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.