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In 2024, only 26% of people in the UK prefer to shop in a physical store, while a staggering 35% of consumers prefer to shop online (and the rest have no preference).
With people’s phones and laptops now being a hotter shopping destination than the high street, there's never been a better time to set up your own ecommerce website.
But if anything is holding you back, it might be this question: how much is all this going to cost?
Well, that depends. The price of building and maintaining an ecommerce site can vary a lot, based on things like the platform you choose and the website design, features and marketing you go for.
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What does an ecommerce website really cost?
Let’s break down the key ecommerce website costs you should expect when setting up a storefront in 2024, so you can budget correctly and get your website up and running without breaking the bank:
1. Choosing your ecommerce platform
Once you’ve had your great idea for a new ecommerce business, the foundation of your ecommerce website is the platform you build it on, and this decision will affect not only the functionality of your site but also its overall cost.
Here are some of the most popular ecommerce platforms for small businesses in the UK:
- Shopify: One of the most popular ecommerce platforms, Shopify offers a simple, user-friendly way to set up an online store. Plans start at around £25 per month for basic features, but you can expect to pay a little more for advanced functionality and apps.
- WooCommerce: If you already have a WordPress site, WooCommerce is a great option. It’s technically free to use, but you’ll still need to pay for hosting (which can be as little as a couple of pounds per month, or well over £1000), themes and plugins (more on those later).
- BigCommerce: Another popular option, BigCommerce offers similar pricing to Shopify, starting at around £23 per month for a standard plan, which is great for businesses looking to scale quickly.
- Wix: If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, Wix can be a good, cost-effective choice for smaller ecommerce sites. Its basic ecommerce plan starts at £16 per month, but keep in mind it has limited ecommerce features compared to Shopify or BigCommerce, and won’t be as easy to scale.
2. Sorting your domain name and hosting
Before anyone can visit your shiny new online store, you’ll need to secure a domain name (your website address) and pay for hosting (where your website lives on the internet).
- The cost of the right domain name: A domain typically costs around £10 to £20 per year, depending on the name and extension (like .com, .net or .shop). Some ecommerce platforms, like Shopify, include domain registration in their pricing, but you might want to purchase your own if you’re using a platform like WooCommerce or Wix.
- The cost of hosting: If you’re using a platform like WooCommerce or Magento, you’ll need to pay for hosting separately. Prices can range from £3 per month for basic shared hosting (which is recommended for small businesses) to £100+ per month for high-performance or dedicated servers, especially if you expect high traffic.
Top tip: Don’t skimp on hosting! A slow website can drive customers away faster than you can say “abandoned cart.” Make sure you choose a reliable hosting provider with good support.
3. Website design and themes
Now, let’s talk design. You want your website to look great and stand out from the crowd, and there are two main ways to make that happen.
Your first option is to use one of your ecommerce platform’s pre-made themes. Most ecommerce platforms offer pre-made templates or themes that are customisable to some extent. On platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce, themes can range from free to £100+. If you’re just starting out and don’t need anything too fancy, a well-designed theme can be a cost-effective solution.
However, if you want a completely unique look for your store, you can hire a web designer to create a custom design. This can cost anywhere from £500 to £5,000 (or more) depending on the complexity of the design and the expertise of the designer. It’s definitely an investment, but if branding is crucial for your business, it might be worth it.
4. Features and functionality (the bells and whistles)
What do you need your website to do? Besides basic product listings and a shopping cart, there are quite a few features you might want to add to improve the user experience and increase sales. However, these features often come with extra ecommerce website costs.
Here are some examples:
- Payment processing: Platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce support multiple payment gateways, but these often come with transaction fees. For example, Shopify’s Standard plan charges 1.7% + 25p per transaction. If you’re using third-party payment processors like PayPal or Stripe, you’ll pay their fees, which are usually similar.
- Shipping integrations: Most ecommerce platforms include built-in shipping tools, but if you need advanced options (like real-time shipping rates, multiple carriers, or international shipping), you might need to pay for third-party apps or plugins. Costs here can range from £5 to £25 per month.
- Inventory management: If you have a large inventory or multiple sales channels, advanced inventor management software can streamline your operations. Some platforms have these tools built in, but standalone apps can cost anywhere from £10 to £100+ per month.
- Email marketing and a CRM: Building relationships with customers is key to long-term success, so you might want to invest in email marketing and customer relationship management (CRM) tools. Many platforms integrate with services like HubSpot, which has a Starter plan that starts at £18 per month. If you aren’t sure where to start with marketing for ecommerce then be sure to check out our ultimate digital marketing strategy guide.
- Apps and plugins: No matter what platform you choose, you’ll likely need to install some additional apps or plugins to enhance your site’s functionality. You might want apps for social proof, product reviews or SEO optimisation. Costs for these add-ons can vary widely, from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars per month.
5. Security and maintenance
No one likes to think about security breaches, but protecting your website (and your customers’ data) is a must. Fortunately, most ecommerce platforms include SSL certificates (which encrypt data) as part of their plans, but if you’re using a self-hosted platform like WooCommerce, you may need to purchase one separately for around £50+ per year.
In addition to security, you’ll also need to keep your website up to date with software updates and bug fixes. If you’re using a hosted platform like Shopify, most of this will be handled for you. But if you’re managing a WooCommerce or Magento site, you might need to hire a developer for ongoing maintenance, which could cost you upwards of £50 per month.
6. Marketing and advertising
Now that your ecommerce site is up and running, it’s time to get the word out. Here are a few marketing costs to consider:
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO): Good SEO is essential to help your site rank higher on Google. You can invest in tools like SEMrush for around £100 per month, or hire an SEO expert for a lot more, depending on the level of service you want.
- Pay-Per-Click (PPC) ads: Platforms like Google Ads or Facebook Ads can drive traffic to your site quickly, but costs vary depending on your budget and industry. Expect to spend at least £500 per month to see significant results.
- Social media management: If you’re just starting out, you can handle your social posts yourself for free. But if managing social media isn’t your forte, you might want to invest in tools like Hootsuite (which costs a minimum of £89 per month) to schedule posts.
Want more ways to drive traffic to your ecommerce website? Check out our article which covers 13 ways to get more users to your website.
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Ready to start building your site?
As you’ll have seen, the cost of building and running an ecommerce website in 2024 depends on a whole range of factors, from the platform you choose to the design, features and how you market your site. So the bad news is we can’t tell you exactly how you’ll have to spend, but the good news is that the cost of your ecommerce website is almost entirely up to you!
It’s definitely possible to start on a shoestring budget with pre-made themes and free plugins. Just don’t forget to account for the ongoing costs of hosting, marketing, and keeping your site secure. With careful planning and a clear budget, you can create a successful online store - and one that grows with your business. Good luck!
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