Many people want to build an ecommerce website but struggle with questions such as “Which method should I choose?” and “How much will it cost?”
Methods for building an ecommerce website include ASP/SaaS platforms, packaged ecommerce software, and custom development from scratch, and each differs in cost, customizability, and the specialized knowledge required. Choosing a method that matches your business scale and goals is important.
This article compares 5 ways to build an ecommerce website and explains typical costs, how to choose, the build process, and points to watch. If you are about to launch your own ecommerce website, please read through to the end.
What does building an ecommerce website involve?
Building an ecommerce website means creating a website to sell products or services online and setting up the systems to handle orders, payments, and order management. Unlike a typical website, an ecommerce website needs features for online selling, such as product management, a shopping cart, payment processing, and inventory management.
Ways to launch an ecommerce website include “opening a store on an ecommerce marketplace” such as Rakuten Ichiba or Amazon, and “building your own ecommerce website.”
An ecommerce marketplace means opening a store on an existing sales platform, so a defining feature is that you can use the marketplace’s ability to attract customers. Your own ecommerce website, meanwhile, offers relatively more freedom in design and selling methods, and its strength is that it is easier to grow your own brand. You will generally need to attract customers yourself.
This article mainly explains methods for building your own ecommerce website.
Comparing 5 ways to build an ecommerce website
The 5 main ways to build an ecommerce website are listed below.
| Build method | Initial cost | Customizability | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASP/SaaS platforms | Low | Low to high | Individuals and small to midsize businesses through large enterprises |
| Open-source platforms | Moderate | High | Companies with development resources |
| Packaged ecommerce software | High | High | Midsize to large enterprises |
| Customizable cloud ecommerce platforms | High | High | Midsize to large enterprises |
| Custom development from scratch | Very high | Very high | Large enterprises and companies with specialized requirements |
*Costs and customizability vary by service and by what is developed.
Let’s look at the features, advantages, and disadvantages of each in more detail.
ASP/SaaS platforms
With an ASP/SaaS platform, you build a site using an ecommerce system supplied by a service provider. Examples include Shopify, BASE, and STORES.
Basic features such as product management and payments are already in place, so you can build an ecommerce website in a relatively short time even without specialized development knowledge. Another advantage is that the service provider handles server management and system updates, which helps keep the operational burden down.
The features you can use and the scope of customization, meanwhile, differ by service. Some services, such as Shopify, also let you extend features using apps and APIs.
This method suits a wide range of businesses, from those who want to launch an ecommerce website at low cost to companies that want to extend features as the business grows.
Open-source platforms
With an open-source platform, you build a site using publicly available ecommerce source code. Examples include EC-CUBE and WooCommerce.
A key advantage is that you can edit the source code, so you can customize design and features flexibly. Some software can also be used free of charge.
However, server setup, system updates, and security generally need to be handled in-house or by a contractor. Development and maintenance incur costs and require specialist knowledge, so this method suits companies with development resources that want to implement custom features.
Packaged ecommerce software
With packaged ecommerce software, you build an ecommerce website on a commercial system that includes features such as product management and order management, adapting it to your requirements. Examples include ecbeing.
Core features are provided in advance, allowing you to build more efficiently than developing from scratch. Another advantage is that it is easier to meet complex requirements, such as custom business workflows and integration with core business systems.
Initial costs, meanwhile, tend to become high, and development time also tends to become longer. Depending on the features you develop yourself, additional modifications may also be needed when the system is updated.
This method suits midsize to large companies with complex business requirements or a need for custom features.
Customizable cloud ecommerce platforms
With a customizable cloud ecommerce platform, you build a site on a cloud-based ecommerce system, adapting it to your requirements. Examples include EBISUMART and GMOクラウドEC.
You can develop custom features and integrate external systems while leaving system maintenance and updates to the service provider.
Implementation costs and monthly fees, meanwhile, tend to be higher than for typical ASP/SaaS platforms, and the degree of customization also differs by service.
This method suits midsize to large companies that need advanced features and also want to keep the burden of system operations and maintenance down.
*Customizable cloud ecommerce platforms are included in SaaS platforms in a broad sense, but here we distinguish them as services that support advanced customization.
Custom development from scratch
Custom development from scratch means developing an ecommerce website to your requirements from the ground up, without using an existing ecommerce system.
Because you can design the entire system yourself, customizability is very high, and you can also support specialized selling models and complex integrations with external systems.
Development, meanwhile, requires substantial cost and a long period of time. You also need to continue maintaining and modifying the system after launch, so operating costs tend to become high as well.
This method suits companies that have requirements an existing ecommerce system cannot meet and that can secure sufficient development budget and technical capability.
Costs and development time for building an ecommerce website
The cost of building an ecommerce website varies widely depending on the method you adopt, the features you need, and the scale of development.
You also need to account for both the initial costs of building the site and the ongoing operating costs after launch.
Initial costs and development time by build method
Typical initial costs and timeframes for each build method are as follows.
| Build method | Typical initial cost | Typical development time |
|---|---|---|
| ASP/SaaS platforms | Free to several hundred thousand yen | Same day to 2 months |
| Open-source platforms | Several hundred thousand to several million yen | 2 to 6 months |
| Packaged ecommerce software | Several million yen or more | 4 months to 1 year or more |
| Customizable cloud ecommerce platforms | Several million yen or more | Several months to around 1 year |
| Custom development from scratch | Tens of millions of yen or more | 6 months to 1 year or more |
*Costs and timeframes are general estimates. They vary widely depending on the scale of the site you build, its features, what is developed, and similar factors.
Reference: Shopify “Complete guide to ecommerce website build costs”. The table is a rough estimate for comparing build methods and does not guarantee a quote for any individual project.
ASP/SaaS platforms are the easiest way to get started at a low cost. Building in-house with a template can reduce the cost of hiring a web development agency. However, commissioning a custom design, app development, or similar work may cost several hundred thousand to several million yen or more.
Packaged ecommerce software and custom development from scratch, meanwhile, involve more steps such as requirements definition, development, and testing, so both cost and time tend to grow.
When comparing development costs, also check whether the quote includes design work, integration with external systems, and data migration.
Ongoing operating costs after launch
An ecommerce website continues to incur costs after launch. The main operating costs are listed below.
| Cost item | Details |
|---|---|
| Platform fees | Monthly or annual fees for ASP/SaaS platforms and similar services |
| Payment processing fees | Fees for credit card payments and other payment methods |
| Server and domain costs | Usage and renewal costs for servers and a custom domain |
| App and add-on feature fees | Usage fees for external apps and paid features |
| Maintenance and modification costs | System updates, incident response, feature improvements, and related work |
You will also incur costs such as labor for adding products and processing orders, advertising, and logistics.
Pay particular attention to the balance between monthly fees and payment processing fees.
For example, comparing a case of 500,000 yen in monthly sales (average order value of 5,000 yen × 100 orders), BASE (Standard plan), which has no monthly fee, charges “6.6% + 40 yen” per order in payment processing fees and service fees, for a monthly cost of about 37,000 yen.
Shopify’s Basic plan (monthly billing: 4,850 yen per month, exclusive of tax), meanwhile, has payment processing fees of 3.55% for domestically issued Visa, Mastercard, and JCB when using Shopify Payments, so even including the monthly fee the cost stays around 23,000 yen.
In this way, a service with no monthly fee can become more expensive depending on sales volume.
These estimates use each company's published pricing, checked on October 28, 2026, and cover only online payments with Visa, Mastercard, and JCB cards issued in Japan. BASE assumes orders through the web store, excluding orders placed through the PAY ID app. Shopify assumes the use of Shopify Payments. App fees, domain fees, payout fees, any taxes charged separately, and other such costs are excluded.
Sources: BASE pricing, Shopify pricing, Shopify monthly billing prices.
It is important to estimate costs based not only on current sales but also on future sales targets.
How to choose an ecommerce website build method that fits your business
It is important to choose an ecommerce website build method based on the selling methods and operating setup you want to achieve, rather than on low cost alone.
First, organize the main options according to your business situation.
| Business situation and goals | Methods to consider |
|---|---|
| Want to start ecommerce sales at low cost | ASP/SaaS platforms |
| Want to launch in a short time without specialized knowledge | ASP/SaaS platforms |
| Want to develop custom features and run the site flexibly | Open-source platforms |
| Have complex business requirements or need integration with core business systems | Packaged ecommerce software / customizable cloud ecommerce platforms |
| Need a specialized system that existing products cannot deliver | Custom development from scratch |
The above is only a general guide. Even among ASP/SaaS platforms, some services can support advanced features and large-scale ecommerce businesses.
Next, we explain 4 points to check when making a selection.
Choose by budget and development time
Choose an ecommerce website build method with your budget and time to launch in mind.
If you want to keep initial costs down and start in a short time, ASP/SaaS platforms are a strong option. If you have complex operational requirements and can secure sufficient budget and time, packaged ecommerce software and customizable cloud ecommerce platforms also become candidates.
Even with the same method, costs vary depending on whether you build the site in-house or hire a web development agency. Consider operating costs after launch as well as the cost of building the site.
Choose based on required features and customization options
List the features your ecommerce website needs and check whether each method supports them. Examples include subscriptions, membership tiers, a points program, multilingual support, and integration with external systems.
Even with ASP/SaaS platforms, you can sometimes deliver a wide range of features by using standard features, apps, and APIs. Additional costs can arise, or the service may not support the specifications you want, so check carefully.
What matters is whether you can implement the features your business needs without undue difficulty, rather than customization options alone.
Choose by future business growth and integration with external systems
If you will operate an ecommerce website over the long term, also consider future business growth.
Examples include an increase in product count, inventory integration with physical stores, and expansion into overseas sales. If you use an accounting system, an inventory management system, or similar, you also need to check whether they can integrate with the ecommerce website.
Comparing API availability, integration apps, and previous integration projects can help reduce the burden of system changes as your business grows. Also check whether you can use a custom domain, keeping a potential future migration in mind.
Choose based on security, maintenance, and support
Because an ecommerce website handles customers' personal information and order information, security and maintenance arrangements are also important selection criteria.
With ASP/SaaS platforms, the service provider generally handles server management and basic system updates. With open-source platforms and custom development from scratch, maintenance and management by your company or a contractor become necessary.
Also check support hours, the availability of Japanese-language support, and any additional fees so you can respond quickly if problems arise.
6 steps to build an ecommerce website
When building an ecommerce website, first clarify your business plan and required features, then proceed with site development and configuration. This section explains the basic process through launch in 6 steps.
Step 1. Define your business plan and concept
First, clarify why you are launching the ecommerce website and define your business plan. Focus on the following:
- Products and services you will sell
- Target customers
- How you will differentiate your site from competitors
- Sales and profit targets
- Build and operating budget and launch timing
For example, if you sell products under your own brand, a design that conveys your brand identity is important. A B2B ecommerce website may need pricing for individual business customers and a quote feature.
Step 2. List required features and choose a method
Identify the features your ecommerce website needs in line with your business plan. In addition to core features such as product management and payment processing, consider subscriptions, membership features, integration with external systems, and other requirements.
Dividing features into 3 groups—“required,” “nice to have,” and “needed in the future”—makes it easier to set priorities.
Once you have listed the required features, compare your budget, development time, customization options, and other relevant factors to choose a method. If you hire a web development agency, preparing an RFP (request for proposal) that summarizes your requirements can help you compare quotes and proposals.
Step 3. Plan the site structure and design
Once you have chosen a method, plan the structure and design of pages such as the homepage, product listing pages, product detail pages, and cart.
Make it easy for customers to find products and complete a purchase without confusion. Consider product categories, search features, the placement of purchase buttons, and similar elements.
Also take readability and ease of use on mobile devices into account. With ASP/SaaS platforms, using an existing design template can keep the production burden down.
Step 4. Add product information and required pages
Once the basic site design is ready, add product names, prices, images, descriptions, inventory quantities, and other product information. Clearly explain product features, sizes, shipping terms, and similar details so customers can buy with confidence.
You need to prepare pages such as the following.
- Disclosures required by the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions
- Privacy policy
- Return and exchange information
- Shipping information and rates
- Contact page
The required content differs depending on the products you sell, the form of the business, and the applicable laws.
Step 5. Configure payment and shipping methods
Set up the payment methods your customers use, such as credit cards, convenience store payments, and code-based payments. Also check the fees and payout schedule for each method.
For shipping, configure the carrier, shipping fees, delivery areas, dispatch lead times, and other relevant settings. Also establish the post-order workflow, from order confirmation and inventory reservation through packing, dispatch, and customer notifications.
Step 6. Place a test order and launch the site
Once settings are complete, actually place a test order and confirm that everything from purchase through payment and order management works correctly.
Before launch, check the following items.
- Product information, prices, and inventory quantities are correct
- The site displays and can be used without problems on mobile devices
- Payment completes correctly, and shipping fees and taxes are calculated correctly
- Order notifications and inventory updates run correctly
- Required pages such as legal notices and return conditions are in place
- Links and contact features work correctly
If there are no problems, launch the ecommerce website. After launch, check metrics such as visits and sales and keep improving.
Points to watch when building an ecommerce website
An ecommerce website is not finished once you “build it and launch it.” To keep operating it, you need to prepare from the standpoints of cost, security, customer acquisition, and similar.
Here we introduce 3 points that are easy to overlook during the build.
Confirm the scope of the quote and additional costs after launch
Ecommerce website costs often grow when unexpected work arises after launch. Examples include adding paid apps, integrating with external systems, and modifying features.
If you hire a web development agency, confirm the following points before signing a contract.
- Scope of work included in the quote (design work, data migration, external integrations, and related tasks)
- Work covered by post-launch maintenance (incident response, system updates, minor fixes, and related tasks)
- Fee structure if additional development or specification changes arise
Comparing the total cost of operating the site over several years also makes it easier to assess cost differences between methods accurately.
Address security and legal compliance thoroughly
Whichever build method you choose, operational security measures need to be carried out on the merchant side. Put in place mechanisms to prevent unauthorized logins, such as setting admin access permissions per staff member and introducing multi-factor authentication.
Compliance with laws such as the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions and the Act on the Protection of Personal Information is also essential. In addition to preparing the disclosures required by the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions and a privacy policy, display the required transaction terms on the final order confirmation screen.
Some products, such as food and cosmetics, require additional legal compliance, so check before launch.
Reference: Consumer Affairs Agency “Mail-order sales | Act on Specified Commercial Transactions guide”
Prepare for customer acquisition and ongoing operations after launch
Your own ecommerce website may not attract enough visits from launch alone. For that reason, consider customer acquisition methods such as the following from the build stage.
- SEO (search engine optimization)
- Web ads such as Google Ads
- Social media such as Instagram and TikTok
- Email marketing
- Outreach to existing customers
Alongside customer acquisition, you need the capacity to keep managing orders and inventory, shipping products, and supporting customers.
After launch, regularly review visits, purchase conversion rate, average order value, sales, and other relevant metrics, and keep improving the site.
Build an ecommerce website with the method that fits your business
There are 5 methods for building an ecommerce website: ASP/SaaS platforms, open-source platforms, packaged ecommerce software, customizable cloud ecommerce platforms, and custom development from scratch.
Each differs in cost, development time, and customizability, so it is important to choose a method that matches your business scale, required features, budget, and operating setup.
If you are building an ecommerce website for the first time, or if you prioritize the balance of cost and features, it is a good idea to start by considering ASP/SaaS platforms.
Among them, Shopify is an ecommerce platform that, in addition to standard features, offers extensibility through apps and APIs, so you can add features as the business grows. If you want to learn more about Shopify’s features and pricing, see the article below.
