Who is a small shop inside the website right for?
- Stores that also sell part of their range online
- Workshops and trades with their own products
- Farm shops and direct sellers
- Studios that sell vouchers or courses
- B2B traders with a manageable catalogue
For very large ranges with variants, stock and merchandise management, a specialised shop system is better. We will tell you honestly if that applies to you.
What belongs in a shop?
- Product pages with images, price including VAT, shipping costs and delivery time
- Basket and order overview
- a clearly labelled order button
- Payment methods such as PayPal or advance payment
- Order confirmation by email
- Terms and conditions, right of withdrawal, privacy, Impressum (the legal notice German law requires)
What does a shop cost on an ongoing basis?
Besides hosting there are the fees of the payment service, for PayPal or credit card per payment. Some website builders charge their own fee per sale on top, according to their price page for example 2% at Squarespace Basic. More in the guide What does a small online shop cost?.
What are the legal points?
- Price information under the German Price Indication Ordinance (Preisangabenverordnung), meaning total prices including VAT
- Right of withdrawal for consumers
- Accessibility: Since 28 June 2025 the German Accessibility Strengthening Act (Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz, BFSG) applies to many shops aimed at consumers. Micro-enterprises that offer services are exempt under § 3 para. 3 BFSG.
- Legal texts are best written by a lawyer or a specialised service
Which shops has our team built?
For example the online shop for storage boxes by gewe, the B2B web shop of Handelskontor Greb and the website of ProFlora for natural fibre products, whose visibility has quadrupled according to our measurement.
Can I manage products myself?
Yes. Products, prices, images and stock status you change in your admin area in the browser. Larger changes to the shop we do ourselves, and 10 minutes of changes a month are included.
If you have a shop today, you get one again with freeehouse, with no invoice for the build. Payment by PayPal or advance payment, orders straight to you. You only pay for hosting with care, cheaper than today.
What about shipping and pick-up?
Many small stores offer pick-up as well as shipping. That saves customers shipping costs and brings them into the store. In the shop you can set it up as a shipping method of its own, with a note on opening hours. Towards consumers, shipping costs must be stated clearly and before the order.
How do I get visitors into the shop?
With product pages of their own that get found on Google, good photos, honest descriptions and a Google profile that points to the shop. For individual products, pages that answer questions, such as about care or use, are worthwhile.
Frequently asked questions
Do you also build new shops?
If you have a shop today, you get one again. A shop that did not exist before we plan together, and we give you a fixed price beforehand.
Which payment methods work?
For example PayPal and advance payment. Further payment services are possible as needed.
Is there a fee per sale?
Not from us. The payment service charges its usual fees.
Does my shop have to be accessible?
If you sell to consumers and are not a micro-enterprise, the German Accessibility Strengthening Act (Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz) has applied since 28 June 2025 in many cases.
Sources
- Preisangabenverordnung § 3, accessed 23 October 2026
- BFSG § 3 Barrierefreiheitsanforderungen, accessed 23 October 2026
- Squarespace: Preise, accessed 23 October 2026
Providers' prices and terms change often. What counts is what's in your customer account and your contract. Not legal advice.
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