How Much Does an Online Store Cost in 2026? Prices and What Drives the Cost

If you're thinking about selling online, the first thing you want to know is what it costs. So let's start with the numbers, then explain why they vary so much.

An online store typically starts at 690 € for a basic version and can climb to several thousand euros for a project with complex integrations and automations. Below is a rough guide so you can quickly see where you stand.

Ballpark prices for an online store

Important: these are ballpark figures. A store selling t-shirts is nothing like one managing thousands of products with variants, stock levels and shipping to several countries. That's why any serious quote starts with a conversation about what you want to sell and to whom.

What drives the price

The gap between 690 € and several thousand euros isn't random. Here's what moves the needle:

• The number of products. 50 products load quickly. A few hundred, with size and color variants, means more work on structure and organization.
• The payment methods. Cash on delivery is simple. Online card payments require integrating a processor (Stripe, Netopia, EuPlătesc) and a bit of extra configuration.
• The courier integrations. Connecting to courier companies (Sameday, FAN, DPD) to automatically generate shipping labels saves hours of manual work, but adds to the project's complexity.
• The invoicing. Issuing invoices automatically and syncing with accounting software (SmartBill, Oblio) is a real win, but it's an integration in its own right.
• The automations. Automatic order confirmation emails, stock notifications, recovered abandoned carts — all of these add value to the store and, naturally, to the effort it takes to build it.
• The design. A custom design built for your brand costs more than a standard theme, but it sets you apart from the competition.

The more of these you check off, the further you move toward the top of the table. The good news is you don't need all of them on day one.

Ready-made platform vs. custom store

There are two main paths, each with its own logic.

Ready-made platform (Shopify, WooCommerce on a standard theme). It gets you started faster and cheaper. It's a good choice if you want to test the market without a big investment. On the flip side, you're limited to what the platform allows, you often pay monthly subscriptions and commissions, and advanced customization gets complicated.

Custom store. It costs more upfront and takes longer to build. In return, it looks and works exactly how you need it to, it scales without hitting walls, and you don't depend on anyone else's rules. It's the right choice when the store is the core of the business, not an experiment.

In short: if your budget is small and you want to validate an idea, a ready-made platform is reasonable. If you're already selling and want to grow without headaches, a custom store is worth it.

Why a good store pays for itself

A presentation site tells your story. An online store brings in money, and it does so around the clock. Unlike a physical store with set hours, an online store sells at 3 in the morning, on weekends and on holidays, with no one at the desk.

Think of it simply: every order you take is a piece of the investment recovered. A few dozen orders and the store has paid for itself. The rest is profit coming in month after month, year after year. That doesn't mean results are guaranteed or instant — they depend on the product, the price and the marketing. But a store built right, easy to use and fast, gives you the best shot at turning a visitor into a customer.

The difference between a store that sells and one that just exists often comes down to the details: how fast it loads, how simple the checkout process is, how clear the price and shipping are. That's where the money is worth spending.

Conclusion

A properly built online store isn't an expense, it's a tool that works for you every single day. The price depends on how many products you have, what payment methods and integrations you need, and how customized you want it to look. For most small and medium businesses, a solid version starts at 690 € and grows according to real needs.

If you want to know exactly where you fit, let's talk. We'll put together a free quote based on your specific needs, with no obligation and no pressure. You tell us what you want to sell, we'll tell you what it involves and what it costs.