How much does it cost to build a website on platforms like Shopify, Squarespace, Wordpress and Magento?
How much do you need to hire a digital agency or web developer and designer to customise an ecommerce store on popular platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce, 3DCart and BigCommerce?
Let's start with woocommerce. There are two parts to this: 1) Building the basic store with all relevant pages. that runs to arund $3k5 and 2) Stocking the store. The cost of this depends on which tools are being used. Adding products manually is very time-consuming and can be costed on a labour basis or per-item basis. in addition to the building cot the one-off plugin costs must be paid - usually no more than $200 - $400 total. I've used Woodropship in the past for importing products fromAli Express, but it no longer works and is not properly maintained. Find something similar. However, once the products are imported there's still work to do on images, descriptions and pricing if you want a top quality store.
Shopify is different. it's easier to load a theme and you can fo it yourself using a free theme. However you need plugins just like Woocommerce and these are always paid monthly - not one-offs like Woocommerce plugins. The main cost here will be importing products and again it depends how you do it.. Hope that helps a bit. I don't us Magento or Squarespace.
This actually depends on your requirements. There are a lot to factor in such as design, style, and functionalities you'd like to have for your website. If you are an eCommerce business, you could be looking at $5k to $20k, but again this depends on a host of factors.
Francis Kim
Hello,
I'm only experienced with WooCommerce so I'll just answer that part. If you want a fully custom coded store, either built from scratch or using a theme then custom editing with CSS, you'll need to hire a developer and they typically charge in the thousands. We've had clients come over to use who have been stung up to $15k by a developer for a theme that's then been edited with custom CSS.
However, if you're happy to go with a fully customisable theme it will be cheaper. Realistically, without adding ridiculous profit margins it should only cost $600 - $2k max depending on the size of the store and what extra features you're looking for but most companies will charge more than that, plus some extra fees on top. The answer below about plugin fees being $200 - $400 is a bit odd, personally I've never had to put that many paid plugins on a site to make it functional.
My advice, shop around. Unfortunately the web design / development industry is a greedy one and 90% of the businesses / companies you speak to will overcharge you simply because they know you don't understand how any of it works and you're going to take their word for it.
Hope this helps.
Kind Regards,
Grant
This is a little tricky to answer as there are many components that influence the cost of a website. But if you are just starting out in business and looking at a relatively simple website, here are some costs you will need to include in your budget
1. Domain Name
Domain name will depend on the type of domain name – some domain names are more expensive than others, but generally speaking you are looking anywhere between $45 - $140 per year.
2. Webhosting
There are great variations on hosting prices. Just with anything else, you get what you pay for.
If you find a company that offers webhosting for less than $150 per year, chances are your website will be on a server with thousands of other websites and will most likely very slow to load. Also tech support is generally minimal or via email only.
For the majority of small businesses, you can get decent shared hosting from $25 per month.
3. SSL Certificate
An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a digital certificate that authenticates the identity of a website and encrypts information sent to the server using SSL technology. Encryption is the process of scrambling data into an undecipherable format that can only be returned to a readable format with the proper decryption key.
The cost of SSL Certificates varies between $50 - $300 per year
4. Website Design & Development
How much your website design will cost will greatly depend on the size and functionality. A 5-10 page informational website will generally cost between $1000 - $2500.
An ecommerce website (one that sells products) generally costs between $2,500 - $10,000, depending on how many products you have and the complexity of the set up.
5. Memberships / Plugins
You may also need to pay for additional services, such as Landing Page Builder, Email Automation, Calendar Booking System etc. Although many companies offer free versions, these are generally very limited. So depending on the membership level and service provided – you can be paying between $10 - $300 per month.
6. Copywriting
If you don’t feel confident in writing the copy for your website, you may want to consider hiring a professional copywriter. Cost will depend on how many pages you will need. A good copywriter will cost from $1000+.
7. Marketing
Once your website is built you will need to set a budget for promoting it and that can run from several dollars per day if you are running Facebook or Google ads - to several hundred per month for search engine optimisation and content building.
8. Tech Support / Maintenance
Many designers and developers offer tech support / maintenance packages, which means you are paying for x hours each month of their time to help you update your website, upgrade it or to recover it if your website stops working or gets hacked. Cost is generally from $100 per month.
So these are just some rough figures to give you an idea on how much getting a website created by a professional website designer will cost you.
However, I would not look at what you spend on a website as an expense, but rather an investment in your business.
If done and marketed correctly, your website can generate thousands of dollars in sales every day.
We specialize in Shopify as a Shopify Partner agency so I'll keep most of the detail to that platform (unsurprisingly I also think that it's the best platform for most ecommerce businesses from the choices listed in the question).
As a general response though you will find the cost varies wildly between these platforms listed. They each require very different amounts of time to build on and the requirements of the business will also cause the cost to vary wildly. You could be looking at anywhere from $3K to $20K+.
For a Shopify based website that is actually built to generate revenue (many aren't) and is purpose built for your products, business and market you should expect to pay a minimum of $3K up to $7K. I don't think you should be paying more than that.
Having said that, the requirements of the build will heavily influence the cost. This is such a general question that it's hard to provide a decent estimate.
Unfortunately with Shopify there are sooo many inexperienced people out there trying to get work building Shopify sites for $500 or a low figure like that. Avoid these like the plague.
All they are doing is providing an off the shelf cookie cutter option. If that's all you can afford, fine. But don't expect to get great results with it.
It really depends on what your goals are for the online store. For example, if you want to use a theme out of the box and just change your logo, some minor store changes and have some colours updated, then it's going to be relatively cheap, say in the $500 - $1500.
In most cases, an online store requires much more work if you want it to deliver results. As a starting point it's good to determine:
- Who is your target marketing
- What products are you selling
- Who are your online competitors
- What's unique about your products
- How many products and categories will you need to start with
- How is shipping going to be handled
- What payment gateway/s will you use/need.
- Will inventory management be needed
- Do you have professional photos or will they be needed
- Find some websites that have the look and feel you are after. This will help the company you are talking with, quickly scope your needs and provide an accurate cost.
- Security needs - EG: Shopify is a great option since this get's handle but it's important to have a good partner to support you with this as no platform is 100% perfect.
- What other systems do you need to integrate eg: CRM, POS etc. This alone can impact which platform you go with.
- How are you going to drive traffic to the website - SEO (organic rankings), Paid advertising etc. For this, an ongoing monthly budget needs to be determined.
A store backed with some strategy, smart features and good design will normally be above $7000 and it can easily be much more than this. For example, we have a Shopify Kickstarter program that is in the $7000 - 10,000 range. Often online stores though can easily be $10K - $20,000 range but it's important your investment is tied back to your growth goals and needed results. Once you know this you can then justify your needed investment.
I hope the above helps and all the best with your online store. Also, feel free to reach out if you want a friendly chat about this or just message me on LinkedIn.
Cheers,
David.
It truly relies upon what your objectives are for the online store. For instance, in the event that you need to utilize a subject out of the case and simply change your logo, some minor store changes and have a few hues refreshed, at that point it will be moderately shabby, state in the $500 - $1500.
As a rule, an online store requires significantly more work in the event that you need it to convey results. As a beginning stage it's great to decide:
Who is your objective advertising
What items are you selling
Who are your online rivals
What's exceptional about your items
What number of items and classes will you have to begin with
How is shipping going to be dealt with
What installment entryway/s will you use/need.
Will stock administration be required
Do you have proficient photographs or will they be required
Discover a few sites that have the look and feel you are after. This will help the organization you are chatting with, rapidly scope your necessities and give an exact expense.
Security needs - EG: Shopify is an incredible alternative since this present get's handle yet it's critical to have a decent accomplice to help you with this as no stage is 100% impeccable.
What different frameworks do you have to incorporate eg: CRM, POS and so on. This by itself can affect which stage you run with.
How are you going to direct people to the site - SEO (natural rankings), Paid publicizing and so on. For this, a progressing month to month spending should be resolved.
These inquiries will help decide how refined your online store ought to be and how much custom work is expected to enable you to meet your objectives.
A store supported with some technique, brilliant highlights and great structure will ordinarily be above $7000 and it can undoubtedly be substantially more than this. For instance, we have a Shopify Kickstarter program that is in the $7000 - 10,000 territory. Regularly online stores however can without much of a stretch be $10K - $20,000 territory yet it's significant your venture is attached back to your development objectives and required outcomes. When you realize this you would then be able to legitimize your required venture.
You better hire shopify developer for Shopify Ecommerce stores.
Hi, Thanks for your query!
The cost to build or customize a online store is completely depends on its design, functioanlity and style requirements. We also provide ecommerce web development services in WordPress, Magento, Shopify and deliver quality work to our consumers within deadline.
If you want exact quote for your requirements you can contact us through webgensis or email us at info@webgensis.com.
We would happy to assist you.
Thanks.
There are quite a few things to consider when looking at the costs of a website:
- yes the development cost but also ongoing fees, Shopify has ongoing fees and you pay for things like analytics, however with Wordpress you sign up and Google Analytics for free.
- what payment system you use in the back end of your website e.g. Paypal, square, etc. They all charge different fees or take a percentage of your sales, or a combination.
- a copywriter to create words that sell, include call to actions and make you irresistible to your readers, so they buy from you. This will help with creating a great user experience for your reader/visitor.
- it will also depend on the business or company you get to do it, some are more reasonably priced, and some are more expensive. It depends on their experience but find a company/business that is a good fit for you and your business.
Good luck
Hi, I would say that the cost completely depends on your business requirement. I would suggest you consult one of the companies by name Fortunesoft IT Innovations. They provide Shopify development services at affordable prices.
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