What does building an online shop with nextlevels cost?

It depends heavily on scope. A manageable shop based on Shopware typically starts in the low five-figure range, while complex B2B or headless projects with ERP and PIM interfaces sit above that. On top come running costs for hosting, licenses and maintenance as a separate line item. You get a concrete fixed-price offer after a short discovery in which we clarify requirements, interfaces and data volumes.

How long until my shop goes live?

A clearly scoped shop usually takes from a few weeks to a few months. The range is wide because it depends on the number of interfaces, the complexity of your assortment and the data migration. We work in iterations: you see a working state early and give feedback, rather than only seeing the finished result at the end.

Which shop system do you recommend – Shopware, headless or something else?

Our focus is Shopware, because as an open-source system it is powerful, extensible and well established in the German mid-market. We recommend headless architectures (Shopware as backend, your own frontend) when you need maximum frontend freedom or special performance. We make the decision based on your requirements, not on principle – a simple shop doesn't need a headless setup.

Can you migrate my existing shop?

Yes. We migrate existing shops including product data, customers, order history and URL structure. The URLs and redirects in particular are crucial so your SEO rankings don't collapse during the move. Before migrating we analyze your current shop and plan the move so ongoing operations are disrupted as little as possible.

Do you support B2B, B2C and D2C equally?

Yes. In B2C, conversion, speed and a frictionless checkout matter most. In B2B, requirements such as customer-specific price lists, tiered pricing, order approvals, quotation features and ERP integration come into play. We support D2C brands from brand staging to the logistics interface. We build the shop around your business model, not the other way round.

How do you ensure performance and scalability?

Performance isn't an afterthought for us but part of the architecture. We optimize for good Core Web Vitals, use caching, a CDN and clean database indexes, and test behavior under load. That keeps your shop fast and stable even during load peaks such as sales campaigns or Black Friday.

What about data protection, security and payment processing?

We build shops GDPR-compliant and integrate payments via certified payment providers, so no sensitive card data sits on your server. Updates, secure configuration and a roles-and-permissions concept are standard for us. In e-commerce, security isn't an optional add-on but a prerequisite for trust and conversion.

Who owns the shop – does vendor lock-in arise?

You own everything: code, configuration, data and content. Because we build on open-source technology like Shopware, you're not tied to proprietary systems and could in principle hand operations to another team. We document cleanly – vendor lock-in is not our business model.

E-Commerce: Shopware 6 Development

Shopware 6Development

Shopware 6 is a powerful foundation for your online store — but it only reaches its full potential with clean, tailored development on top of it. We build plugins, themes, and extensions that fit your processes precisely, without touching the Shopware core. The result: a shop that stays update-safe, runs reliably, and grows alongside your business.

Request Shopware Development

Challenges you'll recognise

Shopware updates repeatedly fail because custom modifications override the core and require rework after every release.
Store plugins don't cover your specific requirements or create conflicts with existing extensions.
Your shop is growing, but the existing codebase has become so tangled that new features take disproportionately long or risk live-operation stability.

Custom Plugin Development

Shopware's defaults rarely cover every requirement. We build custom plugins that implement specific business logic — from advanced pricing rules to custom checkout steps or specialised shipping calculations. We strictly follow the Shopware plugin API so your extensions stay compatible through shop updates.

API-First Approach

Shopware 6 provides a powerful API layer we leverage consistently. Whether the Admin API for backend integrations, the Store API for frontend customisations, or the Sales Channel API for multi-channel setups — we build on official interfaces rather than fragile workarounds, giving you flexibility and stability in one.

Storefront Customisation

The Shopware Storefront theme is highly customisable without overriding the core. We use the template inheritance system and Twig blocks to adapt layouts, components, and pages precisely to your branding. Future Shopware updates won't overwrite your customisations — a clean separation that makes long-term maintenance significantly easier.

Quality & Test Coverage

Code that goes into production must be tested. We write unit and integration tests for critical plugin logic, implement code reviews, and follow a defined staging-to-live process. This reduces regressions and gives you confidence that new features won't break what's already working.

Good to know

Plugin API over core hacks
Anyone who modifies the Shopware core directly loses their customisations with every update. The plugin API allows the same adaptations cleanly — the difference is that updates can be applied without overwriting existing logic.
Compatibility checked proactively
Every Shopware release brings breaking changes to plugin APIs and Twig structures. We subscribe to release notes and test plugins against new versions in a staging environment before you update in production.
Tests protect the live shop
Unit and integration tests for critical plugin logic catch regressions before they reach customers. Without test coverage, every new feature is a risk to everything that already worked.

Frequently asked questions

Will your Shopware plugins stay compatible after an update?

Yes, because we build exclusively on the official plugin API and never modify the Shopware core directly. For major releases, we proactively check changelogs and update plugins before you upgrade, so you always stay current without surprises.

When does a custom plugin make more sense than a store extension?

When your requirement is highly specific, a store plugin is too expensive, or privacy-sensitive data must stay in-house, custom development is the better choice. We evaluate both options and recommend the most economical solution for your situation.

Do you develop for Shopware Headless as well as the classic Storefront?

Both. We develop for the classic Shopware Storefront as well as headless setups with React, Vue, or Next.js as the frontend. The backend logic via the plugin API is identical in both scenarios — only the frontend layer changes.

Shopware B2B Suite 2026: Features, costs and why the suite is being phased out

Commerce & Shopware05/24/2026

Shopware B2B Suite 2026: Features, costs, EOL with 6.8 - and the honest decision Suite vs. B2B Components for new projects.

Angular vs React vs Vue: Which frontend framework suits your shop?

Commerce & Shopware04/08/2026

Angular, React or Vue for your shop? A practical comparison for e-commerce and headless shopware with a clear recommendation based on team, SEO and setup.

Subscription commerce with Shopware: How recurring revenue supports your shop

Commerce & Shopware05/29/2026

Subscription commerce turns one-off purchases into predictable, recurring revenue. How this works with Shopware and how to start a subscription model.

Why nextlevels

Success you can measure

With us you're always at the cutting edge of technology and benefit directly from our developer expertise. Together we analyze your shop, identify key areas and develop tailor-made solutions. Your goals and expectations are at the center of our work.

Developers, not resellers
Your shop is built by developers who understand the code — nothing gets passed to subcontractors.
Shopware down to the detail
Architecture, API integration and performance from hundreds of project hours.
One team, every discipline
Development, design and marketing from a single source — no friction at the handoffs.
Built for growth
We build for conversion, load time and revenue — not for gut feeling.
Partner, not vendor
We stay on after launch and keep developing your shop continuously.

Ready for your successful online shop?

Whether it's an improvement or a fresh start — a no-obligation conversation never hurt anyone.

Paul Kalisch
Executive Partner

info@nextlevels.de +49 (0) 2161 539 71 60