Setting up an online store in Ecuador is nothing like setting up an informational site. There is a catalog, a cart, payments with local cards, shipping, electronic invoicing and, above all, daily operations: stock, orders, returns. The cost is split between what is built once and what is paid every month, and understanding that difference avoids surprises.
A store does not cost only what it costs to build: it costs what it takes to sell well. Gateway, shipping, invoicing and maintenance weigh as much as the design.
Two paths: WooCommerce or custom
WooCommerce
This is the store on top of WordPress. It already includes catalog, cart, coupons, taxes and inventory, and has thousands of extensions for payments, shipping and invoicing. It is the fastest and cheapest path for most stores, and you manage products and prices yourself. We explain it on our WooCommerce page.
It is usually the best option if:
- Your catalog is mid-sized and your sales rules are standard.
- You want to edit everything yourself without depending on a developer.
- You need to reach the market soon.
Custom store
It is programmed from your needs, without the limits of a platform. It costs more and takes longer, but gives total control. More information in online stores.
It makes sense if:
- You sell in a way no platform supports: per-customer pricing, configurators, complex subscriptions, wholesalers with their own rules.
- Your volume or catalog already make WooCommerce slow or fragile.
- The store has to integrate deeply with your ERP, inventory or logistics.
- The store is your main product and you want full control of the experience.
If you already have a WooCommerce store and wonder whether to make the jump, we go through it in when to leave a CMS.
What defines the cost of the store
- Catalog size: how many products, with how many variants (size, color) and how they are loaded.
- Design: adjusted template or custom design. A store sells through visual trust.
- Payments: a local gateway with cards and deferred payment, bank transfers or cash on delivery. Before choosing, read Datafast vs PayPhone vs Kushki.
- Shipping: rates by zone, in-store pickup, courier integration.
- Electronic invoicing: issuing SRI documents from every sale. We explain it in integrated electronic invoicing.
- Languages and currencies: a store in Spanish and English, or one that sells outside Ecuador, adds work.
- Integrations: inventory, ERP, CRM, marketplaces, WhatsApp.
- Performance and SEO: a slow store loses sales. Review the checkout mistakes that cost sales before launching.
Recurring costs
These are the ones most often forgotten when budgeting:
Item | Frequency | Note |
|---|---|---|
Hosting or server | Monthly or yearly | A store needs more resources than an informational site |
Domain | Yearly | In your name |
Gateway fees | Per sale | Vary by provider and card type |
Payment extensions | Yearly | Some are annual licenses |
Maintenance and security | Monthly | Updates, backups, monitoring |
Advertising and SEO | Monthly | A store without traffic does not sell |
To understand the server, see VPS vs shared hosting.
How long it takes
A standard WooCommerce store usually takes 4 to 8 weeks; a custom one, longer. Time is set mostly by catalog loading, integrations and how fast designs and copy are approved. If you load the products yourself, this guide will save you mistakes: how to add simple products in WordPress.
What to ask for in the quote
- Included features, one by one (not just "complete store").
- Payment gateway included, with its costs separate.
- Whether product loading is included, and how many.
- Electronic invoicing: integrated or separate.
- Training to manage the store.
- Timelines and number of revisions.
- Ownership of the site, access and the domain.
- What support you get after launch.
How to choose without getting it wrong
Start with the question: what stops you from selling today with a standard solution? If the answer is "nothing", WooCommerce is almost always right. If the answer is a specific business rule that extensions cannot solve, then it is worth considering a custom store. Many businesses start with WooCommerce and migrate when they grow: that is not a mistake, it is a good order.
How we work at Codegea
We hold a scoping meeting and, based on what you sell and how you sell it, we recommend the path. We send you the scope, the timeline and a closed price in writing, with no hidden costs. We do not push the most complex option: if WooCommerce solves your case, we will say so.
Tell us about your catalog from contact and we will reply with a clear scope.
Written by
Carolina Dávila
Co-founder & Project Manager
Co-founder of Codegea. Coordinates projects, teams and deliveries so every launch lands on time.