Choosing an e-commerce platform is a long-term decision. Canadian businesses have a few extra points to consider.

Common options

– Shopify: hosted, easy to launch, strong app ecosystem, and good payment and shipping integrations. Monthly fees plus transaction costs apply.

– WooCommerce (WordPress): flexible and customizable, with more control and responsibility for hosting and security.

– BigCommerce: hosted, with strong built-in features for growing stores.

– Wix and Squarespace stores: simple options for small catalogs.

– Square and similar tools: convenient if you also sell in person.

Canadian considerations

– Taxes: support for GST/HST, PST, and QST, with correct rates by province

– Currency: CAD pricing, with the option to sell in other currencies

– Shipping: Canada Post and other carrier integrations, and cross-border options

– Payments: support for local payment processors, Interac, and card gateways

– Language: many Quebec businesses need French content. Rules on French-language commercial websites apply, so confirm requirements with a legal adviser or the Office québécois de la langue française.

– Privacy: consent, data storage, and Law 25 and PIPEDA obligations

Other points to compare

– Total monthly cost, including apps and transaction fees

– Inventory and order management

– Integration with accounting software

– Speed and mobile experience

– Ability to export your data

– Support quality

Security and compliance

If you accept card payments, use a hosted payment page or reputable gateway to reduce your PCI DSS burden.

Start simple

Launch with the essentials and expand once you see real customer behavior.

DBR Soft can help integrate your store with payments, accounting, and inventory. Contact us for more information.