Lots of offers promise an online store for under $100. In my experience, they're usually a builder free trial, a template with no products set up or a store with checkout that hasn't been tested properly. A real store needs secure payments, order handling, stock tracking, shipping rules and testing. That's more work than $100 can honestly cover.
I'm Aldrian, an independent developer who works on real stores, including a live WooCommerce store I upgraded from PHP 7.4 to PHP 8.4 without breaking checkout, subscriptions or affiliates. So here's the honest picture, plus a budget option that actually works.
The budget option: a product catalog site
My $99 a year package doesn't include e-commerce checkout. But it can include a clean product catalog website that takes orders without a cart:
- Up to 4 pages, such as Home, Products, About and Contact
- Product sections with photos, descriptions and prices
- An order or inquiry form, or buttons to message you on WhatsApp, Viber or Messenger with the product name
- Your own domain and hosting for the first year
- Mobile-friendly layout and basic SEO
Customers browse, choose what they want and send you an order. You confirm by message or email and send payment instructions. Many small sellers already work this way on social media. A catalog site just makes it look more professional, easier to browse and findable on Google.
Who the catalog approach suits
- Small sellers with a modest product range
- Made-to-order products like cakes, crafts or custom items
- Businesses that confirm stock or delivery before taking payment
- Sellers testing demand before investing in a full store
When you need a real store
If any of these apply, a full e-commerce build is worth it:
- You have many products, sizes or colors to track
- Customers expect to pay instantly by card or e-wallet
- Orders come in faster than you can handle by message
- You need shipping rates, discount codes or customer accounts
- You want stock to update automatically
For those, see my e-commerce website page. Payment options like GCash and Maya are covered on my payment integration page.
A smart path for growing sellers
- Start with a catalog site for $99 a year to look professional and get found.
- Take orders by form or chat while you learn what sells.
- Upgrade to a full store when volume justifies it.
The catalog content, photos and domain carry over, so nothing is wasted.
Why not a free store trial?
Free trials and very cheap plans can work for testing, but watch for transaction fees, required apps, theme costs and price jumps after the trial. Also check that you can take your domain and products with you if you leave.
What makes a catalog site sell
Great photos. Clear, consistent product photos matter more than anything.
Honest details. Sizes, materials, prices and delivery areas.
Easy ordering. One tap to message you with the product already named.
Fast loading. Shoppers on phones won't wait for slow galleries.
Trust. Your business details, real reviews you've received and clear policies.
How a catalog site handles an order
Here's what the ordering flow looks like for a typical small seller:
- A shopper finds your site on Google or from your social media link.
- They browse your products on their phone, with clear photos and prices.
- They tap "Order" on a product. A short form opens with the product name already filled in, or a chat opens on WhatsApp, Viber or Messenger with a ready-made message.
- You receive the order by email or chat, confirm availability and delivery, and send payment instructions.
- The customer pays and you ship.
It's not fully automatic, but it's organized, professional and much easier for customers than scrolling through months of posts to find a product.
What it costs to go further
When you outgrow the catalog approach, the main extra pieces of a real store are a cart and checkout, secure online payments, order management, stock tracking, shipping rules, discount codes and customer emails. Each one adds build and testing time, which is why a proper store is quoted separately. The good news is that everything you created for your catalog site, like your photos, product descriptions and domain, moves straight into the new store.
Setting the right expectations
A catalog site won't replace a busy online store, and I won't pretend it can. What it does well is give a small seller a professional, fast, searchable home for their products at a price that makes sense when you're just getting started. When the orders grow, the store can grow with them.
How it works
- Send the request form on the $99 package page.
- I reply with a checklist and a start date.
- You send product photos, descriptions and prices.
- I build the catalog site and share a preview.
- You review, with three revision rounds.
- We launch on your domain.
Ready to sell online on a budget?
Send a few details on the package page. If a full store suits you better, I'll tell you and send a custom quote instead.
