An ecommerce website helps in buying and selling goods or services over the Internet. Unlike traditional brick-and-mortar stores, ecommerce websites operate 24/7, providing customers the convenience of shopping anytime, anywhere. However, the cost of building an ecommerce website is based on various factors including features, functionality, design, and platform choice. Let’s explore the key factors and know how much does it cost to build an ecommerce website and provide insights to help your businesses make informed decisions.
Breakdown of Estimated Costs for Building an Ecommerce Website
The total cost for designing and developing an ecommerce website falls between $1,000 to over $20,000. The final price is influenced by various factors including the project’s complexity, the chosen platform (such as Shopify, WordPress, Magento, BigCommerce), the number of pages, required ecommerce features, and the type of ecommerce website development services company that you have selected.
Below is the table outlining estimated costs for building an ecommerce software based on different components:
| Components | Estimated Cost Range |
| Ecommerce Platform | $299/month (depending on different platforms and features) |
| Design and Development | $500 – $20,000+ (custom design vs. template-based) |
| Hosting | $10 – $300+/month (based on server resources) |
| Domain Registration | $10 – $30/year |
| Payment Gateway | $200+ (setup fees) + 2-3% per transaction |
| SSL Certificate | $200+/year |
| Security Measures | $100+/month (firewall, malware scanning, etc.) |
| Marketing (SEO, PPC, etc.) | $500 – $5,0000+/month (varies based on scope) |
| Maintenance and Updates | $1000 – $50000+/month (ongoing support) |
| Additional Features/Add-ons | $100 – $1,000+/feature (depending on complexity) |
Important: Please note that these are estimated ranges and actual costs may vary based on factors such as project scope, customization requirements, complexity, and chosen vendors or service providers. It’s essential to thoroughly research and plan your budget accordingly to ensure the successful development and operation of your ecommerce website.
Recommended Read: Top 8 B2B Ecommerce Platforms
Cost Breakdown and Estimates
Platform Costs
| Platform | Starting Price | Additional Costs |
| Shopify | $20/month | Up to $299/month for advanced features |
| Magento | Costs vary | Estimates range from $20,000 to $100,000+ based on edition and customization requirements |
| BigCommerce | $29.95/month | Up to $299.95/month for higher-tier plans and additional features |
| WooCommerce | Free | Costs associated with hosting, themes, and extensions range from $100 to $500+ annually |
Now that we’ve outlined the key variables affecting the expense of building an ecommerce website, let’s have a closer look at the estimated costs based on various platforms:
Design and Development Costs
Custom design and development cost ranges from $3,000 to $20,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the task and the ability of the web designers.
Template-based design solutions cost less, going from $500 to $5,000, and can come up short on uniqueness and customization choices of custom solutions.
Hosting and Domain Costs
Hosting costs normally range from $10 to $300+ each month, depending on variables like server resources, scalability, and security features.
Domain registration costs around $10 to $20 each year for a basic plan, with extra charges for premium domains.
Payment Gateway Costs
Payment processor setup charges can go up to $200+, with transaction fees averaging around 2-3% per transaction, depending on the payment provider and transaction volume.
Security Costs
SSL certificates may cost $50 to $200+ each year, depending on the level of encryption and validation.
Extra safety efforts like firewall protection and malware scanning may bring about extra month-to-month or yearly expenses.
Marketing Costs
Ecommerce SEO services range from $500 to $5,000+ per month, depending on the extent of work and intensity of the business.
PPC promoting costs vary based on variables such as target keywords, ad placement, and campaign objectives, with average costs ranging from $1 to $2+ per click.
Maintenance Costs
Ongoing costs range from $100 to $500+ each month, depending on the level of support required and the complexity of the website.
Ongoing costs associated with ecommerce functionality involve various aspects such as data backups, inventory management, security measures, and email marketing subscriptions. Ensuring regular data backups is crucial to safeguarding information, while inventory management and security software subscriptions collect expenses for business protection and customer trust.
Investing in email marketing and product marketing efforts helps in maintaining revenue streams and brand visibility, albeit with associated costs depending on the scale of operations and chosen solutions.
Additional Features Costs
Costs for extra features and additional items vary depending on the particular necessities of the business and the picked platform or extensions, going from $100 to $1,000+ per feature.
| Amazon has over 310 million active users globally, with more than 80% coming from the United States. About 230 million of these users are from the U.S. |
Cost Analysis: Off-the-Shelf vs. Custom-Built Ecommerce Websites
| Aspects | Off-the-Shelf | Custom-Built |
| Platform Subscription Fees | Usually $0 to $299/month, covering basic functionalities (e.g., hosting, templates, payment integration, customer support) | N/A |
| Additional Transaction Fees | Transaction fees may range from 1% to 3% per transaction. | N/A |
| Customization Costs | Limited Customization options, customization costs differ from $500 – $5,000+ depending on the extent of changes required. | Extensive Customization is required, and costs differ based on the complexity. |
| App and Plugin Cost | Additional apps/plugins available at varying costs (One-time purchase or recurring fees) | N/A |
| Scalability | Limited scalability and flexibility for complex business needs. | Highly flexible and scalable to accommodate growth and changes. |
| Design and Development Costs | N/A | Costs range from $3,000 to $20,000+ for basic websites, exceeding $50,000 for large-scale projects with advanced features. |
| Hosting and Infrastructure Costs | N/A | Monthly hosting costs range from $50 to $300+ depending on server resources, scalability, and security features. |
| Third-party Integration | N/A | Integration costs vary based on complexity and subscription fees |
| Maintenance and Support | N/A | Monthly maintenance costs range from $100 to $500+ depending on the level of support required and the complexity of the site. |
| Scalability and Flexibility | Limited scalability and flexibility for future growth. | Highly flexible and scalable, enabling expansion without being limited by platform constraints. |
Off-the-Shelf Ecommerce Websites
Off-the-shelf ecommerce solutions refer to pre-built platforms or software that offer ready-made solutions for templates and B2B features for making an online store. Here’s a detailed cost analysis:
Platform Subscription Fees
Off-the-shelf platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce, Magento regularly charge membership fees going up to $299/month, contingent upon the picked plan and features.
These fees cover fundamental functionalities such as hosting, website templates, payment gateway integration, and customer support.
Additional Transaction Fees
Some platforms may impose transaction fees on top of subscription fees, ranging from 1% to 3% for each transaction.
While convenient for small businesses with low annual sales volume, these transaction charges can add up and become significant as sales increase.
Customization Costs
Off-the-shelf platforms offer limited customization options compared to custom-built ecommerce solutions.
Customizing website design, layout, and functionality beyond the provided templates may require buying premium themes or hiring designers to make changes.
Costs for customization can range from $500 to $5,000+ depending on the extent of changes needed.
App and Plugin Costs
Off-the-shelf platforms frequently offer application stores or marketplaces where users can buy extra apps, plugins, or extensions to enhance their ecommerce functionality.
Costs for apps and plugins vary widely depending on the developer, functionality, and subscription model (one-time purchase vs. recurring fees).
Limited Scalability
While off-the-shelf platforms are not difficult to set up and use, they lack scalability and flexibility to accommodate complex business prerequisites or future growth.
Moving up to higher-tier plans or integrating advanced features might bring about extra expenses.
Custom Built Ecommerce Websites
Custom-built ecommerce sites are one-of-a-kind creations intended to satisfy certain branding specifications and company goals. Here’s a detailed cost analysis:
Design and Development Costs
Custom-built websites require extensive design and development work to make unique layouts, features, and functionalities from scratch.
Costs for design and development can differ significantly based on the project’s complexity, the number of customizations, and the hourly rates of developers.
Estimates range from $3,000 to $20,000+ for basic websites and can surpass $50,000 for large-scale projects with cutting-edge functionality.
Hosting and Infrastructure Costs
Custom-built websites require dedicated hosting or cloud infrastructure to accommodate unique requirements and handle much traffic and data load.
Hosting costs for custom-built ecommerce sites range from $50 to $300+ per month, depending on server resources, scalability, and security features.
Third-party Integrations
Custom-built websites often require integration with third-party services such as payment gateways, transporting suppliers, stock management systems, and customer relationship management (CRM) software.
Costs for third-party integrations vary based on the intricacy of integration and any associated subscription fees or transaction costs.
Maintenance and Support
Custom-built websites require continuous upkeep, updates, and specialized technical support to ensure ideal performance, security, and compatibility with developing innovations.
Monthly or yearly maintenance expenses can go from $100 to $500+ depending upon the level of support required and the complexity of the site.
For Klizer: For projects undertaken on a Fixed Bid/Project-based arrangement, we extend a complimentary 30-day support period post-launch, specifically dedicated to addressing any bugs. Please note, that no new features will be developed during this duration.
Flexibility
Custom websites are more flexible and scalable than off-the-shelf options, enabling businesses to expand and change without being limited by platform constraints.
Custom-built websites might save money over time despite their higher initial expenses, as they don’t necessitate regular upgrades or migrations. This aspect contributes to long-term cost-effectiveness.
Factors Influencing the Cost of Building an Ecommerce Website.
Customization Requirements: Custom design elements, functionalities, and integrations with third-party services add to the general expense.
Website Design and Development: Costs associated with ecommerce web design and development include design creation, layout creation, coding, and testing across different devices and browsers.
Hosting and Domain: The hosting costs depend on factors like server resources, bandwidth, and security features. Additionally, registering a domain name contributes to the initial setup expenses.
Payment Gateway Integration: Payment gateway providers might charge setup fees, transaction charges, and continuous membership charges in light of trade volume.
Security Measures: Firewall protection, SSL certificates, and standard security audits incur additional expenses but are essential for keeping up with trust and credibility.
SEO and Marketing: Building an effective online business website requires effective B2B marketing strategies to drive traffic and convert guests into customers. Costs associated with search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, social media marketing, and content creation contribute to the overall marketing budget.
Maintenance and Updates: It’s important to note that updates and bug fixes might include additional costs, so it’s essential to consider these. These expenses could be ongoing or included in a maintenance package provided by developers.
The Impact of Design on the Expenses of an Ecommerce Website
Let’s explore how design impacts the costs involved in building and maintaining an ecommerce website:
1. Custom vs. Template Design
Custom Design:
A custom-designed ecommerce website offers an extraordinary look and feels custom-made to the brand’s identity and target audience. Custom designs involve working closely with professional designers and developers to create layouts, graphics, and user interfaces.
Cost Implication: Custom design brings higher costs compared to using pre-made templates. Costs can range from $3,000 to $20,000 or more, contingent upon the intricacy of the plan and the mastery of the designers involved.
Template Design:
Template-based designs offer pre-made layouts and some free themes that can be effectively modified to suit the brand’s aesthetic preferences and functional requirements. Templates are readily available through ecommerce platforms or third-party marketplaces.
Format-based plans offer pre-created designs and subjects that can be modified to suit the brand’s stylish inclinations and practical necessities. Layouts are promptly accessible through ecommerce business stages or outside commercial centers
Cost Implication: Template designs are generally more affordable than custom designs, with costs ranging from $500 to $5,000 or more. However, customization beyond the template’s capabilities may incur additional expenses.
2. Responsive Design
With the increasing use of mobile devices for online shopping, responsive design is essential for ensuring a seamless user experience across different screen sizes and devices.
Cost Implication: Incorporating responsive design into the ecommerce website involves additional development efforts to optimize layout, navigation, and functionality for mobile users. While this may increase upfront costs, it can lead to higher conversion rates and customer satisfaction in the long run.
3. User Interface UI and User Experience UX Design
A well-designed user interface and user experience are critical for guiding users through the purchasing process, reducing friction, and encouraging conversions.
Cost Implication: Investing in professional UI/UX design ensures intuitive navigation, clear calls-to-action, and streamlined checkout processes. Costs for UI/UX design services may range from $1,000 to $10,000 or more, depending on the project’s complexity and the designer expertise involved.
4. Branding and Visual Identity
Consistent branding elements such as logos, color schemes, typography, and imagery help establish brand identity and create a cohesive brand experience.
Cost Implication: Developing branding assets and incorporating them into the website design can incur additional costs, especially for businesses that require logo design, brand guidelines, and custom graphics. Costs for branding services may vary depending on the scope of work and the reputation of the design agency.
5. Custom Features and Interactions
Unique features and interactions such as product management, interactive elements, animations, and micro-interactions can enhance user engagement and differentiate the ecommerce website from competitors.
Cost Implication: Implementing custom features and interactions involves additional development time and resources, leading to higher costs compared to using standard functionalities. Costs for custom development may vary based on the complexity of the features and the skills required.
The Impact of Integrations and Add-Ons on Ecommerce Website Pricing
Integrations and add-ons enhance functionality, streamline operations, and improve the overall user experience. However, integrating third-party services and the cost of add-ons can impact the pricing of an ecommerce website in several ways:
1. Functionality Enhancement
Integrations and add-ons expand the core functionality of an ecommerce platform, allowing businesses to incorporate the following features:
Payment Gateways: Securely process online transactions using a variety of payment methods.
Shipping and Fulfillment: Automate shipping calculations, generate shipping labels, and manage order fulfillment efficiently.
Inventory Management: Track stock levels, manage a wide range of products, and receive alerts for low inventory levels.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Capture customer data, track interactions, and personalize marketing campaigns.
Email Marketing: Send targeted email campaigns, newsletters, and automated follow-up sequences to engage customers.
Cost Implication:
Integrating these functionalities often involves subscription fees, transaction fees, or one-time setup costs charged by third-party service providers. Costs may vary based on the chosen providers, transaction volume, and additional features required.
2. Customization and Personalization
Add-ons and integrations enable organizations to alter and customize the online business experience for their clients, offering the following features:
Product Recommendations: Showing customized item suggestions given perusing history, buy conduct, and inclinations.
Live Chat Support: Provide real-time assistance to customers, answer inquiries, and address concerns straightforwardly inside the ecommerce store.
Loyalty Programs: Reward customers for repeat purchases, referrals, and engagement with the brand.
Reviews and Ratings: Collect and display customer reviews and ratings to build trust and credibility.
Cost Implication:
Customization and personalization add-ons may involve subscription fees, licensing fees, or development costs, depending on the complexity of the features and the level of customization required.
3. Scalability and Growth Opportunities
Integrations and additional items add to the versatility and development of a web-based business by empowering
Multi-Channel Selling: Expand reach and increase sales by selling across multiple channels such as marketplaces, social media platforms, and mobile apps.
Analytics and Reporting: Gain insights into sales performance, customer behavior, and marketing effectiveness through advanced analytics and reporting tools.
SEO Optimization: Improve search engine visibility, drive organic traffic, and enhance online discoverability through SEO tools and integrations.
Advanced Marketing Automation: Automate marketing tasks, segment audiences, and trigger personalized campaigns based on user behavior and demographics.
Cost Implication:
While these integrations offer opportunities for growth and scalability, they might include extra expenses such as subscription fees, platform fees, or service fees charged by third-party providers. Organizations ought to assess the return for capital invested in these reconciliations in light of their development targets and budgetary constraints.
Conclusion
As more people turn to online shopping, having a robust ecommerce website is very important to reach a broader audience and stand out in your industry. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to building your online store. Your website needs to be professional, easy to use, and show up well in search results to drive real results for your business.
At Klizer, we’re here to help you build your online business. With our years of experience and know-how, we’ll create the ecommerce website for your ecommerce growth. Contact us now and let’s chat about building a website that drives traffic and sales for your brand.
Do you have questions or want to talk about pricing? Reach out to us today.
FAQ
How do integrations and add-ons affect the pricing of an ecommerce website?
The third-party service providers charge extra for membership, transaction expenses, setup expenses, or license fees for integrations and add-ons. The complexity of the integration, the degree of customization needed, and the vendors used can all affect the price.
Are there any free integrations or add-ons available for ecommerce websites?
While certain integrations and add-ons might offer free trial periods, many third-party services regularly charge subscription fees or transaction charges for their utilization. It’s essential to carefully review the pricing plans and features offered by each provider to determine the most reasonable choices for your internet business.
What should I consider when budgeting for integrations and add-ons for my ecommerce website?
When planning for integrations and add-ons, plan upfront costs (e.g., setup fees, licensing fees) as well as continuous costs (e.g., subscription fees, transaction fees). Calculate the adaptability of the integrations, the potential return for money invested, and the general effect on your ecommerce website’s performance and user experience. Distribute assets strategically to prioritize integrations that align with your business objectives and offer the most worth to your customers.
Is Klizer’s pricing accessible for smaller businesses?
Yes, We’ve consistently elevated the ROI for numerous businesses by optimizing their returns with strategic investments, delivering superior results while minimizing costs.
What is the starting price of Klizer for building an ecommerce website?
Klizer’s ecommerce development services starts from $40,000. Reach out to us to receive a customized quote.
