How Much Does a Shopify Store Cost? A Clear Breakdown

If you are planning to sell online, one of the first questions is simple: how much does a Shopify store cost? The honest answer is that it depends on two things. First, what you pay Shopify every month to run the store. Second, what you pay once to get the store designed and set up properly. This guide breaks down both, so you can plan a realistic budget.

The two types of Shopify costs

Every Shopify store has running costs and setup costs. Running costs are monthly or per-sale fees that keep the store live. Setup costs are what you invest at the start in design, products and configuration. Many store owners only think about the monthly plan and get surprised later, so it is worth looking at both.

1. Shopify plan fees (monthly)

Shopify charges a monthly subscription. The entry plan is suitable for most new stores, and higher plans add lower card fees, more staff accounts and better reports. Prices change from time to time and are cheaper when paid yearly, so always check Shopify’s own pricing page for the current numbers.

• Starter-level plans: best for new stores with a small product range
• Mid-level plans: for growing stores that want lower transaction fees and more reporting
• Advanced and Plus plans: for high-volume brands

On top of the plan, you pay card processing fees on each sale. If you use an external payment gateway instead of Shopify Payments, Shopify may add an extra transaction fee.

2. Theme cost

Shopify offers free themes that are fast and reliable. Premium themes from the Shopify Theme Store are a one-time purchase and give you more layout options and features. A premium theme is not required to have a great store. A well-customized free theme often performs better than a premium theme that has been set up badly.

3. Apps

Apps add features such as product reviews, upsells, email marketing, wishlists and subscriptions. Many have free plans, but popular paid apps usually charge monthly. This is where costs quietly grow. We often see stores paying for apps they no longer use, and every extra app also slows the store down. Our rule is simple: install only what directly helps you sell or save time.

4. Design and setup

This is the biggest variable. You can set up a store yourself, hire a freelancer or work with a Shopify agency. Here is what a professional setup usually includes:

• Theme selection and customization to match your brand
• Home page, collection pages and product page design
• Product uploads, variants, collections and menus
• Payment, shipping, tax and checkout settings
• Legal pages such as refund, privacy and terms
• Apps for reviews, upsells and email
• Speed optimization and basic SEO
• Google Analytics and Meta Pixel tracking

At Wow IT Box, our Shopify store plans start at $399 for a ready-to-sell store, $799 for a custom-designed store with more products, and $1,499 for a fully custom build with advanced features. Each plan is a one-time price with unlimited revisions and free 1-month VIP support.

5. Other costs to plan for

• Domain name: a small yearly fee for your .com or local domain
• Product photos: good photos sell. Budget for a shoot or editing
• Marketing: a store needs traffic. Plan for ads, SEO or social media from day one
• Email marketing tool: free to start, paid as your list grows

Example budgets

Lean launch: starter Shopify plan, free theme, two or three free apps and a professional setup. Ideal for testing a new product with a small catalog.

Growing brand: mid-level plan, custom-designed theme, review and email apps, and a monthly marketing budget. Ideal for brands that already have customers on social media.

How to keep your Shopify costs under control

• Start on the entry plan and upgrade only when sales justify it
• Review your apps every few months and remove unused ones
• Choose yearly billing for the plan once you are sure about the store
• Invest in a strong product page and checkout before spending on ads
• Track results with analytics so you know what actually brings sales

Is it worth paying for a professional setup?

You can build a Shopify store yourself, and for some people that is the right choice. But mistakes in shipping rules, product structure, speed or tracking can cost far more in lost sales than a professional setup. A good agency also saves you weeks of trial and error, so you can launch faster and focus on marketing.

Want an exact number for your store? Send us your product count and goals and we will give you a clear, fixed quote. See our Shopify services, compare all pricing plans or ask for a free quote.