Shopify Development Costs: Complete Budget Guide 2026

TL;DR: Having a Shopify store built costs between €2,000 for a basic setup and €15,000+ for extensive custom solutions. The primary cost drivers are custom design, third-party integrations, and specific functionalities. Additionally, budget €100-500 per month for hosting, apps, and maintenance.

As a developer who regularly delivers Shopify projects, I often encounter confusion about the real costs of a professional online store. A lack of transparency frequently leads entrepreneurs to start with unrealistic expectations. In this guide, I will clearly explain all cost categories.

Different Cost Categories for Shopify Development

I always break down the costs for a Shopify store into three main categories:

One-time Development Costs:

* Basic setup and configuration: €500-1,000

* Custom theme development: €2,000-8,000

* Product import and content: €300-1,500

* Integrations (accounting, inventory): €500-3,000 per integration

* Testing and optimization: €500-2,000

Ongoing Monthly Costs:

* Shopify subscription: €29-399 per month

* Premium apps: €50-300 per month

* Maintenance and updates: €100-500 per month

Optional Additional Costs:

* Shopify Plus upgrade: from €2,000 per month

* Advanced analytics tools: €100-500 per month

* Marketing automation: €200-1,000 per month

At LUNIDEV, we use this transparent structure to prevent surprises.

Price Differences Between Freelancers and Agencies

The choice between a freelancer and an agency significantly impacts both cost and results:

Freelancers (€30-80 per hour):

* Basic Shopify store: €1,500-4,000

* Limited support availability

* Often specialised in one area

* Risk associated with illness or unavailability

Specialised Agencies (€60-150 per hour):

* Basic to comprehensive stores: €3,000-15,000+

* Full project teams available

* Broader expertise and support

* Continuity guaranteed

Large Digital Agencies (€100-200 per hour):

* Minimum €10,000 for basic projects

* Extensive strategic guidance

* Often overkill for smaller stores

As a developer, I consciously adopt a middle ground: the expertise of an agency at more competitive rates due to lower overhead.

Factors That Most Influence Development Costs

Based on my experience, these are the biggest cost drivers:

1. Degree of Customisation (60% of total costs):

* Customising a standard theme: €500-2,000

* Custom theme built from scratch: €3,000-8,000

* Unique functionalities: €1,000-5,000 per feature

2. Number and Complexity of Integrations (25%):

* Basic payment providers: often free

* ERP/accounting connections: €1,000-3,000

* Advanced inventory systems: €2,000-5,000

3. Product Catalogue Size (10%):

* Up to 100 products: €200-500

* 100-1,000 products: €500-1,500

* 1,000+ products: €1,500-5,000

4. Migration from an Existing Store (5%):

* Data export/import: €500-2,000

* URL redirects and SEO preservation: €300-1,000

For our own project, LUNIKIDS, we also thoroughly research these cost factors when planning the e-commerce component.

Ongoing Costs After Launch

An online store is never 'finished'—ongoing costs are crucial for your business plan:

Mandatory Monthly Costs:

* Shopify Basic: €29/month

* Shopify Advanced: €299/month

* Transaction fees: 1.4-2.9% per sale

App Ecosystem (average €150/month):

* Email marketing: €30-100

* Reviews and ratings: €15-50

* Analytics and reporting: €20-80

* Inventory management: €30-150

Maintenance and Updates:

* Technical maintenance: €100-300/month

* Content updates: €50-200/month

* Security monitoring: €30-100/month

At LUNIDEV, we apply this structure to our own website and advise clients to budget at least €200-400 per month for a healthy online store.

Preparing a Realistic Budget for Your Shopify Project

A solid budget prevents disappointment. My approach:

Step 1: Determine Your Store Type

* Basic online store (5-50 products): €3,000-6,000

* Medium-sized store (50-500 products): €6,000-12,000

* Enterprise level (500+ products): €12,000+

Step 2: Add Up Essential Functionalities

* Multilingual support: +€1,500-3,000

* B2B functionality: +€2,000-5,000

* Advanced SEO features: +€1,000-2,500

* Custom checkout flow: +€2,000-4,000

Step 3: Include a Buffer for Unforeseen Costs (20%)

Always add 20% to your initial budget for scope changes and additional requests that arise during development.

Step 4: Plan for the First Year of Operation

* Development + first-year apps: total budget × 1.3

* Marketing and advertising: budget separately

Avoiding Cost Traps in Shopify Development

I regularly see these pitfalls:

1. Excessively Low Initial Quote

Be cautious with quotes under €2,000 for a complete store. Hidden costs often emerge later, or the quality is insufficient.

2. Underestimating App Dependency

Each premium app costs €15-200 per month. With 5-10 apps, you can quickly spend €200+ monthly.

3. Migration Complexity

Migrating from other platforms to Shopify often takes more time and money than expected. Plan extra budget for this.

4. Forgetting Mobile Optimisation

A non-responsive design can later cost €2,000-5,000 to fix. Ensure this is correct from the start.

5. Overlooking Technical SEO Aspects

A basic SEO setup costs an extra €500-1,500 but prevents months of having a store that is hard to find.

In our experience as developers, we see that thorough preparation completely avoids these pitfalls.

Outsourcing Versus Doing It Yourself

The trade-off between building yourself and outsourcing:

DIY Makes Sense When:

* You have a technical background

* Your budget is under €3,000

* You have a simple product catalogue (under 50 items)

* Time is not an issue (3-6 months)

Outsourcing Pays Off When:

* Your budget is above €5,000

* You need complex integrations

* You require a fast time-to-market

* You want to focus on your core business

Hybrid Approach:

Some entrepreneurs start by building themselves and later hire a developer for specific extensions. This can be cost-effective.

As a development studio, we find that outsourcing often proves more advantageous than expected, especially when you factor in the time investment.

Comparing Quotes from Different Developers

When comparing quotes, pay attention to:

1. Specificity of the Quote

* Vague descriptions lead to problems

* Ask for concrete functionalities

* Verify what is and isn't included

2. References and Portfolio

* Review comparable projects

* Ask for contact details of previous clients

* Test the loading speed of their own websites

3. Post-Launch Support

* How much free support do you receive?

* What do modifications cost afterwards?

* How quickly do they respond to issues?

4. Technical Approach

* Which apps do they use as standard?

* How do they ensure fast loading times?

* What is their backup and security strategy?

5. Communication During the Project

* How often do you receive updates?

* Can you provide feedback during development?

* What is the process for scope changes?

At LUNIDEV, we maintain transparent communication with weekly updates and clear change management procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I upgrade to Shopify Plus later?

Yes, you can always upgrade to Shopify Plus (from €2,000/month). Most customisations remain intact, but some apps function differently on the Plus plan.

What if I want to add more products after launch?

Adding products is usually straightforward. The cost is approximately €2-5 per product for professional content creation and optimisation, depending on complexity.

How much does it cost to switch from WooCommerce to Shopify?

A complete migration typically costs €2,000-5,000, including data transfer, design adjustments, and URL redirects for SEO preservation.

Are there hidden costs with Shopify?

The main additional costs are transaction fees (1.4-2.9% per sale) and premium apps. These are often not prominently featured in quotes but can add up to €300+ per month.

Can I make changes myself after delivery?

Yes, Shopify has a user-friendly admin interface. For basic content changes, you don't need a developer. However, technical knowledge is required for theme modifications.