E-commerce store Bucharest — how to pick the right partner in 2026
You want an online store in Bucharest but aren't sure about Shopify vs WooCommerce vs custom — or who to trust with your budget. This guide covers platform choice, Romania-specific integrations, and how to avoid stores that look good in demos but don't sell.
What an online store actually includes in 2026
- Catalog, stock, variants
- Cart, checkout, payments
- Courier + AWB + tracking
- ANAF e-Factura (mandatory in Romania)
- GDPR, returns policy
- Technical SEO + mobile speed
- Admin panel you can use without a developer
Platform decision matrix
| Platform | Setup cost | Choose when |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify | €3,000–€10,000 | Fast launch, D2C, no IT team |
| WooCommerce | €5,000–€18,000 | Strong blog, hosting control |
| Next.js / headless | €15,000–€60,000+ | High volume, max performance |
Pricing detail: e-commerce development cost. Services: e-commerce development.
Romania integrations you can't skip
- ANAF e-Factura
- Couriers: Sameday, FAN, DPD
- Payments: Stripe, PayU
- Accounting: SmartBill, Saga
- eMAG marketplace (if applicable)
Studio mic vs large e-commerce agency
Many Bucharest agencies charge €15,000+ with junior teams and PM layers. A studio mic studio gives you direct access to a senior engineer, 1–2 week start, same quality with less overhead. Full comparison.