Starting an Online Business All-in-One For Dummies®, 3rd Edition

Designing a Cart for You

Custom cart development takes place when you program (or someone you hire programs) a shopping cart that's unique to your needs.

On the bright side, you can get a program that meets your specifications in every way. And, if you know how to program or have someone willing to donate the time (or give you a steal on the price), this option can be less expensive than an off-the-shelf, or hosted, solution.

Then again, hiring someone can get expensive fast, especially if you require a good amount of customization. Another problem is that a customized solution can be difficult to integrate with payment gateways or will involve at least some additional coding. Perhaps the biggest drawback is the limitation on support and ease of scalability. Every time you hit a snag, you have to go back to the developer for help. If your needs change or you discover a feature you want to incorporate, you're again dependent on your developer, which can get expensive.

If you do hire someone to build a custom solution, you'll have a wide variety of options. With access to developers around the world, you may find some good deals by outsourcing the work to firms in other countries, such as India. The cost of a custom project can vary widely (as can the level of skill or customer service you get from contractors), so shop around for the best option. Be sure to compare the details between ...