While it would be nice to get a simpler number, Shopify web development costs can vary depending on several factors. 

For instance, a Clutch survey finds that the hourly cost of hiring a dedicated developer for a custom Shopify website is $25 to $49. This approach can bring the true cost of a design-rich store much higher. 

You might be better placed to remain within budget by opting to go with the free template designs Shopify offers. These attractive and functional designs are easy to set up and less time-consuming. 

Here’s everything you should know about building a Shopify website.

Typical Cost of an E-commerce Website

E-commerce website development can be costly depending on the design choice, level of customization, platform fees, plugins, and other add-ons. 

Here’s a rough breakdown: 

• Domain registration: $10–$20 annually, but can cost you nothing if you are using a free domain register, or comes included with either a hosting plan or an all-in-one web builder.
• Web hosting: $29–$100 monthly, depending on the plan. Shopify is known for offering attractive discounts for users who subscribe to an annual plan, which can go up to 25%, further reducing the building cost. 
• SSL certificate: $0. It is provided free for all domains added to Shopify. However, you cannot use a third-party SSL certificate. 
• Website design and development: Prebuilt themes are cheaper, costing between $0–$100, but custom design and development vary from Shopify development services, which can charge $2,000–$20,000+, based on the customer’s needs, level of complexities, features, and functionality. 
• Additional costs: Your Shopify website will need a payment gateway for processing, where most third-party payment providers (PayPal, Stripe, Shop Pay) charge per transaction volume.
• Marketing and advertising: The typical cost per click for Shopify marketing is $0.50 to $3, depending on the target market. Some regions like Japan and Brazil are known for attracting steeper rates. Depending on your marketing strategy and industry, this cost can go up or down. 
• Website maintenance and support: The costs vary depending on the level of support required, but they are usually tied to the hosting plan. Comprehensive ongoing management can cost thousands of dollars.

How to Build an Affordable Shopify Website?

Don’t break the bank on Shopify. Here’s what you can do. 

• Take advantage of the Shopify starter plan: Start selling to your social media audience for as little as $5 per month. You can start selling easily for $1 in the first month. 
• Be creative: Narrow down your niche and use the Shopify domain generator to get the best deals on domain name registration. You can also use available tools and themes creatively to make your online store attractive. 
• Choose wisely: Shopify allows you to seamlessly import custom artwork, videos, and image. There are countless tools to use stock photos and other helpful resources for keeping your website fresh. 
• Try an affordable Shopify developer: You can outsource the website development workload at a fraction of the cost of a premium developer. Hire dedicated Shopify developer to build your website your way while staying within your budget. 
• Use free marketing tools: Shopify has solid SEO tools to help your website rank better in search results. You won’t need to spend more money on ad clicks because of this. This lets you concentrate on choosing the right keywords for your target audience. 

Final Words

Using Shopify to build your site allows you better control over what you spend on it. Like any significant project, planning well when tackling this type of endeavor is essential.