The honest answer to how much a Shopify store costs is that it depends, and two quotes for the same store can differ a lot for good reasons. This guide lists every part of the cost, so that you can compare quotes line by line and avoid surprises after launch. It does not give prices, because plans and fees change. Check Shopify's current pricing page and ask each agency for a written quote.
The costs, in four groups
1. What you pay Shopify and other services
- Your Shopify plan. A monthly or yearly fee that depends on the plan you choose. Bigger plans suit bigger stores and add features. Pick the plan for what you need now and change later.
- Your domain name. A yearly fee, to Shopify or to another registrar.
- Payment fees. Every payment method has a fee. If you use a payment provider other than Shopify Payments, Shopify may charge an extra transaction fee on top of the provider's own fees, and the rate depends on your plan. In some countries Shopify Payments is not available at all. See Taking online payments in Iraq and Kurdistan.
- Apps. Many apps charge a monthly fee. Ten small fees add up, and each app can slow the store. Read App, theme change or custom code before you add one.
- Email, chat and other tools that you connect to the store.
2. What you pay to build the store
- The theme. A free theme, a paid theme, or a theme designed for your brand. This is often the biggest difference between quotes.
- Design and setup. Home page, collections, product pages, menus, policies and checkout settings.
- Languages and countries. An Arabic and English store needs more design and testing work than one language. Several markets add currencies, delivery rules and tax settings. See Arabic and English on one store and Shopify Markets.
- Moving products and customers from an old store, if you have one. See our migration checklist.
- Custom features such as a special product builder or a link to your own system.
- Search setup. Titles, descriptions, redirects and structure. See the Shopify SEO checklist.
3. What you provide, or pay someone for
- Product photos and descriptions in every language.
- Policy pages, such as delivery, returns and privacy.
- Logo and brand files.
Content is the part that most often delays a launch. Decide who writes and photographs before you sign.
4. What you pay after launch
- Updates, fixes and small changes.
- Speed and security checks.
- New pages, campaigns and seasonal changes, such as White Friday.
Some agencies offer a monthly plan for this. Read What happens to your website after launch and Why a care plan beats fixing things when they break.
Why two quotes can differ
- One includes a custom design and the other uses a theme as it comes.
- One counts Arabic, right-to-left layout and testing, and the other does not.
- One includes content entry and migration, and the other leaves it to you.
- One lists the apps and who pays for them, and the other does not.
- One includes support after launch and the other ends on launch day.
How to compare quotes
- Ask each agency to list what is included and what is not.
- Ask who owns the store account, the theme files and the domain when the project ends. The store should be in your name.
- Ask how many rounds of changes are included and how extra work is priced.
- Ask which apps are needed and what they cost each month.
- Ask what happens if the project takes longer than planned.
- Ask what support you get after launch, and for how long.
Our seven questions to ask before hiring a web agency cover these points in more detail.
Ways to keep the cost in line
- Start with the pages and features you need for launch. Add the rest in phases.
- Use a well-built theme and adjust it, before you ask for custom code.
- Prepare your photos, texts and product data before the build starts.
- Write a one-page brief. It saves time on both sides.
- Decide early whether you need a website, an online store or both. See Does your company need a website, an online store or both?
Questions store owners ask
Is a cheap quote a bad sign?
Not by itself. Look at what it includes. A low price that leaves out content, Arabic support or support after launch may cost more in the end.
Can I build the store myself?
Yes, many owners do, especially for a small catalog and one language. An agency helps most when you have several languages, several countries, a migration or custom features.
Do I pay Shopify directly?
Yes. Your Shopify plan is billed by Shopify to the account owner, and that should be you.
Get a clear quote
Tell us what you sell, in which languages and to which countries, and we will answer with a written scope. Ask for a free store review, read about our Shopify solutions and care plans, or write on the contact page.