Free E-commerce Development SOW Template

For developers and agencies building Shopify, WooCommerce, or custom e-commerce stores.

Typical fee: $8,000 – $50,000Timeline: 8 – 20 weeksSections: 9
E-commerceShopifyWooCommercePaymentsProduct Catalogue

When to use this template

E-commerce projects are complex and scope-creep-heavy. Clients routinely ask for "just one more payment method", additional product variants, loyalty programmes, and custom discount logic after development begins. This template is explicit about product counts, payment gateways, and what "launch-ready" means.

1

Project Overview

Sets the context, parties, and purpose. This is the first thing a client reads and the last thing they remember.

This Statement of Work governs the development of an e-commerce store on [Platform: Shopify / WooCommerce / Custom] by [Agency Name] ("Agency") for [Client Name] ("Client"). The Agency will develop a fully functional, responsive online store with the features defined herein, integrate the agreed payment gateway(s), and assist with launch. This SOW is specific about product count and features — anything beyond what is listed requires a signed Change Order.

2

Scope of Work

The complete list of what you will deliver. If it is not listed here, you are not obligated to do it.

  • Platform setup and configuration: [Platform] store or hosting environment, domain, and SSL
  • Theme selection and customisation (or custom theme development) matching approved design mockups
  • Responsive storefront: Home, Category, Product, Cart, Checkout, Order Confirmation, Account, Contact pages
  • Product catalogue setup: upload and configuration of up to [X] products with descriptions, images, pricing, and variants
  • Payment gateway integration: [Gateways, e.g. Stripe, PayPal, M-Pesa] — up to [X] gateways
  • Shipping configuration: flat rate and free shipping rules as defined in the project brief
  • Tax configuration for [specified regions]
  • Order management workflow: notifications to admin and customer on order placement and fulfilment
  • Customer account creation, login, and order history
  • Basic SEO: meta titles, descriptions, product schema markup, XML sitemap
  • Google Analytics 4 and [Platform] pixel integration
  • Cross-browser and mobile QA testing
  • 14-day post-launch bug-fix period covering functionality within agreed scope
3

Out of Scope

Equally important as scope. Explicitly naming exclusions kills the "I thought that was included" conversation.

  • Products beyond the [X] agreed — additional products are billed per batch
  • Payment gateways beyond the [X] agreed
  • Custom discount engines, loyalty programmes, or subscription billing
  • Marketplace integrations (Amazon, eBay, Etsy) or multi-channel selling
  • ERP, inventory management, or warehouse system integrations
  • Custom order management or fulfilment automation beyond platform defaults
  • B2B pricing, wholesale portals, or customer-specific catalogues
  • Migration of existing orders, customer data, or product history from another platform
  • Copywriting, photography, or product description writing
  • Ongoing store management, product updates, or maintenance after the post-launch period
4

Timeline & Milestones

Commitments on both sides. Milestones keep projects moving and give you a paper trail when clients cause delays.

  1. Week 1–2Platform setup, design review, and development kick-off
  2. Week 3–6Storefront theme and core pages development
  3. Week 7–10Product catalogue upload and payment gateway testing
  4. Week 11Staging store delivered for Client review
  5. Week 12–13Client QA feedback incorporated
  6. Week 14Pre-launch checklist and performance testing
  7. Week 15Store launch
5

Revision Policy

The most violated clause in any SOW. Define exactly what a revision is, how many are included, and what extra costs.

One (1) consolidated review cycle is included after staging delivery, covering design deviations and functional bugs against the agreed spec. Changes in product count, payment gateways, or features after development begins are Change Orders. Each additional review cycle is billed at $[rate].

6

Payment Terms

Protect your cash flow. Late payment clauses and upfront deposits are non-negotiable for sustainable agencies.

Total project fee: $[Amount]. Payment schedule: 40% ($[Amount]) due upon signing; 30% ($[Amount]) due upon staging delivery; 30% ($[Amount]) due upon launch. Invoices are payable within ten (10) business days. The Agency withholds store credentials, source code, and domain transfer until all invoices are paid in full. Overdue invoices accrue interest at 1.5% per month.

7

Change Order Policy

The scope creep firewall. Every out-of-scope request routes through here — no exceptions.

E-commerce projects expand quickly. Additional products, payment gateways, integrations, shipping rules, discount logic, or any feature not listed above requires a signed Change Order before work begins. The Agency will provide written estimates within three (3) business days.

8

Assumptions & Dependencies

Shift responsibility for inputs to the client. If they don't deliver, the timeline moves.

  • Client will supply all product data (names, descriptions, prices, images, variants, SKUs) in a structured format (CSV or spreadsheet) before the product upload phase
  • Client holds valid merchant accounts with the agreed payment gateways before integration begins
  • Client is responsible for tax compliance in all jurisdictions — the Agency configures tax rates as directed but is not responsible for tax advice
  • Client will provide approved design files or brand assets before development begins
  • Hosting, domain, and platform subscription fees are the Client's responsibility
  • The agreed product count ([X]) is fixed at signing. Additional products require a Change Order
9

Acceptance Criteria

Define "done" before you start. Silence-equals-acceptance clauses prevent endless feedback loops.

The store is accepted when: (1) all pages and features in the Scope of Work function correctly on staging; (2) at least one test transaction has been successfully processed end-to-end; (3) the QA checklist is complete; and (4) Client provides written acceptance or fails to respond within seven (7) business days of launch. The 14-day bug-fix period begins at acceptance.

Frequently asked questions

How do I price the product upload?

Charge per batch (e.g. up to 50 products). Define the batch size in the SOW and list the per-batch rate for additional products in the change order policy.

Who is responsible for payment gateway fees?

The payment gateway (Stripe, PayPal, etc.) charges transaction fees directly to the merchant. Those are the client's responsibility and should not be included in your project fee.

Should I guarantee conversion rates?

Never. You are delivering a functioning store, not a sales guarantee. The acceptance criteria cover functionality, not business performance.

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Free E-commerce Development Statement of Work Template — ScopeShield | ScopeShield