BigCommerce Development

TL;DR

What it is: You build, customize, and maintain online stores on the BigCommerce platform. This covers theme development using Stencil, headless commerce builds with Catalyst and Next.js, app development for the BigCommerce marketplace, and custom integrations connecting stores to business systems like ERPs and CRMs.

What you'll do:

• Customize storefront themes using the Stencil framework and Handlebars.js
• Build headless commerce frontends with Next.js and the GraphQL Storefront API
• Develop apps for the BigCommerce App Marketplace
• Integrate stores with payment gateways, shipping providers, and enterprise systems
• Migrate stores from other e-commerce platforms to BigCommerce

Time to learn: 2-4 months if you already know JavaScript and modern frontend development, practicing 10-15 hours per week. Starting from scratch adds another 3-4 months for foundational web development skills.

What you need: Computer with Node.js installed, code editor, BigCommerce Partner account (free), and working knowledge of JavaScript and HTML/CSS.

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What This Actually Is

BigCommerce is a SaaS e-commerce platform that follows an "Open SaaS" model. The platform handles hosting, security, and infrastructure while giving developers extensive API access and customization capabilities. It sits between fully locked-down platforms and self-hosted solutions - you don't manage servers, but you get over 90% of platform functions accessible through APIs.

BigCommerce targets mid-market and enterprise merchants, particularly in the B2B space. This positioning matters for developers because it means higher-value projects and clients with real budgets. The platform powers tens of thousands of stores globally, with a growing focus on headless commerce where the storefront is decoupled from the backend.

The developer opportunity here is specific: BigCommerce has a significantly smaller market share than Shopify or WooCommerce, but also far fewer specialized developers. This creates a supply-demand dynamic where competition for BigCommerce work is lower and individual project values tend to be higher. It's a niche within e-commerce development, and niches can pay well if you commit to them.

What You'll Actually Do

Your day-to-day work falls into several categories depending on where you focus.

Theme development using Stencil is the most common entry point. Stencil is BigCommerce's proprietary theme engine that uses Handlebars.js for templating, SCSS for styling, and JavaScript for interactivity. You customize storefront appearance, build responsive layouts, create custom page templates, and modify product display logic. The Stencil CLI lets you develop locally with live preview across devices.

Headless commerce builds are the fastest-growing area. BigCommerce's Catalyst framework uses Next.js, React Server Components, and the GraphQL Storefront API to create fully custom storefronts decoupled from the BigCommerce backend. These projects are more complex and pay more. The skills you build here - Next.js, React, GraphQL - transfer directly to other work outside BigCommerce.

App development means building tools for the BigCommerce App Marketplace. The marketplace has over 1,200 apps, and there's room for more across categories like marketing, shipping, inventory, and analytics. Apps can generate recurring revenue through subscription models.

Custom integrations connect BigCommerce stores with external business systems. ERP systems, product information management tools, CRM platforms, custom shipping solutions. Enterprise clients often need their store talking to multiple backend systems. These projects typically run 12-16 weeks and involve deep work with REST and GraphQL APIs.

Store migrations bring businesses from other platforms onto BigCommerce. Data migration, theme rebuilding, feature matching, and testing. This is steady work as businesses regularly switch platforms.

Ongoing maintenance keeps stores running smoothly. Performance monitoring, bug fixes, feature updates, security patches. Maintenance contracts provide predictable recurring income.

Skills You Need

JavaScript (ES6+) is the foundation. Both Stencil themes and headless builds require solid JavaScript skills. This is your most important technical skill for BigCommerce work.

Handlebars.js is the templating language used in Stencil themes. You embed dynamic content, write conditional logic, and loop through data using Handlebars syntax. If you've used any templating language before, the learning curve is manageable.

HTML and CSS/SCSS handle the visual side of storefront customization. Most theme work involves modifying layouts and styles to match brand requirements.

BigCommerce REST and GraphQL APIs are your primary tools for anything beyond basic theme work. The REST API handles server-side operations like managing products, orders, and customers. The GraphQL Storefront API handles frontend data fetching with reduced payload sizes. Learning both is essential for integration and headless work.

Next.js and React are required for headless commerce builds using the Catalyst framework. If you're targeting the higher end of BigCommerce development, these skills are important.

Node.js runs the Stencil CLI and is part of the local development workflow. Basic Node.js familiarity is needed for theme development.

Git version control is standard for any professional development work. Clients and agencies expect it.

E-commerce fundamentals matter more than people think. Understanding product catalogs, checkout flows, payment processing, shipping logic, and conversion optimization makes you a better developer. You're not just writing code - you're building stores that need to generate revenue.

Getting Started

Setting Up Your Development Environment

Join the BigCommerce Partner Program. It's free and gives you access to sandbox stores for development, training resources, the partner directory, and the BigDev certification program. This is your home base for BigCommerce development.

Install the Stencil CLI through npm. This lets you develop themes locally with Browsersync for real-time preview across devices. Get comfortable with the core commands: stencil init to connect to a store, stencil start for local development, stencil bundle for packaging, and stencil push for deployment.

Set up a sandbox store through your partner account. Install a default theme and start modifying it. Change layouts, add custom templates, experiment with Handlebars helpers. Hands-on experimentation teaches more than documentation alone.

Learning the Platform

Work through the BigCommerce developer documentation. It covers the Stencil framework, API references, authentication flows, and webhook system. The documentation is thorough and well-organized.

Complete the BigDev certification through BigCommerce University. The training covers Stencil Essentials, Storefront API, Catalog API, and composable commerce. It's free and available as on-demand e-learning. The certification adds credibility when pitching to clients.

Build a complete demo store. Don't stop at basic theme changes. Set up complex product catalogs with variants, configure multi-currency support, create custom page templates, and integrate with the APIs. Push yourself to implement features that real merchants need.

Building Your Portfolio

Create 2-3 portfolio pieces showing different types of work. A customized Stencil theme, a headless storefront built with Catalyst, an integration project connecting BigCommerce to an external service. Show variety and depth.

Document your process for each portfolio piece. What the requirements were, what technical decisions you made, what challenges you solved. Potential clients want to see how you think, not just what you built.

Finding Your First Projects

Start with smaller tasks on freelance platforms. Theme customization, bug fixes, product migration, basic API work. Build your profile and collect reviews.

List yourself in the BigCommerce Partner Directory. Merchants actively search this directory when they need development help.

Consider subcontracting with agencies that handle BigCommerce projects. Agencies frequently need additional developer capacity for enterprise projects. The rates are lower than direct clients but the work is consistent.

Income Reality

Market rates vary based on project type, your experience, client location, and how you find work.

Theme customization projects (modifying existing Stencil themes, adjusting layouts, adding custom templates) typically go for $500-$2,000 per project. These take 5-15 hours depending on scope.

Custom theme development (building a theme from scratch or extensive overhauls) ranges from $3,000-$15,000. Takes 30-80+ hours of work.

Headless commerce builds using Catalyst and Next.js range from $10,000-$50,000+ for full implementations. These are complex projects that take weeks to months.

App development varies widely. Simple apps start around $5,000. Complex marketplace apps with subscription models can run $25,000+ in development costs. An app that gains marketplace traction can also generate ongoing subscription revenue.

Enterprise integrations (connecting BigCommerce to ERP, PIM, or CRM systems) range from $15,000-$75,000+ depending on complexity and number of systems involved.

Monthly maintenance contracts bring in $500-$2,000 per client for ongoing updates, monitoring, and small fixes. With 3-5 maintenance clients, this creates a stable income base.

Note: Platforms may charge fees or commissions. We don't track specific rates as they change frequently. Check each platform's current pricing before signing up.

Income depends heavily on which type of work you pursue, your skill level, client relationships, and how many hours you dedicate. As a side hustle at 10-15 hours per week, theme customization and small integration projects are the most practical starting point. Higher-value headless and enterprise projects typically require more dedicated availability.

What Different Work Actually Pays

Not all BigCommerce work pays equally, and the split matters for planning your side hustle.

Basic theme customization is the most accessible but most competitive category. Many developers offer this, and platform-based freelancers from lower-cost regions push rates down. It's a reasonable starting point, but hard to build premium income here alone.

Stencil theme development from scratch pays better because it requires deeper knowledge of the framework, Handlebars.js templating, and BigCommerce's data model. Fewer developers invest the time to learn this thoroughly.

Headless commerce with Catalyst is the highest-growth, highest-paying area. BigCommerce is widely regarded as having the strongest headless capabilities among SaaS e-commerce platforms. Developers who can build production-ready Catalyst storefronts with Next.js are in demand and can charge premium rates. The skills also transfer to non-BigCommerce work.

Enterprise integrations pay well because they require understanding both the BigCommerce API ecosystem and the external systems being connected. Integration projects are rarely simple, and the businesses commissioning them have real budgets.

Migration services (moving stores from Shopify, Magento, or WooCommerce to BigCommerce) are steady work. Data migration, theme rebuilding, and feature parity testing require attention to detail. Merchants switching platforms need the transition to be clean.

Where to Find Work

BigCommerce Partner Directory lists certified partners that merchants can browse when looking for development help. Getting listed here after obtaining your BigDev certification puts you in front of merchants actively looking for developers.

Freelance marketplaces have consistent BigCommerce project listings. Theme customizations, store setup, migrations, and bug fixes appear regularly. Write proposals that reference specific BigCommerce experience - generic proposals get ignored.

Agency subcontracting is an underrated channel. BigCommerce agencies handling enterprise clients regularly need specialist subcontractors, especially for larger projects spanning 12-16 weeks. Reach out to agencies listed as BigCommerce partners and offer your services.

Direct client outreach works well because BigCommerce merchants are identifiable. Find stores on the platform that have obvious performance issues, outdated designs, or missing features. Send specific outreach explaining what you'd improve and why it impacts their revenue.

BigCommerce developer communities and forums connect you with other developers and potential referral sources. Answering questions and sharing knowledge builds your reputation within the ecosystem.

The BigCommerce Partner Program itself provides referral opportunities. Referring merchants to BigCommerce earns commissions, and the partner network creates opportunities for collaborative projects.

Common Challenges

The smaller ecosystem cuts both ways. With fewer apps, tutorials, community resources, and Stack Overflow answers compared to Shopify or WooCommerce, you rely more heavily on official documentation. When you hit an obscure problem, there's less community knowledge to draw from. This means more independent problem-solving.

Platform customization has limits. BigCommerce is a closed-source SaaS platform. Unlike WordPress development where you can modify anything, BigCommerce imposes boundaries on what you can change. Creating truly unique designs within Stencil can feel more constrained than on open-source platforms.

Third-party integration compatibility is unpredictable. Integrating external tools not officially supported by BigCommerce can lead to conflicting code, performance issues, and unexpected behavior. Documentation for some integrations is limited, and troubleshooting falls on you.

API changes require ongoing maintenance. BigCommerce regularly releases updates that can break existing custom integrations. APIs may deprecate features or change behavior. Custom solutions need ongoing attention, which is good for maintenance revenue but adds to your workload.

The learning curve for advanced work is steep. Basic Stencil theme modifications are approachable. But moving into headless builds with Catalyst, complex API integrations, or B2B enterprise features requires substantially more knowledge. The jump from basic to advanced BigCommerce work is significant.

Market demand is concentrated. BigCommerce's merchant base skews toward mid-market and enterprise. Smaller businesses tend to choose Shopify or WooCommerce. This means your potential client pool is narrower, though individual clients tend to have larger budgets.

Tips That Actually Help

Invest in the BigDev certification early. It's free, it teaches you the platform properly, and it gives you a credential that merchants recognize. Certified developers get better visibility in the partner directory.

Focus on headless commerce skills. The Catalyst framework built on Next.js and React is where BigCommerce is investing most heavily. Developers who master this approach work on higher-value projects, and the skills transfer outside of BigCommerce. This is the strongest long-term play.

Build relationships with BigCommerce agencies. The BigCommerce ecosystem is small enough that word-of-mouth matters significantly. Agencies that know and trust your work will send you overflow projects consistently.

Maintain a code snippet library for common BigCommerce tasks. Custom checkout modifications, API integration patterns, Stencil helper functions - you'll reuse these across projects. A well-organized library makes you faster and more profitable.

Learn the GraphQL Storefront API thoroughly. It reduces payload sizes compared to REST, enables more efficient data fetching, and is essential for headless builds. Many BigCommerce developers default to REST when GraphQL would be the better choice.

Pair BigCommerce skills with complementary expertise. E-commerce SEO, conversion optimization, or data analysis make you more valuable than a developer who only writes code. Merchants want their stores to sell, not just function.

Don't ignore B2B commerce. BigCommerce has invested heavily in B2B features like custom pricing, account hierarchies, and quote management. The B2B e-commerce space has less developer competition and larger budgets than B2C.

Learning Timeline Reality

These estimates assume 10-15 hours of practice per week.

If you already know JavaScript, HTML/CSS, and modern frontend development, expect 4-8 weeks to become productive with Stencil theme development. The main learning is the Stencil CLI workflow, Handlebars.js templating, and BigCommerce's data model.

If you know React and Next.js, getting started with Catalyst and headless builds takes roughly 2-4 weeks. You're learning BigCommerce's GraphQL API and platform-specific patterns, not entirely new frameworks.

If you're starting from scratch with web development, expect 5-8 months before you're ready for client work. You need to build foundational skills in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and general web development concepts before BigCommerce-specific learning makes sense.

Moving from basic theme work to advanced integrations and headless builds is a separate learning phase. Budget an additional 2-3 months of focused study and practice to move into the higher-paying project categories.

Getting comfortable with client work, scoping projects, communicating technical decisions, managing expectations, adds another dimension that only comes through experience.

Is This For You?

BigCommerce development works well as a side hustle if you want to specialize in a niche within e-commerce development. The smaller ecosystem means less competition, and the enterprise focus means higher-value projects.

This is a good fit if you already have JavaScript and frontend development skills and want to apply them to e-commerce. The Stencil framework and Catalyst headless approach build on standard web technologies, so you're not learning an entirely foreign stack.

It's a strong choice if you're interested in headless commerce. BigCommerce's Catalyst framework is one of the most mature headless e-commerce solutions available, and learning it positions you for the broader shift toward composable commerce architectures. The Next.js and React skills transfer to many other opportunities.

It's less ideal if you want the broadest possible market. BigCommerce has a fraction of Shopify's market share, so the total volume of available work is smaller. You're trading market size for less competition and higher project values.

The platform risk is real but manageable. Tying your skills to any single platform carries risk. Mitigate this by focusing on headless development where the underlying technologies (React, Next.js, GraphQL) are broadly applicable, and by maintaining general web development skills alongside your BigCommerce specialization.

Note on specialization: This is a niche within e-commerce development that requires platform-specific knowledge and commitment. Success depends on understanding BigCommerce's architecture, API ecosystem, and the needs of mid-market merchants. Consider this if you're willing to invest in learning a specialized platform rather than pursuing the broadest possible market.