The Top 3 Reasons to Run Your E-Commerce Store on Shopify
Let’s say you’re looking to find the perfect suite of e-commerce tools for your business. The first thing you should know is that, there’s no such thing as a one-size fits all solution. Even two brands selling in the same niche are going to have different preferences, technical capabilities, and so on.
In the end, it’s going to be your own unique needs and requirements that ultimately determine which platform is the best fit for you. With that caveat out of the way, my years of experience as a developer working in e-commerce has taught me one thing:
When deciding which e-commerce platform to use for your online business, Shopify should always be your starting point. It’s only if your business meets specific criteria that you might rule out Shopify as the best option (more on that later).
Why is that, you ask? Well, the first thing I’d say is that Shopify is the number one e-commerce platform for a reason - more than one reason, actually. I’d argue that there are three key factors that make Shopify not just the best starting point for every e-commerce business, but a platform that holds its own even for businesses with high monthly order volume. Let’s get into those key reasons now.
Why Shopify Should Be Your Starting Point
1. Site Setup Speed
Unlike other alternatives, Shopify is a true e-commerce platform. That means that, at its core, it’s purpose-built as a powerful tool for selling products online. What that means for your business is that the critical tools required for operating a high-quality, professional store come standard, out-of-the-box with Shopify.
Other alternatives force you to contend with integrating a wide range of features, which aren’t always that easy to get up and running. Need to optimize for mobile? Keep an eye on inventory management? Set up a quick abandon cart sequence? These features (along with many others) are not just easier to set up and maintain with Shopify - they’re also much faster to set up. And as everyone knows, money loves speed.
That said, it’s not just “fast and easy for beginners” that sets Shopify apart.
2. Powerful Tools and Integrations
Another reason why I typically recommend Shopify as the first point of entry for e-commerce businesses is the admin dashboard. It’s a sleek, responsive tool for handling back-office tasks such as managing orders, inventory, product information, analytics, and content - all in one place.
But Shopify’s capabilities go far beyond its native tools. Its built-in CMS isn’t an afterthought—it’s a robust, visual editing tool that makes it easy to manage site content without needing technical expertise. And when businesses need additional functionality, Shopify’s expansive app ecosystem allows for seamless integration with essential e-commerce tools.
For example, ShipStation automates label printing, tracking, and multi-carrier shipping—all within Shopify’s dashboard. Klaviyo enables advanced email flows, personalized campaigns, and abandoned cart recovery with just a few clicks. Shopify also syncs effortlessly with QuickBooks and Xero for automated bookkeeping and financial reporting, while apps like Gorgias and Zendesk centralize customer support.
Most integrations are available in the Shopify App Store and require minimal setup, making it easy to scale your store with exactly the tools your business needs.
3. Scalability
As your business grows, so do its e-commerce demands. One of Shopify’s biggest advantages is that it can scale with you—whether you’re a small startup or an enterprise-level operation.
Shopify offers tiered pricing plans, including Shopify Plus, which is built for high-volume businesses. With features like advanced automation, priority support, and customizable checkout options, Shopify Plus ensures that scaling brands don’t hit platform limitations as they expand.
Beyond Shopify’s built-in plans, businesses can take advantage of its Storefront API, allowing for custom front-end experiences, deeper integrations, and headless commerce setups. This flexibility makes Shopify a strong choice for brands that need more than just an out-of-the-box store.
For those looking to push the limits of scalability even further, custom plugins and mobile apps can offer a competitive edge. Custom plugins allow businesses to add tailored functionality that Shopify’s core platform or app store might not provide. A dedicated mobile app can strengthen customer loyalty, improve engagement, and create a seamless shopping experience for repeat buyers.
Signs that Shopify Isn’t the Right Fit
With Shopify’s scalable infrastructure, your store can handle growing traffic, evolving business needs, and increasing complexity—without requiring a full platform migration. That said, while Shopify is a great fit for many businesses, it’s not the perfect solution for everyone. In some cases, specific requirements may push a business toward a more tailored e-commerce platform.
Specific Checkout Needs
If your business requires a specific, custom-tailored checkout experience, Shopify is likely not the right option for your store. Shopify has crafted what it calls “the best-converting checkout in the world”, so there are not currently many options for customization in the checkout process. (This may change with Shopify’s ongoing rollout of “Checkout Extensibility”)
While Shopify Plus offers some additional checkout customization options, businesses needing full control over the checkout experience - such as custom-built payment gateways or highly specific user flows - may find these limitations restrictive. That said, Shopify is actively working on Checkout Extensibility, which could expand customization options in the future.
Hosting
Shopify is a fully hosted platform, which means businesses don’t have to worry about managing servers, security, or performance optimizations. While this is a major advantage for most brands, it can be a limitation for businesses that need full control over their hosting environment.
If your business requires custom server configurations, advanced caching strategies, or direct database access, Shopify’s closed hosting setup may not be the right fit. In these cases, a custom-built solution or a platform with self-hosting capabilities may be necessary to meet specific infrastructure needs.
Custom Tools
If your business requires highly tailored, custom solutions for handling specific aspects of your business, Shopify might not be the right platform for you. Not to discount the ever-growing toolset and ecosystem of apps available with Shopify, but some tasks may be outside the scope of what Shopify is built for.
In those instances, a more tailored solution such as CraftCommerce or something more custom might be the right fit for your business.
Is Shopify Right for You? Let’s Find Out.
Shopify is one of the best e-commerce platforms available, offering powerful tools, scalability, and seamless integrations that make running an online store easier. But like any platform, it isn’t a perfect fit for everyone. If your business requires highly customized checkouts, specific hosting configurations, or deeply tailored functionality, you may need a more flexible solution.
Not sure if Shopify is the right choice? We can help. Whether you’re starting fresh, looking to scale, or exploring custom solutions, we’re here to guide you. Contact us today to talk about your e-commerce needs and find the best approach for your business.