
- 07
Where do images and texts come from?
Good product photos and descriptions sell. They're often the biggest time factor.
- 08
How should customers get in touch?
Email, phone, chat or WhatsApp, and who answers?
An example from practice
For the Dutch bag label MARG the answers were clear: a focused range in two collections, bilingual Dutch and English, payment methods for the Dutch market and customer service via WhatsApp. The right technical solution followed directly.
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