How Much Does an Online Store Cost to Build in 2026?
A web shop is a website plus a checkout, inventory, and money changing hands — so it costs more, and has ongoing fees a brochure site does not. Here are the numbers.
An online store is a website with a job: take money reliably, track stock, and handle shipping and tax without falling over on a busy day. That extra machinery is why a web shop costs more than a brochure site — and why it carries ongoing fees a normal website does not.
Here are honest 2026 ranges, what actually drives the price, and how to pick the right platform for your stage.
The price tiers
Template store
€1,500–6,000
A polished Shopify or WooCommerce store on a premium theme.
- Your branding on a proven theme
- Standard checkout, payments, shipping
- Dozens to a few hundred products
- Live in a few weeks
Best for: Most small and new online shops — the sensible starting point.
Custom mid-size store
€6,000–20,000
Custom design and features around how you actually sell.
- Distinct, branded design
- Custom product options, bundles, filters
- Integrations (accounting, inventory, CRM)
- Performance and conversion tuning
Best for: Established shops treating e-commerce as a core channel.
Large / bespoke platform
€20,000+
High volume, complex catalogues, or custom commerce logic.
- Thousands of products, multi-warehouse
- B2B pricing, subscriptions, marketplaces
- Deep integrations and automation
- Scale, security, and support
Best for: High-volume retailers and complex commerce operations.
What drives the price
- Number and complexity of products — 20 simple products is easy; thousands with variants, sizes, and options is not.
- Design — a customised theme is cheaper than a fully custom storefront.
- Payments and shipping — local payment methods, multiple couriers, and tax rules add setup.
- Integrations — connecting accounting, inventory, or a POS is real work.
- Content — product photography and descriptions are a big, often underestimated, cost.
Don't forget the ongoing fees
| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Platform subscription | €30–300 / month | Shopify plans; WooCommerce is "free" but you pay hosting. |
| Payment processing | ~1.5–2.5% per sale | Charged by the payment provider on every transaction. |
| Apps / plugins | €0–200+ / month | Reviews, email, shipping, upsells — they add up fast. |
| Maintenance | €50–300 / month | Updates, security, and changes. Non-negotiable for a shop. |
Shopify or WooCommerce or custom?
Shopify is the fastest, most reliable way to a solid store — you trade a monthly fee for someone else handling the hard parts. WooCommerce (on WordPress) is flexible and content-friendly, with no platform fee but more to maintain. Custom is only worth it at real scale or with genuinely unusual commerce logic. For most businesses in 2026, start on Shopify or WooCommerce; go custom only when they actively hold you back.
Key takeaways
- Template stores run €1,500–6,000; custom mid-size €6,000–20,000; bespoke €20,000+.
- Web shops carry ongoing fees: platform, ~1.5–2.5% per transaction, apps, and maintenance.
- Product count, integrations, and photography drive most of the cost.
- Start on Shopify or WooCommerce; go custom only at real scale or unusual needs.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shopify or WooCommerce cheaper?
Shopify has a predictable monthly fee and handles hosting and security for you. WooCommerce has no platform fee but you pay for hosting, plugins, and maintenance. For most small shops the total cost is similar — choose on fit, not just price.
How much are payment fees?
Roughly 1.5–2.5% per transaction, charged by the payment provider, plus a small fixed fee. It is a cost of doing business online — build it into your pricing rather than trying to eliminate it.
Can I start small and grow?
Absolutely, and you should. A clean template store proves demand cheaply; you reinvest in custom design and features once sales justify it. Migrating later is normal and manageable.
What is the most underestimated cost?
Product content — good photography and descriptions for every item. It is often more work than the store build itself, and it directly affects how much you sell.
Planning an online store?
Tell us roughly what you sell and how many products, and we will suggest the right platform and an honest budget — including the ongoing costs most quotes leave out. Direct lines below.
Plan my web shop
A short description of what you sell is enough for a real recommendation.
- Fixed-scope quote — no obligation
- Reply within 1 business day
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