The verdict in three sentences
For a Vancouver brand selling across Canada and into the US, an agency's quality shows in its answers on cross border shipping, duties and sales tax far more than in its mockups. A budget of 10,000 to 60,000 CAD is realistic for 100 to 1,000 products depending on integrations. If an agency answers we will sort it out after launch to more than two of the questions below, move on.
Eight questions and the answers to expect
| Question | Good answer | Red flag answer |
|---|---|---|
| Which payment methods go live at launch? | Shopify Payments or a named processor, cards, wallets, rates in writing | Cards only, we will add more later |
| How do you handle US shipping and duties? | Landed cost shown at checkout, duties collected or clearly disclosed | Customers pay duties at the door |
| How are GST, HST and PST configured? | Tax set per province, validated with your accountant | Shopify does it automatically, no review needed |
| Who owns the store, domain and analytics? | Your company, from day one | Under our agency account for convenience |
| Is the site bilingual if we sell in Quebec? | French version scoped and priced | French can wait |
| What is the response time if checkout fails? | Under 4 business hours, in the contract | As soon as possible |
| What does maintenance cost after warranty? | Fixed monthly fee with detailed scope | Billed hourly as needed |
| Can our team add products alone? | Training and documentation included | Send us the files and we will upload |
Budget by scope
| Scope | Indicative 2026 budget | Timeline | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 100 products, Canada only, theme customisation | 10,000 to 18,000 CAD | 5 to 7 weeks | First direct to consumer store |
| 100 to 300 products, Canada and US, landed cost | 18,000 to 35,000 CAD | 8 to 10 weeks | Brand with US demand |
| 300 to 1,000 products, bilingual, ERP or 3PL integration | 35,000 to 60,000 CAD | 10 to 16 weeks | Established brand with wholesale |
| Maintenance | 400 to 1,500 CAD a month | Ongoing | All profiles |
Shopify plans range roughly from 29 to 299 USD a month on standard tiers in 2026, before apps.
Red flags during the pitch meeting
- No one asks what share of your sales goes to the US.
- No live store with cross border duties is shown as reference.
- The quote omits app subscriptions and their monthly cost.
- The contract says nothing about handing over admin access at launch.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Priya, founder of a Vancouver outdoor apparel brand, sells 180 products. She expects 40 % of online sales from the US at a 140 CAD average order, versus 95 CAD in Canada. With 600 orders a month, monthly revenue is about 68,000 CAD. A 28,000 CAD build plus 700 CAD monthly maintenance, at a 45 % margin, pays back in about a month at target volume. If the agency skips landed cost, her US abandonment risk on surprise duties could cost roughly a quarter of US revenue.
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FAQ
Do we need landed cost at checkout for US customers?
It is strongly advised. Surprise duties and brokerage fees at delivery cause refusals and chargebacks, and US orders often represent 30 to 50 % of a Vancouver brand's sales.
Is a French version required?
If you actively sell to consumers in Quebec, French language rules apply to your commercial content. Budget 3,000 to 8,000 CAD for a proper French version.
How long does a launch take?
Count 5 to 10 weeks for 100 to 300 products if photos and copy are ready.
Is maintenance optional?
Technically yes, but apps and themes need updates. Plan 400 to 1,500 CAD a month.
Let's scope your project. Share your catalogue, markets and payment setup and we will answer these eight questions in writing in our quote, with budget and timeline. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.