Ecommerce website cost depends mostly on how many products you sell, which platform you choose and how much custom work you need. A simple store can run on a monthly platform plan plus setup, while a fully custom store with integrations can cost tens of thousands of dollars to build.
The tricky part is that the build is only part of the bill. Platform fees, payment processing, apps and maintenance continue every month you’re in business, so it pays to look at the whole picture before you choose.
This guide breaks down the real cost pieces in plain English, so a Maine gift shop, farm stand or craft brewery can budget with confidence.
What goes into ecommerce website cost?
Think of an online store as a set of building blocks. Some are one-time costs and some repeat.
One-time costs
- Design and development: layout, branding, page templates and setup.
- Product setup: adding products, photos, descriptions, variations (sizes, colors) and categories.
- Integrations: connecting shipping, taxes, inventory, email marketing or a point-of-sale system.
- Content: product photography and copywriting, if you don’t already have them.
Recurring costs
- Platform or hosting fees: a monthly plan (like Shopify) or hosting for a self-run store (like WooCommerce).
- Payment processing: a percentage plus a small fee on each transaction.
- Apps, plugins and extensions: often billed monthly or yearly.
- Domain renewal and security.
- Maintenance and support: updates, backups, fixes and improvements.
Typical price ranges for building an online store
Published market ranges vary a lot. For example, Horton Group’s 2026 website pricing guide places e-commerce and complex builds at roughly $10,000 to $100,000 or more, compared with about $1,000 to $7,000 for freelancer-built sites in general. The same guide puts domains at around $10 to $70 per year.
Those wide ranges make sense. A store with 20 products and standard shipping is a very different project from one with 2,000 products, wholesale pricing and inventory sync with a physical shop.
For context on general website pricing here at home, see our guide to how much a website costs in Maine. Morellis doesn’t publish fixed prices; we quote every e-commerce project after a free consultation based on what you actually sell.
Platform costs: Shopify vs WooCommerce
The two most common choices for small stores are Shopify (a hosted, all-in-one service) and WooCommerce (a free plugin that turns a WordPress site into a store).
Shopify
According to Shopify’s pricing page at the time of writing, plans in the U.S. include Basic at $39 per month ($29 when billed yearly), Grow at $105 per month ($79 yearly) and Advanced at $399 per month ($299 yearly). Online card rates range from 2.9% plus 30 cents on Basic down to 2.5% plus 30 cents on Advanced, and there’s an extra fee if you use a third-party payment provider instead of Shopify’s own.
WooCommerce
The core WooCommerce plugin is free, but you pay for hosting, any premium extensions and payment processing. WooCommerce’s own payment service, WooPayments, is pay-as-you-go without monthly fees, and you can also use other processors.
| Cost item | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Core software | Included in monthly plan | Free plugin |
| Hosting | Included | Paid separately |
| Payment processing | Per-transaction rates vary by plan | Depends on the processor you choose |
| Apps / extensions | Often monthly subscriptions | Free and paid options, often yearly |
| Maintenance | Platform handles core updates | You or your developer handle updates |
The hidden costs that surprise store owners
Most budget surprises come after launch, not before. When you estimate your total ecommerce website cost, watch for these:
- App creep. Reviews, subscriptions, upsells and shipping calculators each add a small monthly fee that adds up.
- Payment fees. A few percent per sale feels small until you do the math on a busy summer season.
- Premium themes. Many stores use a paid theme, then pay again for customizations.
- Product photography. Good photos sell, and they take time or money to produce.
- Shipping and tax setup. Getting rates and rules right can take more effort than expected.
- Ongoing maintenance. Updates, security and backups never really stop.
Our article on website maintenance costs goes deeper into what you’ll pay every year after launch.
One-time build or monthly plan?
Some businesses prefer to pay for the build upfront and own everything. Others like predictable monthly payments that bundle design, hosting and support. Both can work; it depends on your cash flow and how hands-on you want to be.
We compare the two approaches in detail in monthly website plans vs one-time pricing.
How to keep your online store budget under control
- Start with your best sellers. Launch with the products that matter most and add the rest later.
- Use built-in features first. Only add apps when you’ve proven you need them.
- Write down must-haves vs nice-to-haves. Wholesale portals and custom product builders can wait.
- Plan for seasonality. Many Maine shops do most of their sales in summer and the holidays, so time your launch and promotions accordingly.
- Get the full picture in writing. Ask for build costs and expected monthly costs together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shopify or WooCommerce cheaper?
It depends on your setup. WooCommerce’s core plugin is free, but you pay for hosting and maintenance. Shopify bundles hosting into a monthly plan, but apps and transaction fees can add up. Compare the total yearly cost for your expected sales, not just the sticker price.
Can I add a store to my existing website?
Often, yes. If your site runs on WordPress, WooCommerce can usually be added. Other platforms may offer built-in selling tools or a link to a separate store. A designer can tell you which route is cleaner for your site.
How long does it take to build an online store?
A small store with a handful of products can launch in a few weeks. Larger catalogs and custom integrations take longer. Product content, such as photos and descriptions, is usually the biggest factor in the timeline.
Do I need to charge sales tax on online orders?
Sales tax rules depend on where you sell and ship. Both Shopify and WooCommerce include tax settings, but you should confirm your obligations with an accountant or Maine Revenue Services. This is general information, not tax or legal advice.
What’s the cheapest way to start selling online?
Starting with a small catalog on a hosted platform’s entry-level plan keeps upfront costs low. As sales grow, you can invest in a custom design and more features.
Get a clear quote for your online store
Every store is different, and a guess isn’t a budget. Morellis builds e-commerce sites for small businesses across Maine, from coastal gift shops to local makers shipping nationwide. Book a free 30-minute consultation and we’ll walk through your products, platform options and a realistic estimate. You can also see our full list of website and marketing services.