Magento development

For ecommerce teams that need a custom Magento store with its own catalog, checkout and integrations, built and maintained by a team that works across PHP platforms.

Get a Magento scope planSee our web development work

Custom Magento themes built to your approved design
Catalog, checkout and payment setup scoped in writing
Monthly reporting and ongoing maintenance support

Quick answer

Magento development is the process of building, customizing and maintaining an online store on Magento, an open-source PHP ecommerce platform. Pugmarks Media handles store setup, custom themes, modules and integrations for businesses with large catalogs, complex checkout rules or several storefronts. Scope and timing depend on the project.

01Overview

What is magento development?

Magento development is the work of building, customizing and maintaining an online store on Magento, an open-source ecommerce platform written in PHP. Because the code is open, developers can shape catalogs, pricing rules, checkout steps and admin screens to fit how a business actually sells.

Here is a concrete example. A retailer sells 20,000 products, each with size, color and material options, and offers different prices to retail and wholesale customers. A template-based platform may need several plugins to handle that. A Magento build can model those attributes and customer groups directly in the catalog.

Most Magento projects combine a few kinds of work:

Store setup: installing Magento, choosing an edition and hosting approach, and configuring catalog, tax and shipping. Theme development: turning an approved design into a responsive storefront. Custom modules: PHP code for features the platform does not include. Integrations: connecting payment gateways, ERP or CRM systems so orders and stock stay in sync.

Magento asks more of a team than hosted platforms do. It needs developers who know PHP, careful hosting and regular updates. That extra effort pays off when your requirements are unusual, and it can be unnecessary when they are not.

If you are comparing options, our Shopify development agency and WooCommerce development pages explain where those platforms fit better.

02Fit

Who magento development is for

Retailers with large, complex catalogs

Stores with thousands of products and many size, color or material options need structured attributes and variants. We set up the catalog model and bulk imports so merchandising teams can manage it.

B2B and wholesale sellers

Businesses that quote different prices to retail and wholesale buyers need customer groups and pricing rules. We build those rules into the catalog and checkout.

Brands running several storefronts

Companies selling under multiple brands, regions or languages need store views managed from one admin. We plan and configure that structure.

Merchants outgrowing a template platform

Teams stacking plugins to cover unusual checkout or pricing logic can move to a custom build. We handle data migration from the existing store.

Operations teams needing system integrations

Businesses that must connect their store to an ERP, CRM or payment gateway get custom modules and a written integration plan.

Existing Magento owners needing upkeep

Store owners without a dedicated developer get ongoing maintenance and monthly reporting from our team.

03Scope

What's included

Custom Magento themesStorefront templates built to your approved design and responsive on mobile. Suited to brands whose catalog or merchandising does not fit a stock theme.
Catalog and attribute setupCategories, attributes, configurable products and bulk product imports. Built for merchandising teams managing thousands of items with size, color or material options.
Checkout and paymentsCart, checkout steps, payment gateways, shipping and tax rules configured and scoped in writing. Fits stores with complex checkout logic or several shipping methods.
Custom module developmentPHP modules that add features Magento does not include out of the box, such as special pricing rules or admin screens, for teams with unusual selling processes.
ERP and CRM integrationsConnections between your store and systems such as ERP, CRM or payment tools, so stock, orders and customer data stay aligned for operations teams.
Maintenance and reportingOngoing maintenance support with monthly reporting, so store owners can see what was changed, what is planned next and what needs a decision.

04Process

How our magento development works

6 steps. You always know what's next.

The same path for every engagement.

1About 1 week (estimate)
Run discovery and a store audit
We hold a discovery call and review your current store, catalog and integrations. You share platform access and goals. You receive a written scope listing requirements, data sources and open risks.
2About 1-2 weeks (estimate)
Plan the store architecture
We decide the theme approach, extension choices, hosting needs and data model, and agree the work plan with you before changes go live. You approve the plan and design direction.
3About 2-3 weeks (estimate)
Build the custom theme
Developers build storefront templates from your approved design and test them on mobile. You review staging pages and give consolidated feedback. You receive a working theme on a staging site.
4About 3-4 weeks (estimate)
Set up catalog and checkout
We configure categories, attributes, configurable products, imports, payment gateways, shipping and tax rules. You supply product data and gateway accounts. You receive a store that handles test orders end to end.
5Varies with scope; often 2-4 weeks (estimate)
Develop modules and integrations
We write custom PHP modules and connect systems such as inventory or ERP tools where scoped. You provide API access and business rules. You receive documented, tested functionality.
6About 1-2 weeks, then ongoing (estimate)
Test, launch and maintain
We test performance, orders and data migration, then launch on an agreed date. You approve final checks. You receive monthly reporting and maintenance support after go-live.

05Deliverables

What you get

Magento development deliverables, with how often each is delivered and when it starts, counted from project kickoff (timings are estimates)
Deliverable	What it is	Cadence	Starts in
Discovery and store audit	Review of current store, catalog and integrations, with a written scope	One-time	Week 1
Architecture plan	Theme approach, extension choices, hosting needs and data model	One-time	After discovery
Custom Magento theme	Storefront templates built to your approved design, responsive on mobile	One-time	After plan approval
Catalog and attribute setup	Categories, attributes, configurable products and bulk imports	One-time	After plan approval
Checkout and payments setup	Cart, checkout steps, payment gateways, shipping and tax rules	One-time	During build
Custom modules and integrations	Extensions and connections to ERP, CRM or shipping systems, as scoped	One-time	During build
Testing and launch	Functional checks, data migration review and go-live support	One-time	End of build
Progress and performance report	Summary of work completed, open issues and next steps	Monthly	First month after kickoff
Maintenance support	Ongoing updates, fixes and security patch application	Monthly	After launch

06Compare

Magento development: in-house team, agency or Pugmarks Media

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Comparison of three ways to staff Magento development: an in-house team, a typical agency and Pugmarks Media
Criteria	In-house	Typical agency	Pugmarks
Time to start	Depends on hiring and onboarding	Depends on current workload	Starts with a discovery call and store audit
Specialization	Deep knowledge of your own store; narrower platform range	Varies; often a mix of platforms	Team working across PHP platforms, including Magento
Reporting	Internal updates, format set by your company	Varies by contract	Monthly reporting
Cost model	Salaries, benefits and tooling	Project fee or retainer	Scoped per project; see the pricing page
Risk	Key-person dependency if a developer leaves	Depends on team continuity	Written scope lists requirements and open risks
Flexibility	High control over priorities; capacity is fixed	Often limited to contracted scope	Work plan agreed before changes go live

07Cost

What does magento development cost?

Magento development cost depends on scope: the number of custom modules and integrations, catalog size and data migration, how many storefronts or languages you run, and how much design work the theme needs. Hosting needs and the level of competition in your market also shape the plan. We price each project after a discovery call and store audit. See our pricing page or contact us for a written quote.

Package prices are published so you can compare before you call.

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08Proof

Results for clients like you

Only results our clients have approved for publication. No made-up logos or numbers.

Dental · Houston, TX · Example+118%Calls from the Google listing per month

Three-dentist general practice, Houston

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Still have a question?

Ask us directly. We reply with honest next steps, even if that means we're not the right fit.

Ask our team

How long does it take to build a Magento store?

A custom Magento build typically takes several weeks to a few months, depending on catalog size, number of integrations and design complexity. Our process runs from discovery and architecture planning through theme build, catalog setup, testing and launch. We give timings as estimates in the written scope, and they change with how quickly we get access and approvals.

How much does Magento development cost?

Magento development cost depends on scope: custom modules, integrations, catalog size, data migration, number of storefronts and design work. We price each project after a discovery call and store audit, so the quote reflects your actual requirements. See our pricing page or contact us to discuss your store.

Is Magento a good choice for a small online store?

Magento is usually better suited to stores with large catalogs, complex pricing or several storefronts than to small shops. A small store with simple products may be served well by a lighter platform. Our Shopify development and WooCommerce development pages cover those options, and we can advise on fit.

Who owns the code after a Magento project?

You own the code we write for you once the project is paid in full. Open-source libraries and extensions stay under their own licences. At handover you receive the source code and repository access, so you are not dependent on us to keep running your store.

Can you migrate my existing store to Magento?

Yes, we can migrate products, categories and customer data from an existing store to Magento. We start with a store audit to map your catalog, data sources and integrations, then agree the plan in writing before any changes go live. Scope depends on how clean and large your current data is.

Can I try your team before committing to a full project?

Yes, we offer a pilot: a short, fixed-scope project that shows how we work before a longer engagement. Scope, deliverables and timeline are agreed in writing up front, and there is no obligation to continue afterward. Contact us to discuss whether a pilot suits your Magento needs.

Do you provide Magento support after launch?

Yes, we offer ongoing maintenance support after launch, with monthly reporting. Typical work includes fixes, updates and small improvements to the store. The exact scope is agreed in writing, and results from any changes are not guaranteed. Ask us for details when you request a scope plan.

What do you need from me to get started?

We need a discovery call, access to your current store and accounts, and a clear view of your goals, catalog size and integrations. From that we produce a written scope listing requirements, data sources and open risks. You approve the plan before any changes go live.

Get in touch

Book a discovery call for your store

A discovery call and store audit come first, and you receive a written scope before any changes go live.

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