Launching an online store can be a thrilling yet overwhelming journey—especially for new business owners. Whether you choose Magento for its customizability or BigCommerce for its simplicity and built-in features, a successful store launch requires planning, testing, and fine-tuning.

This blog serves as your E-commerce Website Development Checklist for New Business Owners, customized for both Magento and BigCommerce platforms. Let’s break down the essential steps to ensure a smooth setup and successful launch.

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Why the Right Pre-launch Checklist Matters

Starting an e-commerce business involves much more than just listing products and setting up payment methods. If you're not organized from the beginning, small technical glitches or poor UX choices can snowball into bigger issues post-launch.

That’s why having a pre-launch checklist is crucial. It minimizes errors, enhances user experience, and ensures your store is ready for real traffic and transactions from day one.

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Platform Overview: Magento vs BigCommerce

Before jumping into the checklist, here's a quick look at what sets these platforms apart:

Feature	Magento	BigCommerce
Hosting	Self-hosted	Cloud-based
Customization	High	Moderate
Technical Skills Needed	Advanced	Beginner to Intermediate
Built-in Features	Limited	Extensive
Ideal For	Large enterprises	SMBs and growing brands

Your pre-launch preparation may differ slightly based on the platform. So, we’ll highlight what to focus on depending on your choice.

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✅ E-commerce Website Development Checklist for New Business Owners

1. Define Your Goals and Target Audience

Before touching the code or uploading products:

• Who are you selling to?

• What problem does your product solve?

• What are your short- and long-term business goals?

Magento users: Define clear use cases—Magento is powerful but complex, and clarity helps with better customization.

BigCommerce users: Choose the right plan based on your product range and estimated monthly revenue.

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2. Choose the Right Theme and Customize Design

Your theme reflects your brand identity.

• Ensure it is mobile-friendly and responsive.

• Keep navigation simple and intuitive.

• Use brand colors and visuals to build trust.

Magento Tip: Use Magento’s Page Builder for drag-and-drop editing. Make sure your theme is compatible with Magento 2.

BigCommerce Tip: Start with Stencil themes. They’re fast, SEO-friendly, and easy to customize with the visual editor.

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3. Set Up Domain, Hosting, and SSL

• Register a domain name that’s short, memorable, and relevant.

• Choose a reliable hosting provider (Magento users especially need robust hosting).

• Install SSL certificates to secure your site and improve SEO.

Magento users: Opt for managed hosting that supports high performance, caching, and scalability.

BigCommerce users: Hosting and SSL are handled by BigCommerce—just connect your domain.

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4. Product Catalog Setup

Product organization plays a huge role in user experience and SEO.

• Write detailed product descriptions.

• Use high-quality images with alt text.

• Set pricing, inventory levels, and SKUs.

• Create product categories and filters.

Magento Tip: Use attributes to enhance product sorting and filtering options.

BigCommerce Tip: Use built-in product options and variants for customizable products.

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5. Optimize Site Speed and Performance

Speed can make or break conversions. Make sure your site loads fast.

• Compress images.

• Enable caching.

• Use a CDN (Content Delivery Network).

• Limit third-party scripts.

Magento users: Enable full-page caching and use performance extensions.

BigCommerce users: BigCommerce takes care of backend speed, but focus on optimizing images and minimizing heavy scripts.

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6. Setup Payment Gateways and Tax Rules

Make payments seamless for customers.

• Integrate popular gateways (PayPal, Stripe, etc.).

• Enable multiple payment methods.

• Configure tax rates based on regions.

Magento Tip: Use Magento Marketplace extensions to integrate local payment gateways.

BigCommerce Tip: BigCommerce offers native integration with leading payment solutions.

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7. Shipping Configuration

Customers expect clear and accurate shipping information.

• Set up shipping zones, rates, and carriers.

• Offer free shipping if possible.

• Include estimated delivery times.

Magento users: Install shipping extensions for advanced shipping rules.

BigCommerce users: Use the native shipping manager and real-time shipping quotes.

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8. Test the Checkout Process

Cart abandonment can be reduced by simplifying the checkout process.

• Test guest and registered checkouts.

• Ensure all promo codes and coupons work.

• Check tax and shipping calculations.

• Verify email notifications and order confirmations.

Magento Tip: Use Magento's default one-page checkout or add a faster extension.

BigCommerce Tip: BigCommerce provides a streamlined single-page checkout by default.

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9. Install Essential Apps and Extensions

Add functionality using plugins/extensions:

• SEO tools

• Email marketing integration

• Reviews and ratings

• Analytics and tracking

• Loyalty programs

Magento users: Be cautious when adding too many extensions—they can conflict and slow down your site.

BigCommerce users: Use their App Marketplace for well-tested add-ons.

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10. SEO Optimization and Metadata

Get your store found on Google.

• Add meta titles and descriptions to all pages.

• Use clean URL structures.

• Create an XML sitemap and robots.txt file.

• Connect with Google Search Console and Google Analytics.

Magento Tip: Use SEO extensions for advanced metadata and canonical tag control.

BigCommerce Tip: Most SEO settings are built-in—just make sure you fill them out.

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11. Set Up Analytics and Tracking

Monitor your performance from day one.

• Set up Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager.

• Enable e-commerce tracking.

• Monitor conversion rates and bounce rates.

• Run A/B tests post-launch.

Magento users: Use built-in reporting tools or integrate with Google Data Studio for advanced insights.

BigCommerce users: Access reports directly from the dashboard or integrate with third-party tools.

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12. Backup and Security Measures

Don’t wait for something to go wrong.

• Schedule regular backups.

• Enable two-factor authentication.

• Install firewalls and malware protection.

Magento users: Use secure admin URLs and restrict file permissions.

BigCommerce users: Platform handles most security, but still enable strong admin passwords and review user access.

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13. Launch Readiness Test

Before hitting the launch button:

• Test on all major browsers and devices.

• Check for broken links using tools like Screaming Frog.

• Ask beta users to test the site and provide feedback.

Create a pre-launch checklist document and review it twice.

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Final Thoughts

Setting up an online store using Magento or BigCommerce doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With this E-commerce Website Development Checklist for New Business Owners, you’re not only covering the basics but also building a strong foundation for growth and success.

Every click, product description, and user interaction matters—especially in the first few weeks of launch. So, take your time, test everything, and launch confidently.

Whether you're a Magento power user or a BigCommerce first-timer, a detailed pre-launch checklist is your secret weapon for a smooth e-commerce debut.

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