CMS & e-commerce
PrestaShop agency: custom modules, themes and stores
PrestaShop is an e-commerce platform built for retail: rich catalogue, combinations, pricing rules, multistore, carrier management. But that power comes with a demanding architecture, where a badly coded module or a forgotten override can bring a whole store down. Our PrestaShop agency service covers building stores, developing custom modules and themes, and taking over existing stores on versions 1.6, 1.7 or 8.
It is aimed at e-merchants and B2B distributors with a substantial catalogue, specific business rules and integrations to maintain with their back office, logistics or marketplaces.
We follow PrestaShop standards: modules built with hooks rather than by modifying the core, child themes, Symfony for recent versions, a staging environment for every change. The goal is a store that stays maintainable and can follow future versions.
When do we step in?
Building a PrestaShop store
You are launching an online business with a large catalogue or complex pricing rules. We design the store, theme and required modules, then put it into production with suitable hosting.
A module nobody offers
Product configurator, per-customer B2B pricing, ERP connector, specific export: we build the custom module with PrestaShop hooks, without touching the core.
Your theme is rigid or outdated
A purchased theme, hand-modified and never versioned, blocks every update. We start again from a clean child theme or a custom theme based on Classic or Hummingbird.
Module conflicts slow everything down
Overlapping modules, multiple overrides of the same class, heavy SQL queries in listings: we audit and clean up before an update breaks everything.
You need to connect the store to your back office
Product, stock and order synchronisation with your ERP or management software, through the PrestaShop Webservice API or proven connector modules.
How we work
- 1
Project scoping
We analyse your catalogue, business rules, markets, carriers, payment methods and existing tools. For a takeover, we audit the store, its modules and its overrides.
- 2
Version and architecture choice
PrestaShop 8 for a new project, or an upgrade plan if your store runs 1.6 or 1.7. We define which modules to keep, replace or build.
- 3
Theme and module development
Child theme or custom theme, modules built to PrestaShop standards and versioned with Git, using hooks to avoid wild overrides.
- 4
Integrations and payment
Configuration of payment gateways, carriers, per-country taxes, connection to the ERP or logistics through the PrestaShop Webservice, tests on staging.
- 5
Performance and go-live
Smarty cache, server cache, image and query optimisation, CDN, properly sized hosting, then full acceptance with test orders and switch to production.
Technologies we use
- PrestaShop 1.6 / 1.7 / 8
- PHP 7.4 → 8.x
- MySQL / MariaDB
- Symfony
- Smarty / Twig
- Classic / Hummingbird themes
- PrestaShop Webservice
- Composer
- Git
- Redis / Memcached
- Nginx / Apache
- Cloudflare / CDN
Related expertise
Why choose Agencei?
Modules that respect the core
We build with hooks and PrestaShop best practices, never by editing core files. Your store stays compatible with updates.
Knowledge of all three generations
We work on PrestaShop 1.6, 1.7 and 8, with their specifics: Smarty or Twig, overrides, Symfony, module migration between versions.
A performance and infrastructure approach
A slow PrestaShop is often a matter of modules, queries or hosting. We handle all three layers.
Long-term support
After go-live, we handle maintenance, version upgrades and new features with the same team.
In brief
- What is this service?
- PrestaShop agency service: store creation, custom module and theme development, takeover and clean-up of stores on versions 1.6, 1.7 or 8.
- Who is it for?
- E-merchants, brands and B2B distributors with a substantial catalogue, specific business rules and integrations to maintain.
- What problem does it solve?
- Store to build, features missing from marketplace modules, rigid theme, module and override conflicts, slowness, no link with the ERP.
- How long does it usually take?
- A standard store usually takes a few weeks; a project with custom modules, ERP integrations or multistore often takes several months.
- What factors influence the price?
- Price depends on the target version, the number of modules to build or replace, catalogue and pricing complexity, integrations and the theme.
- How does the engagement run?
- Scoping, version and architecture choice, theme and module development with hooks, integrations and payment, performance, acceptance and go-live.
- What are the risks?
- Modules editing the core, multiple overrides, unversioned theme, updates made impossible, undersized hosting.
- What alternatives exist?
- WooCommerce if you already have WordPress and a simple catalogue, a hosted platform to start quickly, or custom e-commerce development for very specific needs.
Frequently asked questions
Should I stay on PrestaShop 1.6 or migrate to PrestaShop 8?
PrestaShop 1.6 no longer receives security updates and requires old PHP versions. If your store runs 1.6, migration becomes a security matter more than a feature one. We audit your modules to estimate the effort before advising you.
Can you develop a specific module?
Yes, it is one of our main areas of work. The module is built with PrestaShop hooks, versioned and documented, which keeps it maintainable through version upgrades.
What are overrides and why are they a problem?
Overrides let you change the behaviour of PrestaShop classes without touching the core. Problems appear when several modules override the same class, or when overrides are left behind after uninstalling. We inventory them and reduce them to the strict minimum.
Can you take over a store built by another agency?
Yes. We start with an audit of the store, modules, overrides, database and hosting, then propose a clean-up plan before any new development.
Is PrestaShop suitable for B2B?
Yes, thanks to customer groups, specific prices, quotes and restricted catalogues, often complemented by modules. Complex B2B needs require development, which we handle.
Related services
PrestaShop Maintenance
Tested updates, backups, monitoring and security for a PrestaShop store that stays open.
See this servicePrestaShop Migration
Upgrade from 1.6 to 1.7 or 8, host change, migration from or to another e-commerce platform.
See this serviceWooCommerce Development
Custom WooCommerce store: payments, shipping, catalogue, performance and business integrations.
See this servicePerformance Optimization
Profiling-based diagnosis and targeted fixes: Core Web Vitals, SQL queries, caching, CDN.
See this serviceAPI and backend
REST and GraphQL APIs, Node.js, Spring Boot and Python backend services, documented and secured.
See this serviceCommon problems
Tell us about your project
Describe your need in a few lines: we come back to you with a first analysis and the next steps.