Moderate 2-4 days 12 steps

BigCommerce to Squarespace Migration Guide

BigCommerce

Squarespace

This guide walks you through migrating from BigCommerce to Squarespace to leverage stunning design templates and an intuitive interface. Learn how to seamlessly transfer your store while maximizing Squarespace's user-friendly ecommerce capabilities.

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BigCommerce to Squarespace Migration Preparation

Essential steps to prepare for migrating your online store from BigCommerce to Squarespace, focusing on data export, design planning, and feature mapping.

Export Your BigCommerce Store Data

Navigate to your BigCommerce admin panel and export all critical data including products, customers, and orders via CSV files. Pay special attention to product variants as Squarespace has different variant handling, and ensure you export customer data separately as it requires special permissions in BigCommerce.

Choose Your Squarespace Plan and Template

Select either Commerce Basic ($27/mo) or Commerce Advanced ($49/mo) based on your feature needs, as the Business plan has limited ecommerce functionality. Browse Squarespace's design templates and choose one that aligns with your brand, keeping in mind that template switching after launch requires more effort.

Audit Your Product Catalog Structure

Review your BigCommerce product variants and options since Squarespace handles product variations differently with a 100-variant limit per product. Organize your products into categories that match Squarespace's structure and prepare high-quality images as Squarespace emphasizes visual design.

Map Essential Features and Integrations

Identify which BigCommerce apps and features you currently use and find Squarespace equivalents or third-party integrations. Note that Squarespace has fewer native ecommerce features than BigCommerce, so some functionality may need to be simplified or replaced.

Plan Your Content Migration Strategy

Since Squarespace excels at combining content and commerce, plan how to integrate your product pages with blog content, landing pages, and marketing materials. Prepare your brand assets, product descriptions, and any blog content for the new platform's content-focused approach.

Set Up Customer Communication Plan

Prepare to notify customers about the migration since customer accounts won't transfer automatically to Squarespace. Plan how customers will access their order history and create new accounts, and consider offering incentives for re-registration to maintain customer relationships.

BigCommerce to Squarespace Migration: Complete Guide

A comprehensive 12-step migration process from BigCommerce to Squarespace, designed for content creators and small businesses seeking beautiful design templates and simplified management. This guide covers data export, platform setup, and optimization for Squarespace's content-focused ecosystem.

Export Data from BigCommerce

1-2 hours

Access your BigCommerce admin panel and navigate to Products > Export to download your product catalog as CSV. Export customers via Customers > Export, and download order history from Orders > Export. Create separate exports for categories, brands, and product images to ensure complete data capture.

Tips:

• Export products in batches if you have a large catalog
• Download high-resolution product images separately
• Save all CSV files with clear naming conventions

Important:

• BigCommerce exports may not include all custom fields
• Image URLs in exports may be temporary links

Set Up Squarespace Account and Plan

30 minutes

Create your Squarespace account and select the Commerce plan (required for e-commerce features). Choose your domain name and connect it during setup, or transfer your existing domain later. Enable the 14-day free trial to test the platform before committing to annual billing for better rates.

Tips:

• Annual plans offer significant savings over monthly
• Commerce Advanced plan provides better analytics and abandoned cart recovery
• Register your domain through Squarespace for easier management

Important:

• Free trial has limited e-commerce functionality
• Domain transfers can take 5-7 days to complete

Select and Customize Template

2-4 hours

Browse Squarespace's template gallery and filter by 'Online Store' to see e-commerce optimized designs. Popular choices for former BigCommerce users include Bedford, Brine, or Avenue templates for their product showcase capabilities. Customize colors, fonts, and layout to match your brand identity using the Style Editor.

Tips:

• Preview templates on mobile devices before deciding
• Choose templates with strong product gallery features
• Test template loading speed with sample content

Important:

• Template changes after launch require rebuilding customizations
• Some templates have limited product display options

Import Products and Inventory

4-8 hours

Use Squarespace's CSV import tool under Commerce > Inventory to upload your product data. Map BigCommerce fields to Squarespace equivalents, ensuring product variants stay under the 250 limit per product. Upload product images through the Media Library and link them to products manually, as Squarespace doesn't support automated image imports via CSV.

Tips:

• Clean up product descriptions to remove BigCommerce-specific formatting
• Optimize images for web before uploading
• Create product categories in Squarespace before importing

Important:

• Squarespace CSV import has strict formatting requirements
• Product variants must be restructured to fit Squarespace's system

Migrate Customer Data

2-3 hours

Export customer information from BigCommerce and prepare it for Squarespace's format requirements. Note that Squarespace doesn't support direct customer imports with passwords, so customers will need to create new accounts. Set up customer account features in Commerce > Customer Accounts and configure email notifications for new account creation.

Tips:

• Send advance notice to customers about the migration
• Offer incentives for customers to recreate accounts
• Export customer order history for reference

Important:

• Customer passwords cannot be migrated
• Purchase history won't transfer automatically

Configure Payment Processing

1-2 hours

Set up payment processing through Commerce > Payments, choosing between Squarespace's integrated Stripe processing or connecting your existing payment processor. Configure accepted payment methods including credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay. Test payment processing in sandbox mode before going live to ensure proper transaction handling.

Tips:

• Squarespace's integrated payments offer competitive rates
• Enable multiple payment options to reduce cart abandonment
• Set up automatic tax calculation if available in your region

Important:

• Payment processor changes may affect transaction fees
• Some international payment methods may not be supported

Set Up Shipping Configuration

2-3 hours

Navigate to Commerce > Shipping and recreate your BigCommerce shipping rules and rates. Configure shipping zones, methods, and pricing structures to match your previous setup. Integrate with shipping carriers like UPS or FedEx if you used real-time rates in BigCommerce, though options may be more limited in Squarespace.

Tips:

• Test shipping calculations with various product combinations
• Set up free shipping thresholds to encourage larger orders
• Configure local delivery options if applicable

Important:

• Squarespace has fewer shipping integrations than BigCommerce
• Complex shipping rules may require simplification

Configure Tax Settings

1-2 hours

Set up tax configuration in Commerce > Taxes, entering your tax rates for different regions where you collect sales tax. Enable automatic tax calculation if available in your jurisdiction, or manually configure tax rates by location. Ensure tax settings comply with your business requirements and local regulations.

Tips:

• Consult with a tax professional for complex tax situations
• Test tax calculations across different shipping locations
• Keep records of tax configuration for accounting purposes

Important:

• Tax automation is limited compared to BigCommerce
• International tax compliance may require manual setup

Migrate Content and Create Pages

3-6 hours

Transfer your BigCommerce page content including About Us, FAQ, shipping policies, and return policies to new Squarespace pages. Use Squarespace's intuitive page builder to recreate content with improved visual design. Create a blog section if you had one in BigCommerce, transferring posts and maintaining publication dates where possible.

Tips:

• Enhance content with Squarespace's rich media capabilities
• Optimize content for SEO with proper headings and meta descriptions
• Create custom forms for contact and customer service

Important:

• Blog post URLs will change unless manually configured
• Some BigCommerce widgets may not have Squarespace equivalents

Set Up URL Redirects

2-4 hours

Create 301 redirects from your old BigCommerce URLs to new Squarespace URLs to maintain SEO value and prevent broken links. Map product pages, category pages, and content pages in Settings > Advanced > URL Redirects. Use tools like Screaming Frog to identify all URLs that need redirecting from your old site.

Tips:

• Prioritize redirects for high-traffic and high-ranking pages
• Test redirects thoroughly before launch
• Create a redirect map document for future reference

Important:

• Squarespace allows maximum 300 redirects on Business plans
• Some complex URL structures may not redirect perfectly

Configure Analytics and Marketing Tools

1-2 hours

Install Google Analytics 4 and Google Search Console in Settings > Advanced > Code Injection to maintain tracking continuity. Set up Facebook Pixel and other marketing tracking codes you used in BigCommerce. Configure email marketing integrations with services like Mailchimp or Constant Contact to maintain customer communication channels.

Tips:

• Use Google Tag Manager for easier tracking code management
• Set up conversion tracking for e-commerce events
• Configure abandoned cart email sequences

Important:

• Historical analytics data won't transfer
• Some marketing integrations may have different functionality

Test and Launch

4-6 hours

Conduct comprehensive testing of your new Squarespace store including product browsing, cart functionality, checkout process, and payment processing. Test on multiple devices and browsers to ensure responsive design works properly. Perform final content review, check all redirects, and verify that contact forms and customer service features function correctly before switching your domain and going live.

Tips:

• Create a testing checklist to ensure nothing is missed
• Have friends or colleagues test the user experience
• Prepare a launch announcement for customers

Important:

• Allow extra time for unexpected issues during testing
• Have a rollback plan ready in case of critical problems

What will be migrated

products

Products, descriptions, SKUs, prices, images. Variants: BigCommerce supports 250 vs Squarespace's 250.

customers

Customer contact info, addresses, marketing preferences transfer. Passwords must be reset for security.

orders

Order history for reference. Consider importing last 3-6 months for customer service.

BigCommerce to Squarespace Migration: Common Challenges and Solutions

Key questions and practical solutions for businesses migrating from BigCommerce to Squarespace, covering data transfer, feature differences, and operational considerations.

How long does it typically take to migrate from BigCommerce to Squarespace?

A complete migration usually takes 2-4 weeks depending on your catalog size and customization needs. The data export from BigCommerce is straightforward via CSV, but importing products and recreating your store design in Squarespace requires careful planning and testing.

Will I lose my search engine rankings when switching from BigCommerce to Squarespace?

You can minimize SEO impact by setting up proper 301 redirects and maintaining your URL structure where possible. Squarespace has good built-in SEO tools, but you'll need to carefully map your BigCommerce URLs to new Squarespace URLs to preserve link equity.

Can I transfer my order history and customer data from BigCommerce to Squarespace?

BigCommerce allows CSV export of customer data and order history, but Squarespace has limited import capabilities for historical orders. You can import customer contact information, but order history may need to be maintained separately or accessed through your BigCommerce export files.

What BigCommerce apps and integrations won't be available on Squarespace?

Squarespace has fewer third-party integrations compared to BigCommerce's extensive app marketplace. Advanced inventory management, complex shipping calculators, and specialized B2B tools may not have direct equivalents, so you'll need to evaluate if Squarespace's built-in features meet your needs.

How do the ecommerce features compare between BigCommerce Pro ($399/mo) and Squarespace Commerce Advanced ($49/mo)?

While Squarespace is significantly cheaper, it lacks many advanced features like multi-storefront management, advanced API access, and complex product variants that BigCommerce Pro offers. Squarespace is better suited for simpler catalogs with straightforward selling needs.

How much website downtime should I expect during the migration?

You can build your entire Squarespace site while your BigCommerce store remains live, minimizing downtime to just the DNS switching period (typically 24-48 hours). Plan the switch during low-traffic periods and communicate the timeline to customers in advance.

Should I migrate during a specific time of year or business cycle?

Avoid migrating during peak sales periods, holidays, or major product launches. The best time is typically during slower business periods when you can afford potential temporary disruptions and have time to thoroughly test the new platform.

Will my current BigCommerce theme design translate well to Squarespace?

You'll likely need to choose a new Squarespace template as direct theme migration isn't possible. However, Squarespace's design templates are often more modern and mobile-responsive, which could improve your site's appearance and user experience.

Do customers need to create new passwords after the migration?

Yes, customers will need to create new passwords as Squarespace cannot import encrypted password data from BigCommerce. Plan to communicate this change to customers and consider offering incentives for account re-registration to maintain customer relationships.

How should I handle ongoing operations like inventory and orders during migration?

Maintain your BigCommerce store until the migration is complete, then manually sync any new orders and inventory changes to Squarespace. Consider pausing marketing campaigns during the final switch to minimize order complications.

What are the real cost differences beyond the monthly subscription fees?

While Squarespace's monthly fees are lower ($49/mo vs $399/mo for comparable plans), factor in potential costs for design customization, lost functionality replacements, and possible third-party services to bridge feature gaps. Many businesses save significantly overall despite some added complexity.

Can I migrate my product reviews from BigCommerce to Squarespace?

Product reviews don't transfer directly as Squarespace has limited built-in review functionality. You may need to use a third-party review platform like Trustpilot or manually recreate important reviews, though this could impact your social proof temporarily.