Are you a business owner or an individual who wants to sell their product online? You need to dig into the online marketplace where you can have access to a massive untapped audience. Online success starts with a robust website for your brand. So, if you want to build an eCommerce website, Shopify is the best choice.
Shopify is a popular eCommerce platform offering you several prebuilt & affordable templates for your store. Once you choose this platform, you need to know the Shopify pricing plan and understand how much it costs to build a Shopify website.
In this blog, we will break down every aspect of the Shopify website’s cost, including monthly plans and effective ways to save on development costs. Whether you’re working with a Shopify development company or building your store independently, understanding these costs can help you make informed decisions. So, let’s explore it.
How Much Does it Cost to Build a Shopify Website?
The average cost of Shopify starts from $500 to $12,000, depending on the functionality and design of the website.
- If you want a simple store that uses ready-made templates, the cost would be around $4,000.
- If you go for a custom Shopify website, you can expect to spend around $12,000 to $15,000 or more.
The cost of the Shopify website depends on how you want to build it, as various factors can decide the total cost.
So, first, let’s explore the pricing plans before we dive into the factors influencing the cost.
How Much Does the Shopify Website Cost Per Month? [Pricing Plans]
Shopify offers five different pricing plans. There are three main Shopify plans that you can opt for: basic, Shopify, and advanced. Additionally, there are two more options available, Shopify Lite & Shopify Plus.
The plan you choose will depend on the size and complexity of your store, as well as the features you need. Let’s break down each Shopify plan.
Basic Plan ($29 Per Month)
Best for Small Businesses Looking to Grow
According to Shopify, this is the most popular option, and it costs $29 per month (billed annually). It’s the most affordable way to get a fully functional eCommerce store. You can expect to sell unlimited products, a customized checkout experience, 24/7 support, security features including a free SSL certificate, and fraud analysis detection.
This Shopify basic plan is ideal for smaller businesses that need room to grow online. If you are selling a good handful of products and aiming for long-term growth, this plan will set you up with the essentials and provide you with opportunities to scale.
Shopify Standard Plan ($79 Per Month)
For Established Businesses
The Shopify plan costs $79 per month (billed annually) and is more suitable for businesses that manage extensive inventories and have established footholds in the market. This plan includes all of the features of Basic Shopify as well as a few additional features.
It provides you with up to 88% shipping discount, shipping insurance, staff accounts, and more. It’s recommended for use by businesses looking for substantial growth over time and supports new merchants.
Advanced Shopify Plan ($299 Per Month)
For Large-Scale Businesses
The most expensive Shopify plan is the Advanced plan. The cost starts from $299 per month (billed annually), and it provides more features than the basic and standard plan, so you can create up to 15 staff accounts. Also, you get improved 24/7 chat support, which means your business can get quick help during emergencies, third-party calculated shipping rates, and more.
The advanced plan is best for large businesses and organizations; as your company grows, you may need to invest in more advanced features to deal with growing operations. We recommend choosing this option if you are getting a very high sales volume every month, as this plan will provide you additional power to support your online store.
Shopify Starter ($5 Per Month)
Best For Side Hustles
If you’re not looking to build an entire website and already have a social media presence, Shopify Starter is a great way to start your online business. The cost is just $5 per month (billed annually), making it considerably cheaper than Shopify’s primary options.
It’s recommended for entrepreneurs to test out new products or people selling as a side hustle. Users can sell across social media platforms and messaging apps, such as Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp. By integrating certain things to sell on these sites, users can earn well. There are certain limitations, but when you grow, it’s worth upgrading to a basic plan and using their functionalities.
Shopify Plus (Starts From $2,300)
For Industry Giants
Shopify Plus is a robust eCommerce enterprise solution that is designed for high-growth online stores. The cost of this plan starts from $2,300 per month. It provides scalable and customizable solutions for businesses that include expert guidance on strategy and technical support from Shopify.
As your business grows, the complexity of everything increases with more clients, more returns, and more inventory. Shopify Plus provides you access to exclusive features, such as Shopify Flow and Launchpad, to help your business operate well every day.
Need Help Choosing the Right Shopify Pricing Plans for Your Business?
Schedule a free consultation with us. Our team of expert Shopify developers understand your needs and business objectives and help you choose the best plan for you.
Additional Factors That Affect the Cost of a Shopify Website
Above, we have described the Shopify pricing plans that you need to choose for your store to go live. However, several other factors play a crucial role in Shopify website cost and are essential in planning your online store’s growth.
Domain Registration
Business owners need a domain name for their Shopify stores. Having a unique domain name offers a strong basis for your brand exposure, and it’s crucial because it significantly boosts the visibility of your products.
You can buy domain names using the Shopify platform. It usually ranges from $10 to $20 per year, depending on the domain name’s availability and type (e.g., .com, .net, .store). Also, businesses can purchase a domain from third-party registrars and link it to their Shopify websites.
Theme or Pre-Built Templates
The look and feel of your store are key aspects in increasing conversion rates, so it’s necessary to choose a visually appealing theme for your website. Shopify website builder provides a range of free and paid themes that include choices for colour, design, and layout of your store. If you need help creating a custom and unique design for your Shopify store, consider hiring professionals for Shopify web design.
Free themes are great to start as they are essential features required for the store. On the other hand, premium paid themes built by Shopify Partners provide more options for your website design. For example, it might support animations and more font formatting options. Premium themes usually cost between $65 to $200 as a one-time purchase. The choice of theme depends on the store’s branding preferences, such as its layout and required features, which you can enhance through professional Branding Services.
Third-Party Applications
Like all platforms, Shopify can’t always meet the needs of every business, and that’s where add-ons and apps come in. Shopify App Store contains thousands of free and paid apps and integrations that extend the platform’s functionalities and allow you to customize your business with additional features.
While many apps offer free plans or trials, premium apps with advanced features come with monthly subscription fees. The cost of paid apps ranges from $9 to $49, with few exceeding $350. So businesses should carefully evaluate their needs and budget for essential apps such as marketing tools, SEO optimization, inventory management, and customer support.
Hiring Shopify Experts
Shopify is the best eCommerce platform for beginners as it’s easy to use and provides a wide array of features for businesses of all sizes. However, if you want to build a successful Shopify store, it requires more customization of themes and uploading products. So, it’s recommended that you hire a Shopify expert.
But how much does it cost to hire Shopify experts? Well, it depends on the type of Shopify experts, experience, engagement model, project size and complexity, and more. The average cost to hire a Shopify developer is $35 to $55 per hour and increases based on requirements.
While their expertise comes at a cost, hiring them can save you money in the long run.
Cost Breakdown of Different Methods Used in Building Shopify Website
Here, we will explore two different ways to build a Shopify store: DIY and Professional services. So, let’s explore.
DIY Shopify Store Development
You can easily build a Shopify store yourself as it’s free, and you can drag & drop elements by yourself. Begin with a basic plan, and when the business grows, switch to the advanced plan.
Approximately, the Shopify store can cost you around $100. So, here is a breakdown of the cost involved in this approach:
- Platform fees for 3 months will be $1 to $39 per month.
- Domain: $10 to $30
- SSL certificate: $10 to $60
- Website Theme: Free to $390
- Shopify Apps: $30 to $200
However, you will need to be able to design your website and find free or low-cost Shopify paid themes that you can customize. You will also need to set up your inventory, shipping, payments, and more by yourself.
Custom Shopify Development Service
If you want a customized feature and advanced website, it’s best to hire a professional to do it for you. It’s the best choice for a mid to large-sized eCommerce brand as Shopify development services provide you with the support of a team of experts to build your online store.
The cost for professional services will be around $300 to $4,000, depending on the different store sizes. Moreover, if you go for advanced services, the cost increases to $50,000. Let’s break down the cost that involves in this approach:
- Platform Fees: $1 to $399
- Domain Fees: $10 to $30
- SSL Certificate: $10 to $60
- Website Theme: Free to $390
- Shopify Apps: $100 to $1000
- Store Development Services: $200 to $2500
- Additional cost: $10 to $350
Tips To Save Money With Shopify Website Development
Your Shopify website needs to be built on a budget, depending on where your business stands. So here are a few effective tips to keep in mind while developing an online store:
- Choose an annual plan over monthly as many service providers offer discounts for annual payments. So you can save from 10% to 25% off the monthly price if you choose a yearly subscription.
- If you want custom features on your website, opt for outsourcing. It will be the best option to hire a freelance developer or agency that can cost you around $2,000 and $10,000 to start.
- Many platforms offer free templates to create your site, so choose free templates instead of premium templates. The Shopify app store has free plug-ins for everything, and it’s affordable to improve your site’s functionality.
Getting your domain name from a different registrar. For example, Shopify’s .com domain costs around $15 per year, whereas GoDaddy costs $11.99 for the first year.
Why Choose WebyKing for Shopify Website Development Services?
WebyKing is one of the leading Shopify development companies that help businesses stay ahead in this competitive eCommerce world. It offers you scalable, feature-packed, and responsive online stores.
With over 10+ years of experience, our team follows a personalized approach by carefully considering your business goals, target audience, and industry trends to create a Shopify store that is custom-made for your success.
We offer a wide range of Shopify development services to cater to every aspect of your online store and are always ready to support your unique ideas.
Partner with us to create an incredible Shopify custom development store now!
Conclusion
We hope that this article has given you useful information on the cost of building a Shopify website and which Shopify pricing plans are suitable for your business.
By understanding different development factors and plans, you can make informed decisions to build a strong online presence. The cost varies widely as it depends on your unique requirements and budget. However, it’s best to hire a professional Shopify development company for the best and most cost-effective result for your online store.
If you are looking to set up your Shopify online store, reach out to us. We will help you throughout the process and provide you with an estimate quote for your project.
FAQs on Shopify Website Cost
How long does it take to build a Shopify website?
The average time to build a basic Shopify store is usually within a few days or weeks by using pre-built themes and minimal customization. If you want to create a complex store with custom features and functionality, it can take much longer, up to a few weeks to months or more. The timeline depends on your requirements.
Is the Shopify website expensive?
Yes. Shopify’s website can be expensive, but it offers a lot of features and a robust product backend. Apart from development and design costs, there are recurring costs required to run Shopify stores. It includes domain name, premium themes & plugins, variable platform fee, and more.
Is the Shopify store worth it for small businesses?
Yes, Shopify is worth it for small businesses looking for an easy-to-use, scalable eCommerce platform. This platform provides modern, customizable themes, a wide range of essential sales tools, and integrations that simplify online sales and management.
However, Shopify may not be the best fit for every business need or budget, as there may be better alternatives for niche situations.
Does Shopify take 30% per transaction?
No, Shopify does not take 30% per transaction. The transaction fee that Shopify charges depends on the plan you are using, such as:
- For Shopify Basic, the charge is 2.9% + 30 cents per sale
- For standard Shopify, the charge is 2.6% + 30 cents per sale
- For Shopify Advanced, the charge is 2.4% + 30 cents per sale
If you use Shopify’s own payment processing option, you don’t pay transaction fees. However, if you use a third-party payment gateway, Shopify will apply a fee that ranges from 0.6% to 2%, depending on the plan. Credit card processing fees are also always applied, either by Shopify or by the payment gateway provider.
Do big brands really use Shopify?
Yes! Many globally recognized brands, including Tesla, Gymshark, Red Bull, and Kylie Cosmetics, use Shopify to power their eCommerce stores. If you’re curious to see real-world examples, check out our blog on 10+ Big Brands Using Shopify to Power Their Sites.
