How much does it cost to have a webshop built? From starter to custom

A webshop is more than a website with a shopping cart. It is a sales channel that has to work day and night, handle payments safely and pass orders neatly on to shipping.

That is why a webshop is usually a larger investment than a regular website. At the same time a good webshop can pay for itself quickly, because it brings in revenue directly. Where a regular website mainly delivers enquiries, a webshop sells directly. That changes the way you look at the costs: it is not only an expense, but a sales machine that can make money.

All the amounts we mention are indications. For a price that fits your plans, a conversation or quote is always needed.

Why a webshop costs more than a website

A webshop involves parts that a regular website does not have:

• a product catalogue that is easy to manage
• payment methods such as iDEAL, credit card and sometimes pay-later
• shipping rules, delivery costs and shipping labels
• stock management
• emails around orders and shipping
• often a link with accounting or stock software

Each of these parts takes time to set up properly. The more products, variants and integrations, the bigger the work and therefore the investment.

On top of that, a webshop has higher demands on reliability. A regular website that stutters for a moment is annoying. A webshop that stutters during checkout costs you a sale straight away. That is why we pay extra attention to a smooth and secure checkout process. That is not a luxury, but the place where your revenue actually comes in.

Realistic ranges as an indication

To give you a feel, below is a rough indication. Keep in mind that these are guide amounts, not a quote.

• a simple starter webshop with a limited number of products: from roughly several thousand euros
• a serious webshop with more products and features: higher into the thousands of euros
• a custom webshop with integrations and special wishes: a considerable investment, depending on the complexity

The spread is large because no webshop is the same. A custom webshop with unique features logically requires more than a compact starter.

Starter, standard or custom: what suits you?

Roughly there are three routes, each with its own price tag and its own benefits.

Starter:

• quickly online, limited number of products
• standard features, little custom work
• lowest investment, fine to start with

Standard:

• more products and categories
• room for your own look
• some integrations possible

Custom:

• fully tailored to your process
• links with other software
• highest investment, but also the most possibilities

Many business owners start with a starter or standard and expand later. This way you keep the first investment manageable.

The nice thing is that you do not have to choose everything straight away. A good webshop is built so it can grow along. You start with what you need and add features later as your sales increase. That prevents you from paying in advance for possibilities you will only use a year from now.

Ready-made platform or custom?

A big cost factor is the choice of the foundation. Roughly there are two directions.

A ready-made platform (such as a well-known webshop solution with a fixed monthly amount) is quick to set up and relatively economical to start with. You mainly pay per month and use standard features. The downside: you stay within the limits of that platform and the monthly costs rise as you need more plug-ins or features.

A custom webshop costs more up front, but is fully tailored to your process and grows along more easily. You do not pay ongoing licence costs for features you get as standard.

Which choice is more economical depends on your plans:

• are you starting small and want to launch quickly? Then a ready-made platform is often logical
• do you have specific wishes or many products? Then custom work often pays for itself over time
• not sure? Calculate the costs over a few years, not only the starting price

So it is not about the cheapest start, but about the lowest total costs over the time you use the webshop.

Monthly costs of a webshop

In addition to the one-off build costs, a webshop has recurring costs. With a webshop these are often higher than with a regular website, because more parts are running.

Think of:

• hosting (a webshop often requires more than a regular site)
• maintenance, updates and security
• transaction costs of payment providers per order
• possible monthly costs of integrations or plug-ins
• ongoing SEO or marketing to bring in visitors

Include these costs in your budget. A webshop that brings in revenue carries these costs easily, but you do not want to be caught by surprises. A common mistake is to only look at the build costs and forget the monthly costs. Add both together and you see the real picture.

What determines whether your webshop turns out expensive or economical?

A few choices have a big influence on the price:

• the number of products and variants
• whether you use standard features or want custom work
• the number of integrations with other software
• whether you supply texts and product photos yourself
• the wishes around design and look

You have influence on this yourself. By choosing sharply what you really need for the start, you avoid paying for features you do not (yet) use.

A practical example: product photos and product texts. If you supply those yourself in good quality, that saves work and therefore costs. If the webshop has to get a hundred products each with multiple variants and their own texts, that adds up considerably. It is wise to decide in advance which products you really need at the start. You can always expand later. Do not start bigger than necessary; that keeps the first investment low and the webshop manageable.

How long does it take to build a webshop?

A webshop takes more time than a regular website, often eight weeks or more, because more has to be set up and tested. Want to know more about the planning? Then read our article on how long it takes to have a website built; for a webshop you usually count on the upper end of that.

Just like with a website: the more complete you supply products, photos and data, the more smoothly the webshop can go online.

Webshop versus regular website: the costs side by side

Want to see the difference in context? In our overview of what it costs to have a website built we explain the price breakdown of a regular website. A webshop builds on that, but with extra parts.

In short:

• a regular website is aimed at informing and enquiries
• a webshop is aimed at selling directly and needs more technology
• a webshop requires a larger one-off investment and higher monthly costs
• but a webshop can also generate revenue directly

So the question is not only what a webshop costs, but what it is going to deliver.

Hidden costs with a webshop

With a webshop, pay extra attention to costs that can pop up later:

• transaction costs per sale
• costs for extra integrations or plug-ins
• maintenance that is invoiced separately
• costs to have products entered or migrated
• marketing costs to bring in visitors

A fair partner makes these costs clear in advance. Always ask what is included in the price and what is charged separately, so you are not caught by surprises.

How does a webshop pay for itself?

With a webshop, the price is only half the story. The other half is what it delivers. A webshop that works well and is found can pay back the investment relatively quickly.

What determines whether your webshop pays off:

• how many visitors you bring in
• how many of those visitors actually buy
• the average order value
• whether customers come back for a second order

A calculation example makes it tangible. A webshop that delivers a modest number of orders every month can have earned back the build costs within the first year. After that, every sale contributes to the profit. That is why it is wise at the start not only to look at the costs, but also at the question: how is this webshop going to sell? A cheap webshop that no one finds delivers nothing, while a well-thought-out webshop keeps paying off.

Conclusion: a webshop is an investment that can pay off

How much it costs to have a webshop built depends on the number of products, the desired features and the amount of custom work. A starter is relatively economical, an extensive custom webshop requires a larger investment.

The ranges in this article are an indication. Your real price follows from a conversation in which your plans become clear.

The most important thing: look at what a webshop delivers. A well-built webshop that sells earns back its investment. Want to know what is realistic for your situation? Tell us your plans and we will work it out together.

Ready to start selling online? We build webshops that work for your business, from starter to custom. See our webshop service and request a no-obligation quote for your situation.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to have a webshop built?

That depends on the number of products, the desired features and the amount of custom work. A simple starter webshop is more economical than an extensive custom webshop. All amounts are indications; a quote gives the price for your situation.

Why is a webshop more expensive than a website?

A webshop has extra parts such as a product catalogue, payment methods, shipping rules and stock management. These take time to set up properly, which makes a webshop usually a larger investment.

What monthly costs does a webshop have?

Think of hosting, maintenance and security, transaction costs of payment providers per order and possibly costs for integrations or marketing. With a webshop these costs are often higher than with a regular website.

Can I start small with a webshop?

Yes. Many business owners start with a simple webshop and expand later. This way you keep the first investment manageable and you can grow as your sales increase.

What determines whether my webshop turns out expensive?

Mainly the number of products and variants, whether you want standard features or custom work, the number of integrations and whether you supply texts and product photos yourself. Sharp choices keep the costs in check.

How long does it take to build a webshop?

A webshop usually takes longer than a regular website, often eight weeks or more, because more has to be set up and tested. The more complete you supply products and data, the faster it can go online.