How to Start Selling Online as a Small Business (Without Shopify Fees)

The Shopify Problem

Shopify is a great platform — but it's designed for volume sellers who can absorb platform fees. For a small business doing $2,000–$10,000/month in online sales, those fees add up fast:

• Basic plan: $39/month
• Transaction fees: 2.9% + 30¢ per sale (if not using Shopify Payments)
• App fees: $10–$100/month for features that should be standard
• Theme: $200–$400 one-time

On $5,000/month in sales, you're paying $145–$200/month just to use the platform — before you've paid for the site itself.

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The Alternative: A Custom E-Commerce Site You Own

A custom-built e-commerce site uses payment processors like Stripe or Square directly — no platform middleman. You pay Stripe's standard rate (2.9% + 30¢) and nothing else. No monthly platform fee. No app fees. No revenue share.

For a business doing $5,000/month in sales, that's $1,200–$1,500 saved per year compared to Shopify.

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What a Custom E-Commerce Site Includes

At Gastronex, our e-commerce builds include:

• Product showcase pages with photos, descriptions, and variants (size, flavor, quantity)
• Order form or cart with Stripe or CashApp/Venmo payment links
• Subscription plans for recurring customers
• FAQ section to reduce support messages
• Mobile-first design — most shoppers are on their phones
• SEO setup so you rank for searches related to your products

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Real Example: Uncle Doh Sea Moss

Uncle Doh was managing all orders over Instagram DMs and CashApp — no product pages, no order history, no automation. We built a full e-commerce storefront at uncledohshop.com with:

• 8 product variants with individual order buttons
• A subscription plan section (Starter, Wellness, Family)
• A full order form that sends requests via SMS
• FAQ section covering 12 common questions
• Mobile-optimized design that looks like a $5,000 agency build

The result: orders moved off DMs, the site handles FAQs automatically, and the brand looks credible enough to charge premium prices.

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Is a Custom Site Right for You?

A custom e-commerce site makes sense if:

• You sell physical products (food, beauty, apparel, crafts)
• You offer services that can be booked or paid for online
• You're currently taking orders over DM, text, or phone
• You want to own your platform without monthly fees

Get a quote for your e-commerce site →