Wondering about Shopify store cost? Shopify plan fees, themes, apps, design, and setup costs can all affect how much you need to budget for a new online store. This guide explains the main costs clearly and gives you a realistic first-year budget.

Shopify Store Cost: The Three Main Costs

Every Shopify store has three separate costs, and mixing them up is why budgets go wrong:

  • Platform subscription — what you pay Shopify every month.
  • Setup and design — a one-time cost to build the store.
  • Running costs — apps, domain, and transaction fees.

Understanding your Shopify store cost from the beginning helps you create a realistic budget and avoid unexpected expenses.

1. Shopify Store Cost: Monthly Subscription Fees

Shopify offers several plans, typically ranging from around $30/month for the Basic plan up to several hundred per month for advanced tiers. Most new stores start on Basic and upgrade only when order volume justifies it.

Plans change over time, so check Shopify’s official pricing page before budgeting. You can also compare Shopify with WordPress in our WordPress vs Shopify guide.

2. Setup and design

This is where the real range sits:

  • DIY with a free theme — $0. Your time only. Works if you’re comfortable with layout, images, and copy.
  • Paid theme — $150 – $400 one time. Better design, still self-managed.
  • Done-for-you setup — $500 – $3,000. Someone builds it: design, products, payments, shipping, and launch.
  • Fully custom store — $3,000+. Bespoke design and custom functionality.

The honest reality: a free theme with weak product photos and thin descriptions rarely converts, no matter how good your product is. Where most people underinvest isn’t the theme — it’s the product photography and copy.

3. Ongoing running costs

  • Domain — around $10–$20 per year.
  • Apps — reviews, email, upsells. Easily $0–$100+/month. Add them only when you have a specific need.
  • Transaction fees — Shopify Payments takes a card processing fee per sale; using an external gateway usually adds an extra fee.
  • Marketing — separate from all of the above, and usually the biggest ongoing line.

Shopify Store Cost: A Realistic First-Year Budget

For a small store launching properly:

  • Shopify Basic: ~$360/year
  • Domain: ~$15/year
  • Professional store setup: one-time
  • Product photography: one-time, depends on product count
  • A couple of essential apps: ~$0–$400/year

Set aside a marketing budget on top. A store with no traffic makes no sales, and that catches a lot of first-time sellers off guard.

Shopify Store Cost: Where to Spend and Where to Save

Worth spending on: product photography, clear product descriptions, a fast mobile experience, and a checkout that doesn’t confuse people.

Safe to delay premium themes with features you won’t use, a dozen apps before you have your first orders, and custom development before you’ve validated the product.

What we charge

Our Complete Shopify Store package is $1,299 and includes a fully custom design, your domain free for one year, up to 20 products added, payments and shipping configured, mobile optimization, and basic SEO — typically live in about 10 days. Details are on our pricing page.

Frequently asked questions

Is Shopify cheaper than WordPress?

Shopify has a predictable monthly fee but fewer surprises. WordPress with WooCommerce can be cheaper monthly but needs more setup and maintenance. We compare both in WordPress vs Shopify.

Can I start cheap and upgrade later?

Yes, and it’s often smart. Start on Basic with a solid design, then invest in apps and custom features once you have real sales data.

Do I need a designer?

Not necessarily — but if your product competes on looks (fashion, beauty, food, home goods), design and photography usually pay for themselves quickly.

Your total Shopify store cost depends on your Shopify plan, design, apps, products, and the level of customization your business needs.? Book a free consultation →