How Much Does A Shopify Website Cost?

In today's digital age, eCommerce businesses are rapidly growing and expanding globally. Many businesses are opting to launch their online stores to tap into the vast potential of eCommerce. Shopify is one of the most popular platforms for businesses to create their online stores. With its user-friendly interface and excellent customer support, Shopify has become a go-to choice for businesses to start their eCommerce journey.

However, one critical question that arises is – How much does it cost to create a Shopify store?

In this article, we will discuss the various factors that determine the cost of creating a Shopify store. From the website design to the customer experience, we will explore every aspect that plays a role in the final cost. By the end of this short article, you will have a better understanding of the total investment required to start your Shopify store.

For a detailed breakdown of the platform check out my Shopify review for why I think it's the best eCom platform on the market.

eCommerce Business

Before we dive into the cost of creating a Shopify store, let us understand the concept of eCommerce business. eCommerce, or electronic commerce, is the buying and selling of products or services online. The eCommerce industry has grown significantly over the past decade, and the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated its growth even further.

According to Statista, the global eCommerce market is expected to reach $4.9 trillion in 2023. The tremendous potential that eCommerce offers has encouraged many businesses to launch their online stores to tap into this lucrative market.

Below I'll outline the rough cost of a Shopify store and the main areas a developer and designer needs to focus on.

Shopify store development

The cost of creating a Shopify store can vary depending on several factors such as website design, customer experience, marketing, and integration with third-party tools. On average, the cost of creating a basic Shopify store can range from £500 to £5,000 depending on whether you learn to set it up yourself or hire a developer.

However, if you want a custom-designed website with advanced features, the cost can go up to £10,000 or more.

Creating a Shopify store requires significant investment if you want something truly unique, especially if you want to integrate with Etsy and Amazon etc. But it is worth it considering the vast potential of the eCommerce industry.

The cost of creating a Shopify store can however vary depending on several factors, and businesses should carefully consider their requirements before starting their eCommerce journey. With the right investment and strategy, businesses can launch their successful Shopify store and tap into the vast potential of the eCommerce industry.

Custom Development

While Shopify offers various pre-built themes and third-party apps, businesses may need to invest in custom development to meet their specific requirements.

Custom development can include features such as custom functionality, integration with third-party tools such as complex bundle product pages, and unique design elements. The cost of custom development can vary depending on the complexity of the development and the developer's experience and isn't something you should undertake on your own unless you have some development skills. Specifically with Ruby on Rails.

Website Design

The website design is one of the crucial factors that determine the cost of creating a Shopify store because a well-designed website not only attracts customers but also provides a seamless shopping experience, however, if you want something really unique, you may need to hire a professional designer that isn't tied to the platform.

The cost of website design varies depending on the designer's experience, location, and complexity of the design. On average, the cost of website design can range from £500 to £2,500.

Customer Experience

Customer experience is another critical factor that determines the cost of creating a Shopify store because a positive customer experience can lead to repeat business and increased sales.

Shopify offers various features such as easy checkout, mobile responsiveness, and fast loading speed that can enhance the customer experience. Businesses can also add additional features such as chatbots, personalized recommendations, and loyalty programs to improve the customer experience.

Integration with Third-Party Tools

To enhance the customer experience and streamline operations, businesses need to integrate with various third-party tools such as payment gateways, shipping providers, and inventory management systems. The cost of integrating with third-party tools can vary depending on the tools chosen and the complexity of the integration.

But in all honesty, the apps available on the app store don't cost much and will integrate with most or all Shopify themes.

Platform Fees

Shopify is a popular platform for businesses to create their online stores. Shopify offers various pricing plans that businesses can choose based on their requirements.

Shopify offers four different pricing plans:

• Basic Shopify – £19 per month
• Shopify – £29 per month
• Advanced Shopify – £249 per month
• Shopify Plus – from $2000 per month

The Basic Shopify plan includes features such as a website, two staff accounts, and basic inventory management. Transaction rates are 2% + 25p for online transactions and 1.7% + 0p for in-person transactions.

The Shopify plan includes additional features such as gift cards, professional reports, and up to five staff accounts. Transaction rates are 1.7% + 25p for online transactions and 1.6% + 0p for in-person transactions.

The Advanced Shopify plan includes features such as advanced report building, up to 15 staff accounts, and third-party calculated shipping rates. Transaction rates are 1.5% + 25p for online transactions and 1.5% + 0p for in-person transactions.

Shopify templates and themes

Choosing the right theme might seem like a daunting task because there are lots to choose from, but in my opinion, Out of the Sandbox provides the best themes. They aren't free, but they are continually updated and improved and come with a host of features out of the box.

For a more detailed breakdown of themes check out my Shopify thems guide.

Product Catalogue

The product catalogue is the heart of any online shop, and businesses need to invest in creating a comprehensive and visually appealing product catalogue.

The product catalogue should include high-quality images, detailed descriptions, and pricing information. Businesses can also add additional features such as product recommendations, related products, and customer reviews to enhance the customer experience.

Shopify makes the process of uploading and updating your collections really easy with everything you need in one place.

Checkout Process

The checkout process is a crucial component of any online shop, and businesses need to ensure that it is seamless and user-friendly. The process should be easy to navigate, and customers must be able to checkout quickly.

Shopify's checkout is very good at converting customers and is also 100% PCI compliant, meaning you don't need to worry about having credit card details stolen by hackers.

Website Functionality

Website functionality is a crucial aspect of any eCommerce website for both users and site owners, and businesses need to ensure that their website has all the necessary features that provide a seamless user experience.

And a lot of this will come down to the software and code of the site and how good the servers are. Thankfully Shopify handles all of this for us meaning we don't need to think about expensive website hosting which in itself will save hundreds of pounds every year.

Responsive Design

In today's digital age, customers access eCommerce websites on a variety of devices such as desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

Businesses need to ensure that their website has a responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes and provides a seamless user experience across all devices. Shopify is designed with mobile users at the heart of everything because it understands that the majority (over 80% in many niches) will be shopping on their phones.