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How much an online store costs: prices, platforms, hidden costs
How much a turnkey online store costs: price ranges, platform comparison, hidden costs and how not to overpay. My guide price: from $700.
An online store can cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, and the real launch budget is usually larger than the development price. Here is what the costs are made of and how to choose a platform for your business.
What it costs on the market
Market prices vary a lot. Very roughly, the figures look like this (in US dollars):
| Type of store | Roughly on the market |
|---|---|
| Simple, up to 100 products | from $330 |
| Medium, with integrations (payment, delivery, accounting) | from $550 to $900 |
| Large, 1,000+ products, custom design | from $1,350 to $1,800 |
| Very large, with complex integrations | from $1,800 to $3,550 |
For a simple store, development takes roughly 35–50 days. All figures in the table are very approximate. My guide price for a turnkey store: from $700 to $2,000. I give the exact price after a brief.
Platforms: what to choose
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud platform (rental) | Quick start, low initial cost, a ready admin panel | Monthly fee, limits on design and logic |
| WordPress + WooCommerce | A familiar editor, many extensions, design freedom | Speed and security need tuning |
| Shopify | A ready ecosystem, reliable | Subscription fee, commissions, dependence on the platform |
| Custom code | Maximum speed and any logic | The most expensive start, a developer is needed for changes |
Cloud platforms start from a few dollars a month, but it is a rental: the site belongs to the platform. Custom code and WooCommerce belong to you.
For more on choosing between a system and custom code, see WordPress or custom code.
What makes up the development price
- Number of products and catalogue complexity: variants (colour, size), filters, search.
- Design: a template or a custom one.
- Integrations: payment, delivery, accounting, CRM. Each is separate work.
- Languages and currencies.
- Features: a user account, comparison, reviews, promotions.
Hidden costs
The real launch budget is usually 40–60% higher than the development price, because development is only part of the costs. What else is included:
- domain and hosting;
- payment system commission on every order;
- product photos and descriptions: often the longest part;
- filling the catalogue;
- support and updates after launch;
- promotion: without it, nobody will find a new store.
How not to overpay
- Start with the necessary minimum: catalogue, cart, payment, delivery. Add the rest later.
- Prepare photos and descriptions in advance.
- Decide on the platform before you start, not in the middle.
- Ask who owns the site and the code.
- Plan a budget for support and promotion.
Do you need a store at all
If customers don't pay for the order on the site but send an enquiry, a catalogue website will be simpler and cheaper. For a comparison, see catalogue website or online store.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move products from my old store?
Yes, products, categories and photos are moved by import, and page URLs are kept to minimise the risk to search positions.
How much does store support cost?
It depends on the volume of tasks. For ongoing support we agree on the scope of work. See website support and rework.
Turnkey online store development: terms and what is included.
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Catalogue, cart, payment and delivery, admin panel. From $700 to $2,000.
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