An online store can cost €1,000, €6,000 or considerably more. The difference rarely comes down only to the design or the number of products.
The price changes when product variations, payment methods, shipping rules, connections with management software or task automation come into play. It also depends on the condition of the material supplied by the company: a well-organised catalogue reduces the workload, while an incomplete one requires data, images and categories to be reviewed before development can begin.
For this reason, an ecommerce project should be viewed as a combination of design, technology and business operations.
As an initial reference, these are the usual price ranges:
| Type of online store | Estimated price | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| Basic online store | €1,000–€2,500 | Small catalogue and simple operations |
| Professional online store | €2,500–€6,000 | Greater customisation and commercial features |
| Advanced ecommerce | From €6,000 | Integrations, B2B sales or complex processes |
These figures are indicative. The actual quote depends on the scope of the project and how the business operates internally.
How much does it cost to build an online store?
Basic online store: between €1,000 and €2,500
This range may suit a small business with a limited number of products, one payment gateway and simple shipping conditions.
The project usually starts from an established professional structure adapted to the brand and its catalogue. It includes the checkout process, basic product and category configuration, mobile optimisation and initial training to manage orders.
For a business that is just starting out and has a simple operation, this level may be enough to launch successfully.
The price increases when the catalogue must be prepared from scratch, images need editing, descriptions must be written or many product variations have to be configured.
Professional online store: between €2,500 and €6,000
At this level, the store begins to adapt properly to the company.
It may require a custom visual structure, more detailed categories, products with variations, promotions, several payment methods or shipping rules based on weight, area or order value.
It is also common to include ecommerce analytics, automated emails, product imports or connections with shipping providers.
The difference lies in the number of decisions that must be resolved before launch. The further the business moves away from a standard operation, the more configuration work it requires.
Advanced ecommerce: from €6,000
This level applies when the store must connect with other systems or use complex commercial rules.
Common examples include ERP synchronisation, B2B sales, customer-specific pricing, private catalogues or automatic stock management.
It may also include subscriptions, bookings, international sales or features developed specifically for the business.
In these projects, most of the cost lies in programming, integrations and testing.
Infographic explaining how much it costs to build an online store, including price ranges and the reasons behind them.
What determines the price of an online store?
Design and shopping experience
A store based on a pre-designed structure requires less work than one created around a specific brand and purchasing process.
Customisation may affect the homepage, categories, product pages, filters and mobile version.
A carefully designed store helps users find what they need, understand the conditions and complete their purchase without confusion.
Catalogue complexity
The number of products matters less than it may seem.
Ten products with sizes, colours, finishes, measurements and different prices may require more work than hundreds of simple references.
The quality of the available information also matters. When product names, attributes and images are organised, importing them is easier. When the data is incomplete or duplicated, it must be corrected before being uploaded.
That work should be reflected in the quote.
Payment methods
Each payment method requires configuration and testing.
Card payments, PayPal, Bizum, bank transfers, financing and cash on delivery do not all work in the same way. Some require a prior agreement with a bank or payment provider.
Payment gateways also usually charge a fee for each transaction. This cost forms part of the store’s day-to-day operation and directly affects the profit margin of every sale.
Shipping rules
A fixed shipping price or free delivery above a certain order value are relatively simple configurations.
Complexity increases when the price depends on weight, province, postcode or product type. It may also be necessary to integrate collection points, generate labels or send tracking information.
In many stores, this area requires more work than the payment setup itself.
Countries and languages
Selling only in Spain simplifies the project.
When a store operates in several markets, translations, currencies, taxes, shipping conditions and returns must all be reviewed.
The work does not end with translating the buttons. Each market may have different commercial and tax rules.
Integrations
A connection with invoicing software, warehouse management, a CRM or shipping companies can save many hours after launch.
Before preparing a quote, it is necessary to know whether a reliable connector already exists or whether a custom one must be developed.
Integrations can increase the initial cost, but they may also reduce errors and manual work for years.
What should an online store quote include?
A serious quote should clearly explain what will be delivered and what is not included.
At a minimum, it should specify:
- The initial analysis of the business and catalogue.
- The pages and templates that will be designed.
- The number of products that will be uploaded.
- The payment methods and shipping rules included.
- The tests carried out before launch.
- The training and access details the client will receive.
It should also state whether the design is based on a template or created from scratch, who purchases the licences and what support will be provided after launch.
Testing matters more than it seems
Before publishing the store, at least one real purchase should be completed from beginning to end.
It is advisable to repeat the process as a guest, from a mobile device and using different payment or shipping methods. Emails, taxes and stock reduction should also be checked.
Many errors only appear at that point, when a real customer tries to pay.
Delivery should include control
At the end of the project, the company should receive access to the domain, hosting, platform and any contracted tools.
It also needs basic training to manage products, prices, orders and promotions.
An online store is more useful when the business can operate it independently.
Initial costs and monthly expenses
Development is the most visible investment, but recurring expenses appear afterwards.
Domain and hosting
The domain is normally paid once a year. Its cost is usually small, although it is important to make sure it is registered in the company’s name.
Hosting can range from a few dozen euros per year to several hundred euros per month.
The final amount depends on traffic, catalogue size, integrations and the number of automated processes.
A small store may work well with professional shared hosting. An ecommerce site with many orders or synchronisations may require a VPS or more powerful infrastructure.
Licences and applications
Some functions require monthly payments or annual renewals.
This is common with subscription tools, booking systems, advanced filters, invoicing software or external backups.
The quote should clarify which licences are included, who will own them and how much their renewal will cost.
Technical maintenance
An online store needs updates, backups and ongoing supervision.
The level of maintenance depends on the volume of sales and how important the ecommerce operation is to the company.
A store processing daily orders requires different monitoring from a catalogue that only receives occasional sales.
Payment processing fees
Payment gateways charge for every transaction.
The fee may vary according to the provider, card type and sales volume.
This expense should be included in the profitability calculation from the beginning.
Customer acquisition
Publishing the store does not guarantee that customers will arrive.
SEO, Google Ads, social media, email marketing and product photography can become significant expenses.
Development prepares the sales channel. Traffic must then be attracted and converted into orders.
Expenses that are often not included
Some tasks are frequently quoted separately:
- Product photography and copywriting.
- Full catalogue upload.
- Translations.
- Legal texts.
- Migration from another platform.
- Integrations with external software.
- Ongoing SEO.
- Advertising and monthly maintenance.
A quote may exclude some of these services, but this should be stated before work begins.
Infographic about the initial costs and monthly expenses of an online store, including domain, hosting, licences, maintenance, payment fees and customer acquisition.
Why two stores with 100 products can cost different amounts
Imagine two businesses with the same number of products.
The first sells simple products, accepts card payments and uses a fixed shipping fee.
The second offers customised measurements, different prices for professional customers, volume discounts and stock synchronised with warehouse software.
Both have 100 products. The second requires more configuration, more testing and more development.
That is why the number of references is useful as an initial figure, but not as a formula for calculating the final price.
Can I create an online store for free using artificial intelligence?
Yes. Some AI tools can generate an initial version of a store, suggest a structure, write copy or prepare product descriptions.
This can be useful for validating an idea, creating a prototype or launching a very simple catalogue.
However, there are usually still costs for the domain, hosting, subscriptions, payment gateways or advanced functions.
The most delicate areas also remain unresolved: taxes, shipping, returns, security, stock and legal texts.
AI can speed up the visual creation process and part of the content work. The reliability of the store still depends on how it is configured and tested.
Can a cheap online store become more expensive?
Yes, especially when the initial saving removes necessary tasks.
Problems often appear later: insufficient hosting, licences that do not belong to the client, no backups or a store that performs poorly on mobile devices.
The company may also fail to receive all the access credentials, making it difficult to change providers.
An affordable solution can work well for a simple project. The key is knowing what it includes and where its limits are.
How to compare two ecommerce quotes
The final price is not enough to make a decision.
It is advisable to check four aspects:
- What work is actually included: design, catalogue, payments, shipping and testing.
- What costs will appear later: hosting, licences, maintenance and transaction fees.
- Who keeps control: domain, access credentials, data and licences.
- What support will be available after launch: training, corrections and technical assistance.
It is also worth asking what will happen if the company decides to change provider.
Is it profitable to launch an online store?
It can be, but development is only one part of the calculation.
Profitability depends on the margin, average order value, shipping costs, returns and the cost of acquiring each customer.
A store can generate substantial revenue and still lose money if its margins are low or its advertising is too expensive.
Before investing, the business model should be reviewed, not just the technology.
What information does an agency need to prepare a quote?
To prepare a realistic proposal, the agency should know:
- What products will be sold and how many references exist.
- What variations the catalogue contains.
- Which countries the store will sell to.
- How orders will be paid for and shipped.
- What software the company already uses.
- Whether information must be imported or migrated.
- The expected launch date and available budget.
With this information, the scope can be calculated more accurately and changes during development can be reduced.
So, how much should I invest?
For a simple professional store, it is reasonable to expect an initial investment of several thousand euros, together with an annual budget for hosting, licences, maintenance and promotion.
The exact amount depends on the operation.
A lower-cost project may be a good decision when it covers exactly what is needed. A larger investment may also be worthwhile when it automates tasks, reduces errors and prepares the business for growth.
The most useful reference is a quote that clearly explains what is included, what will be paid later and who will retain control of the store.
Request a quote for your online store
At Ibero Studio, we develop online stores adapted to each company’s catalogue and way of working.
Before preparing a proposal, we analyse the products, orders, shipping methods and required functions.
This allows us to present a clear quote without adding unnecessary tools or leaving important costs out of the discussion.