Choosing the right platform for your website is one of the most important decisions for the online success of your business. The wrong choice can cost you thousands of dollars and months of wasted time.
In this detailed guide, we'll analyze the most popular platforms in Bulgaria and help you make an informed decision based on the specifics of your business.
Why Choosing a Platform is Critical for Your Business
The platform of your website determines:
- What features you can have
- How much will maintenance cost long-term
- How easily will you be able to scale
- What are the SEO options
- How independent are you from technical specialists
Mistakes in platform selection are costly:
- 67% of small businesses are forced to switch platform in first 2 years
- The average price for migration is between 5,000-15,000 BGN.
- Lost processing time is typically 3-6 months
WordPress: the Most Popular Choice (43% of All Sites)
WordPress powers 43% of all websites in the world, including 38% of Bulgarian business websites.
Advantages of WordPress:
Flexibility and customization: Endless possibilities for customization through themes and plugins.
SEO opportunities: Excellent SEO structure, supports all important SEO practices.
Costs: Relatively low start-up and maintenance costs.
Community: A huge community of developers and designers in Bulgaria.
Content Management: Intuitive editor for easy content management.
Disadvantages of WordPress:
Security: Requires regular security updates and monitoring.
Maintenance: Needs technical knowledge for optimization and maintenance.
Performance: Can get slow with a lot of plugins.
Hosting Dependency: The quality strongly depends on the choice of hosting.
Who WordPress is right for:
- Small and medium businesses with diverse content
- Companies who want full control over their site
- Businesses with a budget for professional support
- Sites to be expanded and developed
Shopify: The King of E-commerce (4% from All Sites)
Shopify is the leading e-commerce platform, especially popular among small and medium-sized online stores.
Advantages of Shopify:
All-in-one solution: Everything you need for an online store in one place.
Ease of use: Intuitive interface, no technical knowledge required.
Security: PCI DSS compliance and high security are included.
Mobile optimization: All themes are mobile-responsive.
Payment processing: Built-in payment gateways and easy integrations.
Disadvantages of Shopify:
Monthly fees: Fixed monthly fees plus transaction fees.
Limited flexibility: Fewer options for customization.
SEO limitations: More limited SEO capabilities compared to WordPress.
Vendor lock-in: Difficult migration to other platforms.
Transaction fees: Additional fees for external payment gateways.
Shopify pricing for Bulgaria:
- Basic Shopify: $39/month + 2.9% transaction fee
- Shopify: $105/month + 2.6% transaction fee
- Advanced Shopify: $399/month + 2.4% transaction fee
Who Shopify is right for:
- Online stores looking for a quick start
- Businesses without technical expertise
- Companies that sell physical products
- Startups who want a proven e-commerce solution
Custom Development: the Complete Customization
Custom development means creating a website from scratch, specifically for your needs.
Advantages of Custom Development:
Full customization: Everything is done exactly according to your requirements.
Unique design: No one else will have the same site.
Performance: Optimized code for maximum speed.
Scalability: It can grow with your business without restrictions.
Integrations: Easy integrations with your business systems.
Disadvantages of Custom Development:
High cost: Initial costs are the highest.
Long term: Development takes months, not weeks.
Maintenance: Needs specialized maintenance.
Risk: Higher risk of problems and delays.
Vendor dependency: Depends on the specific developer.
Cost of Custom Development in Bulgaria:
- Simple corporate website: 8,000-15,000 BGN
- Complex business website: 15,000-30,000 lv.
- E-commerce platform: 25,000-60,000 lv.
- Enterprise solution: 50,000+ lv.
For whom Custom Development is suitable:
- Large corporations with specific requirements
- Businesses with unique workflow processes
- Companies with high budget and development time
- Organisations with strict security requirements
Comparison Table: Which Platform for Which Business
For small businesses (up to 10 employees):
- WordPress - Best price/features balance
- Shopify - If the main focus is e-commerce
- Custom - Only for very specific requirements
For medium businesses (10-50 employees):
- WordPress - Excellent for content and SEO
- Shopify Plus - For serious e-commerce
- Custom - If integration with ERP/CRM is required
For large companies (50+ employees):
- WordPress Enterprise - With professional support
- Shopify Plus - For enterprise e-commerce
- Custom - For complex requirements and workflow
Specific Industries and Recommendations
Restaurants and hotels:
- WordPress with booking plugins
- Custom development for complex reservation systems
Medical practices:
- WordPress with GDPR compliance
- Custom integration with medical systems
Law Firms:
- WordPress for content and blog
- Custom for client portal and documents
E-commerce businesses:
- Shopify for standard products
- WooCommerce for complex product catalogues
- Custom for unique business models
How Studio New Era Solves the Problem of Choice
At Studio New Era, we understand that choosing a platform can be confusing. That's why we offer advice and an approach based on an analysis of your specific needs.
Our selection process includes:
- Analysis of business objectives - What do you want to achieve?
- Budget estimation - Initial and long-term
- Technical evaluation - Integrations and functionalities needed
- Timeline analysis - How fast you need the site
- Resource assessment - What internal resources do you have
For most of our clients, we recommend WordPress because:
- Provides an excellent balance between functionality and price
- Allows rapid development (7 days)
- We include professional support in the monthly plan
- Easily scale as your business grows
Steps for Decision Making
Step 1: Determine the main goal
- Corporate presentation
- Generating leads
- Online sales
- Combination of the above
Step 2: Evaluate your budget
- Initial investment
- Monthly maintenance costs
- Marketing and promotion costs
Step 3: Analyse internal resources
- Do you have technical expertise?
- Who will manage the content?
- Do you need external support?
Step 4: Plan for the future
- How will your business grow?
- What new features will you need?
- Are you planning international expansion?
Conclusion: there is no Universal Answer
The best platform for your website depends on your specific needs, budget and goals. The important thing is to make an informed decision based on analysis, not emotion or fashion trends.
Get started with a free consultation with our experts. We'll analyze your needs and recommend the right platform for your business. Your first website can be ready in just 7 days on a subscription basis from 99 BGN/month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change platform later? Yes, but it is expensive and time consuming. It's better to make the right choice from the start.
Which platform is best for SEO? WordPress offers the most SEO options, followed by custom development. Shopify is good, but more limited.
Do I need a professional designer? For WordPress and custom development - definitely yes. For Shopify, you can start with a ready-made theme.
How much does it cost to maintain the different platforms? WordPress: 100-500 BGN/month, Shopify: $39-399/month, Custom: 300-1000+ BGN/month.
