Two ecommerce quotes for what sounds like the same store routinely differ by an order of magnitude, and the reason is almost never design. It is the catalogue, the integrations and the operational complexity, which suppliers each assume differently when the brief does not pin them down.
What actually drives the price
Number of products and how variable they are, whether data must be migrated and cleaned, integrations with inventory, accounting, shipping and fulfilment, tax and shipping rules, markets and currencies, and whether the design is bespoke or a configured theme. Data migration and integrations are underestimated by both sides more often than anything else.
Platform choice sets the floor and the ceiling
A hosted platform with a configured theme starts lowest and limits customisation. An open platform allows anything and requires someone to own upgrades and security. Headless adds flexibility and cost. The right answer follows catalogue complexity and who will maintain it rather than what the supplier prefers to build in.
Give every supplier the same facts
A product count and a real data sample, the integration list, the markets and currencies, and who writes the content. Most incomparable quotes come from suppliers assuming different answers to exactly those, each in the direction that suits their approach.
Ask what running it costs
Platform fees, app subscriptions, hosting, maintenance and support continue after launch, and that monthly figure frequently exceeds the difference between the quotes being compared. A store nobody maintains degrades quietly and is rebuilt in a few years, which is the most expensive pattern available.
Questions people ask about ecommerce web design companies
Why will suppliers not publish prices?
Because the same brief produces very different effort depending on catalogue and integrations. Those publishing bands rather than figures are being as helpful as the work allows.
Is a theme build good enough?
For many merchants yes. The limiting factors are usually catalogue complexity and integrations rather than the theme itself.
What should I own at the end?
The store, the domain, the customer data, the code and the accounts. Ecommerce concentrates more critical assets in supplier hands than most projects.