What shapes an online store in the United States
The United States gives a store one language and one currency, then dozens of different answers on tax. Around that sit federal agencies that take an active interest in how stores describe, ship and bill.
| Topic | What it means for your store | Decide early |
|---|---|---|
| Sales tax | There is no national sales tax. Each state sets its own rules, and a seller owes tax in a state once its sales there pass that state's threshold, with or without premises. Rates then vary by county and city | A tax service for the checkout, and the states where you are registered |
| Checkout and payment | Shoppers expect cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and often an installment option. Card details are typed into fields hosted by the payment provider, which takes most of the card security burden off your own systems | The payment provider, and the methods your customers use most |
| Shipping promises | The Federal Trade Commission's mail order rule expects a seller to ship within the time it advertises, and to offer a refund when it cannot. Customers compare delivery speed and return terms before they buy | The delivery times the store will state, and who can change them |
| Subscriptions | Federal law and state laws, California's among the strictest, require clear terms before purchase, the buyer's consent and a simple way to cancel online. A broader federal rule on cancellation was struck down in court in 2025, which left these laws in place | How a customer cancels, and how many steps that takes |
| Reviews and endorsements | A federal rule in force since late 2024 bans fake reviews, reviews bought for a set rating and the hiding of negative ones, and asks for disclosure when staff or paid partners write | How reviews are collected, moderated and displayed |
| Accessibility and privacy | Online stores are frequent targets of accessibility claims under disability law. State privacy laws add opt-outs, and marketing texts need prior written consent | The accessibility standard, and how opt-outs and consent are stored |
| Stock shipped from abroad | The duty-free allowance for low-value parcels ended in 2025. Orders sent to American customers from another country now meet duties and customs paperwork whatever their value | Where stock is held, and who pays duty on cross-border orders |
Store workflows we build for the US market
Four workflows where American rules change what gets built.
Tax at checkout
For any store that ships to more than one state.
- Customer enters an address
- Address validated
- Tax calculated for that exact location
- Order placed with tax recorded by state
- Reports ready for each filing
Subscription with a clean exit
For stores selling refills, memberships or boxes.
- Plan chosen
- Price, renewal date and terms shown before payment
- Consent recorded
- Reminder sent before renewal
- Cancellation completed online
- Confirmation sent
Returns and refunds
For stores where the return experience decides the second order.
- Customer starts a return online
- Label issued
- Parcel received and checked
- Refund sent to the original payment method
- Stock updated
Verified reviews
For stores that rely on ratings to sell.
- Order delivered
- Buyer invited to review
- Review tied to a real purchase
- Published whatever the rating
- Incentives and staff reviews labeled
What we build
Stores on the right platform
Shopify, another hosted platform or a custom build, chosen by how you sell. Our comparison of Shopify and custom ecommerce explains where each fits.
Tax and address handling
Integration with a tax calculation service and address validation, so each order carries the right tax for its destination.
Accessible storefront and checkout
Product pages, filters, cart and payment steps built to WCAG at Level AA and tested with a keyboard and a screen reader.
Subscription and account flows
Sign-up, renewal notices and self-service cancellation designed to meet the strictest state rules you sell under.
Wholesale and B2B ordering
Customer-specific prices, purchase orders and payment by invoice or bank transfer, described on our B2B ecommerce development page.
Operations connections
Links to inventory, warehouse, shipping and accounting systems, so that an order is typed once.
What we need from you
- The states you ship to and where you hold stock
- Your payment provider, or the shortlist you are choosing from
- Product data, images and prices
- Shipping, return and subscription terms as they stand today
- Access to the inventory and accounting systems the store must feed
Ownership and licensing terms are defined in the project agreement.
A readiness checklist for a US online store
Before development starts
0 of 8 checkedWhat to do next
Tell us what you sell, where you ship from and which systems run your stock and accounts. We will reply with a platform recommendation, the rules that affect your store and a first scope. Start a conversation or book a 30-minute call.
Common questions
Do we need to collect sales tax in every state?
Only in states where you have a tax obligation, which today can arise from sales alone. Each state sets a threshold of revenue or orders, and once you pass it you register, collect and file there. A handful of states have no general sales tax. A tax service works out the rate for each address at checkout, but deciding where you must register is a question for your accountant.
Should we build on Shopify or go custom?
Most consumer stores are well served by a hosted platform, which brings checkout, payments and hosting ready made. Custom work earns its cost when pricing rules, product configuration, B2B terms or integrations go beyond what the platform and its apps handle cleanly. A common middle path keeps the platform's checkout and builds a custom storefront on top. We recommend the lightest option that meets your needs.
Does an online store have to be accessible?
Plan for it. Courts have applied the Americans with Disabilities Act to online stores, and retailers receive a steady flow of demand letters and suits. WCAG at Level AA is the practical standard. The parts that fail most often are product filters, image descriptions, form errors and the checkout. Building them properly from the start costs little. Retrofitting under legal pressure costs a great deal more.
What changed for stores that ship orders from overseas?
Until 2025, parcels under a set value entered the United States free of duty, which many cross-border and drop-shipping stores relied on. That allowance has ended. Orders shipped from abroad now face duties and formal customs data whatever they are worth, so the store has to show the full landed cost or the customer meets a bill at the door. Holding stock inside the country avoids the problem.
Where to go from here
Related serviceE-commerce PlatformsCommerce built for the way you sell