Custom E-shop is one of the options for building an e-commerce solution for your project and selling online. Although it has undeniable advantages, a custom e-shop is not always the best choice. Therefore, we have summarized the basic information about what benefits it brings, how it compares to other options, or what its cost is and who a custom e-shop is suitable for.
UPDATED: We originally published the blog article on 2.10.2022 and updated it on 23.6.2026.
What are your options when creating an online store?
Let's start by listing the options available to you if you are about to create a website. The fastest way is to purchase one of the ready-made templates along with hosting and a complete solution from many providers (Websupport, Shoptet, Shopify, etc.). This solution is also called a boxed e-shop (box), as it involves pre-set templates with certain features that can be rented by many other companies.
Another option is to create an online store within one of the open source systems, such as Wordpress (the solution for an online store is called Woocommerce), Drupal, etc. It is a CMS system that is user-friendly so that anyone can access it and customize it according to their requirements. Hosting and domain are not part of this solution and need to be secured externally.
Thirdly, there is a custom-made online store. What does this solution offer?
Advantages of a custom-made online store. Discover a CMS full of possibilities
Custom-made online store is built on a CMS (Content Management System) – an editorial system that allows for flexible settings and content management with the highest degree of customization. In other words, it can reflect your ideas and requirements for creating an online store without limitations.
UIČKOVSKÝ TIP: Did you know that the first Slovak CMS is from our workshop? CMS BUXUS is our unique product, which we have been continuously improving and upgrading for 25 years (!). Thanks to this, we can create truly unique custom-made online stores that we connect to the required external systems.
Advantages of a custom-made online store
- unique design – no generic solutions or templates that anyone else can have, a custom-made online store offers the possibility to design your website exactly according to the visual you want
- flexibility – a custom-made online store grows with your online business, for example, through various connections to other systems (CRM, payment gateways, etc.), a large number of items or language versions
- custom requirements – if you have unique solutions, processes, or workflows that work and you would like to implement them into the management of the online store, this is possible
- administrative interface – managing the online store, individual items, and customizing the environment with tools that you as an administrator really need
- automation – since a custom-made online store is not dependent on third parties, it is easier to implement new features and artificial intelligence tools, such as automated recommendations, which streamline online sales
The negatives of a custom-made online store include higher cost and also a longer time for its creation. Since it is a unique solution, it is a process that takes longer than filling a template.
Custom-made online stores from ui42
Get inspired by successful custom-made online stores created by ui42:
Comparison: Custom-made online store versus boxed and open source CMS
Custom-made online store or boxed solution?
The term box embodies exactly what you can expect from the solution. Everything in one package. If we compare it with a custom-made online store, it is clearly a faster process of creating a website, as a certain selected template is filled, which you can adjust according to (limited) options.
Each operator has its own price list and tariff. Just choose the most suitable one (for example, according to the number of products you plan to have in the online store) and your solution is ready to see the light of day as soon as you fill in all the necessary information. The good news is that compared to a custom-made website it is a financially less demanding choice, which is an advantage for smaller online stores or starting e-commerce projects.
Although the speed of creating this type of website is indeed a great advantage, compared to a custom-made online store the box has its limitations. Figuratively speaking – the limits of the template and custom settings that you simply cannot change. These tend to be a problem when you need to implement unique solutions or the online store starts to grow, or expand abroad. In other words, when you need to get "out of the box".
Custom-made online store or website creation through an open source system?
An online store built on an open source system is something between a custom-made online store and a boxed solution. In this case, it also applies that you have at your disposal many templates and themes, which have their default settings. However, you do not pay any solution operator who will conveniently launch everything for you. This CMS is free and accessible to anyone. An online store built on Wordpress (the most common solution) can be significantly more customized than the boxed one.
For a layperson, however, this task can be a Spanish village, especially when it comes to choosing from a multitude of plugins. Therefore, Wordpress online stores are often filled and managed by a professional, who sets everything up as needed. In addition to the theme, you should also add the costs of creating and possibly filling and managing the online store.
The disadvantage is also that open-source systems lack responsible support, which would promptly respond to your questions or requests. If you are not familiar, the community usually provides answers. Also, all updates, plugin selection, and connections to external systems must be handled on your own (or entrusted to a professional).
Custom-made online store and price. Who is it suitable for?
The price of a custom-made online store is a decisive factor, for which many companies decide to opt for one of the other two options. However, the truth is that unless it is a truly unique project that requires special settings and connections from the start (a typical small and medium-sized online store), this investment may be unnecessary at the beginning of the project. It is generally four- and in some cases even five-digit sum.
How much does a custom-made online store cost - real numbers
The exact price depends on the scope of the project. But we can give you a rough framework so you know what to expect:
What is included in the price:
- UX design and prototyping
- Frontend and backend development
- ERP / CRM integrations
- Testing and deployment
- Team training
- Post-launch support
Price of Custom-made Online Store vs. SaaS over 3 years
The boxed solution seems cheaper. But only for the first month, because most SaaS solutions have a business model based on monthly fees and transaction fees, which, with an annual turnover of 500,000 euros, will exceed more than half the price of a complete custom-made solution in just one year. If your business exceeds 1 million euros, monthly fees will definitely exceed the value of a custom-made solution in less than 2 years.
For extensive websites with a large number of products, connections to external systems, and the need for special settings and a comprehensive solution, a custom-made online store is the best choice. Many online store owners migrate to this solution precisely when they realize that their e-commerce project has potential and needs to grow.
Did you manage to orient yourself in which solution to choose for creating an online store? If you are still unsure, contact us, and over a good coffee, we will help you find the best solution for your project at ui42.
