Cost, timeline, and my credentials, what should a cycling brand actually budget?
Realistic ranges for a cycling DTC + LBS brand at $1M, $10M GMV:
- Audit only: $499 fixed-fee, ~20h @ $25/hr, 5 business days. Catalog review, configurator depth gap, compat-matrix coverage, LBS network state, e-bike spec audit. Refundable against the build tier.
- Build / migration: $4,999 fixed-fee, ~200h @ $25/hr, 6 weeks. Covers the load-bearing pieces: configurator + compat matrix + LBS network + e-bike spec + Klaviyo + Affirm. Adds: B2B layer +$8k, multi-region +$15k, full Project-One configurator +$8k, dealer portal +$15k.
- Custom enterprise: quoted in 24h. Multi-brand portals (Trek + Spec + Cannondale on one Magento), full Project-One-class configurators, e-bike subscription models, typically $40k, $150k+.
- Hosting: $400, $1,500/mo on Cloudways / dedicated. Cycling traffic spikes seasonally (spring + fall) and around model-year launches, over-provision for 5-10x base.
- Ongoing retainer: $1.5k, $5k/mo for through-season ops + quarterly compat refresh aligned to Shimano Q1/Q3 launches.
My credentials: Adobe-Certified Magento + Hyvä developer, 7+ years of cycling DTC + LBS builds shipped including configurators, compat matrices, LBS dealer networks, and e-bike spec depth across road / MTB / gravel / e-bike segments. Cycling-nerd-friendly, I know my Shimano group hierarchy and can talk SRAM AXS battery firmware without a Google search.