Laravel vs Shopify Guide

E-commerce platform choice affects long-term success. Shopify offers quick start, Laravel provides unlimited customization. At ZIRA Software, we've built both Shopify apps and custom Laravel e-commerce platforms.

Quick Comparison

Shopify:

• Fast setup (days)
• Monthly fees ($29-$299+)
• Limited customization
• App ecosystem
• Managed hosting

Laravel Custom:

• Longer development (weeks-months)
• One-time development cost
• Unlimited customization
• Full control
• Self-hosted

When to Use Shopify

Choose Shopify when:

• Need online store quickly
• Standard e-commerce features sufficient
• Limited budget initially
• No technical team
• Testing market fit

Example businesses:

• Small retail stores
• Dropshipping businesses
• Standard product catalogs
• Fashion boutiques
• Artisan products

When to Build Custom Laravel

Choose Laravel when:

• Complex business logic
• Unique customer experience
• Custom pricing models
• Integration with existing systems
• Scale requirements
• Want to avoid monthly fees

Example businesses:

• B2B wholesale platforms
• Subscription boxes with custom logic
• Multi-vendor marketplaces
• Industry-specific solutions
• High-volume sellers

Cost Comparison

Shopify (Year 1):

Monthly plan: $79/month × 12 = $948
Transaction fees: 2% × $100,000 = $2,000
Apps (estimate): $50/month × 12 = $600
Theme: $180 one-time
Total Year 1: ~$3,728

Laravel Custom (Year 1):

Development: $15,000-$50,000 one-time
Hosting (VPS): $50/month × 12 = $600
Payment processing: Same as Shopify
Maintenance: $2,000-$5,000/year
Total Year 1: ~$17,600-$55,600

Break-even: Usually 2-3 years for high-volume stores

Feature Comparison

Shopify pros:

• Quick setup
• Built-in SEO
• Mobile app
• 24/7 support
• PCI compliance handled
• Regular updates

Laravel pros:

• Unlimited customization
• No transaction fees
• Custom integrations
• Advanced B2B features
• Complex inventory logic
• API flexibility

Laravel E-commerce Implementation

Basic structure:

// Products
class Product extends Model
{
    public function variants() {
        return $this->hasMany(ProductVariant::class);
    }

    public function categories() {
        return $this->belongsToMany(Category::class);
    }
}

// Cart
class Cart {
    public function addItem($productId, $quantity, $variantId = null) {
        // Add to cart logic
    }

    public function calculateTotal() {
        // Calculate cart total
    }
}

// Orders
class Order extends Model {
    public function items() {
        return $this->hasMany(OrderItem::class);
    }

    public function payment() {
        return $this->hasOne(Payment::class);
    }
}

Stripe integration:

use Stripe\Stripe;
use Stripe\PaymentIntent;

Stripe::setApiKey(config('services.stripe.secret'));

$intent = PaymentIntent::create([
    'amount' => $order->total * 100,
    'currency' => 'usd',
    'metadata' => ['order_id' => $order->id],
]);

Hybrid Approach

Shopify + Laravel:

• Use Shopify for storefront
• Build Laravel admin for complex operations
• Sync via Shopify API
• Best of both worlds

// Sync products to Shopify
$shopify = new ShopifyClient(config('shopify'));

$product = $shopify->Product->post([
    'product' => [
        'title' => $laravelProduct->name,
        'body_html' => $laravelProduct->description,
        'variants' => $this->formatVariants($laravelProduct),
    ]
]);

Decision Matrix

Score each factor (1-5):

Factor                  | Shopify | Laravel Custom
------------------------|---------|---------------
Time to market          |    5    |      2
Initial cost            |    5    |      2
Customization           |    2    |      5
Scalability             |    4    |      5
Technical requirements  |    5    |      2
Long-term cost          |    2    |      4
Control                 |    2    |      5

Real-World Examples

Shopify success:

• Gymshark (started on Shopify)
• Kylie Cosmetics
• Allbirds

Custom platforms:

• Amazon
• Etsy
• ASOS

Conclusion

Shopify suits quick launches and standard stores. Laravel custom provides unlimited flexibility and long-term cost savings for complex requirements.

Need e-commerce development? Contact ZIRA Software for platform selection and implementation.