Showcase site vs e-commerce: which to choose for your local business?
Showcase site or e-commerce for your local business? Decision criteria, hidden Shopify costs, modern alternatives. The guide to not getting it wrong in 2026.
The false obvious truth “everyone must do e-commerce”
No. For 80% of local businesses, a well-built showcase site earns more than a badly-built Shopify.
The real hidden costs of Shopify
- Subscription €32-79/month
- Essential apps (reviews, upsell, loyalty): €50-150/month
- Shopify Payments commission 2.9% + €0.30/transaction
- Premium theme: €200-500
Realistic total for a 50-product store: €200-300/month just to run it.
When to choose a showcase site
- You sell mainly in person
- Simple click & collect is enough
- Fewer than 30 items to present
- You want to keep your costs under control
When to choose e-commerce
- 100+ items
- Online sales = 30%+ of revenue
- Structured logistics (stock, shipping)
The KAIVOR alternative
A custom Astro site with a simple built-in ordering module. Faster than a Shopify, 0% commission.
| Criterion | Standard Shopify | KAIVOR Astro site |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Lighthouse score | 40-65 (heavy themes, apps, third-party scripts) | 90-100 (static HTML, minimal JS) |
| LCP (perceived speed) | 3-6 s | < 1.5 s |
| Monthly cost | €200-300 (subscription + apps + commissions) | €0 (free Vercel hosting) |
| Commission per sale | 2.9% + €0.30 | 0% |
| Simple click & collect | Paid app €20-40/month | Included |
| Code control | Limited (theme + apps) | Total |
When the Astro alternative makes sense: selling online simply (fewer than 30 items, click & collect, pay-on-order) without paying €250/month in fixed fees. For an industrialised e-commerce store with a catalogue of hundreds of products and complex logistics, Shopify remains relevant — and we do that too.
Free quote → Message us on WhatsApp.