A Shopify store has three kinds of cost: a one-time setup, monthly running costs and optional extras. Published setup ranges run from a few hundred dollars for a basic freelancer build to $50,000 or more for a custom agency build. Most of that spread comes from design, product count and apps, not from Shopify itself.
Key takeaways
- Split the budget in three: the one-time setup, the monthly costs (Shopify plan, apps, domain) and extras such as photos, copy or migration.
- The Shopify plan fee is not a setup fee. Plan prices change and the sources we checked list different numbers, so check Shopify's own pricing page for today's fees.
- Published setup prices differ a lot. A basic freelancer setup is listed from about $300 to $2,500 and a basic agency setup at $5,000 to $10,000, and every source we found sells Shopify services.
- Product count, custom design, who supplies photos and text, and migration from another platform move the price the most.
- Apps are a monthly cost that grows. One source suggests budgeting $80 to $200 a month for a store with five to seven paid apps.
- Ask for a line-by-line quote that says what is included, what is not, and how many design revisions you get.
The three costs of a Shopify store
Most cost guides blend everything into one number, which makes two quotes impossible to compare. It helps to sort every line into one of three buckets.
| Bucket | What it covers | How you pay |
|---|---|---|
| One-time setup | Design and theme setup, product upload, pages, collections, basic settings, launch | Once, to a freelancer, studio or agency, or with your own time |
| Monthly running costs | Your Shopify plan, paid apps, domain renewal, professional email | Every month or year, to Shopify and other providers |
| Optional extras | Product photos, copywriting, logo and branding, migration from another platform, custom integrations | Once, or per item, only if you need them |
A setup quote only covers the first bucket. If a quote says "your store will cost $X" without saying which bucket, ask.
Plan fees are not setup fees
Shopify charges a monthly plan fee whether you build the store yourself or hire someone. That fee, the card processing fees and any paid apps are running costs, not part of what a designer charges to set the store up.
Plan prices also change. NerdWallet (updated March 13, 2026) and ECOSIRE (updated September 25, 2026) list different monthly prices for the same plans. For that reason this guide does not quote plan prices. Check Shopify's pricing page on the day you decide.
What Shopify store setup costs, by who builds it
The published ranges overlap and contradict each other. That is normal, because each source defines "setup" differently. Read the table as a spread, not a price list.
| Who builds it | Published setup range | Source and what it covers |
|---|---|---|
| You (DIY) | $500 to $3,000 in the first year | ECOSIRE: free or paid theme, apps, your own product data. MageDelight puts your own time at roughly 10 to 40 hours |
| Freelancer, basic setup | $300 to $800; $1,000 to $2,500 | ecomm.design and Storetasker |
| Freelancer, fuller build | $2,000 to $10,000 | ECOSIRE ($2,000 to $10,000) and MageDelight ($2,000 to $8,000): theme customization, app setup, product import |
| Agency, basic setup | $5,000 to $10,000 | Storetasker |
| Agency, full design and build | $8,000 to $50,000 | ECOSIRE small agency $8,000 to $25,000; MageDelight $8,000 to $50,000; ECOSIRE larger agency $25,000 to $50,000+ |
All of these companies sell Shopify services, so their numbers may lean toward their own offers. The pattern is more reliable than any single figure: a theme-based setup with your products and content is a small job, and a custom design with integrations is a large one.
Three of the sources were published in 2026 and ecomm.design in 2025. Prices move, so treat the table as a guide for the order of magnitude.
What changes the cost of a Shopify store
When two quotes for "a Shopify store" differ by thousands of dollars, these are the usual reasons.
- Number of products. Uploading 10 products is a small task. Uploading 200 with variants, images and descriptions is not. One source puts agency catalog setup at $500 to $3,000.
- Custom design versus a theme. A theme with your logo, colors and layout costs less than a design built around your brand. One source lists a paid theme at $180 to $400, a customized theme at $1,000 to $8,000 and a fully custom one far above that.
- Who supplies the content. If you send finished product photos, descriptions and page text, the designer only has to build. If they must write or shoot, that is extra work. One source lists photography at $25 to $100 per product.
- Apps and integrations. Reviews, subscriptions, email tools and shipping apps all need installing and configuring. Connecting systems such as inventory or accounting software raises the price further.
- Migration from another platform. Moving products, customers and orders from WordPress, Wix or another store is its own job and is usually priced separately.
- Revisions and support. A quote that includes several design revisions and help after launch costs more than one that stops at handover, and it is often worth more.
- Timeline. Rush work usually costs more.
One source suggests keeping 15 to 20 percent of the budget aside for changes you did not plan. That is a sensible habit at any budget.
The running costs people forget to budget
Setup is paid once. These costs come back every month or year, and they are the ones that surprise new store owners.
| Running cost | What the sources report | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify plan | Varies by plan and billing term | Check Shopify's pricing page for current fees. Annual billing is cheaper per month on the sources we checked, but an annual plan runs to the end of its term |
| Card processing | A percentage plus a fixed fee per sale (NerdWallet) | Rates differ by plan and by whether you use Shopify Payments. Third-party gateways can add a surcharge |
| Paid apps | $80 to $200 a month for five to seven paid apps (MageDelight); $100 to $500 a month for an established store (ECOSIRE) | Start with the fewest apps you need and add more as sales justify them |
| Domain name | $10 to $25 a year (ECOSIRE) | Renews every year |
| Professional email | $6 to $12 per user per month (ECOSIRE) | Optional, but most stores want a branded address |
| Support and maintenance | A designer retainer if you want one | Ask what is covered after launch before you decide whether you need it |
The lesson is simple: a store that is cheap to set up can still be expensive to run if it needs many apps, and the reverse is also true. Add the monthly column to the setup quote before you decide.
How to read a Shopify setup quote
Two quotes with the same total can cover very different work. Before you say yes, check that the quote answers these in writing:
- How many pages are included? Homepage, product pages, a collections page, About, Contact.
- How many products will be uploaded, and who supplies the details? Descriptions, images and prices are usually yours to provide.
- How many design revisions are included? Ask what counts as a new request.
- Are apps included? Installing and configuring apps is often priced separately.
- What do you need to send, and by when? Logo, brand colors, photos, videos and text.
- Is migration included, or quoted separately?
- What happens after launch? Ask who fixes bugs and small mistakes, and what a later change costs.
- How long will it take, and what could delay it? Late content is a common reason.
- Whose name is on the Shopify account? You should own the store and have the admin login.
For each line, note whether it belongs to setup, monthly costs or extras. A quote that mixes them without saying so is hard to compare with any other.
What Shopify store setup includes at Barry's Software
Shopify is the main focus at Barry's Software. A standard Shopify store setup is built around the client supplying the brand and content: logo, branding and colors, pictures, videos and text. It covers:
- A custom landing page or homepage, product pages and a collections page.
- Up to 30 products, added with the descriptions, images and pricing you provide.
- Up to 5 design revisions.
- Example sites you like, used as a style reference.
- A turnaround of 1 to 3 weeks, for up to three pages.
- Help fixing bugs and small mistakes after launch.
Installing and setting up apps is not part of the package and is quoted separately. Moving an existing store to Shopify is also offered, and because it varies by project it is priced after we see what needs to move.
If you want a number for your own store, request a quote and list your products, pages and apps so the quote is specific.
Request a quoteFrequently asked questions about Shopify store setup cost
How much does it cost to set up a Shopify store?
Published setup ranges run from a few hundred dollars for a basic freelancer build to $50,000 or more for a custom agency build. The price depends on design, product count, apps and who supplies the content. Monthly Shopify plan fees and apps are separate.
Is the Shopify monthly plan part of the setup cost?
No. The plan is a running cost you pay to Shopify whether you build the store yourself or hire someone. Plan prices change, so check Shopify's pricing page for today's fees.
How much does it cost to build a Shopify website with a freelancer?
In the sources we checked, a basic freelancer setup is listed from about $300 to $2,500, and a fuller build from $2,000 to $10,000. These sources sell Shopify services themselves, so use them as a rough guide and compare written quotes.
What does a Shopify designer or agency charge for setup?
Agency setups are listed at $5,000 to $10,000 for a basic store and from $8,000 to $50,000 or more for a full custom build. Ask what the quote includes before comparing totals.
What costs come after the store launches?
The Shopify plan, card processing fees, paid apps, your domain renewal and optional extras such as professional email. One source suggests budgeting $80 to $200 a month for a store with five to seven paid apps.
Are apps included in a Shopify setup quote?
Not always. Installing and configuring apps is often priced separately from the design, and the apps themselves usually have monthly fees. Ask for apps as a separate line.
Can I set up a Shopify store myself to save money?
Yes. One source estimates 10 to 40 hours of your own time plus theme and app costs. It makes the most sense for a small catalog and a standard look. If you want a custom design or have many products, a professional setup may save time.