Launching a successful online store begins with understanding your investment. Shopify offers scalable plans—Basic, Shopify, and Advanced—each packed with features to match your business stage. From unlimited product uploads and multichannel selling to advanced reporting and shipping tools, Shopify empowers smart, growth-focused decisions. This guide breaks down each plan’s value, helping you choose the right one to launch, manage, and scale your eCommerce store with confidence and clarity.
How much does it cost to have a Shopify store?
The cost of running a Shopify store depends on the pricing plan you select. Shopify offers three main plans:
- Basic Shopify
- Shopify
- Advanced Shopify
Each plan comes with different features and pricing. Let’s break them down in detail to understand the costs and benefits of each.
Basic Shopify
Cost: $29 per month (plus additional fees). The Basic Shopify plan is the entry-level option, providing everything you need to set up and launch your online store. It costs $29 per month and includes essential eCommerce features. Here are some features you’ll get with Basic Shopify:
Features That Come with Basic Shopify:
Unlimited Product Uploads: Upload as many products as you wish to your store.
Shipping Discounts: Get competitive rates for shipping through USPS, UPS, and DHL Express, which enjoy discounts of up to 64%.
Shopify POS Lite: Accept payments in person at fairs, markets, and pop-up stores.
Inventory Locations: Allocate inventory to a maximum of four retail stores or warehouses for more efficient stock management.
Sales Channels: Sell products on online stores and social media platforms directly from your Shopify store.
Staff Accounts: Create staff accounts with access to your Shopify admin and POS system.
These are some of the most prominent features you can expect from a Shopify Basic Plan. Some additional features include:
24/7 support
Manual order creation
Discount codes
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certification
Automatic abandoned cart recovery emails
Customised gift cards
Printing shipping labels
Shopify
Shopify’s middle tier costs $79 per month, plus extra fees. This is a plan targeted towards expanding companies that provides higher-end features than the starter plan and is the best option for businesses that are planning to scale their eCommerce activity.
Shopify includes everything from the Basic Shopify plan, with a few additional features:
Locations: Assign inventory to up to five retail stores or warehouses for efficient stock management.
Staff Accounts: This Shopify plan allows up to five staff accounts, giving team members access to manage your store.
Shipping Discounts: Enjoy competitive shipping rates from leading carriers, with discounts of up to 72%.
USPS Priority Mail Cubic Pricing: Benefit from special pricing for USPS Priority Mail, optimising shipping costs.
Professional Reports: Access detailed sales reports to analyze customer trends, track product performance, and refine your marketing strategies.
Beyond the Plans: Understanding Additional Costs
While the monthly plan costs are clear, several other factors influence your overall Shopify expenses:
Transaction Fees:
Shopify Payments: Be aware that Shopify charges transaction fees, which vary depending on your chosen plan and the payment method used. These fees are a percentage of each sale.
Third-Party Gateways: If you use a third-party payment gateway (like PayPal or Stripe), Shopify will also charge a transaction fee, in addition to the gateway’s own fees.
App Costs: Shopify’s functionality is greatly expanded by apps. Many of these apps have monthly fees, which can add up quickly. Consider your business needs when selecting apps.
Domain Costs:
A custom domain is essential for a professional online store. Domain registration and renewal fees are separate from your Shopify subscription.
Theme Costs:
While Shopify offers free themes, premium themes with advanced features can cost a significant amount.
Marketing Costs:
Running a successful store requires marketing. Factor in expenses for SEO, social media advertising, email marketing, and other promotional activities.
Shopify POS Pro:
If you need advanced retail features, Shopify POS Pro has a separate cost.
International Selling:
If you plan to sell internationally, factor in currency conversion fees and international shipping costs.
Advanced Shopify
The Advanced Shopify plan, priced at $299 per month plus additional fees, is the most premium option among Shopify’s pricing plans. Designed for businesses looking to scale, this package includes advanced features to enhance sales and streamline operations.
You get all the features from the Shopify Basic and Shopify plan, with a few additional features:
Locations: Assign inventory to up to eight warehouses or retail stores for better stock management.
Staff Accounts: Includes up to 15 staff accounts with access to Shopify Admin and Shopify POS.
Advanced Report Builder: Create custom reports to track specific customer actions, such as referral sources and sales trends.
Third-Party Calculated Shipping Rates: Provide real-time shipping rates at checkout, allowing customers to compare options like standard, express, and same-day delivery.
Partner with a Shopify expert today
Shopify is a powerful eCommerce website builder that offers everything you need to create and manage your online store with ease. If you’re unsure where to start, our expert team is here to help.
At Armadillo Media Milton Keynes and London, our experienced web designers specialise in building high-converting Shopify websites tailored to your business needs. We focus on optimising your site for maximum sales and revenue growth.
With a proven track record of driving success, we’re committed to helping you achieve your eCommerce goals. Ready to build a Shopify site that delivers results? Contact us today to get started!