Cost + timeline + your credentials, what should I expect?

Q: Cost + timeline + your credentials, what should I expect?

Realistic ranges for a vape brand at $500k, $5M GMV:Compliance + processor audit: $499. 5 business days. ~20h @ $25/hr. Fixed-fee. Output: written processor recommendation, PMTA SKU exposure map, state flavor-ban exposure map, USPS / PACT Act audit, age-gate vendor recommendation, Magento fit recommendation.Compliance-ready vape Magento build: $4,999. 6 weeks. ~200h @ $25/hr. Fixed-fee. Includes high-risk processor wiring (NMI default), 21+ age-gate integration (AgeChecker.net default), FDA PMTA product attribute + visibility filter, state flavor-ban routing at cart, USPS-banned carrier-select rebuild, wholesale Net-30 + tier-pricing layer, basic Hyvä storefront. Excludes: PIM integration, ERP wiring, multi-warehouse MSI setup.Custom multi-state DTC + wholesale enterprise: Quoted in 24h. Multi-week engagement. Includes everything above plus PACT Act monthly reporting automation, multi-warehouse / multi-region MSI, ATF + state-tax registration support, PIM integration, ongoing compliance retainer ($1.5k, $5k/mo).Hosting: $400, $1,500/mo on Cloudways / dedicated. Some hosts (SiteGround, Bluehost) refuse vape; we wire to vape-friendly providers (Cloudways managed AWS, dedicated VPS).My credentials:Adobe Certified Expert (Magento 2 Architect).7+ years building Magento for high-risk DTC verticals (vape, CBD, kratom, nootropics).12+ high-risk DTC stores shipped to live (NDAs prevent naming them publicly; references on request).Featured on Upwork as Top Rated Plus for Magento + Hyvä.Active in the Hyvä Themes Slack and Magento community.Honest stance: vape is the most operationally complex US e-commerce vertical. Budget for ongoing compliance maintenance, not just the initial build. State laws shift quarterly.

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Realistic ranges for a vape brand at $500k, $5M GMV:

Compliance + processor audit: $499. 5 business days. ~20h @ $25/hr. Fixed-fee. Output: written processor recommendation, PMTA SKU exposure map, state flavor-ban exposure map, USPS / PACT Act audit, age-gate vendor recommendation, Magento fit recommendation.
Compliance-ready vape Magento build: $4,999. 6 weeks. ~200h @ $25/hr. Fixed-fee. Includes high-risk processor wiring (NMI default), 21+ age-gate integration (AgeChecker.net default), FDA PMTA product attribute + visibility filter, state flavor-ban routing at cart, USPS-banned carrier-select rebuild, wholesale Net-30 + tier-pricing layer, basic Hyvä storefront. Excludes: PIM integration, ERP wiring, multi-warehouse MSI setup.
Custom multi-state DTC + wholesale enterprise: Quoted in 24h. Multi-week engagement. Includes everything above plus PACT Act monthly reporting automation, multi-warehouse / multi-region MSI, ATF + state-tax registration support, PIM integration, ongoing compliance retainer ($1.5k, $5k/mo).
Hosting: $400, $1,500/mo on Cloudways / dedicated. Some hosts (SiteGround, Bluehost) refuse vape; we wire to vape-friendly providers (Cloudways managed AWS, dedicated VPS).

My credentials:

Adobe Certified Expert (Magento 2 Architect).
7+ years building Magento for high-risk DTC verticals (vape, CBD, kratom, nootropics).
12+ high-risk DTC stores shipped to live (NDAs prevent naming them publicly; references on request).
Featured on Upwork as Top Rated Plus for Magento + Hyvä.
Active in the Hyvä Themes Slack and Magento community.

Honest stance: vape is the most operationally complex US e-commerce vertical. Budget for ongoing compliance maintenance, not just the initial build. State laws shift quarterly.