In this article
Ask ten developers what an ecommerce website costs and you will get ten very different numbers. That's not because some are honest and some aren't. It's because "an online store" can mean a ten-product Shopify shop or a B2B store with custom pricing and an ERP integration. I build online stores on Shopify and WooCommerce, and in this article I explain what actually drives the cost, so you can read any quote with confidence. To see how I work, visit my page on ecommerce website development.
I don't publish prices on my site, because a number without a scope is misleading. What I can do is show you where the money goes.
The one-off build: six things that move the cost
1. Platform
Shopify includes hosting, security and the checkout, so less development time goes into infrastructure. WooCommerce runs on WordPress and gives more freedom, but needs hosting and more setup. Custom-built ecommerce is rarely the right call for a small or medium business, and costs far more. The platform itself is less important to the cost than what you ask it to do.
2. Catalogue size and complexity
Fifty simple products are quick. Thousands of products with variants, bundles, custom options or B2B pricing take longer, especially when the data needs cleaning before import.
3. Design
A good theme adapted to your brand is the fastest route. A custom design from Figma, built as a bespoke theme, takes longer and gives you something nobody else has. I've done both; Daytrip, for example, was a custom Shopify 2.0 theme built from Figma designs. The right choice depends on how much the store's look sets you apart.
4. Integrations
Each connection to another system adds work: ERP or inventory software, accounting tools, CRMs, marketplaces, shipping providers, subscriptions. An integration that uses a well-supported app is quick. One that needs custom code against an API takes longer, and should be scoped carefully.
5. Migration
Moving from another platform means transferring products, customers and order history, and redirecting every old URL so you don't lose search rankings. It's often underestimated. Theme migrations count too: I moved OROS from a Shopify 1.0 theme to Online Store 2.0, which is a project in its own right.
6. SEO, analytics and launch work
Titles and structured data for products and collections, GA4 ecommerce events, the Meta pixel and Conversions API, legal pages, test orders. None of it is glamorous, and all of it decides whether the store can grow after launch.
The running costs after launch
The build is a one-off. These continue every month or year:
| Cost | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Monthly subscription | Plugin is free |
| Hosting and security | Included | Paid hosting, you manage security |
| Payment processing | Per transaction, plus a fee if you don't use Shopify Payments | Per transaction, set by the payment provider |
| Apps or extensions | Often monthly | Often yearly licences |
| Maintenance | Light | Regular updates and backups |
| Domain | Yearly | Yearly |
When you compare platforms, compare the total over two or three years, not just the build cost or the subscription.
Why quotes for the same store differ
When two quotes are far apart, they almost always describe different work. One may include data clean-up, SEO, analytics, training and support; another may be a theme install with your logo. Ask every developer for a written scope covering:
- Platform, theme approach and number of page templates.
- How many products are imported, and who prepares the data.
- Payment methods, shipping rules and taxes.
- Each integration, and how it will be built.
- Redirects and SEO setup.
- Analytics and ad tracking.
- Rounds of changes, training and post-launch support.
Once quotes describe the same thing, you can compare them fairly.
Ways to keep the cost down without cutting corners
- Start with a strong theme and customise it, rather than building from scratch.
- Prepare your product data in a clean spreadsheet before the project starts.
- Launch with the essentials and add features once you see what customers use.
- Use fewer apps. A small custom section is sometimes cheaper over a year than a monthly app, and faster.
- Get the tracking right at launch. Fixing analytics later costs more, and you lose the data in between.
What a good ecommerce quote looks like
A good quote is specific. It names the platform and theme, lists the templates and integrations, says who does what, sets out a timeline, and is honest about what is not included. It also tells you what you will need to pay for after launch. If a quote doesn't do that, ask. If the answers stay vague, that tells you something too.
For Shopify-specific costs, read how much a Shopify expert costs. If you are comparing developers for a WordPress or WooCommerce build, my checklist for hiring a WordPress developer covers the questions to ask.
Build cost versus total cost of ownership
The cheapest build is not always the cheapest store. A store built quickly with a dozen paid apps can cost more over two years than one with a few custom sections and no monthly fees. A WooCommerce store with no maintenance plan can end up costing more in emergency fixes than a careful monthly routine. When you compare options, add up the build, the platform or hosting, the apps, the payment fees and the maintenance for two or three years. That is the number that tells you which option is really cheaper.
B2B and wholesale stores
B2B ecommerce adds its own costs: customer-specific price lists, company accounts with several buyers, payment terms, minimum order quantities and quick order forms. Shopify has B2B features on its higher plans, and WooCommerce does it through extensions. Either way, scope the B2B rules carefully before the build starts, because they touch the catalogue, the checkout and the customer accounts at once.