Ecommerce Considerations:
Development Budget

Ecommerce is something you should undertake only if you have the budget to do it right. With the open-source tools available today, it doesn't take six figures, but it isn't free, either.

The budget required for an ecommerce site is directly proportional to the site's complexities. The size of the catalog, need for product photography, complexities of shipping rates, and credit card processing requirements, all play a part in determining the budget needed for site development.

A cheap but badly implemented ecommerce website may cost more in the long run than a more expensive, well-designed site. Discuss your budget requirements realistically with your website designer. You can always start small and scale up your ecommerce website as the business grows.