FAQ

Answers for new ecommerce founders and established sellers planning an owned WooCommerce store.

Getting started

Do I need to be selling already?

No. We work with new founders as well as established sellers. A first store starts with a clear offer, delivery plan and realistic way to reach customers. Existing sales are useful evidence, not a requirement.

Will I need to leave Etsy or another marketplace?

No. The aim is to build an owned channel alongside channels that already work. Each channel needs a clear role, and marketplace rules still apply.

What kinds of products can the store support?

We plan stores for digital products, print-on-demand and physical goods, including retail businesses moving online. Specific products, providers and operational requirements are assessed before scope is agreed.

Planning the work

What is the best first step?

The Owned Store Readiness Audit is $349 USD and identifies what is ready, which dependencies need attention and what a sensible launch scope could include. If your brief is already clear, request a scoped quote; a paid audit is not automatically required for every service.

How much will a store cost, and how long will it take?

New store launches start at $2,500 USD and migrations at $3,500 USD. Migration includes the agreed store build. Final pricing and timing depend on the catalog, content, integrations and testing required. We confirm the scope and schedule before payment. See pricing, limits and payment milestones.

What do I need to provide?

Product information, images and files you have permission to use, relevant account access, business and policy details, and timely feedback. We agree who handles copy, catalog cleanup, taxes and legal review.

Can you connect print-on-demand or other sales channels?

Connections are scoped around the chosen providers and workflows. We assess product mapping, order handling, stock behavior and failure scenarios. Automatic two-way synchronization is not assumed; see multichannel and POD implementation.

After launch

Can I edit the website myself?

The site uses native WordPress blocks for routine content editing. Handover covers the agreed workflows and responsibilities. More complex integration or structural changes may need technical support.

Will a new store automatically bring traffic or sales?

No. A store needs a route to customers and ongoing work. SEO and traffic foundations help establish structure, measurement and acquisition priorities; rankings, AI citations and sales cannot be guaranteed.

Who maintains the store after launch?

Our WooCommerce Care & Maintenance service provides an agreed plan for upkeep, checks and support. We define which tasks VisualVast handles and which remain with your team or providers. Ongoing care is scoped separately unless your launch agreement explicitly includes it.

Care & maintenance

What can a maintenance plan include?

Depending on your store and agreed scope, care can include WordPress, theme and plugin updates; scheduled backups and restore checks; security and availability monitoring; checkout, order email and download checks; and troubleshooting. Coverage and frequency are documented before support begins.

Can you maintain a WooCommerce store you did not build?

We start with a review of hosting, software, integrations, backups and known issues. Unsupported components or existing problems may require separately scoped preparation before ongoing care begins.

Are hosting, plugin licenses and new features included?

Only when explicitly listed in your proposal. Hosting, paid licenses, provider charges, major remediation, redesigns and new integrations are not automatically included. Maintenance focuses on the agreed upkeep of the existing store.

How much does care cost, and how quickly will you respond?

Care starts at $199 USD per month; Care Plus starts at $349 USD per month and includes two hours of agreed improvements or support, without rollover. Coverage, business hours, response targets and the route for reporting urgent issues are agreed at onboarding. This is not a 24/7 emergency service. See plan inclusions and exclusions.

Does maintenance guarantee my store will never go down?

No. Updates, backups, monitoring and checks help reduce risk and support recovery, but cannot prevent every outage or security incident. We agree recovery responsibilities and an escalation process as part of the care plan.

How do I discuss a care plan?

Read about WooCommerce Care & Maintenance, then contact us with your store address, key integrations, known issues and current maintenance arrangements. Please do not send passwords by email.

Moving to WooCommerce

Can you move my Etsy, Gumroad or Shopify store?

We assess the data and rebuild the agreed store experience. Catalogs, files, variations and integrations differ by platform. Read our Store Migration scope; not every feature or record transfers automatically.

Must I close my existing store?

No. You can add WooCommerce alongside a working channel. Replacing a store requires a separate cutover plan; keeping inventory and orders synchronized is an ongoing integration scope.

What happens to subscriptions and previous downloads?

Recurring billing, saved cards, historical orders and existing download access require separate assessment and testing. They are not included automatically in a catalog migration.

Will you preserve my URLs and SEO?

We map agreed URLs and implement redirects where you control the domain. We cannot redirect Etsy-owned URLs, guarantee unchanged rankings or promise zero downtime.

What does migration cost?

Store build and migration starts at $3,500 USD for a bounded scope, subject to assessment. The $349 Readiness Audit helps define the plan. See pricing and exclusions.

What if my question is not covered here?

Use the contact page or email [email protected]. Include your product type, current channels and what you want the new store to achieve.