How Much Does It Cost to Build a Shopify Website

Although Shopify website development is the most reasonable choice, one of the most common questions business owners ask is: How much does it cost to build a Shopify website? The answer for this is a little complicated. Because we cannot say a particular amount.

But, as businesses choose Shopify websites as a cost-effective solution, clarification for their question on the cost is important. So we can say an approximate rate, factors affecting the cost, and tips to reduce the cost. Here we will see these aspects of the costs involved in building and maintaining a Shopify website.

Is it beneficial to develop a Shopify Business Website?

In simple words, the answer is yes. Because many of the business owners don't have time, a team, and resources to develop a normal ecommerce website. Here you don’t need coding skills. Shopify provides ready-made templates and simple tools. Shopify takes care of website hosting, security, and updates. Your website will look good on mobile, tablet, and desktop with Shopify.

Shopify helps your website rank on Google and supports ads, email marketing, and social media selling. It also accepts credit/debit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, and more. Shopify works for both small businesses and big brands. You can sell products without keeping inventory using apps like Oberlo or Spocket. Help is available anytime through chat, email, or phone.

If you're looking to start an online store quickly and focus on sales rather than technical aspects, Shopify is a great choice. It works well for small businesses, dropshippers, and even large enterprises.

First of all, Understand Shopify Pricing Plans

Before diving into additional costs, the basic thing is to take a look at Shopify’s pricing plans. This is the major factor that decides your Shopify website development cost.

Shopify Plan	Monthly Cost	Best For	Key Features
Basic Shopify	$39/month	New businesses with basic features	Online store, 2 staff accounts, basic reports
Shopify	$105/month	Growing businesses with additional reports	Professional reports, 5 staff accounts
Advanced Shopify	$399/month	Scaling businesses with advanced tools	Advanced reports, 15 staff accounts, lower fees
Shopify Plus	Starts at $2,000/month	Large enterprises needing customization	Full customization, enterprise-level features

To choose the best plan for you, it’s ideal to get the assistance of a Shopify website development expert. If you collaborate with a top Shopify website development service provider like Fulminous Software, you can get free consultation to decide the plan.

How Much Does It Cost to Develop a Shopify Website?

When it comes to design, development, and customization of a Shopify website, you need to consider several factors. The cost of developing a Shopify website varies depending on factors such as the Shopify plan, domain, theme, apps, customization, and additional services like branding and marketing. Let’s see in detail:

1. Shopify Plan Cost

As we have discussed above, you need to choose an ideal plan for your business. This plan selection can bring a big impact to your overall project, so you need to do it wisely. Choosing the right plan depends on your business size, sales volume, and required features.

2. Domain Name Cost

Every website needs a domain name. The domain will play the role of your official address. You can buy a domain from Shopify or use third-party providers like GoDaddy or Namecheap. If you already own a domain, you can connect it to your Shopify store for free. Having a custom domain instead of a Shopify subdomain (yourstore.myshopify.com) makes your store look more professional.

Pricing:

• Shopify domain: $14 – $20 per year
• External providers: $10 – $50 per year

3. Shopify Website Design Cost

The theme is the foundation of your brand and online store. With the assistance of a top Shopify designer, you can choose or customize an ideal theme. Shopify provides both free and paid themes to design your store. For most businesses, a paid theme is a good investment for a professional look without the need for coding.

• Free Shopify Themes: Basic designs with limited customization.
• Paid Shopify Themes: More features, better layouts, and advanced customization.
• Cost: $100 – $350 (one-time fee)
• Available in Shopify’s Theme Store.
• Custom Theme Development:
• If you want a fully unique website, you can hire a Shopify developer.
• Cost: $500 – $5,000+ (depends on complexity).

4. Shopify App Pricing (Optional)

Here comes an optional investment. Shopify has an App Store with free and paid apps that add extra features to your store. Choosing apps wisely keeps costs under control while improving functionality.

Types of Apps:

• SEO & Marketing Apps – Improve Google ranking and run ads ($10 – $50/month).
• Inventory Management Apps – Automate stock tracking ($5 – $30/month).
• Dropshipping Apps – Connect with suppliers like Oberlo or Spocket (Free – $30/month).
• Customer Support Apps – Live chat and email support tools ($10 – $50/month).

Free Apps vs. Paid Apps:

• Shopify offers basic built-in tools for free.
• Paid apps are useful for advanced features but can increase monthly costs.

5. Custom Development & Design (If Needed)

Here comes the real answer to “How Much Does It Cost to Build a Shopify Website?”. If you want advanced customization, you may need a Shopify developer or expert. Even though this is optional, if you want to grow your business like a big brand, you need to invest in customization. Otherwise, your business may resemble others. For a unique look, it's a must.

• Shopify Website Development Agencies:

You know there are more than 4,822,981 live Shopify websites ( source ). If you don’t prefer customization, your website may be hidden in the crowd of these live websites. That’s why you need assistance from a top Shopify website development agency. Shopify Expert Cost:

• Hiring a Shopify expert costs $20 – $150 per hour.
• Cost to build a fully customized Shopify website: $500 – $5,000+.

6. Logo & Branding (Optional)

Shopify website design costs can vary depending on your need for logo and branding customization. Good branding makes your business unique and attracts customers.

• DIY Branding (Free or Low Cost)
  • Use free tools like Canva to design a logo, banners, and social media posts.
• Hiring a Professional Designer
  • Freelancers charge: $50 – $500 for a logo and branding kit.
  • Branding agencies may charge $1,000+ for a full design package.

That’s why it's better to hire an agency that offers comprehensive Shopify website development services including all these factors.

Total Estimated Cost

Shopify Website Type	Estimated Cost
Basic Shopify Store (DIY)	$50 – $100 per month
Custom Shopify Store (With Paid Themes & Apps)	$500 – $2,000+
Advanced Shopify Store (With Custom Development)	$5,000+

Shopify Development Cost: DIY vs. Hiring Experts

Building a Shopify website yourself can save money, but it may lack the expertise and customization.

Development Method	Cost Range	Pros	Cons
DIY (Using Themes & Apps)	$39–$500	Budget-friendly, quick setup	Limited customization, learning curve
Hiring a Freelancer	$500–$5,000	Low cost, direct communication	Longer setup time, chance of mistakes
Hiring an Agency	$5,000–$10,000+	Best quality, full support, scalability, and advanced features	Expensive

Many business owners go for their own development and get stuck in the middle. Many people choose freelancers and make several mistakes. Shopify website builder cost may increase when you choose separate freelancers for each task.

If you want a high-quality, fully customized, and professional Shopify store, hiring a Shopify web development agency is the best option. Here’s why:

• Agencies have a team of experts including designers, developers, and SEO specialists.
• They understand market trends and build a unique store.
• Full customization of themes, layouts, and user experience for maximum engagement.
• Agencies handle everything from design to development, so you can focus on your business.
• They ensure a smooth and efficient store launch.
• Agencies optimize your store for search engines (SEO) to increase visibility.
• They integrate advanced marketing tools like email campaigns, Google Ads, and social media selling.
• Agencies provide ongoing support.
• They help with future upgrades.
• While agencies cost more upfront, they deliver long-term success.

25 Tips to Save Shopify Website Costs

Stop worrying about “ How Much Does It Cost to Build a Shopify Website?. ”The cost to build a Shopify website depends on the above mentioned factors, but you can save money by following these tips:

Basic tips

1. Know what you want and don’t want before starting your Shopify store so you don’t waste money on unnecessary features or changes later.
2. Set a clear budget for development, apps, and marketing to avoid overspending and ensure you only pay for what your business actually needs.
3. Work with a reliable agency that understands your goals, offers cost-effective solutions, and helps you avoid expensive mistakes in the long run.
4. Pick the right Shopify plan based on your business size and needs—don’t start with expensive plans when the basic one works just fine.

Development Tips

5. Choose a theme that fits your budget instead of going for a fully custom design, as Shopify’s free and premium themes are already well-optimized.
6. Buy your domain from a third-party provider like GoDaddy or Namecheap to save money, since Shopify charges higher prices for domain registration.
7. Use Shopify’s free tools and features like SEO optimization, email marketing, and analytics instead of spending on expensive third-party apps.
8. Consider dropshipping if you don’t have inventory, since it eliminates storage costs and lets you start selling with minimal upfront investment.
9. Plan your store’s design and features in advance to avoid expensive redesigns and unnecessary changes after development begins.
10. Avoid adding too many paid apps to your Shopify store—many free or cheaper alternatives can do the job just as well.
11. Stick to simple store functionalities first, then scale up once your business starts making profits, rather than spending a fortune upfront.
12. Take advantage of free marketing channels like social media, content marketing, and SEO instead of relying only on paid ads.
13. Use Shopify’s built-in payment gateway instead of third-party providers to avoid additional transaction fees that can add up over time.
14. Test and optimize your store regularly to fix performance issues early, so you don’t have to spend extra later.
15. Start with a small product catalog instead of launching a massive inventory right away, so you can manage costs better.
16. Optimize for mobile users from the start to increase conversions, since most Shopify traffic comes from mobile devices.
17. Use free tools like Google Analytics and Shopify Reports to track sales and customer behavior without paying for expensive reporting software.
18. Limit the use of paid Shopify themes and custom coding unless absolutely necessary, since free themes often work just as well.
19. Invest in good product photography once instead of hiring different photographers multiple times, which can be costly.
20. Think long-term when developing your Shopify store so you don’t have to rebuild everything later, saving both time and money.

Tips to Deal with the Agency

21. Negotiate with your agency for a custom package so you only pay for services that are actually useful for your business.
22. Hire an agency instead of multiple freelancers because an all-in-one solution ensures consistency, saves time, and avoids miscommunication.
23. Get professional SEO setup from your agency to drive organic traffic instead of spending too much on ads in the beginning.
24. Bundle services when working with an agency, like development, SEO, and marketing, for better pricing and long-term savings.
25. Choose an agency that offers post-launch support, so you don’t have to spend more fixing issues after your store is live.

Conclusion

Here we have answered all the aspects for the question: How much does it cost to open a Shopify store? With the knowledge of all the factors that affect the Shopify website development cost and following the tips to cut down cost, you can get the best customized Shopify website for your business.

Fulminous Software is a leading Shopify website design and development company. You can collaborate with our team and get the best Shopify websites. Now stop worrying or thinking about “How Much Does It Cost to Build a Shopify Website?” and start building your Shopify website today. Contact now!

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Frequently Asked Questions About How Much Does It Cost to Build a Shopify Website?

Q1: How Much Does It Cost to Run an Online Store per Month?

Running a Shopify store involves recurring costs, including:

• Shopify Plan: $39–$2,000/month
• Domain Renewal: $10–$20/year
• Apps & Plugins: $10–$300/month
• Marketing & Ads: $100–$5,000/month (varies by business size)

Q2: How Much Do Shopify Experts Charge?

The cost of hiring Shopify experts varies based on their expertise and services. Here’s an estimate:

• Basic Store Setup: $500–$1,000
• Custom Website Design: $2,000–$10,000
• Ongoing Support & Maintenance: $50–$200/hour

Q3: What Factors Affect Shopify App Development Costs?

The price depends on features, design, API integrations, custom coding, and developer expertise.

Q4: How Much Does It Cost to Start a Shopify Store?

The minimum cost includes:

• Shopify Basic Plan: $39/month
• Domain Name: $10–$20/year (from Shopify or third-party providers)
• Theme (Free or Paid): $0–$350 (one-time)
• Apps (Optional): $0–$50/month

Total Estimated Cost: $50–$100/month (if using free themes and minimal apps).

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