If you are looking to hire a website developer for an e-commerce website using OpenCart, surely you want to hire the best one for the job. It does not matter if you are looking for whole new website development or just tweaking and upgrading an existing one, there are several important things you should be aware of before you hire the developer. 

The interview process is the best time to find out whether the developer will be the best fit for the job. Read on to find out which are the most important questions you should ask an OpenCart developer during an interview to ensure the best results. 

1. What is your experience in OpenCart development? 

Experience matters a lot when it comes to development, especially for using an e-commerce open-source platform like OpenCart. A developer without significant experience and knowledge may give you a lower price but this might lead to unwanted issues such as delayed project completion, bugs and errors on the website, and the inability of the developer to fulfill all your requirements, especially when there are more complicated features to be implemented. 

In the best-case scenario, the OpenCart developer you would hire will have at least 3 to 4 years of experience. 

2. How can you ensure the security of an OpenCart website? 

Security is very important, especially for websites build on open-source platforms like OpenCart. Since these have a familiar structure, they are easier to be attacked by hackers. But there are different ways a developer can make an OpenCart website secure – most likely, an experienced developer will have the knowledge to do so.

Again, one more reason to hire an experienced OpenCart developer to build or redesign your website. 

3. How many successful OpenCart projects have you worked on?

The years of experience is not the only factor to measure because a developer might have worked on just a few project during all that duration. You want to know the number of successful projects they have delivered – the more, the better. 

4. How much do you charge for website development? 

Of course, money is important, especially when you are a small business or a startup. So it is very important to be aware of all costs before you hire an OpenCart developer. You want to find the best quality for the most affordable cost – but since it will depend on the specific requirements of your website, it might be difficult to nail a fixed price. 

It is best if you compare prices from different website developers to ensure that you get the best quote that will meet all your needs. 

5. Can you offer OpenCart extensions customizations? 

A lot of developers know how to set up an e-commerce website with OpenCart and how to install and configure the extensions. But the process of customizing these extensions can be a challenging job that only experienced website developers can do. Make sure that the OpenCart developer you hire can customize the extensions according to your requirements. 

6. How long will it take to complete the project?

You should be aware from the start of the specific timeframe your e-commerce website can be done. Ask the developer when they can start and how soon they can finish and complete the project. If you are on a tight deadline, you have to be sure that the developer is up to the task and able to deliver on time, and that your project will not be delayed because of their unavailability. 

7. Do you provide future website maintenance?

You will need to make changes on the website in the future – like fixing issues, redesigning, or upgrading. Hire an OpenCart developer that will provide continuous support as you do not want to go through the same hiring process a couple of months later again.