E-commerce Development UK | Online Store Solutions London
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E-commerce Development Services in the United Kingdom
Big0 delivers comprehensive e-commerce development services across the UK, creating online stores that drive sales, delight British customers, and comply with UK regulations including VAT, Making Tax Digital, Consumer Rights Act, and GDPR. With e-commerce teams in London, Manchester, and Edinburgh, we serve retailers throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Our UK e-commerce practice combines platform expertise (Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, custom solutions) with deep understanding of British consumer behavior, UK payment preferences, local shipping logistics, and regulatory requirements that determine online retail success in the British market.
Why UK Retailers Choose Big0 for E-commerce Development
The UK e-commerce market reached £120 billion in 2024, with British consumers embracing online shopping across all categories. However, succeeding in UK e-commerce requires more than launching a website—you need platforms optimized for British shoppers, integrated with UK payment and shipping providers, and compliant with complex UK regulations.
VAT Compliance & Making Tax Digital (MTD) UK online retailers must charge correct VAT rates (20% standard, 5% reduced, 0% zero-rated), handle complex scenarios (B2B vs. B2C, UK vs. EU/International, margin schemes), submit quarterly VAT returns through Making Tax Digital, and maintain digital records meeting HMRC requirements. We build e-commerce systems that automate VAT compliance, integrate with MTD-compatible accounting software, and ensure accurate tax treatment.
Consumer Rights Act 2015 Compliance UK consumers have strong legal protections including 14-day cooling-off period for distance sales, right to refund for faulty goods, clear information requirements, and protection against unfair terms. We implement compliant returns processes, clear terms and conditions, and customer rights information meeting UK consumer law.
UK Payment Integration British shoppers expect diverse payment options: credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex), digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal), Buy Now Pay Later (Klarna, Clearpay, PayPal Credit), and Open Banking payments. We integrate with UK payment providers (Stripe UK, Worldpay, SagePay, PayPal UK) ensuring smooth checkout and maximizing conversion.
UK Shipping & Fulfillment Successful UK e-commerce requires integration with British shipping providers (Royal Mail, DPD, Evri/Hermes, Yodel, UPS, DHL), accurate shipping cost calculation, delivery time estimates accounting for UK geography, and post-Brexit shipping considerations for EU/international orders.
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Get Started TodayComprehensive E-commerce Services in the UK
Shopify E-commerce Development
Shopify Store Setup & Design Beautiful, high-converting Shopify stores designed for UK market. We implement British design sensibilities, optimize for UK mobile users (70%+ of traffic), create compelling product pages, and design checkout flows maximizing conversion for British shoppers.
Shopify Theme Customization Tailored Shopify themes incorporating your brand identity while optimizing for UK e-commerce success. We customize existing themes or build custom Liquid themes, ensuring fast loading (critical for UK SEO), responsive design, and accessibility.
Shopify App Integration Strategic app selection and integration enhancing functionality: UK shipping apps (ShipStation, Shiptheory), VAT/MTD apps (Quaderno, TaxJar UK), inventory management, email marketing (Klaviyo, Mailchimp), loyalty programs, and customer reviews.
Shopify Plus for Enterprise Advanced Shopify Plus implementations for high-volume UK retailers. We leverage Shopify Plus features including automation (Shopify Flow), wholesale channel (B2B), advanced APIs, and dedicated infrastructure supporting Black Friday traffic spikes.
Headless Shopify Development Decoupled Shopify backends with custom React/Next.js or Vue.js frontends. Provides ultimate flexibility in customer experience while leveraging Shopify's robust e-commerce infrastructure, checkout, and admin.
WooCommerce Development
WordPress WooCommerce Setup Full-featured online stores built on WooCommerce, ideal for UK businesses wanting flexibility and control. We implement WooCommerce on optimized WordPress hosting, configure UK-specific settings (currency, taxes, shipping), and create conversion-focused designs.
WooCommerce Extensions & Plugins Strategic extension selection enhancing WooCommerce functionality: UK shipping plugins (Royal Mail, DPD, multi-carrier), payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal, SagePay), VAT/tax plugins (EU VAT Assistant), subscriptions (WooCommerce Subscriptions), and booking systems.
WooCommerce Performance Optimization Speed optimization ensuring fast loading for UK customers. We implement caching (Redis, Varnish), image optimization (AVIF format, lazy loading), database optimization, and UK-based hosting (AWS London, Cloudflare UK edge) achieving sub-2-second page loads.
WooCommerce Custom Development Bespoke functionality when plugins don't suffice. We develop custom WooCommerce extensions, integrate with UK business systems (Sage, Xero, ERPs), implement complex pricing logic, and create unique checkout experiences.
Magento E-commerce Development
Magento 2 Store Development Enterprise-grade e-commerce on Magento 2 (Adobe Commerce) for complex UK catalogs and high-volume operations. We implement multi-store setups (UK, International), B2B and B2C functionality, advanced pricing rules, and sophisticated inventory management.
Magento Performance & Scalability Optimization ensuring Magento handles UK traffic efficiently. We implement full-page caching (Varnish), Elasticsearch for catalog search, Redis for sessions, CDN (Cloudflare), and elastic infrastructure scaling for seasonal peaks.
Magento Extensions & Customization Strategic extension selection and custom module development. We integrate UK payment gateways, shipping providers, VAT/tax calculation, marketplace connectors (Amazon, eBay), and ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics).
Magento to Shopify Migration Migrating complex Magento stores to Shopify/Shopify Plus for UK merchants seeking simpler operations. We preserve SEO (301 redirects), migrate products/customers/orders, replicate critical functionality, and train teams on new platform.
Custom E-commerce Development
Bespoke E-commerce Platforms Custom-built e-commerce solutions when off-the-shelf platforms can't meet unique UK business requirements. We develop using modern frameworks (Next.js Commerce, Laravel, Django) with exactly the features you need without platform limitations.
Marketplace Development Multi-vendor marketplaces connecting UK buyers and sellers. We build platforms like Etsy or Amazon with vendor management, commission handling, payment splitting, ratings/reviews, and comprehensive admin controls.
Subscription E-commerce Recurring revenue models for UK subscription businesses. We implement subscription management, flexible billing cycles, dunning management, customer portals, and integrations with UK subscription billing platforms.
B2B E-commerce Portals Trade portals for wholesale, manufacturing, and B2B distribution in UK. Features include tiered pricing, quote requests, purchase order management, credit account management, and integration with UK accounting systems.
E-commerce Platform Migration
Platform Migration Services Migrating UK stores between platforms (Magento to Shopify, WooCommerce to Shopify, custom to platform) with minimal disruption. We preserve SEO value through 301 redirects, migrate all data (products, customers, orders, reviews), test thoroughly, and plan cutover for minimal downtime.
Data Migration & SEO Preservation Comprehensive data transfer ensuring nothing is lost: product catalogs (including variants, images, descriptions), customer accounts (hashed passwords when possible), order history (for customer service), reviews and ratings, and blog content. SEO mapping ensures Google rankings transfer to new URLs.
E-commerce Marketing Integration
Google Analytics 4 & Tag Manager Comprehensive e-commerce tracking using GA4. We implement enhanced e-commerce tracking (product impressions, clicks, cart adds, purchases), conversion tracking, audience building, and GDPR-compliant cookie consent for UK visitors.
Email Marketing Integration Email automation platforms (Klaviyo, Mailchimp, Omnisend) driving UK customer retention. We implement abandoned cart recovery (recovering 15-25% of abandoned carts), post-purchase campaigns, browse abandonment, win-back campaigns, and personalized recommendations.
Social Media Integration Facebook/Instagram Shopping, TikTok Shop, and Pinterest integration enabling social commerce for UK audiences. We create product catalogs, implement pixel tracking, and enable in-app purchasing from social platforms.
SEO Optimization Technical SEO ensuring UK Google visibility. We implement structured data (schema.org Product markup), optimize page speed, create SEO-friendly URLs, implement category hierarchies, and optimize product content for British search queries.
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Get Started TodayUK E-commerce Compliance & Regulations
VAT Management & Making Tax Digital
Automated VAT Calculation Intelligent VAT calculation handling complexity of UK tax: standard rate (20%) for most goods, reduced rate (5%) for domestic fuel, children's car seats, and other specific items, zero rate (0%) for food, children's clothing, books, and exempt items (insurance, postage, finance).
VAT Treatment by Customer Type Different VAT handling for B2C (VAT included in prices) vs. B2B (VAT added at checkout, validated VAT numbers for EU business customers), UK customers (charge VAT) vs. EU customers (reverse charge mechanism post-Brexit) vs. international customers (no VAT).
Making Tax Digital Integration Integration with MTD-compatible accounting software (Xero, Sage, QuickBooks) automatically submitting quarterly VAT returns to HMRC. Digital record-keeping requirements met through integrated systems maintaining audit trails.
VAT MOSS for Digital Services For digital products/services sold to EU consumers, Mini One Stop Shop (MOSS) implementation simplifying EU VAT compliance through single UK registration.
Consumer Rights & Returns Management
14-Day Cooling-Off Period Automated returns process implementing 14-day cooling-off period required by Consumer Rights Act for distance sales. Clear information at checkout, simple return initiation, and compliant refund processing (within 14 days of return receipt).
Product Information Requirements Comprehensive product information meeting UK consumer law: clear descriptions, pricing (including VAT), delivery costs and timescales, total price before order, trader name and contact details, and complaint handling information.
Terms & Conditions Compliance Legally compliant terms and conditions prepared by UK solicitors covering sales contracts, delivery, returns, liability limitations, and dispute resolution meeting Consumer Rights Act, Consumer Contracts Regulations, and Unfair Terms legislation.
Accessibility Compliance WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility ensuring e-commerce sites are usable by all British consumers, avoiding discrimination claims under Equality Act 2010 and meeting evolving accessibility expectations.
GDPR & Privacy Compliance
Cookie Consent Management GDPR and PECR-compliant cookie consent (no pre-ticked boxes, clear information, separate consent for different purposes) for UK/EU visitors. We implement cookie consent platforms (OneTrust, Cookiebot) controlling analytics and marketing cookies.
Privacy Policy & Data Processing Clear privacy policies explaining data collection, processing basis, retention, sharing, and rights. We implement data subject rights (access, erasure, portability, objection), consent management for marketing, and breach notification procedures.
Customer Data Security Encryption, secure authentication, PCI DSS compliance for payment data, and regular security testing protecting UK customer information meeting GDPR Article 32 requirements.
UK E-commerce Payment Integration
Payment Gateway Integration
Stripe UK Integration Comprehensive Stripe implementation supporting credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Link (one-click checkout), and BACS Direct Debit. Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) compliance, subscription billing, and detailed payment analytics.
PayPal UK Integration PayPal Checkout (30%+ of UK online shoppers prefer PayPal), PayPal Credit (Buy Now Pay Later), PayPal Pay in 3, and PayPal Business accounts for UK merchants. Express checkout reducing friction and increasing conversion.
Worldpay Integration Worldpay (FIS) payment processing popular with established UK retailers. Support for card payments, alternative payment methods, fraud screening (Worldpay FraudSight), and enterprise-grade reliability.
SagePay Integration SagePay (Opayo) payment gateway from Elavon, popular with UK SMEs. Integration supporting card payments, PayPal, and secure tokenization for repeat purchases.
Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL)
Klarna Integration Klarna Pay Later (30 days), Pay in 3, and financing options increasing average order value by 30-40%. Klarna handles credit checks, customer communications, and collections while merchant receives full payment upfront.
Clearpay Integration Interest-free installments (4 fortnightly payments) popular with UK millennials and Gen Z. Zero interest, zero fees for customers, while retailers pay ~4% commission and receive full payment immediately.
PayPal Credit & Pay in 3 PayPal's Buy Now Pay Later options providing 0% financing for purchases £30-£2,000. Seamless integration with PayPal checkout, familiar brand trust for UK consumers.
Open Banking Payments
Pay by Bank Integration Direct bank-to-bank payments using Open Banking APIs (Truelayer, Plaid, Token). Lower payment processing fees (0.5-1% vs. 1.5-3% for cards), instant settlement, and reduced fraud risk.
Bank Transfer Options Manual bank transfer (BACS, Faster Payments) for high-value orders, trade customers, or customer preference. Automated order confirmation upon payment receipt.
UK Shipping & Fulfillment Integration
UK Shipping Carrier Integration
Royal Mail Integration Complete Royal Mail integration including 24/48 hour tracked delivery, Special Delivery, International Standard/Tracked, and Click & Drop API. Real-time pricing, label generation, and tracking updates.
DPD UK Integration DPD Local for UK deliveries (1-hour delivery windows via Predict), DPD Classic (next working day), and Saturday delivery. Integration with DPD shipping API for rates, booking, labels, and tracking.
Evri (Hermes) Integration Cost-effective delivery option popular with UK e-commerce. Integration supporting ParcelShop delivery (12,000+ locations UK-wide), home delivery, and next-day services.
Multi-Carrier Shipping Solutions Platforms like ShipStation or Shiptheory aggregating multiple UK carriers. Single interface for shipping, rate shopping (selecting cheapest/fastest carrier automatically), bulk label printing, and unified tracking.
Fulfillment Services
Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) Amazon FBA for UK Prime eligibility, fast delivery, and Amazon's fulfillment infrastructure. Integration syncing inventory, orders, and tracking between your store and Amazon UK.
Third-Party Logistics (3PL) UK 3PL providers (James and James, Huboo, ShipBob UK) handling warehousing, pick/pack, and shipping. Integration automating order transmission, inventory updates, and tracking information.
Click & Collect In-store pickup for UK retailers with physical locations. Customer convenience, reduced shipping costs, and opportunity for additional in-store purchases.
International Shipping & Brexit Considerations
EU Shipping Post-Brexit Customs documentation (commercial invoices), EORI numbers, HS codes, and landed cost calculation (duties + VAT) for EU shipments. We implement Brexit-compliant shipping processes minimizing customer friction.
International Shipping Worldwide shipping via Royal Mail International, DHL, UPS, FedEx with customs documentation, duties/taxes calculation (DDP vs. DAP), and restricted goods handling.
E-commerce Pricing for UK Businesses
Our UK e-commerce development pricing reflects platform choice, customization requirements, integrations, and ongoing support needs. Investment typically ranges from £5,000 for simple stores to £250,000+ for enterprise e-commerce platforms.
Shopify Store Setup: £5,000 - £20,000 Professional Shopify store including theme customization, UK configuration (VAT, shipping, payments), product upload (up to 100 products), app integration, and training. Timeline: 4-8 weeks.
WooCommerce Store Development: £8,000 - £30,000 Custom WooCommerce site on optimized WordPress hosting including bespoke design, UK compliance setup, payment/shipping integration, and SEO foundation. Timeline: 6-10 weeks.
Magento 2 Development: £30,000 - £100,000 Enterprise Magento implementation for complex catalogs and high volumes. Includes design, development, UK integration, performance optimization, and training. Timeline: 12-20 weeks.
Custom E-commerce Platform: £50,000 - £250,000+ Bespoke e-commerce solution built to exact requirements using modern frameworks. Includes full design, development, UK compliance, integrations, and testing. Timeline: 16-40 weeks.
Platform Migration: £15,000 - £80,000 Migration between platforms preserving SEO, data, and functionality. Pricing depends on catalog size, customization complexity, and integration requirements.
Monthly Retainer Support: £1,000 - £8,000/month Ongoing support including updates, security patches, new feature development, performance optimization, UK compliance updates, and technical support.
All pricing excludes UK VAT. Platform subscription costs (Shopify, apps, hosting) additional. We offer payment plans for UK businesses.
UK E-commerce Success Stories
London Fashion Retailer Shopify Plus
Migrated established London fashion boutique from Magento to Shopify Plus, implementing headless architecture with custom Next.js frontend. Integrated with UK shipping, Klarna, Stripe, and Klaviyo email automation.
Results: 45% increase in conversion rate, 60% faster page loads, £2.5M additional annual revenue, successful Black Friday handling 12x normal traffic without issues.
Manchester Furniture E-commerce
Built custom WooCommerce platform for Manchester furniture manufacturer with complex product configurator (fabric choices, dimensions, customization), trade pricing (B2B portal), and UK-wide delivery scheduling.
Results: 210% increase in online revenue, 35% of sales now online vs. 12% previously, trade customer portal generated £800K first year, reduced customer service calls by 40%.
Edinburgh Food & Drink Marketplace
Developed multi-vendor marketplace connecting Scottish artisan food producers with UK consumers. Features include vendor onboarding, commission management, VAT handling for multiple sellers, and integrated shipping.
Results: 150 active vendors, £1.8M GMV (Gross Merchandise Value) first year, 25,000 registered customers, positioned as leading Scottish artisan food marketplace.
National Subscription Box Service
Implemented Shopify Plus with ReCharge subscriptions for UK-wide subscription box business. Automated billing, shipping, customer portal for subscription management, and Klaviyo email automation.
Results: 12,000 active subscribers, 85% month-on-month retention rate, £3.2M annual recurring revenue, 70% of customers on annual plans (vs. 30% monthly).
Frequently Asked Questions
Platform choice depends on your specific needs. Shopify is ideal for most UK small-to-medium retailers: quick launch (4-8 weeks), comprehensive UK app ecosystem (VAT, shipping, marketing), excellent hosting/security, and reasonable pricing (£25-£240/month). Best for: fashion, gifts, homewares, beauty. Shopify Plus suits high-volume retailers (£1M+ revenue) needing advanced features. WooCommerce offers maximum flexibility and control for UK businesses comfortable with WordPress: one-time costs vs. monthly platform fees, complete code access for customization, extensive plugin ecosystem. Best for: businesses with technical teams, complex requirements, existing WordPress sites. Magento serves enterprise retailers with massive catalogs (10,000+ SKUs), complex B2B requirements, or multi-country operations. We help UK businesses choose based on budget, timeline, technical capability, and growth plans.
We implement comprehensive VAT automation: Rate Application - Correct rates (20% standard, 5% reduced, 0% zero) based on product category. Customer Type - Different treatment for B2C (VAT-inclusive pricing) vs. B2B (VAT added, VAT number validation). Geographic Rules - UK customers (charge VAT), EU customers (post-Brexit reverse charge for B2B, distance selling for B2C), international customers (no VAT). Making Tax Digital - Integration with MTD-compatible accounting software (Xero, Sage, QuickBooks) automatically submitting quarterly VAT returns to HMRC. Digital Records - Audit trails meeting HMRC digital record-keeping requirements. Edge Cases - Margin schemes for second-hand goods, zero rating for children's clothing/food, exempt categories. We ensure your e-commerce platform handles VAT correctly across all scenarios, avoiding HMRC penalties and customer confusion.
Comprehensive payment options maximize conversion—UK shoppers abandon carts if preferred payment unavailable. Essential: Card Payments (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Amex) via Stripe, PayPal, or Worldpay. PayPal (~30% UK online shoppers prefer PayPal). Apple Pay / Google Pay (especially for mobile, 70%+ UK traffic). Recommended: Buy Now Pay Later (Klarna, Clearpay, PayPal Pay in 3) increases average order value 30-40%. Open Banking / Pay by Bank (lower fees than cards). Optional: Amazon Pay (trust factor), Bank Transfer (B2B, high-value orders). All must support Strong Customer Authentication (SCA / 3D Secure 2) required by PSD2. We implement payment options aligned with your target audience—young consumers expect BNPL, B2B customers need invoicing, premium brands prioritize seamless card processing. More options typically increases conversion 10-20%.
UK e-commerce costs vary widely based on platform and complexity. Shopify Basic setup with template customization: £5,000-£12,000 for professional launch (4-6 weeks). Shopify Custom design and development: £12,000-£30,000 for bespoke themes and functionality (6-10 weeks). Shopify Plus enterprise implementation: £30,000-£80,000 with headless architecture, custom integrations (12-20 weeks). WooCommerce professional site: £8,000-£25,000 for custom design, UK compliance, optimization (6-10 weeks). Magento enterprise platform: £30,000-£100,000 for complex catalogs, B2B functionality (12-20 weeks). Custom Platform bespoke development: £50,000-£250,000+ for exactly what you need (16-40 weeks). Ongoing costs include hosting (£20-£500/month), platform subscriptions (Shopify £25-£240/month), apps/plugins (£50-£500/month), and maintenance (£1,000-£8,000/month). We provide detailed quotes after understanding your requirements, with payment plans available for UK businesses.
Effective UK shipping strategy balances customer expectations with cost control. We implement: Multi-Carrier Integration - Royal Mail (affordable, reliable), DPD (premium, 1-hour windows), Evri (economical), with rate shopping selecting optimal carrier automatically. Free Shipping Threshold - Free delivery over £50-£75 encourages larger baskets (average order value increases 30-50%). Delivery Options - Standard (3-5 days, £3-£5), Next Day (£6-£10), Saturday delivery (premium), Click & Collect (free). Geographic Pricing - Mainland UK standard rates, Highlands & Islands surcharges (DPD won't deliver to many Scottish postcodes—need Royal Mail backup). International Shipping - Clear costs for EU/worldwide with customs/duties explanation (post-Brexit). Real-Time Rates - API integration showing accurate costs based on basket weight/dimensions and destination. Tracking - Automated tracking updates via email/SMS. UK consumers expect fast, affordable delivery—Amazon Prime has reset expectations. We help you compete through smart shipping strategy.
While accessibility regulations (Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018) only mandate WCAG 2.1 Level AA for public sector, private UK retailers should absolutely prioritize accessibility. Reasons: Legal Risk - Equality Act 2010 prohibits discrimination against disabled people. UK court cases (Genting Casinos, RNIB cases) established websites are "services" under the Act. Market Opportunity - 20% of UK population (13M people) has disabilities, representing £274B spending power. Accessible sites reach larger audience. SEO Benefits - Many accessibility practices (semantic HTML, alt text, clear headings) improve search rankings. Better UX - Accessible sites work better for everyone (clearer navigation, readable text, keyboard shortcuts). We implement WCAG 2.1 Level AA including screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, color contrast, clear form labels, and video captions. Investment: £3,000-£8,000 for accessibility audit and remediation. Protection from legal challenges + expanded market reach provide strong ROI.
UK subscription e-commerce requires robust recurring billing infrastructure. Platform options: Shopify + ReCharge/Bold - Leading subscription app for Shopify, handling billing, customer portal, subscription management. £250-£1,500/month based on revenue. WooCommerce Subscriptions - Native WordPress subscription functionality, one-time £180 cost. Flexible but requires more manual setup. Chargebee / Recurly - Dedicated subscription platforms with sophisticated billing logic, dunning management, analytics. £250-£1,000/month + transaction fees. Stripe Billing - Developer-friendly subscription billing via Stripe API. Custom implementation required but powerful and cost-effective. Key features needed: flexible billing cycles (weekly, monthly, annual), dunning management (retrying failed payments, customer communication), customer portal (pause, swap products, update payment method), prorated billing for mid-cycle changes, and trial periods. UK-specific: VAT handling for subscriptions, BACS Direct Debit option for B2B, FCA compliance for financial subscriptions. We implement complete subscription infrastructure including retention optimization (reducing churn by 15-25% through smart dunning and customer communication).
Get Started with UK E-commerce Development
Ready to grow your online sales? Big0's e-commerce teams in London, Manchester, and Edinburgh are ready to help you build profitable online stores that British customers love.
Contact our UK e-commerce team: - London Office: +44 20 XXXX XXXX - Manchester Office: +44 161 XXX XXXX - Edinburgh Office: +44 131 XXX XXXX - Email: ecommerce[email protected]
We offer free e-commerce consultations to discuss your products, target market, platform options, and budget. Whether you're launching your first online store or scaling to £10M+, we're here to help you succeed in UK e-commerce.
Let's Discuss Your Project
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