# What is Headless Commerce?

What is Headless Commerce? An architecture that separates the front end (what the customer sees) from the back end (catalog, payments, inventory).

## How it works in practice

Headless suits stores that have outgrown what a template can offer. Cost: expensive development plus ongoing maintenance. Most stores don't need it.

## Related metrics

- API — headless relies entirely on APIs
- MACH Architecture — headless is a part of it
- PWA — the front end is usually PWA-based
- Composable Commerce — the next stage

## Common misconception

'Headless is mandatory for serious stores.' 99% of stores don't need it. Shopify and WooCommerce meet 99% of needs. Headless fits stores with $1.5M+ in annual revenue.

## How to fix it

Considering headless? (1) What problem does your platform not solve? (2) Costs: $55-140K in development plus ongoing maintenance, (3) alternatives: a custom theme, Shopify Hydrogen.

## Real-world example

A fashion chain moved to headless because its theme didn't support 3D view and AR try-on. Development took 8 months and cost $220K. CR +18%, load time 40% faster. Worth it — but only at scale.

## Where to start

Don't consider headless before $1.5M+ in annual revenue. Before that, invest in a professional custom theme and optimization.

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Category: Technology · From the [Jimmy OS KPI Glossary](https://jimmy-os.com/glossary/kpi.md) · Source page: https://jimmy-os.com/glossary/kpi/headless-commerce