Cost of building an online store website: what to know
What an online store website really costs: design, domain, hosting, upkeep and extras. How to read a quote and the questions to ask before you pay.
Ask around for a website price and the numbers vary wildly, because each provider quotes a different scope of work. This guide does not give one number for every shop, because there is not one. Instead it lists the costs you will meet and how to compare quotes fairly.
What goes into the cost
- Design and build: a one-off cost that depends on using a ready template or a bespoke design for your brand.
- Domain name: paid yearly. Make sure it is registered in your name.
- Hosting or server and an SSL certificate: keeps the site fast and shows the secure padlock.
- Store features: cart, ordering, payments, stock connection. More features mean more work.
- Content: product photos, descriptions, articles. Often forgotten in quotes.
- Monthly upkeep: updates, backups, bug fixes, support.
- SEO: baseline optimization is usually included, while ongoing SEO is priced separately.
Three ways to build, three cost shapes
- Do it yourself on a subscription platform: low upfront cost, monthly fees, but you build and learn to run it yourself.
- Hire a freelancer or agency per project: flexible, price depends on scope, and you must settle who maintains it after handover.
- Done-for-you design with a monthly upkeep fee: a setup cost plus a monthly fee, in return someone handles all the technical work.
Questions to ask before accepting a quote
- Does the price include the domain, SSL and putting the site live?
- Whose name are the domain and data under? Can I take them if we stop working together?
- How much is monthly upkeep and what does it cover?
- How are new features charged later?
- Is the site optimized for phones and load speed?
How ShopFlow prices it
ShopFlow builds websites as a done-for-you service in three tiers: Starter, Standard and Premium. Each has a setup cost plus a monthly upkeep fee. The Starter tier already covers custom design, WooCommerce, cart, domain, SSL and deployment. The domain and WooCommerce are in your name. Because every shop differs in scale, the exact price is quoted after a chat on Zalo.
Want to know what your shop's website needs and roughly what it costs? Message us on Zalo for a specific quote.
Chat on ZaloFrequently asked questions
- How long does building a store site take?
- It depends on scope. A simple page from a template takes days, while a bespoke site with many features takes longer. The timeline is agreed when you get a quote.
- What is the monthly fee for?
- To keep the site running reliably: server, updates, backups, bug fixes and support when you need content changes.
- Do I need a website if I already sell on marketplaces?
- Not required, but your own site lets you keep customer data and build your own brand. See our comparison of an own website versus marketplaces.