E-commerce Development Canada | Online Store Solutions | Big0
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E-commerce Development Services in Canada
Big0 delivers comprehensive e-commerce solutions designed specifically for the Canadian market, helping businesses succeed in online retail with platforms optimized for bilingual customers, Canadian payment systems, and complex provincial tax regulations. From Shopify stores to custom-built enterprise platforms, we create online shopping experiences that drive conversions and growth.
With e-commerce development teams in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, and Ottawa, we understand the unique challenges of Canadian online retail: serving bilingual markets, integrating with Canadian shipping carriers (Canada Post, Purolator, Canpar), managing HST/GST/PST tax complexity, and meeting consumer protection regulations. Our solutions help Canadian retailers compete globally while excelling locally.
Why Canadian Retailers Choose Big0 for E-commerce
Canadian E-commerce Expertise Deep understanding of the Canadian market including bilingual e-commerce (English/French), Canadian payment integration (Interac, Canadian banks, Moneris), shipping and logistics (Canada Post, Purolator, cross-border), and HST/GST/PST tax management.
Shopify Partner Excellence Official Shopify Partner with extensive experience building and customizing Shopify stores for Canadian retailers. Shopify is a Canadian company (Ottawa-based) and the leading e-commerce platform in Canada.
Omnichannel Retail Solutions Seamless integration across online, mobile, in-store, and marketplace channels with unified inventory, customer data, and order management.
Conversion Rate Optimization Data-driven approach to improving conversions through UX design, performance optimization, checkout optimization, and personalization tailored to Canadian shoppers.
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Get Started TodayComprehensive E-commerce Development Services
Shopify E-commerce Development
Shopify Store Setup & Customization Complete Shopify store development including theme selection and customization, brand integration and design, product catalog setup, collection organization, navigation and menu structure, and bilingual Shopify setup (English/French).
Custom Shopify Theme Development Creating unique, brand-focused Shopify themes built from scratch using Liquid templating, responsive design for all devices, performance optimization, accessibility compliance (WCAG 2.1), and conversion-focused layouts.
Shopify App Integration Integrating and customizing Shopify apps for email marketing (Klaviyo, Omnisend), reviews and ratings (Yotpo, Judge.me), loyalty programs (Smile.io, LoyaltyLion), subscriptions (Recharge, Bold), and shipping and fulfillment (ShipStation, Easyship).
Shopify Plus for Enterprise Advanced Shopify Plus implementation for high-volume retailers including custom checkout experiences, wholesale channel (Shopify Plus exclusive), advanced automation (Shopify Flow), multi-store management, and API-driven custom integrations.
Custom E-commerce Platforms
WooCommerce Development Building e-commerce on WordPress using WooCommerce for businesses wanting content marketing integration. Ideal for B2B e-commerce, subscription products, and content-rich stores.
Magento E-commerce Enterprise-grade Magento (Adobe Commerce) development for complex B2B and B2C requirements including multi-store management, advanced catalog management, complex pricing rules, and robust B2B features.
Custom-Built E-commerce Fully custom e-commerce platforms for unique business models including headless commerce (decoupled frontend/backend), marketplace platforms (multi-vendor), B2B portals with complex workflows, and industry-specific requirements.
Progressive Web Apps (PWA) Modern PWA e-commerce experiences offering app-like performance, offline functionality, push notifications, add-to-home-screen capability, and fast, responsive user experience.
Canadian Payment Integration
Interac Integration Complete integration with Canada's payment network including Interac e-Transfer for person-to-person and bill payments, Interac Debit for online purchases, Interac Flash for contactless payments, and Interac Verified for age verification.
Shopify Payments Optimized Shopify Payments configuration for Canadian stores including competitive Canadian rates, instant payouts available, all major credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay, and fraud analysis included.
Moneris Payment Gateway Canada's leading payment processor integration including credit and debit card processing, Moneris Checkout, Moneris Vault for tokenization, fraud prevention tools, and recurring billing support.
Alternative Payment Methods Expanding payment options for Canadian shoppers including PayPal (widely trusted in Canada), Apple Pay and Google Pay, Klarna and Affirm (buy now, pay later), cryptocurrency payments (BitPay), and digital wallets.
Shipping & Fulfillment Solutions
Canada Post Integration Complete Canada Post shipping integration including real-time rate calculation, label printing and tracking, domestic and international shipping, signature and insurance options, and SmartFlow for high-volume shippers.
Purolator Integration Integration with Purolator for fast Canadian shipping including ground and express services, real-time tracking, residential and commercial delivery, and packaging and fulfillment services.
Cross-Border Shipping Facilitating Canadian to US (and international) shipping including duties and taxes calculation (DDP/DDU), international carrier integration (FedEx, UPS, DHL), customs documentation, and landed cost calculation.
Fulfillment Center Integration Connecting to 3PL providers and fulfillment centers including ShipBob, Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), Shopify Fulfillment Network, and Canadian fulfillment centers (GTA, Vancouver, Montreal).
Bilingual E-commerce for Canada
English/French Dual Language Creating truly bilingual online stores serving both English and French customers with separate French and English URLs for SEO, language detection and switching, translated product catalogs, and culturally appropriate content.
Quebec E-commerce Compliance Ensuring compliance with Quebec's Charter of the French Language (Bill 101) including French as prominent language option, French product descriptions, French customer service, and Quebec-specific legal requirements.
Bilingual Customer Support Supporting bilingual customer service including bilingual help center, French and English email templates, multilingual chatbots, and bilingual live chat support.
Translation Management Efficient translation workflows including professional translation services, translation management systems, maintaining content parity across languages, and SEO-optimized French content.
Tax Management & Compliance
Provincial Tax Configuration Accurate tax calculation across Canada's complex tax landscape including HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) in Ontario, NB, NS, PEI, NL, GST (Goods and Services Tax) federally, PST (Provincial Sales Tax) in BC, SK, MB, QST (Quebec Sales Tax) in Quebec, and no provincial tax in Alberta.
Tax Exemptions & Rules Implementing complex tax rules including tax-exempt products (e.g., groceries, children's clothing), B2B tax exemption handling, First Nations tax exemptions, and input tax credit (ITC) management.
Automated Tax Calculation Integration with tax automation platforms like Avalara, TaxJar, or Quaderno for automatic calculation, remittance support, reporting and compliance, and multi-jurisdiction handling.
Digital Products Tax Handling GST/HST on digital products and SaaS following CRA guidelines for where tax applies and compliance with place of supply rules.
Conversion Rate Optimization
UX/UI Design Creating high-converting store designs including mobile-first responsive design, intuitive navigation and filtering, high-quality product photography, compelling product descriptions, and trust signals (reviews, guarantees, security badges).
Checkout Optimization Streamlining checkout for higher conversion including guest checkout option, progress indicators, address autocomplete, clear shipping and tax breakdown, multiple payment options, and order confirmation and tracking.
Personalization Tailoring experiences to individual shoppers including product recommendations, personalized email marketing, dynamic content based on location/language, abandoned cart recovery, and customer segmentation.
A/B Testing Data-driven optimization through testing including homepage and landing page tests, product page variations, checkout flow optimization, pricing and promotion testing, and continuous improvement based on data.
Marketing & SEO
E-commerce SEO Optimizing stores for Canadian search including bilingual SEO (Google.ca), product and category optimization, technical SEO (speed, mobile, structure), local SEO for Canadian cities, and rich snippets and structured data.
Google Shopping Integration Setting up Google Merchant Center and Shopping ads including product feed optimization, Shopping campaigns for Google.ca, dynamic remarketing, and performance tracking and optimization.
Email Marketing Automated email campaigns driving revenue including welcome series, abandoned cart emails, post-purchase follow-up, win-back campaigns, and segmented promotional emails.
Social Commerce Selling on social platforms popular in Canada including Facebook and Instagram Shops, Pinterest Shopping, TikTok Shopping, and social media advertising integration.
Ready to Transform Your Business?
Let's discuss how we can help you achieve your goals with our innovative solutions.
Get Started TodayE-commerce Platform Comparison for Canada
Shopify - Best for Most Canadian Retailers
Strengths: - Canadian company (Ottawa-based) with excellent CAD support - Easy to use with minimal technical knowledge required - 100+ payment gateways including all Canadian options - Extensive app ecosystem (8,000+ apps) - Reliable hosting with 99.98% uptime - Excellent mobile commerce experience - Built-in bilingual support
Best For: Small to medium retailers, B2C, retail brands, quick launches Pricing: CAD $39-$399/month, Shopify Plus from CAD $2,000/month Our Recommendation: Ideal for 80% of Canadian e-commerce businesses
WooCommerce - Best for Content-Rich Stores
Strengths: - Built on WordPress (great for content marketing + e-commerce) - Highly customizable with thousands of plugins - Full control of hosting and data - No platform transaction fees - Strong Canadian payment and shipping support
Best For: Content-heavy sites, B2B with complex catalogs, businesses already on WordPress Pricing: Free plugin, but costs for hosting, domain, theme, security Our Recommendation: Great for businesses prioritizing content marketing and SEO
Magento (Adobe Commerce) - Best for Enterprise
Strengths: - Extremely powerful and flexible - Excellent for B2B and complex catalogs - Strong multi-store management - Advanced inventory and order management - Highly scalable
Best For: Large enterprises, B2B, complex multi-store operations Pricing: Open-source (self-hosted) or Adobe Commerce (CAD $22,000-$125,000+/year) Our Recommendation: Enterprise retailers with complex requirements and technical resources
Custom-Built - Best for Unique Models
Strengths: - Complete control and customization - Unique business model support - No platform limitations - Proprietary features and competitive advantages - Headless architecture options
Best For: Unique business models, marketplaces, subscription-heavy, proprietary requirements Pricing: CAD $50,000-$500,000+ development Our Recommendation: Only when platform limitations prevent business goals
Industry-Specific E-commerce Solutions
Fashion & Apparel
Features: Size and fit guides, visual merchandising, lookbooks and collections, AR virtual try-on, inventory management (sizes, colors), seasonal collections, and sustainable fashion features.
Canadian Focus: Bilingual sizing (metric/imperial), Canadian size standards, winter apparel specialization, and Canadian brand storytelling.
Food & Beverage
Features: Subscription options, freshness and expiry management, ingredient listings and allergens, recipe integration, local delivery options, and age verification (alcohol).
Canadian Focus: Canadian nutritional labeling, bilingual ingredient lists, Health Canada compliance, provincial alcohol regulations, and local farm partnerships.
Health & Beauty
Features: Product ingredients and benefits, skin type/hair type matching, video tutorials, subscription beauty boxes, loyalty programs, and influencer integration.
Canadian Focus: Health Canada cosmetic regulations, French/English ingredient lists, Canadian brand authenticity, and cold weather skincare.
Home & Furniture
Features: Room visualization (AR), furniture dimensions and specifications, assembly instructions, white glove delivery options, financing options, and interior design services.
Canadian Focus: Canadian room sizes and standards, bilingual assembly instructions, Canada-wide shipping logistics, and Canadian wood/manufacturing.
Electronics & Tech
Features: Detailed specifications, comparison tools, warranty information, technical support resources, trade-in programs, and product registration.
Canadian Focus: Canadian electrical standards, warranty compliance (provincial laws), French technical documentation, and Canadian distribution channels.
B2B E-commerce
Features: Custom pricing by customer, quote requests, bulk ordering, purchase orders, account management, credit terms, and approval workflows.
Canadian Focus: HST/GST exemption handling, Canadian business verification, bilingual B2B portals, and integration with Canadian ERP systems.
E-commerce Services Across Canada
Toronto E-commerce Development
Canada's largest retail market and e-commerce hub. Supporting diverse retailers from fashion to electronics with focus on multicultural markets.
Key Industries: Fashion, electronics, home goods, food, multicultural retail E-commerce Focus: Multicultural marketing, GTA fulfillment, high-volume retail Advantages: Largest market, diverse demographics, strong logistics infrastructure
Vancouver E-commerce Development
West coast e-commerce serving BC and gateway to Asia-Pacific markets. Strong in natural products, outdoor gear, and sustainable brands.
Key Industries: Outdoor recreation, natural health, cannabis, sustainable products E-commerce Focus: Cross-border (US), Asia-Pacific markets, eco-conscious retail Advantages: Asia-Pacific gateway, early adopters, sustainability-focused consumers
Montreal E-commerce Development
Bilingual e-commerce capital serving Quebec and francophone markets. Strong in fashion, gaming, and creative industries.
Key Industries: Fashion, gaming, beauty, creative products, artisanal goods E-commerce Focus: French-first e-commerce, Quebec compliance, francophone markets Advantages: Bilingual expertise, lower costs, European time zone, creative talent
Calgary E-commerce Development
Serving Alberta with strong purchasing power and no provincial sales tax. Focus on outdoor, western wear, and resource sector retail.
Key Industries: Western wear, outdoor gear, oil & gas supplies, agriculture E-commerce Focus: B2B e-commerce, industrial supplies, high-value purchases Advantages: No PST (price advantage), high income market, resource sector serving
Ottawa E-commerce Development
Government market and tech sector e-commerce. Strong in B2B, office supplies, and tech products.
Key Industries: B2B, office supplies, technology, government procurement E-commerce Focus: Government procurement, B2B portals, bilingual B2B Advantages: Government market, tech sector, bilingual requirement expertise
E-commerce Success Stories
National Fashion Retailer Shopify Plus Migration
Challenge: Canadian fashion retailer with 50 stores and underperforming Magento site needed modern, mobile-first e-commerce platform with better performance and bilingual support.
Solution: Migrated to Shopify Plus with custom theme development, product catalog migration (15,000 SKUs), bilingual store (English/French), Moneris payment integration, loyalty program integration (Smile.io), and in-store pickup implementation.
Results: - 145% increase in online revenue (first year) - 65% improvement in mobile conversion rate - 3.2 second average page load time (from 8.5 seconds) - 4.2x increase in organic traffic through SEO - 92% customer satisfaction rating
Quebec Artisanal Food Marketplace
Challenge: Quebec food cooperative needed French-first marketplace platform connecting local producers with consumers across Quebec.
Solution: Custom multi-vendor marketplace with French as primary language (English secondary), producer onboarding and management, complex delivery zones (Montreal, Quebec City, regions), Interac e-Transfer integration, subscription box support, and Quebec tax compliance.
Results: - 120 local producers onboarded - CAD $2.8M GMV in first year - 8,500 active customers - 85% repeat purchase rate - Supporting local Quebec food economy
B2B Industrial Supplies Platform
Challenge: Industrial supplier needed B2B e-commerce platform to replace manual ordering for 2,000+ business customers across Canada.
Solution: Custom B2B platform with customer-specific pricing, bulk ordering and quotes, purchase order support, credit terms management, integration with ERP (SAP), HST/GST exemption handling, and bilingual product catalogs.
Results: - 70% of orders moved online - 45% reduction in order processing costs - $12M in online B2B sales (first year) - 40% improvement in order accuracy - 24/7 ordering convenience for customers
Beauty Brand Shopify Store
Challenge: Canadian beauty brand launching direct-to-consumer e-commerce alongside retail partnerships needed to establish online presence and subscription program.
Solution: Shopify store development with custom brand-focused theme, subscription integration (Recharge), quiz for product recommendations, user-generated content (reviews, photos), influencer integration, email marketing automation (Klaviyo), and bilingual support.
Results: - CAD $850K revenue in first year - 35% of revenue from subscriptions - 3.8% conversion rate (industry avg 2.5%) - 12,000 email subscribers - Featured in major beauty publications
E-commerce Pricing for Canada
Shopify Store Development
CAD $5,000 - $25,000 - Theme selection and customization - Basic branding integration - Product catalog setup (up to 100 products) - Payment gateway configuration - Shipping setup (Canada Post, Purolator) - Basic app integration (2-3 apps) - Training and documentation - Timeline: 4-6 weeks
Custom Shopify Theme Development
CAD $15,000 - $50,000 - Completely custom Shopify theme - Unique brand-focused design - Advanced features and functionality - Mobile-optimized and responsive - Conversion rate optimization - Accessibility compliance - Bilingual support (English/French) - Timeline: 8-12 weeks
Shopify Plus Enterprise
CAD $40,000 - $150,000 - Shopify Plus setup and configuration - Custom checkout experience - Advanced automation (Shopify Flow) - Multi-store or wholesale channel - Complex integrations (ERP, POS, 3PL) - Headless commerce architecture (optional) - Ongoing support and optimization - Timeline: 12-20 weeks
WooCommerce Development
CAD $10,000 - $40,000 - WordPress + WooCommerce setup - Custom theme development - Payment gateway integration - Shipping configuration - Product catalog setup - Plugin customization - SEO optimization - Timeline: 6-10 weeks
Custom E-commerce Platform
CAD $50,000 - $500,000+ - Fully custom e-commerce solution - Unique business model support - Scalable architecture (cloud-based) - Advanced features and workflows - Third-party integrations - Mobile apps (optional) - Ongoing development and support - Timeline: 4-12+ months
Ongoing Support & Optimization
CAD $1,000 - $10,000+/month - Platform maintenance and updates - Feature enhancements - Conversion rate optimization - Performance monitoring - Security updates - Marketing integration - Analytics and reporting - Priority support
Plus Platform Fees: - Shopify: $39-$399/month (Shopify Plus $2,000+/month) - WooCommerce: Hosting $15-$200/month + plugins - Magento: Hosting $500+/month or Adobe Commerce license
Frequently Asked Questions
For most Canadian retailers, Shopify is the best choice. It's a Canadian company (Ottawa-based) with excellent understanding of the Canadian market, built-in support for CAD currency and Canadian payment processors, easy integration with Canadian shipping carriers (Canada Post, Purolator), simple bilingual setup for English/French stores, and reasonable pricing with minimal technical requirements. Shopify powers over 60% of Canadian e-commerce sites. However, alternatives make sense in specific cases: WooCommerce if you need heavy content marketing integration, Magento for complex enterprise B2B requirements, or custom-built for unique business models that platforms can't support. We assess your specific needs, budget, technical resources, and business model to recommend the best fit.
Creating effective bilingual e-commerce requires more than simple translation. We implement separate URLs for English and French (e.g., /products vs. /produits) for better SEO on Google.ca, automatic language detection based on browser settings with manual switching option, complete translation of all content including product descriptions, policies, emails, checkout process, and navigation. We handle text expansion (French text is typically 20-30% longer), ensuring layouts work for both languages. For Quebec-focused stores, we implement French as the default language meeting Bill 101 requirements. We use professional translation services ensuring accurate, culturally appropriate Quebec French (not just European French), and maintain content parity ensuring new products and content are available in both languages simultaneously.
Canadian tax calculation is complex due to provincial variations. We configure e-commerce platforms to correctly calculate HST (13-15%) in Ontario, NB, NS, PEI, and Newfoundland, GST (5%) in all provinces, PST (6-7%) in BC, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba separately from GST, QST (9.975%) in Quebec in addition to GST, and no provincial tax in Alberta (GST only). We implement tax rules for exempt products (groceries, children's clothing under $100, medical devices, etc.), handle B2B tax exemptions with proper documentation, set up tax for digital products following CRA guidelines, and configure nexus rules for out-of-province sales. For complex scenarios, we integrate tax automation platforms like Avalara or TaxJar that automatically update rates and rules. We also provide guidance on tax remittance and filing requirements.
Yes, we integrate all major Canadian shipping carriers. For Canada Post, we implement real-time rate calculation based on weight, dimensions, and destination, label printing and tracking, domestic (regular, expedited, express) and international options, Xpresspost and Priority services, and SmartFlow integration for high-volume shippers. For Purolator, we integrate ground and express services, real-time tracking, packaging options, and dangerous goods handling. We also integrate cross-border carriers (FedEx, UPS, DHL) for international shipping, regional carriers (Canpar, Loomis), and fulfillment centers (ShipBob, Amazon FBA, Shopify Fulfillment Network). For multi-carrier setups, we implement comparison at checkout showing customers the best options, and integrate ShipStation or Easyship for centralized shipping management across multiple carriers.
Canadian shoppers expect multiple payment options. At minimum, we recommend implementing major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex), Shopify Payments or Moneris (Canada's leading processors), and PayPal (widely trusted in Canada). For increased conversion, add Interac Debit (preferred by many Canadians over credit cards), Apple Pay and Google Pay (fast, secure mobile checkout), and Interac e-Transfer (popular for peer-to-peer and bill payments). For higher-value items, consider buy-now-pay-later options like Klarna, Affirm, or Sezzle (growing in Canada). For niche markets, cryptocurrency payments may be relevant. We configure payment gateways for optimal Canadian rates, minimal fees, fast settlement, and fraud protection, ensuring secure, PCI-compliant payment processing meeting customer expectations for safety and convenience.
Timelines vary significantly based on platform and complexity. A basic Shopify store with a customized theme, 50-100 products, and standard features takes 4-6 weeks. A custom Shopify theme with unique design and advanced features takes 8-12 weeks. Shopify Plus enterprise implementation with complex integrations takes 12-20 weeks. WooCommerce development similar to Shopify timeline (6-10 weeks). Custom-built e-commerce platforms take 4-12+ months depending on complexity. Factors affecting timeline include product catalog size and complexity, custom design requirements, integrations needed (ERP, POS, CRM, etc.), bilingual requirements, custom features and functionality, and content preparation (products, images, descriptions). We provide detailed project plans with milestones and can adjust timelines based on your launch requirements.
Yes, e-commerce is never "done" - it requires continuous optimization and support. We offer flexible ongoing support packages including platform maintenance (updates, security patches, bug fixes), feature enhancements based on customer feedback and analytics, conversion rate optimization through A/B testing and UX improvements, performance monitoring and optimization, app updates and new integrations, seasonal campaign support (Black Friday, holidays), security monitoring, and priority support for urgent issues. Support packages range from CAD $1,000/month for basic maintenance to $10,000+/month for comprehensive optimization and growth services. Most clients benefit from at least 3-6 months of intensive post-launch optimization to refine the store based on real customer data, followed by ongoing monthly support. We also provide training so your team can handle day-to-day operations while we focus on strategic improvements.
Ready to grow your online retail business? Contact Big0 today for a free e-commerce consultation and discover how we can help you build a high-converting online store tailored to the Canadian market. Serving Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Ottawa, and retailers across Canada.
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