Quick Summary
Building an online store is a smart business move. But the cost? That is the question most businesses have before starting or investing in it.
The truth is, the price varies wildly. It could be $1,000 or $100,000+. The gap exists because every business, industry, service sector, and product is different.
This guide breaks down exactly what impacts your cost. It explains pricing tiers, major cost drivers, hidden expenses, and how to make wise decisions without overspending. By the end, you will know how to confidently budget for an eCommerce website.
“The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 influenced the role e-commerce plays in the global economy. In 2021 alone, the number of e-commerce websites grew from 9.7 million to 19.8 million. Today, there are roughly 26.5 million e-commerce sites operating across the globe. Meanwhile, retail e-commerce sales have risen to USD 6.3 trillion globally, and by 2026 they’re expected to make up 24% of all retail sales.”
– Why eCommerce is Important? By IBM
Let’s start with the basics. What is the actual price tag?
The answer is hard to digest. It ranges from thousands to six figures, as mentioned before. A typical eCommerce website costs around $10,000-$25,000.
Estimated Price Range: $1,000 – $5,000
These are simple stores with a small product catalog (under 100 products, sometimes under 50). They can be deployed using pre-built templates and require minimal customization. Such websites are great for testing the market quickly.
Estimated Price Range: $5,000 – $15,000
In this price range, you can start a proper online shop with 50-500 products. Custom branding and basic integrations are covered at this stage. Payment gateways and email marketing should also be set up for this type of store.
Estimated Price Range: $15,000 – $40,000
Hundreds or thousands of products fit easily in this segment. Advanced features become standard, and custom design work should be deployed. Even complex integrations are possible at this point, and multi-vendor support works here, too, making eCommerce marketplace development a practical option for businesses planning to onboard multiple sellers and scale operations.
Estimated Price Range: $40,000 – $100,000+
These are massive systems. They handle millions of products, and they are built for scale from day one. Here, custom development is extensive, and the architecture is headless. Long-term support is always factored in, along with the need for dedicated teams for multiple operations support.
What comes in these ranges? The initial setup always comes first, like platform installation and configuration. Beyond that, many areas require separate budgeting and workflow planning.
For example, after setup comes design and development, covering frontend, backend, and database setup. Next is testing and quality assurance to catch bugs early, followed by launch and post-launch support.
So, the exact cost depends on many aspects. Let’s see what really drives the price up!
A basic store using Shopify or WooCommerce is cheaper. A custom-built platform with unique features would cost a lot more. But the main questions are – What does your business actually need to succeed, and what is the exact cost to launch an eCommerce site?
Our research shows that five factors control your budget. Understand these, and you will understand your quote.
How many products will you sell? This matters more than you think. A store with 50 products has different requirements than one with 5,000. More products mean:
And the result of this is more time spent on:
Each tier or feature adds cost. A simple 50-product store costs less, while a 10,000-product catalog needs more infrastructure. The first values to quantify are the website size and total product count.
Other factors matter too. For example, a t-shirt with 10 colors and five sizes requires more development than a single product with one option. More on that later.
How will your store look and feel? Your design choices directly impact the budget. Here are your options for the design part of your store.
You have to take your target audience into account and see what your customers expect. A luxury brand needs premium custom design. A side project can work fine with a template.
Interactive elements like animations, product previews, and galleries increase costs but enhance interactivity. They can also boost conversions if done right. Overall, custom design costs more upfront but generates better sales.
Your platform choice affects both upfront and ongoing costs. There are three major options for an eCommerce platform.
SaaS platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce are popular solutions. They charge monthly fees that cover hosting, security, updates, and more. All the important features you need to run a store are offered via subscriptions.
You pay monthly fees, setup is quick, and costs are transparent. However, you are limited by platform constraints and pay recurring fees. Customization is limited, but you get many options. Development costs are lower because core functionality already exists.
Open-source platforms like WooCommerce just need hosting. You install them yourself and can get started quickly. Development costs are higher upfront, but you have greater long-term control and own your code. This solution offers more control but also requires more work.
The best part is that there are no licensing fees. The drawback is that it requires separate hosting, security management, and maintenance. Have a look at our detailed guide to choose one of the best open-source eCommerce platforms.
Custom development is the most expensive but gives you exactly what you want.
SaaS works for businesses wanting quick launches with predictable costs. Open-source is best for companies needing custom functionality and long-term cost control.
Your platform choice shapes everything. It affects costs, flexibility, and, moreover, long-term expenses. Each approach suits different business models. You should factor in what makes sense for your business size.
What makes your store different? The value it brings to your target customers and how easy it makes online shopping. For that, custom features are needed. Standard eCommerce features are affordable, but custom functionality quickly drives up costs.
Basic features that come in most builds are:
Custom features that increase costs are:
Each custom feature requires planning, development, testing, and integration. A wishlist might add $500-$1,500 to your budget, while a complete multi-vendor marketplace could add $10,000-$30,000.
Each feature takes hours of coding to develop. Hours mean cost. So, prioritize features that drive the most revenue first.
Modern stores do not work alone. They connect to other services. Integrating external services increases development costs but provides more options for your users.
For example, the most required feature is multiple payment options. For that, you need gateway integrations to connect your store to processors like Stripe or PayPal. Basic integrations are straightforward, but supporting multiple payment methods or custom payment requires work.
Similarly, there are shipping and logistics partners. They calculate the updated rates, print labels, and track shipments. These require third-party integration with carriers like UPS or FedEx. This requires API knowledge.
Each integration adds hours and cost. Plan integrations in advance and batch them together if possible to reduce the total cost.
Price will be around $500 to $2,000 per integration for standard connections, more for complex custom ones. Read our article to master eCommerce integrations before deploying your store.
“During the 2023-2025 tenure, the number of online shoppers has risen from 2.64 billion to 2.77 billion“
Different platforms suit different needs and budgets. Here is what each option costs and who it serves best.
Shopify is built for speed, and you can launch in days. It offers the fastest path to building an online store with predictable costs.
Monthly Plan: $39 (Basic), $105 (Grow), $399 (Advanced)
Setup and Development Pricing:
The basic Shopify store setup runs $2,000 – $8,000, covering design customization and needed configuration. More complex customizations with custom apps can reach $15,000-$30,000.
Theme and App Costs:
Premium themes cost $150-$350 one-time. Apps charge $10-$100+ monthly each. Most stores need 3-8 apps for marketing, inventory, and customer service functions.
Best for:
Businesses that want fast go-to-market timing, predictable monthly costs, and minimal technical management. Small to mid-sized stores selling physical products are most preferred.
Strengths:
When to Choose Shopify?
Currently, over 6.8 million active websites are using Shopify as their online store platform.
WooCommerce runs on WordPress. It is open-source, so you control everything. It is very flexible for content-driven commerce.
Setup Costs:
Best for:
Businesses already using WordPress, content-heavy stores needing blog integration, or those wanting ownership without subscription lock-in. Works well for stores selling 100-1,000 products.
Strengths:
When to Choose WooCommerce?
Currently, there are over 5.9 million websites built with WooCommerce.
Magento handles massive operations. It is designed for large inventories. It also handles enterprise-scale eCommerce with powerful built-in features.
Development and Maintenance Costs:
Magento development starts at $25,000 and commonly exceeds $100,000 for full implementations. Ongoing maintenance requires dedicated technical resources.
Enterprise Plans:
Handles millions of products, high traffic volumes, complex pricing rules, and multi-store operations from a single backend.
Other Costs:
Best for:
Extensive catalogs with thousands of SKUs, B2B eCommerce with complex pricing, or multi-brand operations needing sophisticated inventory management. Only worth the investment at enterprise scale.
Strengths:
When to Choose Magento?
Check out our Magento vs Shopify differences article to get a sure shot knowledge of which platform to pick.
Building a unique platform with React, Laravel, or Node.js gives you everything you need. But the cost is staggering, and you get to build your vision from the beginning.
Major Setup Costs:
Best for:
Unique business models that do not fit standard platforms. Also, for businesses with specific technical requirements, or companies wanting complete control over their technology stack.
Strengths:
When to Choose Custom Development?
Choosing the right platform is only half the battle. You need a partner to make it live. At BrainSpate, we offer high-quality eCommerce development packages with clear pricing. Our complete packages range from $8,000 to $12,000 for any platform of your choice.
We believe in pre-planning of costs and guaranteed results. Be it a Shopify store or a custom build, our price is all-inclusive. We consult with you on everything from the strategy to the final launch. You get a store that is fast, secure, and built to convert visitors into customers.
Not all parts of your website cost the same. Knowing the cost of each feature helps you prioritize your budget. Here is the breakdown.
| Feature | Cost | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Product Catalog Setup | Low around$500 – $2,000 | Just organizing products into the database |
| Payment Gateway Integration | Low-Medium$500 – $3,000 | Connecting to Stripe, PayPal, etc. |
| Basic Shipping Setup | Medium$1,000 – $4,000 | Connecting carriers, calculating rates |
| Advanced Search & Filters | Medium$2,000 – $8,000 | Complex database queries and UX work |
| Multi-Currency Support | Medium$1,500 – $5,000 | Currency conversion logic and testing |
| Custom Checkout | High$5,000 – $15,000 | Complex logic, security requirements, testing |
| Headless Commerce Architecture | High$15,000 – $50,000+ | Separates front-end from back-end (advanced) |
| Multi-Vendor Marketplace | Very High$20,000 – $50,000+ | Multiple seller accounts, commission logic, and complex features |
| Real-Time Inventory Sync | High$5,000 – $50,000 | Complex backend integration, real-time updates |
Basic features cost less. Complex features cost more. Multi-part systems cost the most.
Features cost add up. Adding advanced search, multi-currency, and custom checkout together does not just add their costs. They need to work together, which requires extra integration and testing time.
Start with must-have features for launch. Add should-have and could-have features in future phases once you are generating revenue.
Both design and development require a big investment. But they serve different purposes in your overall eCommerce website budget.
UI/UX design costs typically range from $3,000 to $15,000 for custom work. This covers research, wireframing, visual design, and responsive layouts. Good design focuses on conversion, intuitive navigation, and brand consistency.
On the other hand, backend development costs exceed design costs at $5,000-$40,000+. This comes with a database structure, server-side logic, payment processing, inventory management, and security implementation.
For most businesses, development accounts for 60-70% of the total budget, while design is 30-40%.
You need a budget for more than just development. When you manage an online store, these ongoing costs can catch many businesses off guard.
To avoid such hidden costs, prefer to take services from an eCommerce development company. Make sure that they can help you with the end-to-end process of creating an eCommerce website.
Launch day is just the beginning. Ongoing maintenance keeps your store running smoothly.
Many businesses skip proper maintenance budgeting and end up facing costly emergency fixes later. Regular maintenance prevents problems before they impact revenue.
“To bring my idea to life, I was seeking a suitable technology partner. I am glad with the decision I made to onboard BrainSpate for this project. BrainSpate not only recommended the right stack but also helped me identify the right features for this product.”
– Raghav, Founder & CEO of By My Shine
You do not need to spend $100,000 on day one. Wise choices reduce costs. Here are some of the most recommended ways.
Launch with core functionality that drives revenue. Add advanced features once you are profitable. A working store with basic features beats a feature-rich store that never launches.
Start with proven platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce instead of custom builds. Pick platforms that grow with you. Shopify scales easily, WooCommerce scales with good hosting, and Magento scales infinitely.
Custom features add cost to build for an online shop and take time to develop as well. Use standard features until you have data proving that custom solutions will increase revenue by a lot.
Experienced developers avoid costly mistakes, build easily, and provide realistic timelines. Hire eCommerce developers from BrainSpate to get the best services today.
Last-minute integration requirements cost more than planned ones. Map your technology needs early so developers can build with integrations in mind.
You need the right developer or agency. This choice impacts everything. Before you hire, ask these questions:
Read our article on how to choose an eCommerce development agency for further guidance.
eCommerce website development prices vary widely. Now you completely know why.
Your cost depends on five factors, and you can start with as low as $39. A basic store might cost $3,000. An enterprise platform might cost $300,000. Both are correct for their purposes.
The proper way is to match cost to value. Invest enough to build something that works. Do not overspend on unnecessary features. Start lean, test your concept, and scale when you have proof of market demand.
Your next step is to define your must-have features. Research your platform options. Get 2-3 quotes and ask the right questions.
Yes, eCommerce website development is much cheaper in India than in Western countries like the U.S. or Europe. This is due to lower labor costs. But you get a great talent pool, lower personalization costs, and agency expertise at your convenience.
Small-business eCommerce websites typically cost $5,000-$15,000 for initial development. Platform setup, theme customization, required features, and basic integrations are covered in this. Monthly costs run $100-$300 for hosting, apps, and platform fees.
Yes. Shopify development costs $2,000-$30,000 compared to $50,000+ for custom development. However, Shopify charges ongoing monthly fees ($39-$399+), while custom solutions incur only hosting costs after development.
Launch with MVP features first, use established platforms instead of custom builds, avoid a lot of customization initially, and work with experienced developers who build easily. Add advanced features after you are generating revenue.
Budget for hosting ($20-$500/month), apps and plugins ($50-$300/month), maintenance (15-20% of development cost annually), security updates, and performance optimization. Total ongoing costs typically run $200–$2,000+ per month.
Most businesses succeed with platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce. Custom development only makes sense if you have truly unique requirements that platforms cannot handle or if you are operating at enterprise scale with complex integrations.
Simple stores take 4-8 weeks, mid-complexity stores take 2-4 months, and enterprise solutions take 6-12+ months. Timeline depends on feature complexity, design requirements, integrations, and how quickly you provide content and feedback.