E-Commerce Outsourcing: External Manager
Your online shop is running, but you feel there could be more? The conversion rate is stagnating, marketing is eating up budget without clear results, and there's no time for strategic development? Many companies face the question: Do we need our own e-commerce manager – or are there smarter solutions?
In this article, we analyze the options: Full-time employment vs. external interim management vs. agency support. We calculate the true costs and show when which model makes sense.
The Problem: E-Commerce Requires Expertise
A successful online shop requires knowledge in many areas:
- Technology: Shop system, hosting, integrations, performance
- Marketing: SEO, SEA, social ads, email marketing, conversion optimization
- Strategy: Assortment, pricing, internationalization, market analysis
- Operations: Logistics, customer service, process optimization
- Data: Analytics, reporting, KPI tracking
A single person can rarely cover all areas at a high level. Large companies have entire teams for this. But what do SMEs with limited budgets do?
Option 1: Own E-Commerce Manager (In-house)
💼 Full-Time Employment Cost Calculation
Gross Salary (Junior-Mid Level)
€45,000 - 65,000/year
Payroll Taxes (~30%)
€13,500 - 19,500/year
Workspace, Tools, Training
€5,000 - 10,000/year
Recruiting (proportional)
€3,000 - 8,000
Total Cost First Year: €66,500 - 102,500
+ Risk of wrong hire, onboarding time, vacation/illness
Option 2: External E-Commerce Manager (Interim/Fractional)
The "fractional" or "interim" manager model comes from the C-level area (Fractional CFO, CMO) and is increasingly being adopted in e-commerce. The idea: You get an experienced expert, but only for the hours you really need.
⏱️ External Management Cost Calculation
* Example calculation – actual costs vary depending on hours, requirements, and project scope.
Typical Model
2-4 days per month
Monthly Costs
€1,500 - 4,000/month
Annual Costs
€18,000 - 48,000/year
Notice Period
Usually 4-8 weeks
Savings vs. In-house: 30-60%
+ Immediately available, no recruiting, flexibly scalable
When Does Which Model Pay Off?
| Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Revenue under €500,000/year | External (Part-time) |
| Revenue €500,000 - 2 million/year | External or Hybrid |
| Revenue over €2 million/year | In-house + External Specialists |
| Quick project start / relaunch | External (immediately available) |
| Bridging until in-house hire | Interim Management |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How quickly can an external manager start?
Usually within 1-2 weeks after contract signing. A kick-off workshop ensures quick onboarding.
How does the collaboration work in practice?
Typical: Weekly jour fixe, access to shop backend and analytics, communication via Slack/Teams. The external works like a team member, just not on-site daily.
Does Your Shop Need an E-Commerce Manager?
Let's analyze together which model makes the most sense for your situation. We offer flexible interim solutions starting from 2 days per month.
Schedule a Non-binding Conversation →
Martin Ogris
•Founder & CEOMartin Ogris is the founder of clickpuls and has been working in e-commerce for over 10 years. Together with his team, he helps companies optimize their online presence, automate processes, and achieve sustainable growth. His expertise includes shop systems like Shopify and WooCommerce, strategic consulting, and the integration of modern AI tools.