Tired of paying Shopify for what you don't use?
Transaction fees on every sale, app subscriptions for basic features, theme costs, all for a shop that still looks like everyone else's. I'll give you an honest view on whether moving to your own site is worth it. Senior developer, Hull and Yorkshire.
Trusted by Local Businesses
Adam reached out to me with some really thoughtful suggestions on how to improve my existing website, and I’m so glad he did. He quickly put together a mockup that made it easy to visualise the changes, and he clearly identified the exact areas that needed attention. One of the biggest improvements was the booking system, something I was actively wanting to improve and Adam completely transformed it into something much more streamlined and user-friendly. Throughout the whole process he was friendly, collaborative, and incredibly helpful. He always made time for me, answered any questions quickly, and was great to bounce ideas off. I’m super happy with the final result, especially the new booking system. Highly recommend Adam if you’re looking to upgrade your website!
Danielle Lowery
23 March 2026
Moved across my website to Adam @ headless and was a seamless move, Adam took care of everything and made it as easy as possible to work with. Really happy with my new website 5*
Amy Tadman
14 March 2026
Couldn’t have created our new business without Adam, his skills and knowledge of websites and ecommerce have been priceless. Thank you Adam
3 Ninjas Pizza
14 March 2026
The Problem with Shopify
Shopify is brilliant for getting started, but the costs stack up fast. Transaction fees on every sale. £20 to £100 a month in apps just to get basic features. Themes that all look the same, or premium themes that still need a developer to customise. And if you want anything beyond the template? You're hiring a Shopify developer at agency rates.
Most small businesses don't need a massive ecommerce platform built for enterprise retailers. They need a clean, fast online shop that actually looks like their brand, without the monthly drain.
What You're Actually Paying Shopify For
Hidden costs that eat into your margins every month
Transaction Fees
1 to 2% on every sale, on top of Stripe fees. The more you sell, the more Shopify takes.
App Subscriptions
Reviews, SEO, email marketing, upsells: features that should be standard cost extra every month.
Theme Lock-In
Free themes look generic. Premium themes cost £250+. Either way, you're stuck within Liquid template limits.
Developer Dependency
Want something custom? Shopify developers charge £50 to £150 an hour. Small tweaks become expensive projects.
Bloated Performance
Every app you install adds scripts to your storefront. Speed drops. Conversion drops. Google notices.
Support Queue
When something breaks, you're in a chat queue. No direct line to the person who built your site.
What you'd have instead
A bespoke online shop built around your brand, with the features small businesses actually need built in, not rented back to you as monthly apps.
What a move could give you
No transaction fees
Stripe payments with Apple Pay, Google Pay and card, and no cut taken on top of every sale you make.
Easy product management
Products, variants, stock and categories, all from one simple editor. No separate admin to wrestle with.
A shop that's yours
Designed and built around your brand, not a theme everyone else is using. Bespoke as standard.
Features built in
Promo codes, shipping zones, delivery or collection: included, not rented back to you as monthly apps.
A full website, not only a shop
Pages, blog, contact forms and search-friendly foundations: the whole site, not a checkout bolted on.
Direct support
When something needs doing, you talk to the person who built it. Not a chat queue, not a forum. Me.
Your own site vs Shopify
| Your own site | Shopify | |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction fees | None | 1 to 2% per sale |
| App/plugin costs | Everything built in | Stacks up every month |
| Design | Bespoke, built for your brand | Themes you share with everyone |
| Hosting & SSL | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Maintenance & updates | ✓ Handled for you | ✓ (but apps still break) |
| Page speed | Loads in under a second | Slows with every app |
| Support | Direct, talk to me | Chat/email queue |
Both use Stripe to process card payments. Only Shopify charges its own fee on top.
How the Migration Works
From Shopify to your own bespoke shop, typically 2 to 4 weeks
Audit Your Shopify Store
We review your products, pages, apps, and integrations. Work out exactly what needs to come across and what can be dropped.
Design Your New Site
A bespoke design built around your brand, not a theme, not a template. Your shop, your way.
Build & Migrate
Products, images, descriptions, and categories are migrated into HD Commerce. Your new site is built in parallel.
Test & Launch
Thorough testing across devices and payment flows. DNS switchover when you're happy. Zero downtime.
Audit Your Shopify Store
We review your products, pages, apps, and integrations. Work out exactly what needs to come across and what can be dropped.
Design Your New Site
A bespoke design built around your brand, not a theme, not a template. Your shop, your way.
Build & Migrate
Products, images, descriptions, and categories are migrated into HD Commerce. Your new site is built in parallel.
Test & Launch
Thorough testing across devices and payment flows. DNS switchover when you're happy. Zero downtime.
Not ready to leave Shopify entirely?
If you've got a big catalogue or rely on Shopify-specific integrations, you don't have to move everything. I can put a fast, bespoke front end over your existing Shopify store, a shop that's actually yours and loads quickly, while Shopify keeps running the orders behind it. For most small businesses though, moving across fully is simpler, cheaper to run and gives you more control. I'll tell you honestly which makes sense for you.
Wondering if it's worth leaving Shopify?
Book a free Shopify surgery and we'll go through what you're paying now and whether moving is actually worth it for you. An honest view, no sales pitch. Or send a message if you'd rather.