Having an online store built: what does it really cost?
The build is only part of the bill. What an online store costs once, what comes back every month and how to compare quotes properly.
An online store comes with two kinds of cost: the build, paid once, and then every month the platform, apps and payment fees. Quotes often mention only the first. Below is what to expect for both in 2026, with sources.
What the build costs
According to a Dutch price overview by Searchlab (March 2026), a small store costs about €2,000 to €4,000 with a freelancer and €5,000 to €8,000 with an agency. A medium-sized store costs €8,000 to €15,000 at an agency, a large one €15,000 to €25,000 or more.
What comes back every month
- Shopify: the subscription costs €36 to €384 a month and apps €50 to €200; together €90 to €690 a month
- WooCommerce: the software is free, but hosting, plugins and maintenance add up to about €120 to €560 a month
- Lightspeed: about €60 to €370 a month
Figures from the same Searchlab overview. Where you land in the range depends on the plan and the number of apps or plugins.
Costs per order
Every payment costs money. According to Searchlab, payment providers charge 1.5% to 3.5% per transaction. If you use a provider other than Shopify Payments on Shopify, Shopify adds 2% (Basic), 1% (Grow) or 0.6% (Advanced) on top, according to its own pricing page.
Where the price differences come from
- The number of products and variants, and who enters them
- Integrations with accounting, stock, shipping labels or marketplaces
- A custom design or an existing theme
- Copy and product photos
- More languages and shipping abroad
Count a year, not just the build
A small Shopify store with a €3,000 build, the €36 Basic plan and €50 a month in apps costs over €4,000 in its first year, before payment fees. So always compare quotes over a period of about three years.
Five questions for any quote
- Which platform, and are the store and the domain in your name?
- Which monthly costs come on top, and which apps are needed?
- Who adds the products, and how many are included?
- Are payments, shipping and VAT set up and tested?
- What does a change after launch cost?
What it costs with us
At Velora Studios an online store costs €1,500 excluding VAT until 1 December (normally €3,000). We usually build on Shopify, with iDEAL, shipping, product SEO and a week of social media at launch. The platform’s monthly costs come on top, as with any online store. Before you pay anything, you see a free demo within 24 hours.
Sources
- Searchlab, “Wat kost een webshop laten maken” (March 2026): build costs by size, monthly costs by platform and transaction costs.
- Shopify, pricing page (November 2026): extra fees with a third-party payment provider.
