By helloDarwin
May 03, 2023
How Much Does It Cost To Build An eCommerce Website?
Are you thinking of launching an eCommerce website to sell products online? If so, you may be wondering how much it costs to build such a website. Many factors influence the cost of developing and running an eCommerce site, including the complexity of your store’s design and functionality, hosting fees, payment processing solutions, marketing costs, and much more. In this article, we outline all the necessary elements required for a successful eCommerce website, from budgeting to development, so that you can get started on building your own online business.
What Is An ecommerce Website?
An eCommerce website is a web-based platform that allows businesses to sell their products and services online. It includes shopping cart software, payment processing systems, product descriptions, customer accounts for tracking orders, and more. Through an eCommerce website, customers can purchase goods from the comfort of their own home or office without having to physically visit a store.
Depending on your needs and budget constraints, you can choose between readymade solutions to create your website such as Shopify or Woocommerce which offer quick setup times with minimal customization options, or fully customized solutions developed specifically for your unique requirements. When it comes to creating an effective and affordable solution for your eCommerce business, there’s no one size fits all approach so be sure to research various platforms before choosing which one is right for you!
Different Costs Associated With Building An eCommerce Website
Cost Factor | Explanation | Average Cost Range |
Development | Development costs are associated with the creation of the website, such as web design, coding, testing, and implementation. The cost can vary depending on the complexity of the website and the level of customization required. | $500 - $50,000+ |
Platform | eCommerce platforms, such as Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and BigCommerce, can come with different pricing plans. The cost of using these platforms varies depending on the features included in each pricing plan. | Free - $299/month |
Hosting | eCommerce websites require hosting to be accessible online. The cost of hosting depends on the type of hosting plan you choose, such as shared hosting, VPS hosting, or dedicated hosting. Shared hosting is the most affordable option, while dedicated hosting is the most expensive. | $5 - $500/month |
Payment Processing | To accept payments on an eCommerce website, you need a payment gateway. Payment gateways charge a fee for every transaction made through them. The cost of payment processing varies depending on the payment gateway used and the volume of transactions processed. | 2% - 3% per transaction + fees |
Security | eCommerce websites need to be secure to protect customer data and prevent cyber attacks. Security costs include SSL certificates, firewalls, and other security measures to ensure the safety of your website. The cost can vary depending on the level of security required. | $50 - $2,000+/year |
Marketing | Once your eCommerce website is live, you need to promote it to attract customers. Marketing costs can include social media advertising, search engine optimization, email marketing, and other forms of digital marketing. The cost of marketing varies widely depending on the marketing channels used and the size of the target audience. | Varies widely |
How Much Does It Cost To Build An eCommerce Website By Provider Type?
Provider Type | Cost Range per Year |
Self-Hosted eCommerce Website | $400 to $4,000 |
Website Builder | $60 to $3,600 |
eCommerce Agency | $5,000 to $50,000+ |
Factors That Affect The Cost Of Creating An ECommerce Site
The cost of creating an eCommerce website varies widely and depends on different factors. From custom features to hosting plans, the total cost can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. Below is a breakdown of eCommerce website costs for business owners.
Hosting Costs
Hosting is an essential component of any eCommerce website. Without it, the site won't be accessible online and customers won’t be able to view or purchase products. Hosting services vary from basic shared hosting plans to more complex self-hosted solutions with custom coding requirements. Depending on your business needs, the cost of hosting can range significantly.
A typical hosting service for an eCommerce website includes a custom domain name, as well as server space for pages, images, video, etc. If you need additional features like payment processing fees or advanced features such as live chat support then these could also incur extra costs. Self-hosted solutions provide users with greater control over their eCommerce sites but often have higher upfront costs due to the complexity involved in setting up the infrastructure.
Payment Processing Costs
Payment processing costs are an important factor to consider when it comes to building an eCommerce website. Credit cards and other payment methods can be integrated into an online store website, which requires custom functionality that goes beyond the standard features of most development services.
When taking cost into account, customization is key. Pricing will vary depending on the level of service required for your project. A basic setup could include PayPal or Stripe integration with a few additional features. However, if you need specific requirements tailored to your brand and customers, then extra fees may apply from third-party providers.
Design Costs
The design costs of building a custom eCommerce platform can vary greatly depending on the complexity of the platform and the level of customization required. Generally, the costs will include the design and development of the website's visual interface, such as the homepage, product pages, and shopping cart.
Additionally, there may be costs associated with designing the user experience, including navigation, search functionality, and checkout process. Other design costs may include branding and logo design, as well as mobile optimization and responsive design. It is important to work with a professional design team with experience in eCommerce to ensure that your platform is both visually appealing and user-friendly, and that it meets the needs of your target audience.
Add-Ons And Extension Cost
The add-ons and extension costs of building an eCommerce platform can vary greatly depending on your specific business requirements. Some of the typical add-ons and extensions that are necessary for an eCommerce platform include payment gateways, shipping integrations, product reviews, and social media integrations.
The cost of these add-ons and extensions can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars depending on the complexity of the integration and the vendor. Additionally, ongoing maintenance and support costs should also be considered when calculating the total cost of building an eCommerce platform with various add-ons and extensions.
Marketing And SEO
Generally, digital marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) costs can include things like keyword research, content creation, social media advertising, paid search campaigns, and more. For eCommerce platforms, it is important to have a strong SEO strategy in place to ensure the website is optimized for search engines, which can help attract more organic traffic and increase sales. The costs of these activities can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars per month, depending on the level of competition and the size of the project. It is important to budget for marketing and SEO costs when building an eCommerce platform to ensure it has the best chance of success.
How Much Does It Cost To Maintain An eCommerce Website?
The cost of maintaining an eCommerce website varies depending on several factors, such as the size of the business, the complexity of the website, and the chosen maintenance services. Common expenses include hosting, domain name registration, website security, software updates, and customer support.
Depending on the size of your website, hosting alone can cost anywhere from $10 to $100+ per month. Additionally, website maintenance can often require ongoing design and development work, which can cost thousands of dollars each year. Overall, the cost of maintaining an eCommerce website can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars per year.
How To Calculate The Cost Of Building An eCommerce Website
There are two primary components when estimating costs: development and hosting fees. You should hire a professional web development company that specializes in responsive design and is familiar with setting up payment processors such as PayPal or Stripe. Furthermore, you should consider hosting options such as shared servers or virtual private servers (VPS).
Here are three key things to keep in mind when calculating the total price tag:
- Business needs: Different businesses require unique features so think carefully about which functionalities your eCommerce store requires before committing.
- Development price: The complexity and expertise level required by developers usually determines the amount charged for their services.
- Hosting fees: Your budget should include ongoing expenses related to hosting your website.
Website Development Services
With so many professional eCommerce websites on the Internet, it can be difficult to create a successful website that stands out from the crowd and draws in enough traffic to allow your business to succeed. Thankfully, Hello Darwin is here to help you on your eCommerce journey.
We are a team of digital advisors who match clients with strategic partners. All you need to do is fill in a quick form telling us what you are looking for, and we will send you a list of professional web developers who have the skills and values you need to create your eCommerce site.
Here are some of the services we provide:
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About the author
helloDarwin
We create successful business alliances through tailor-made partnerships. Web marketing, video production, ERP/CRM integration... Whatever professional service you need for your business, helloDarwin helps you find the best service providers for your project. Free of charge, without any obligation and within 48 hours on average. We help you find grants, loans, aid and assist you throughout your digital transformation.