How Much Does an E-Commerce Website Cost?

An e-commerce website costs more than a standard brochure site because it has to handle products, payments, shipping, taxes, and customer accounts. But the range is enormous — from $30/month for a starter Shopify store to $50,000+ for a custom platform. Here's what you'll actually pay in 2026.

The Three Routes to an Online Store

1. Hosted Platforms ($30–$300/month)

Shopify, BigCommerce, Squarespace Commerce, and Wix Stores let you launch a store without building anything from scratch. You pay a monthly subscription and get hosting, security, and payment processing bundled in.

Best for: Most small and mid-sized businesses selling physical or digital products.

Typical costs:

• Platform subscription: $30–$300/month
• Premium theme: $0–$350 (one-time)
• Apps and add-ons: $0–$200/month
• Transaction fees: 0–2% (on top of payment processing)

2. WordPress + WooCommerce ($500–$10,000 to build)

WooCommerce turns a WordPress site into a full online store. It's free software, but you pay for hosting, a theme, extensions, and usually a developer to set it up.

Best for: Businesses that already use WordPress or want maximum control over design and data.

Typical costs:

• Hosting (e-commerce grade): $20–$100/month
• Theme: $0–$150
• Extensions (payments, shipping, subscriptions): $0–$500/year each
• Developer setup: $1,000–$8,000

3. Custom E-Commerce Build ($15,000–$50,000+)

A fully custom store built for unique requirements — complex catalogs, B2B pricing, custom checkout flows, ERP integrations, or high-volume performance needs.

Best for: Established retailers, brands with complex operations, or businesses scaling past what hosted platforms allow.

Recurring Costs to Plan For

Unlike a brochure site, an online store has ongoing costs that never stop:

• Payment processing: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction is the industry standard
• Platform subscription: $30–$300/month
• Apps and integrations: email, reviews, loyalty, shipping ($0–$300/month)
• Maintenance and updates: especially important for WooCommerce
• Marketing: ads, SEO, and email to actually drive sales

Hidden Costs People Forget

• Product photography: $10–$50+ per product for professional shots
• Product descriptions: copywriting for dozens or hundreds of items
• Shipping setup: carrier accounts, packaging, and rate configuration
• Sales tax compliance: tools like Avalara or TaxJar ($0–$50+/month)
• Returns and customer service: time and tooling

How to Keep E-Commerce Costs Down

1. Start on a hosted platform — launch on Shopify or Squarespace, validate demand, then invest in custom work later

2. Use Shopify Payments or the platform's native processor to avoid extra transaction fees

3. Limit apps — every add-on is a recurring cost; only keep what drives revenue

4. Do your own product entry and photography at the start

5. Document requirements first with our project brief generator so you don't overbuy

The Bottom Line

For most businesses launching an online store, a hosted platform like Shopify ($39/month) plus a theme and a few essential apps gets you selling for under $1,500 in the first year. Reserve custom builds for when you have proven volume and specific needs a hosted platform can't meet. Compare this against standard site pricing in our full website cost guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to build an online store?

A starter store on Shopify or Squarespace costs under $1,500 in year one (subscription, theme, and a few apps). A WooCommerce store built by a developer runs $1,000–$8,000 to set up, and a fully custom platform starts around $15,000. Recurring costs (subscription, payment processing, apps) continue every month.

How much does a Shopify store cost per month?

Shopify plans run $39/month (Basic), $105/month (Shopify), and $399/month (Advanced). Add payment processing (2.9% + $0.30 per sale), optional apps ($0–$200/month), and a one-time theme ($0–$350). Most small stores operate comfortably on the Basic plan.

Is Shopify or WooCommerce cheaper?

WooCommerce has no monthly subscription, so it can be cheaper long-term — but you pay for hosting, extensions, and maintenance, and usually a developer to set it up. Shopify costs more monthly but bundles everything and requires far less technical work. For most non-technical owners, Shopify is cheaper once you value your time.

What are the ongoing costs of an e-commerce website?

Plan for payment processing (≈2.9% + $0.30 per transaction), platform subscription ($30–$300/month), apps and integrations ($0–$300/month), maintenance, and marketing. These recurring costs are a bigger long-term factor than the upfront build.

Do I need a developer to build an online store?

Not necessarily. Hosted platforms like Shopify and Squarespace are built for non-technical owners to launch on their own. You'll want a developer for WooCommerce setup, custom checkout flows, integrations, or any fully custom build. Our hiring guide covers how to find the right one.