Website development can cost you from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars. There are many factors involved in the website development but customization, domain hosting, website functionality, and search engine optimization are considered some of the important ones.
Starting an online store can feel and seem like a challenging task but platforms like Shopify make it easier to set up, and manage your ecommerce business. One of the first questions that many of you have who are just starting with their website, and considering Shopify is, “How much will it cost to build a Shopify website?”
In this guide we will break down all the costs related to the Shopify website, factors that can affect the cost and show you the cost comparison between building your store yourself versus hiring a Shopify expert. We will also show the cost of the Shopify pricing comparison. Read on to learn more about the basic fees and all the factors.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Shopify Website?
The total cost to build a Shopify website can vary depending on how you want the project to be. Before we discuss the details, let me break down the cost for you for a complete ecommerce website on Shopify. This breakdown will help you with a basic understanding from the beginning of how much estimated money you will require for the website.
Design a basic and simple Shopify store with pre-made theme cost:
- $50 – $1500 for a simple store created by you
- $500 – $5,000 for a professional store created by an expert
- $1,500 – $20,000 for a custom theme development
- $50 – $18,000 for a custom application build or custom functionality
We know the DIY cost might attract you more, you can also go for free Shopify themes, and add images and text according to your store. On the other hand, if you want more customized and personalized store then you will need help from a Shopify developer and the cost will increase.
So the cost totally depends on you and how you want to proceed with your store. Apart from Shopify, there are other website builders as well. For you have done the price and feature comparison with Shopify
Here’s a cost breakdown of the top website builders:
| Features | Shopify | Squarespace | GoDaddy | Wix | Weebly |
| Starting Price | $39/month | $16/month | $10/month | $17/month | $10/month |
| Pre-made Templates | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Included Web Hosting | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SSL Certificate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free Domain Name | NA | Yes | NA | Yes | NA |
| Built for ecommerce | Yes | NA | NA | NA | NA |
Source: Shopify.
Factor Affecting the Cost of Shopify Website Development
The cost of building a Shopify store can vary depending on various factors; some of these include:
1.Pay Shopify Monthly Subscription
Shopify charges a monthly fee for using their platform. The fee depends on the plan you choose:
- Basic: $39/month
- Shopify: $105/month
- Advanced Shopify: $399/month
- Shopify Plus: $2,300/month
The mentioned plans are from Shopify, and each plan has different features for you to choose from. You can choose the plan and features according to your business needs.
*The Shopify prices we have mentioned are exclusive of online transaction fees, in-person transaction fees, and third-party payment fees. The plan and mode of payment you decide, according to that transaction fee, will apply.
2.Website Template/Theme
It feels great when you get a pre-built theme to create your own website. However free themes are stylish and look great, but eventually they come with limitations. Shopify offers a wide range of free to paid website themes or templates.
You can start with a free theme if you are on a budget. Many entrepreneurs choose to go for free themes initially to maintain the starting cost of their business. But if you are looking for a more customized, and unique look, then investing in a premium theme might be the right choice.
Moreover, if you have a very specific design requirement and need the design according to your vision, then go for a custom theme development. The custom theme will cost you more, and you will have to start from scratch, but we know the satisfaction of creating your ecommerce website, all by your ideas and vision. You can control all the features and functions of your store.
Cost of Shopify Themes
- Free theme at no cost
- Premium themes can cost you around $100 to $500.
- Custom Shopify themes can cost you around $1,000 to $15,000 or more, depending on the complexity of your project, and features you plan to add.
3. Domain Registration
Domain registration is one of the important steps when creating your Shopify store. Don’t forget to add the domain registration cost to your Shopify store development cost.
Every website needs a domain name (e.g., www.yourstore.com). Shopify also provides a domain directly through their platform for about $10 – $30 for a year. You can also use a domain you have already purchased from a third-party provider and connect it to Shopify. If you have your domain then you also need to provide a custom domain name to your Shopify site.
The cost of domain registration varies from platform to platform but it also varies because of the domain name, the top level domain you decide, and the domain registrar.
The domain name with the most popular searches or keywords and shorter length has a higher cost. Everybody wants their domain name to be short and popular that’s why these domains are costly. The most used extension is .com, but now many have started using .in, .net, .shop, or .uk. Choose the one that goes well with your brand name.
4. Third-Party App Integration
Shopify app stores provide many third-party applications which you can integrate with your Shopify store. These third-party apps can improve the overall functionality of your store. There is no limitation on adding the apps to your store. Merchants can install apps according to their requirements. Popular apps may include email marketing tools, inventory management systems, and payment gateway integrations. These costs can add up if you are planning to rely on multiple third-party apps to improve your store’s functionality.
Some apps are free, while others charge monthly fees of around $5 to $100 per month or more, depending on features and usage.
You can start by creating a requirement sheet for your store, now list down the tools you need, like:
- Product Recommendation Tool
- Cross-selling and Upselling Tool
- Frequently Brought Together Tool
- SEO Optimization Tool
- Email Marketing
- Live Chat and Support
- Abandoned Cart Recovery Tool
You will find free apps on Shopify which provides some basic features without costing you anything. Or else you can buy a premium paid version at a monthly cost or yearly cost, whatever suits your budget. One thing you need to note down here is that some paid apps have paid features and functionality, you might have to pay extra to get a particular feature.
*Having so many apps integrated with your store can create some issues for your website, like speed, SEO, and other complexities. Be sure to add the ones that are needed, not every other tool will bring a good result for your business.
5. Website Hosting
A server is required to present the content of your website to the end user. One of the benefits of using Shopify is that hosting is included in the price of your subscription plan. You do not need to worry about paying separate hosting fees. As Shopify will take care of server maintenance, uptime and security. However, if you plan to use a custom-built website or an advanced app, there may be additional hosting costs.
The web hosting can cost you around $5 to $200 per month, depending on the hosting plan and provider you choose.
6. SEO and Marketing Services
Search engine optimization (SEO) is important for the success of your store. Shopify store has some basic SEO features but you can choose to hire a Shopify SEO expert or use an advanced SEO app to get a complete report of your store so that you can improve the rankings.
There is an app called SEO Expert Pro, it provides a detailed insight of your store, so that you can fix the issues and improve the visibility of your store on search engines. Here is a reference report – https://seoexpertpro.expertvillagemedia.com/seopdf/seo_report_ir4myx-fk.myshopify.com.pdf
SEO services cost anywhere from $100 to $1,000 or more, depending on the complexity of your website and the level of expertise you need. Apart from SEO, there are different marketing services you may want to invest in like pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, influencer partnerships, and social media campaigns which will also add to the overall cost, but give you more sales and more revenue.
7. Shopify Expert Cost
Hiring a Shopify expert can increase the Shopify website development cost. A Shopify expert is someone who has specialized knowledge of the platform and can help you with your store setup, customization or any advance features you require. We have mentioned a basic cost breakdown for Shopify expert services:
- Shopify Expert Hourly Rate: $90 – $150 per hour
Shopify Expert Cost for Full Project:
- Custom Theme Development: $500 to $2,500
- App Development: $2,000 to $25,000
- Shopify SEO Service: $500 to $1,500 per month
The cost varies based on the scope of work, the experience of the expert, and where they are located. Some experts may offer a flat rate for specific tasks, while others charge by the hour.
8. Website Maintenance Cost
Once your Shopify website is ready and running, now you will need to consider ongoing maintenance costs. As such, all the costs go into the setup, but there are a few maintenances that are required; most of them we have covered.
| Service | Cost Range |
| Domain Name | $10 to $30 per year |
| Web Hosting | $2 to $500 per month |
| SSL Certificate | $0 to $850 per year |
| CMS Updates | $0 to $3,500 per month |
| SEO | $0 to $800 per month |
| Backup and Disaster Recovery | $20 to $500+ per month |
On average website maintenance can cost between $50 and $800 per month, depending on the amount of work required.
9.Hire a Shopify Expert
Shopify is an easy-to-use platform where you can easily create your own website and start selling. But selling is not the only concern; making your website a brand so that people can trust it and buy again. Shopify is the best e-commerce platform for all sizes of businesses, no matter if you are just starting in the industry or already have an existing website and want to migrate to Shopify, the platform is the real deal.
However, when building a successful Shopify store, you need help from experts. Because it requires more than a custom theme, it requires speed, optimization, the right layout for user experience, mobile friendly, and more.
Now the question arises: “How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Shopify Expert?”
- For a basic store development, a Shopify developer may cost around $30 – $80/hour.
- Want to create a small online store? It may cost you around $300 – $2,000.
- For a medium sized online store, you may need to pay approximately $2,000 – $5,500 or more.
- And if you are building a large enterprise Shopify store, then you can expect to pay around $10,000 – $35,000 or more.
All these charges will vary depending on the type of Shopify expert, the working hours, project complexity, experience, and more.
Shopify Store Development Pricing Comparison
If you have chosen to build your website by yourself, your cost will be limited to the basic features and basic subscription. For example: Domain registration, theme, and third-party apps will be your major areas for spending. Apart from these, most of the things are included in the Shopify subscription plan.
DIY Shopify Store Setup Costs
| Features | DIY Cost |
| Shopify Subscription | $39 – $399/month |
| Domain Registration | $10 – $50/year |
| Premium Theme | Free to $500 |
| Third-Party Apps | $20 – $400 |
| Additional Cost for Logo, Content, and More | $10 – $300 |
Hiring a Shopify expert can make your life easier. An expert will help you avoid mistakes, set up the store and make sure that the website is functional and professional. However, all these things come with a higher price tag.
Expert Shopify Website Development Costs
| Features | DIY Cost |
| Shopify Subscription | $39 – $399/month |
| Domain Registration | $10 – $50/year |
| Premium Theme | Free to $500 |
| Third-Party Apps | Free – $1000 |
| Additional Cost for Logo, Content, and More | $10 – $300 |
| Store Development Service | $150 – $3,000 |
| Shopify Plus Plan(Deducting the Platform Fees) | $2000 (– $1) $8000 (– $399) |
| Custom Theme Development | $2000 – $20,000 |
| Custom Features Development | $300 – $15,000 |
Why Work with Expert Village Media
With decades of experience and as a certified Shopify partner, Expert Village Media is the leading Shopify development and marketing agency. We specialize in creating high-quality custom Shopify and ecommerce websites at affordable prices. We help all sizes of projects, whether you are just starting and need expert advice and help, or someone who requires advanced customized solutions, our team of professionals are just a call away.When you work with us, you’re not just hiring developers—you are getting a team that cares about your business success. Drop us an email at info@expertvillagemedia.com and let’s plan your Shopify success.
Amit Porwal
CEO and FounderAmit Porwal is the CEO and Founder of Expert Village Media and Wiser AI . He’s passionate about e-commerce, and loves helping Shopify store owners boost sales with upselling, cross-selling, digital marketing, & personalized shopping experiences. With years of experience in e-commerce web development Amit believes in building simple and effective online store that actually make a difference. He is always excited to talk about the power of personalization and how he can make e-commerce smarter and more customer-friendly with the help of AI.
