How much does an ecommerce website cost?
An online store costs more than a brochure site — there are more moving parts, and more that can go wrong. But "more" covers a huge range, from a few thousand pounds on a hosted platform to a large custom build. Here's what actually drives the cost, and the running costs people forget to budget for.
The short answer
In the UK, a properly built store on a hosted platform like Shopify typically starts from around £2,000–£3,000 to design and build, and climbs with your catalogue size, custom features and integrations. A larger WooCommerce or bespoke build runs into five figures. On top of the build, budget for monthly platform, hosting and transaction fees.
What you're paying for
- Store design and build — a shopfront designed to convert, not a default theme.
- Product setup — categories, variants, images and descriptions structured properly.
- Payments and checkout — secure, low-friction, and trusted on mobile.
- Integrations — stock, shipping, accounting, email marketing and analytics.
- The invisible work — speed, security, product SEO and testing across devices.
The running costs people forget
- Platform fees — Shopify and similar charge a monthly subscription.
- Transaction fees — a small percentage of every sale, unless you use their own payments.
- Apps and plugins — the "£15/month here and there" that quietly stacks up.
- Maintenance — updates, security and fixes, especially on self-hosted WooCommerce.
How to keep the cost sensible
- Start on a platform that handles payments and security for you; go custom only when you've outgrown it.
- Launch with the products and features you need now, not everything you might want one day.
- Supply good product photography and copy — it saves money and sells better.
- Budget for the first few months of running costs, not just the build.
The right number depends on what you sell and how you sell it. A good partner will help you start at the right size and grow the store as the orders justify it — not sell you a bespoke platform before you have the sales to fill it.
Common questions
Is Shopify cheaper than a custom store?
Up front, almost always. Shopify spreads the cost into a monthly fee and handles payments, hosting and security for you. A custom build costs more initially but has no per-sale platform fee and no limits — it becomes better value only once you're at the scale where those things matter.
How much does it cost to run an online store each month?
Beyond the build, expect a monthly platform fee, transaction charges on each sale, and any paid apps you rely on — often somewhere from £50 to a few hundred a month for a small store. Self-hosted stores swap platform fees for hosting and maintenance costs.
Why is my ecommerce quote so much higher than a normal website?
Because a store has more to build and secure — payments, product management, tax and shipping logic, and integrations — and more that has to keep working reliably. It's a bigger, higher-stakes build than a brochure site, so it costs more.
Can I start small and grow later?
Yes, and usually you should. Launch on a platform that fits where you are now, prove the demand, and invest in custom features or a bigger build once the orders justify it. Over-building before you have sales is a common, expensive mistake.
Let's talk
Let's talk about your project.
Whether you've got a clear brief or just an idea, tell us what you have in mind and we'll give you an honest recommendation — even if that's a smaller project than you expected.