Everyone asks “how much does an online store cost?” — and the answer has two parts: the one-time build and the running costs that continue every month. This guide covers both.
Build cost: indicative ranges
All numbers are indicative market ranges, not a quote. Use our website cost calculator to refine them for your project.
| Store type | What it includes | Indicative range |
|---|---|---|
| Starter store | Customised template, up to ~50 products, standard checkout | From about ₹80,000 |
| Growing store | Custom design, hundreds of products, filters, SEO, integrations | Mid-range, often ₹1.5–3 lakh |
| Advanced / custom | Unique workflows, large catalogue, marketplace or B2B features | ₹3–5 lakh and above |
Your final price depends on design, number of products, payment and shipping integrations, and any custom features.
Platform choice affects cost
- Shopify: quick launch; you pay a subscription and potentially transaction fees and paid apps.
- WooCommerce (WordPress): no platform fee but you manage hosting, security and updates.
- Custom build: higher upfront cost and no platform subscription; full control.
Compare them in detail in Shopify vs custom e-commerce.
The ongoing costs people forget
| Cost | Notes |
|---|---|
| Domain name | Renewed yearly |
| Hosting / platform subscription | Monthly or yearly |
| Payment-gateway fees | A small percentage of every sale |
| Apps and plugins | Reviews, subscriptions, shipping, email |
| Shipping and packaging | Often the largest per-order cost |
| Maintenance and security | Updates, backups, monitoring — see website maintenance |
| Marketing | SEO, content, ads, email |
What increases the price
- Large catalogues with many variants (size, colour)
- Multi-language or multi-currency selling
- Marketplace features with multiple sellers — see how to build a marketplace
- Complex discounts, subscriptions or bundles
- Integrations with ERP, accounting or warehouse systems
- Custom animations and premium design
How to keep the cost sensible
- Launch with your best 20–50 products.
- Use a platform unless you truly need custom logic.
- Prioritise speed and mobile checkout over fancy extras.
- Add features after sales begin — see how to start an online store.
- Plan marketing from day one: read our e-commerce SEO guide.
Get a clear quote
We build Shopify, WooCommerce and custom stores. Request a free quote or see our e-commerce development service.
