Ecommerce cost depends almost entirely on scale and integration complexity. A Shopify-based store with 20 SKUs can launch for $2,500–$8,000. A custom catalog with thousands of SKUs, B2B portals, or ERP integration easily runs $25,000+.
Typical build cost
$2,500 – $25,000
One-time, varies with scope
Typical monthly
$100 – $1,500
Hosting, software, maintenance
Common features for this business type
- Product catalog with variants
- Checkout / payments
- Cart abandonment automation
- Reviews (UGC + verified)
- Shipping / tax setup (TaxJar, Shopify Tax, etc.)
- Email marketing (Klaviyo, Mailchimp)
What drives the cost
- Platform (Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, custom)
- Number of SKUs and variants
- International shipping and tax
- Integrations (3PL, ERP, accounting)
- Custom checkout vs platform default
Do this first
- A platform that fits your stage (don't over-engineer)
- Product photos that match brand quality
- Mobile-optimized checkout
- Cart abandonment email sequence
- Real reviews on every product
This can wait
- Headless commerce
- Subscription billing (unless core to model)
- Multi-currency / multi-language
- Custom loyalty program
Mistakes to avoid
- Building custom when Shopify would do
- No abandonment email
- Slow product images
- Hidden shipping costs revealed at checkout
FAQ
Shopify or WooCommerce?
Shopify is faster to launch and lower-maintenance. WooCommerce gives more control but you own all the maintenance. Most small brands start with Shopify.
When does headless make sense?
Usually when you have a content-heavy brand or unusual UX needs and a real dev team. For most small brands, no.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides general educational estimates only. It does not guarantee website traffic, leads, sales, revenue, profit, or return on investment. Results vary based on business model, pricing, traffic quality, offer strength, conversion rate, follow-up systems, market conditions, and execution. This tool does not provide legal, tax, accounting, investment, or financial advice.