A guide from the web design & development team at SourceCode IT.
A Shopify store costs $2,500–$6,000 (CA$3,400–$8,000 / AU$4,000–$9,000 / £2,000–£4,800) for a professional template-based build, $8,000–$25,000 (CA$11,000–$34,000 / AU$12,000–$38,000 / £6,400–£20,000) for a custom-designed theme, and $25,000+ for complex stores with custom apps. Add Shopify subscription fees of $39–$399/month plus transaction and app costs.
Shopify pricing confuses buyers because the platform fee is tiny next to the build and app costs nobody mentions up front. Here is the full picture we walk clients through before any store project.
Build costs by tier
- Template build ($2,500–$6,000): premium theme configured properly — brand styling, product setup, payment and shipping, basic SEO. Live in 2–4 weeks.
- Custom theme ($8,000–$25,000): designed from scratch for your brand and conversion flow. Live in 6–10 weeks. This is where stores that need to stand out should be.
- Custom apps and integrations ($25,000+): ERP sync, subscriptions, marketplaces, custom checkout logic.
The ongoing costs nobody quotes
- Shopify plan: $39 (Basic) to $399 (Advanced) per month; Plus from $2,300/month.
- Transaction fees: 0.6–2% extra unless you use Shopify Payments.
- Apps: most stores settle at $50–$300/month — reviews, email, bundles, search.
- Maintenance: budget $200–$500/month if you want someone on call.
Where stores waste money
The most common waste we see: paying custom-theme prices for a template with light CSS changes, and stacking apps that each add script weight until the store fails Core Web Vitals. A well-built store does more with fewer apps — speed is a conversion feature.
Frequently asked
Is Shopify cheaper than a custom e-commerce build?+
Almost always for stores under ~$5M revenue. Custom e-commerce makes sense when transaction fees at scale exceed development cost, or when the selling model does not fit Shopify at all.
Can I build a Shopify store myself?+
Yes — Shopify is genuinely DIY-friendly for a first version. Businesses hire us when the store must look custom, load fast, and convert: design, speed, and CRO are where professional builds pay for themselves.
How long does a Shopify build take?+
Template builds: 2–4 weeks. Custom themes: 6–10 weeks including design. The timeline driver is usually product data and content readiness, not development.
What Shopify apps are actually essential?+
Most stores need only reviews, email (Klaviyo), and a bundle/upsell tool. Every app adds script weight — audit quarterly and cut anything not paying for itself.
Shopify vs WooCommerce — which is cheaper?+
WooCommerce looks cheaper (no platform fee) but costs more in hosting, security, and maintenance. For most merchants Shopify's total cost of ownership is lower and the store stays up.