How Much Does it Cost to Start a Shopify eCommerce Website

Listen, before we dive into the nitty-gritty numbers and fancy plans, let's get real about what it actually costs to start a Shopify store. 

Because here's the thing - there's a lot of noise out there about needing thousands of dollars to get started, but that's not necessarily true.

As of march 2025, starting a Shopify eCommerce website involves a monthly subscription fee, with plans ranging from around $39 to $299 per month, plus potential costs for domain registration, themes, apps, and marketing. 

Here's a more detailed breakdown of the costs involved:

1. Shopify Subscription Plans:
   • Basic Shopify: $39 per month (or $29 per month when paid annually)
   • Shopify: $105 per month (or $79 per month when paid annually) 
   • Advanced Shopify: $399 per month (or $299 per month when paid annually) 
   • Shopify Plus (enterprise solution): Starts at $2,000+ per month 
2. Additional Costs:
   • Domain Registration: $10-$30 annually
   • Themes: Free and paid themes are available, with paid themes ranging from $140 to $180
   • Apps: Shopify offers a wide range of apps for various functions, some free and some paid
   • Payment Processing Fees: Transaction fees vary depending on the plan and payment provider
   • Marketing Costs: Costs for advertising, SEO, and other marketing efforts
   • Website Development: If you hire someone to build or customize your store, expect to pay between $300 to $12,000 or more depending on complexity 

But here's what most people won't tell you straight up - you can actually start for way less than that.

You Can Start a Shopify eCommerce Website for Just $1

Let me backpedal past the $39 monthly fee everyone talks about. 

Want to know a secret? You can actually start your store for just $1 using Shopify's free trial. 

But let's be real - if you're serious about this, let's talk about what happens when you're actually paying for the plan.

Here's the first truth bomb: When you're just starting out, the only thing you absolutely need to spend money on is the basic plan that lets you have your store up and running. 

That's $39 a month. No fancy apps. No expensive ads. Just the bare bones store.

Driving Traffic: Where the Real Money Game Begins

Once you've got your store up and running, here's where things get interesting - and honestly, a bit tricky. 

Getting your store online is one thing, but getting actual people to visit? That's where the real money conversation starts.

Here's the thing about the "$39 and you're set" myth: it's both true and completely misleading at the same time. 

Why? Because while yes, you technically only need $39 for the basic plan, the actual cost of running a successful store isn't that simple.

The Free Traffic Route (Yes, It Exists!)

If you're creative and willing to put in the work, there are completely free ways to drive traffic to your store:

• Build an organic following on Instagram or TikTok
• Post your products on Etsy
• Network on Twitter
• Post on other free social media platforms
• Shopify SEO

Is it going to be as effective as paid advertising? 

Let's be real - probably not. 

But if you're working with zero marketing budget, it's definitely an option. 

You just need to be insanely creative and persistent with your approach.

The Reality Check (Because Someone Needs to Say It)

If you only have $50 to your name, I'm going to throw this out there: get a job, work, get a good amount of money built up, and then start experimenting with eCommerce. 

Here's the harsh truth that nobody wants to hear: there's no guarantee you're going to make money right away. 

The last thing you want is to blow all your savings on e-commerce and end up struggling to pay rent. 

Take care of your basic needs first - roof over your head, food in your stomach - before diving into this business venture.

What is The Real Cost of Running a Shopify Store

If you do have some money to play with, here's what you're looking at:

• Facebook Ads: Starting at $5 per day per ad (recommended for beginners)
• Google AdWords: More complex but potentially powerful
• Various other ecommerce marketing channels depending on your niche

Let me share a story that might help put all these numbers into perspective. 

It's about one of our clients, and trust me, it's not your typical "I made a million dollars overnight" fairytale.

Here's how it played out:

• Basic Plan: $29 (back then)
• Apps: $0 (stuck with the free ones)
• Facebook Ads: $164 before the first sale
• Total Investment Before First Sale: $193

He blew about one hundred and sixty four dollars on Facebook ads before he got a sale. 

Was it because he did something wrong? Not exactly. 

His niche was tough to crack, and honestly, he jumped in without doing enough research first.

The Learning Curve Cost

Here's what most "gurus" won't tell you: a lot of that $164 was basically tuition money. 

Our client was learning things the hard way that he could've learned for free by:

• Watching YouTube tutorials
• Understanding Facebook ad basics
• Studying successful stores in his niche

But here's the kicker - if he didn't have that $193 to "waste" at the beginning, he never would have made it. 

He would've quit. He would've missed out on all the money he's making today.

The Bottom Line (As of March 2025)

Let's break this down to the absolute basics:

• Minimum to Start: $1 (after free trial) + $12 for a domain
• Realistic Monthly Cost: $39 (basic plan) + $12 for a domain
• Marketing Budget: Varies wildly (but plan for at least $150-300 for testing)

The truth is, you can totally get a store up and running and bringing in income within 14 days. But you need to be smart about it.

If you're serious about starting an eCommerce business, here's your financial roadmap:

1. Save up at least $500-1000 before starting (covers 3-6 months of basic expenses plus initial marketing)
2. Start with the trial for the $39 Basic plan (right now it’s $1/month for 3 months, it may be different at the time you are reading this)
3. Use free apps initially
4. Start small with advertising ($5/day)
5. Scale up only when you see what works

Realistic Cost to Open a Shopify Store

There's serious money to be made in eCommerce - once you figure out what you're doing. 

But the key is to be smart with your initial investment. 

Don't let anyone tell you that you need thousands to start. You don't. 

But you do need:

• Enough runway to test and learn
• Patience to grow organically
• Willingness to learn from others' mistakes
• A solid financial foundation to build from

Remember, it's not about how much money you have to start - it's about how smart you are with what you do have. 

The most successful stores often start small and grow steadily, rather than burning through huge budgets from day one.

Making a Shopify eCommerce website is just one of the steps to open an online store, check out our article on how much does it cost to start an eCommerce business for a complete picture.