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4 Places To Find And Hire BigCommerce Developers

April 25, 2024
Written and researched by experts at AvadaLearn more about our methodology

By Sam Nguyen

CEO Avada Commerce

In this guide, we will show you the top platforms to find BigCommerce developers and introduce the best service providers who can help upgrade your online store to new heights.

Where To Find The Right BigCommerce Developer

Here is where you can find top BigCommerce developers to create world-class websites.

BigCommerce Partner Directory

The Partner Directory is an invaluable resource for merchants looking to enhance, expand, or initiate their e-commerce presence on the platform.

BigCommerce Developers

It is essentially a curated list of over 1200 trusted partners that BigCommerce acknowledges as proficient in 36 different aspects of their platform, from custom development and design to marketing and integration services. 

It would provide merchants with multiple strengths:

  • Vetted professionals: All partners are thoroughly vetted by BigCommerce, ensuring they meet high standards of expertise and customer service.
  • Wide range of specializations: The directory includes partners specializing in development, design, marketing, and integrations, catering to various merchant needs.
  • Global network with local expertise: Partners worldwide offer services, providing global reach and local market insights.
  • Direct communication: Merchants can directly contact partners through the directory, facilitating straightforward communication and project discussions.
  • Feedback and reviews: Many users have showcased their feedback on the services, helping seekers gauge their potential impact and expertise.

Upwork

Upwork is a leading marketplace connecting clients with freelancers from various professional backgrounds, including web development, graphic design, content writing, and more.

Upwork

It is a versatile platform for merchants seeking BigCommerce developers, offering access to a global talent pool capable of tackling projects of any size and complexity related to the BigCommerce platform.

Outstanding features of Upwork:

  • Extensive freelancer profiles: Each freelancer on Upwork has a detailed profile that includes their work history, portfolio, client feedback, and ratings, allowing merchants to make informed decisions when hiring BigCommerce developers.
  • Secure payment system: Upwork offers an option for hourly or fixed-price payments, ensuring funds are released upon milestone completion or project approval.
  • Communication tools: The platform provides built-in messaging and video calling features, facilitating seamless communication between merchants and developers throughout the project.
  • Project management tools: Upwork includes tools for tracking work progress, sharing files, and collaborating directly on the platform, helping keep projects organized and on track.
  • Feedback and rating system: After project completion, both freelancers and clients can leave feedback for each other. This rating system helps maintain a high standard of quality and reliability within the Upwork community.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, offers a unique platform for businesses and individuals to connect, network, and engage with professionals across various industries, including e-commerce and web development.  

LinkedIn

For merchants looking to find BigCommerce developers, LinkedIn provides several features and tools that facilitate the search for and engagement with qualified professionals.

The platform outstandingly provides:

  • Networking Opportunities: LinkedIn’s networking capabilities of over 830 million members worldwide across more than 200 countries and territories allow merchants to reach out to BigCommerce developers directly or get introduced through mutual connections. 
  • Professional profiles: LinkedIn users have detailed profiles that include their work experience, skills, education, certifications, and professional accomplishments. 
  • Job posting and talent solutions: LinkedIn allows merchants to post job ads for BigCommerce developers and provides advanced candidate sourcing and recruiting tools through LinkedIn Talent Solutions and LinkedIn Recruiter.
  • Content sharing and insights: Developers on LinkedIn frequently post insights, project portfolios, and case studies, enabling merchants to assess their expertise in BigCommerce and e-commerce strategies.
  • LinkedIn groups and events: Merchants can join BigCommerce or e-commerce LinkedIn groups to access skilled professionals and attend LinkedIn events, such as webinars or meetups, to network with potential developers.

Clutch

Unlike traditional freelancer marketplaces, Clutch is a ratings and reviews platform focusing on firms and agencies for IT, marketing, and business service providers, including a directory of companies that offer BigCommerce development services. 

Clutch

It’s particularly renowned for its in-depth research and vetting process, making it a reliable source for businesses looking to hire agencies or developers for their BigCommerce projects. 

There are several robust features of Clutch:

  • Verified reviews and ratings: Clutch collects detailed client feedback through interviews conducted by their team, ensuring the authenticity and reliability of reviews. There are over 7,000 companies reviewed.
  • In-depth service provider profiles: Each company on Clutch has a profile that includes information about their services, focus areas, client lists, and project case studies. This means access to comprehensive data to aid in the selection process.
  • Award and recognition system: Clutch annually awards the highest-performing companies in different categories, including BigCommerce development. These awards serve as a benchmark for excellence within the industry.

Top 5 Bigcommerce Development Agencies

Let’s define the top five Bigcommerce development agencies that are the most reliable and trusted in terms of the quality of their service providers.

DigitlHaus Agency

DigitlHaus is a leading elite BigCommerce enterprise agency partner specializing in scaling and transforming B2B and D2C e-commerce businesses. 

Their in-house team delivers superior BigCommerce solutions, including comprehensive BigCommerce design, development, and SEO services, catering to merchants aiming for re-platforming, new store development, or backend integrations.

digitlhaus agency bigcommerce developers

Key services of DigitlHaus:

  • UX/UI design: Award-winning designs for engaging, high-performance customer journeys from the first click to checkout, aimed at boosting conversions and AOV.
  • Custom development: Expertise in creating complex, bespoke BigCommerce solutions that are responsive, lightweight, and flexible.
  • Platform migration: Seamless migration services to BigCommerce, ensuring a smooth transition of all critical data.
  • System integration: Custom and pre-built integrations with any CRM or ERP systems for streamlined operations.
  • B2B e-commerce: Utilization of BigCommerce’s B2B Edition for advanced B2B store functionalities and management ease.
  • Headless eCommerce: Future-proofing businesses with headless commerce solutions for faster speeds and better user experiences.
  • SEO: Integrated SEO support for each project to optimize search rankings and maximize traffic.
  • Support & Maintenance: Tailored support and maintenance plans to extend your team’s capabilities without the hassle.
  • Accessibility: Ensuring ADA compliance with a focus on maintaining design integrity and brand essence.

Ratings: 5/5 from 46 reviews

MAK Digital Design

MAK Digital Design stands out as more than just a development agency. They’re catalysts for growth, enabling businesses to flourish and attract customers through exceptional user experiences. 

Their expertise spans running their own e-commerce ventures and crafting sites across various industries. This ensures your project benefits from decades of experience.

mak digital design bigcommerce developers

Core services offered by MAK Digital Design

  • BigCommerce design: Custom site designs that transcend standard templates, meticulously crafted to represent your brand and outshine competitors.
  • BigCommerce development: Innovative development solutions that push the boundaries of what’s possible, turning unique e-commerce visions into reality.
  • SEO & digital marketing: Comprehensive strategies encompassing SEO, content, A/B testing, and social media to boost customer acquisition and retention.
  • Integrations: Seamless integration of external systems and platforms with your e-commerce setup, enhancing functionality and user experience.
  • Post-launch support: Continuous support to keep your site at the cutting edge of technology and ensure sustained success.
  • Additional services: A broad spectrum of solutions, including mobile apps, internationalization, and fixing issues left by previous partners.

Ratings: 4.8/5 from 36 reviews

1 Digital Agency

1 Digital Agency is a BigCommerce expert specializing in elevating eCommerce businesses through superior web development, design, SEO, and data migration services. They focus on enhancing your store’s functionality and visibility, ensuring a standout presence in the eCommerce arena.

1 digital agency bigcommerce developers

Key features of 1 Digital Agency:

  • SEO services: Tailored SEO campaigns for improved online visibility and engagement.
  • Custom design: Personalized designs to create a unique and impactful brand presence.
  • BigCommerce development: Expert development for custom solutions and platform optimization.
  • Data migration: Smooth transition services to BigCommerce, ensuring data integrity.
  • Elite BigCommerce partner: A decade of experience as an Elite partner, offering unparalleled expertise.
  • API integration: Advanced integration services to expand your store’s capabilities.

Ratings: 4.9/5 from 59 reviews

efelle creative

effele creative, an award-winning and preferred digital agency, excels in building digital marketing strategies and BigCommerce solutions to help businesses grow. 

With over 900 successful website launches and the innovative FusionCMS platform under their belt, they specialize in creating eCommerce websites that are SEO-optimized, conversion-focused, and scalable.

efelle creative bigcommerce developers

Key services offered by efelle creative:

  • Custom e-commerce design: Recognized with 132 international awards, Effele Creative crafts websites that significantly enhance your brand’s online presence since 2005.
  • BigCommerce development: Experts in the latest technologies, including headless commerce, they offer tailored BigCommerce solutions that are efficient and budget-friendly.
  • Digital marketing strategies: From SEO and PPC to AI-driven optimizations, they devise bespoke strategies that drive traffic and conversions.
  • Conversion rate optimization: Techniques aimed at increasing the percentage of visitors who convert into customers, significantly boosting conversion rates in some cases.
  • SEO & marketing: Comprehensive approach to SEO, ensuring high visibility on Google’s first page and effective tracking with Google Analytics.
  • Email marketing: Utilizes data-driven strategies for email campaigns that are proven to be highly effective in customer acquisition.

Ratings: 5/5 from 39 reviews

Above&Beyond

Recognized as Australia’s foremost experts in BigCommerce theme design, they offer bespoke solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of their clients. 

AboveandBeyond bigcommerce developers

Core services provided by Above&Beyond:

  • Custom BigCommerce theme design: Expertise in creating unique BigCommerce themes from scratch since 2010.
  • Theme modifications: Assistance with tweaks and changes to existing BigCommerce stores.
  • Photoshop PSD to BigCommerce conversion: Conversion of design files into SEO-friendly, BigCommerce-compatible templates.
  • Store setup and video training: Comprehensive store setup services and personalized video training to get you started.
  • Responsive mobile web design: Upgrade to a mobile-responsive BigCommerce theme to capture mobile traffic.
  • Store migrations and data import: Smooth migration service for transferring products, customers, and data to BigCommerce.

Ratings: 4.9/5 from 27 reviews

How to Hire a BigCommerce Developer

Hiring the right BigCommerce developer is a take-time process. Here’s a streamlined approach to ensure you find the best candidate for your project:

  1. Define your needs: Start with a clear list of the tasks or projects you need to complete, such as theme customization, platform integration, etc. Knowing your requirements will guide your search for the right developer.
  2. Post a job and search for experience: Utilize freelancer platforms like Upwork and LinkedIn to post your job requirements. Alternatively, access the BigCommerce partner directory for specialized agencies. When evaluating candidates, prioritize those with relevant BigCommerce development experience. Look for portfolios that demonstrate their expertise in projects similar to yours.
  3. Verify certifications: Seek out developers with BigCommerce certifications, as these signify a higher level of knowledge and skill on the platform.
  4. Request references and evaluate: Ask for and follow up on references from past clients to verify the developer’s reliability and quality of work. Access their necessary skills to ensure their ability.
  5. Discuss financials: Clearly agree on the cost and payment terms before starting the project, ensuring no hidden fees.
  6. Consider a trial period: If possible, arrange a trial period to assess the developer’s fit with your project and work ethic before fully committing.

However, to get an optimal result, merchants should apply tips on conducting effective interviews. These interviews delve into a developer’s expertise and assess their compatibility with the project.

Here are some strategies and questions to guide you:

  • Outline your expectations clearly: Start the interview by clearly stating what your project entails and what you expect from the developer. 
  • Inquire about BigCommerce experience: Understanding their level of expertise with BigCommerce is crucial. “Can you describe your experience with BigCommerce development and any similar projects you’ve worked on?”

More specifically,

  • Discuss their approach to customization: Since customization can significantly impact your store’s performance and user experience, it’s important to understand their approach.

“How do you approach customizing BigCommerce themes and templates for specific client needs?”

  • Explore integration experience: If your project requires integrating third-party services, their experience in this area is key.

“Have you experience integrating third-party applications or APIs with BigCommerce? Can you give examples?”

  • Check availability for ongoing support: Continuous support and maintenance are important for long-term success.

“What is your availability for ongoing support and maintenance after the project’s completion?”

  • Request portfolio samples: Seeing their previous work will give you insight into their design and development capabilities.

“Could you provide examples of BigCommerce websites you’ve developed?”

Additional considerations for a comprehensive assessment:

  • Problem-Solving Skills: Ask about a challenging problem they’ve solved in a past project to gauge their problem-solving capabilities.

“Describe a challenging issue you encountered in a BigCommerce project and how you resolved it.”

  • Communication and Collaboration: Effective communication is essential for project success. Clarify how they prefer to communicate and ensure it aligns with your expectations.
  • Project management: Understanding their project management approach can offer insights into their organization and how they handle timelines.

“What project management tools or methodologies do you use to keep projects on track?”

By following these tips and asking the right questions, merchants can effectively evaluate a developer’s suitability for their business needs.

Why Should Merchants Hire A Developer for Bigcommerce Websites?

Businesses looking to enhance their online stores should consider hiring dedicated BigCommerce developers or agencies for the following compelling reasons:

  • Specialized expertise: BigCommerce developers possess specialized skills and extensive experience with the platform, ensuring faster development, enhanced functionality, and technical proficiency.
  • Customization opportunities: Hiring BigCommerce developers allows businesses to tailor their online stores to meet specific requirements and objectives, creating a personalized shopping experience for customers.
  • Enhanced functionality: Developers can add new functionalities to online stores, improving user experience and driving sales by implementing advanced search capabilities, personalized recommendations, and seamless integrations.
  • Technical proficiency: With deep knowledge of the BigCommerce platform, dedicated developers can troubleshoot issues effectively, ensuring the online store’s smooth operation and security compliance.
  • Time and cost efficiency: Hiring dedicated developers saves time and resources by allowing businesses to focus on core activities while developers handle technical aspects efficiently. Compared to in-house development, hiring dedicated developers may offer a more cost-effective solution in the long term.
  • Competitive edge: With fierce competition in the e-commerce industry of over 600,000 BigCommerce stores, hiring BigCommerce developers enables businesses to stay ahead by leveraging the latest technologies, implementing innovative solutions, and adapting to evolving customer needs.

The Role of a BigCommerce Developer

A proficient BigCommerce developer is a pivotal asset to an online business, offering a range of expertise and services in e-commerce development that are indispensable for maximizing the platform’s potential and achieving business goals. 

The Role of a BigCommerce Developer

So, what are the most crucial roles and values they would bring?

Custom BigCommerce Theme Development

BigCommerce developers are tasked with creating custom themes tailored to each client’s brand identity and requirements with expertise in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to design visually appealing and functional storefronts.

They also ensure responsive web design optimized for various devices by utilizing CSS frameworks and media queries to create flexible layouts that adapt to different viewport sizes.

Integration with third-party applications

BigCommerce developers integrate BigCommerce stores with third-party apps and services to enhance functionality. They ensure seamless integrations, maintaining data consistency and preserving the user experience.

Developing custom extensions and plugins

BigCommerce developers create custom extensions and plugins to extend the platform’s capabilities based on client needs, ensuring that custom extensions are well-documented, maintainable, and compatible with future platform updates.

Site maintenance and optimization

A web developer is responsible for maintaining and optimizing BigCommerce sites to ensure optimal performance and security. They perform routine tasks such as updating plugins, applying security patches, and optimizing website speed. 

SEO best practices

BigCommerce developers ensure that websites are optimized for search engines by fine-tuning meta tags, headers, and URLs. They prioritize mobile-friendliness and site speed, enhancing the user experience and boosting SEO rankings. 

Integration with tools like Google Analytics allows for comprehensive monitoring and analysis, enabling businesses to refine their SEO strategies effectively.

Security measures

With a focus on protecting against cyber threats, BigCommerce developers implement robust security measures such as SSL certificates and secure authentication mechanisms. They adhere to PCI compliance standards, ensuring the safe handling of payment information. 

Through regular audits and penetration testing, developers proactively identify and mitigate security risks, safeguarding BigCommerce sites from potential vulnerabilities.

Data migration

BigCommerce developers facilitate seamless data migration from existing platforms, ensuring minimal disruption to business operations. They meticulously map data fields and accurately transfer product listings, customer records, and order histories to maintain data integrity. 

Utilizing automation and migration tools, developers minimize downtime during the transition to BigCommerce, ensuring a smooth and efficient migration process.

Continuous learning and adaptation

BigCommerce developers are dedicated to ongoing learning and staying abreast of the latest trends and technologies. They actively participate in online communities, attend webinars, and pursue certifications to expand their expertise. 

By swiftly adapting to changes in the BigCommerce platform and integrating new features and functionalities into their workflow, developers empower businesses to maximize the platform’s capabilities, ensuring sustained growth and success.

API development

A web developer will leverage BigCommerce’s APIs to create custom integrations and functionalities, enabling more complex and bespoke ecommerce solutions.

Development Skills Needed To Be A Bigcommerce Developer

development skills needed to be a bigcommerce developer

Key web development skills and expertise that a professional BigCommerce developer should possess:

Handlebars templating language

Familiarity with Handlebars, the templating language used in BigCommerce, is essential for generating dynamic content and customizing website templates efficiently. Handlebars allow developers to combine input objects with templates to generate HTML formats seamlessly.

Visual design skills

A proficient BigCommerce developer should have a strong grasp of visual design principles and expertise in HTML and CSS (including SCSS). Staying updated with the latest design trends and best practices is essential. Websites like CSS-tricks can be valuable resources for quick and efficient design solutions.

JavaScript knowledge

JavaScript proficiency is crucial for implementing rich user interactions and custom functionalities in BigCommerce themes. Developers utilize JavaScript to override default behaviors and extend existing functionalities, enhancing the user experience.

BigCommerce developer tools

A skilled BigCommerce developer should be well-versed in utilizing Storefront APIs to add new functionalities to the website, such as cart, checkout, catalog pages, or customer-related features. These APIs are critical for extending the capabilities of the BigCommerce platform.

Communication skills

Good communication is important for a BigCommerce developer to interact with clients, understand project requirements, and translate complex technical concepts into layman’s terms. Strong communication skills enable developers to collaborate efficiently with clients and stakeholders throughout development.

Experience and knowledge

Experience in ecommerce development is essential for delivering high-quality BigCommerce solutions. Developers should have a portfolio showcasing their past projects and demonstrating their ability to create compelling online stores. 

The ability to keep up with the trends and practices of a developer will ensure the latest updates and broaden the opportunities for business growth.

BigCommerce Developers: Bottom Line

Hiring a BigCommerce developer can significantly benefit the web development process and help your store distinguish itself. You should carefully evaluate potential hires, review their portfolios, and conduct comprehensive interviews to ensure you find the perfect match for your needs.


Sam Nguyen is the CEO and founder of Avada Commerce, an e-commerce solution provider headquartered in Singapore. He is an expert on the Shopify e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems. Sam loves talking about e-commerce and he aims to help over a million online businesses grow and thrive.