Complete guide about what influences the price for building a custom online shop.
On this page we explain everything about the real costs for an online shop: from platform type, to features, integration, and scalability. This isn’t a price list, but an educational resource to help you see where your money goes and how to make the right decision.
Every business is unique. This means the price for building an online store can't be standard. Here are the most important factors that affect the final cost:
A one-product store is different from a marketplace or B2B shop. Complexity defines the required time and resources.
Discount codes, user accounts, automations or affiliate systems – all add value, but also cost.
ERPs, CRMs, couriers, online payments. Proper integration brings efficiency, but requires custom development.
A layout built for conversions, not just a generic template. Makes a huge difference for your results.
A project built right from the start can be scaled over time without huge rebuild costs.
Costs differ significantly between SaaS (subscription-based) and self-hosted (infrastructure and development costs) platforms. Here’s a clear comparison of initial, monthly, and long-term costs for each discussed platform:
Initial Cost Free (or up to a few hundred € for premium themes)
Monthly Cost: €5-10/month (shared hosting) up to €20+/month (VPS)
Long Term Cost: Very flexible, no sales commission. Optional maintenance (~€20/month).
Initial Cost Thousands of € for full development
Monthly Cost: €20 (small) - €100+ (medium/large)
Long Term Cost: Optional support contracts. Controlled costs, no sales fees.
Initial Cost Low (~$50-150 for premium template)
Monthly Cost: $29-$299/month + 2% transaction fees if not using Shopify Payments
Long Term Cost: Grows as your business grows – can get very expensive in 5-10 years.
Initial Cost Zero (can start for free, then pay for domain and plan)
Monthly Cost: $4.5-$35/month
Long Term Cost: Flat cost, but rises if you need upgrades. Migration is difficult.
Initial Cost Low (~$50-100 for premium template)
Monthly Cost: $15-$45/month (Business $45, Ecommerce $29+)
Long Term Cost: Expensive for multiple sites, but no sales fees.
Initial Cost Zero (free to start, optional premium templates)
Monthly Cost: $5-$30/month
Long Term Cost: Ideal for simple sites, no hidden fees.
Initial Cost Free (during trial period)
Monthly Cost: €7-97/month
Long Term Cost: Fixed and predictable, no sales fees.
Initial Cost Zero (free plan available)
Monthly Cost: €0 (basic), ~€30-119/month
Long Term Cost: No contractual obligations. Reasonable long-term cost.
These are just rough guidelines. The real price is set by your requirements and workload.
Shop Type | Key Features | Estimated Price |
---|---|---|
One Product Store | Focus on one product, high conversion, short pages. | from €1000 |
Standard Shop | 15-100 products, categories, filters, cart & accounts. | between €1500 - €2500 |
Advanced Shop | +200 products, automations, CRM, complex processing. | €2500 - €4000+ |
Marketplace | Multiple vendors, commissions, control panels. | €4000 - €6000+ |
B2B Shop with ERP | Complex integrations, dynamic pricing, custom accounts. | from €5000 |
Shop Type
One Product Store
Key Features
Focus on one product, high conversion, short pages.
Estimated Price
from €1000
Shop Type
Standard Shop
Key Features
15-100 products, categories, filters, cart & accounts.
Estimated Price
between €1500 - €2500
Shop Type
Advanced Shop
Key Features
+200 products, automations, CRM, complex processing.
Estimated Price
€2500 - €4000+
Shop Type
Marketplace
Key Features
Multiple vendors, commissions, control panels.
Estimated Price
€4000 - €6000+
Shop Type
B2B Shop with ERP
Key Features
Complex integrations, dynamic pricing, custom accounts.
Estimated Price
from €5000
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