Create online store costs

1. Online store creation costs: What expenses should companies expect?
2. Costs for implementation
3. How does the connection to the ERP system affect costs for online stores?
4. How much should you spend on functional enhancements for the store?
5. Design, content, photos, videos
6. Other factors that influence the cost of setting up an online store
7. FAQ

Beople feel the need to buy something new. At a time when online shopping is becoming increasingly popular, you can buy everything you need from home. With a few clicks of the mouse, you can collect a full basket and pay for the goods conveniently online. Online stores offer customers greater convenience, as orders can be placed around the clock. The shipping methods are also well thought out. So everything is done for customer satisfaction. Everything looks so cool and simple, but anyone who decides to open an online store encounters several difficulties. The following questions arise immediately: "Who can help with the creation?", "Which store system is best?" and "How much does an online store cost?" In our article, we explain what you need to consider and what online store costs you should expect.

Online store creation costs: What expenses should companies expect?

It doesn't matter whether a large corporation or a medium-sized company wants to get into online retail. The cost of opening an online store depends on the size of the store, its complexity, the range of functions and the e-commerce platform.  For small, very simple online stores, you should spend between EUR 5,000 and EUR 14,000. Medium-sized webshops, which have a customized design and small adjustments to functions, cost between EUR 15,000 and EUR 30,000. If you are planning a large e-commerce project, you will have to get used to higher online store costs. They vary between 50,000 euros and 100,000 euros. Sometimes the online store prices can be even higher if numerous functions are integrated.

You cannot determine the exact amount in advance because there are still many details in the process. However, you can use the prices quoted as a guide and plan your own budget correctly. Consulting a specialist for webshop development is the best decision in this case.

Webshop creation costs: small online stores

The creation of small stores is usually associated with low costs. A simple store system (e.g. Shopify, WooCommerce) is used for this. These online stores offer up to 20 products, have standard functions and a fairly simple design that can be customized as required. However, complete changes are impossible - configurators and extensions cannot be implemented in them.you can start with a small online store if you don't have a large budget or only want to test one product. This is also a good decision if you offer easily configurable, easy-to-understand items. This way, the products are sold perfectly in smaller web stores and the costs remain manageable. As your business grows, the stores you set up can be expanded in the future.

Creating an online store costs: What does an average online store cost?

If you want a somewhat larger webshop, you should spend more. This type of store usually has a customized design. Some extensions, such as a configurator, can be integrated into it. However, there are limitations - above all, medium-sized online stores cannot be fully connected to ERP systems. As far as the prices for online store creation are concerned, they start at 15,000 euros and go up to 30,000 euros. Much depends on the choice of e-commerce platform. The costs for the store system also vary. In addition, monthly fees are charged for the use of some store systems. It is therefore advisable to enquire about the monthly costs of an online store before making your choice, and if the design and various functionalities need to be developed or adapted, you should contact agencies for online stores. This can increase the cost of an online store even further.

Online store creation costs - Large online stores

If you are planning a large e-commerce project, you should spend at least over 50,000 euros. This price includes the customized design, configurators and the connection of third-party systems, but there is no upper limit for the price. The creation of an online store can also cost over 100,000 euros. Several factors should be taken into account. As already mentioned, much depends on the store system chosen. A large budget is required to professionally develop a website, add functions and design it. You will also need to pay for updates and support - so the running costs can be higher.

Costs for implementation

Do you want to implement your store? You should clearly understand what costs you can expect for your online store. You should set up and configure the store system, set up themes, extensions and payment methods. The associated expenses are called fixed costs. The creation of functions and the testing of processes also require certain costs, which are fixed. Mail servers are configured and set up for the confirmation of dispatch. The costs for this, as well as product templates, attention to suitable backup systems, all possible customizations associated with the ordering process and administration, the customer area, are also considered fixed. The costs for setting up an online store are around 4,000 euros, depending on how flexible and extensive the store is. They are variable and depend on the number of subpages and product quantity as well as the connection to third-party systems. The smaller the range, the faster the store is and the less it costs to implement; the costs are based on the overall scope and the automation options involved. If the products and categories are repetitive, the costs are lower. You should spend much more on many unique product pages. It is not possible to give specific figures, they depend on the presentation of the products and the customizations and range from 15 to 100 euros per product. If you would like to have a Shopware store set up, you need to enquire in more detail about Shopware costs.

How does the connection to the ERP system affect costs for online stores?

Prices for webshops without ERP systems

Small companies and start-ups often opt for webshops without an integrated ERP system. This is a simple solution that requires less website and online store creation costs, nor further expenses for operational processes (accounting, order processing, etc.). These tasks should then be performed manually. If you are not able to do this, you need the help of a specialist, but there are store systems that have some of the necessary modules integrated. This is a good alternative for beginners, as they start small and then validate the business model. However, this is not practical when order volumes grow. Then you should look for a better solution. You should pay at least 5,000 euros for an online store without an ERP system. However, the price can also go up to 15,000 euros.

What does an online store with an ERP system connection cost?

Webshops with an integrated ERP system are primarily geared towards higher sales. It is mainly about B2B, B2C or B2B2C models. Experts usually recommend and use Shopware, Magento or OXID for this purpose, and before choosing an e-commerce platform, you should consider whether a store system is compatible with the ERP system. Otherwise, you will have to change a store system due to incompatibility, which leads to unwanted expenses. Companies that intend to sell products on digital marketplaces (Amazon, eBay) need special solutions with ERP and PIM systems. The costs for an online store with an ERP system are influenced by a number of aspects. Depending on the scalability, the functions and the licensing, the prices for the ERP system can vary. Just the one-off setup costs from 2,000 euros. The costs for the development of customized interfaces range from 3,000 to 10,000 euros. If special further development is required, the amounts are even higher (up to 30,000 euros). The monthly rent for a good SaaS ERP system costs around 150 euros.

How much should you spend on functional enhancements for the store?

You shouldn't just think about investments when creating them. Extensions and updates are required to ensure that your web store functions smoothly. Complex functional enhancements are usually expensive. In addition, the help of a technical expert is required. If you have a modern Shopware store, for example, you can contact Shopware 6 Agency. To meet the needs and requirements of customers, the following extensions are usually required:

Search and filter functions

As your business grows and there are more and more products, powerful external systems are used. This allows you to optimize the search and filtering of products. The use of AI enables cross-selling and up-selling. Improved navigation on the website helps to increase conversion rates. In this case, the services of FINDOLOGIC or FACT-Finder are indispensable and the monthly prices of search and function systems vary between 350 euros and 2,000 euros. For integration, you should pay between 3,000 and 15,000 euros.

PIM applications

If the online store has an extensive product range, PIM systems are necessary. This allows different media and languages to be managed successfully. All product information is collected in one place, which saves time and increases data quality. PIM systems are therefore used for efficient data maintenance and quality improvement as well as expenditure control.

You should pay 15,000 - 60,000 for the introduction of a PIM system. On-premise solutions are even more expensive (100,000 - 250,000 euros). The license costs 28,000 - 250,000 euros per year.

CRM systems

CRM systems are used for the secure management of customer data. While small companies can manage without CRM, it is a must for medium-sized companies. A good solution is a simple CRM for small businesses. Inexpensive versions are offered for beginners. The monthly price is around 25 euros. There are also scalable systems that provide flexibility. However, they are more expensive.

Payment systems

The payment systems are integrated into the store system. If required, additional systems can also be added via modules. This is very convenient. However, you should not forget the transaction fees, which are increased per sale. The costs mainly comprise 2-3% of the transaction turnover.

Plugins, apps and additional modules

Ahe prices vary depending on the selected store system, the required functions and extensions. The store providers make the additional modules available in the app store. You can install desired plugins via the store. Free plugins are available for some store systems. There are also numerous paid versions. You should still pay license costs or subscriptions.

Design, content, photos, videos

Web design and themes

Every online store is created with one goal in mind: to increase sales. That's why you should pay special attention to the web design. It should be sales-promoting and make a positive impression on the customer. It is important to inspire confidence in the customer and an impressive, professional design has a positive effect on the customer. Some store systems provide fairly inexpensive themes for a few hundred euros. However, they are not suitable for every store, as they can only be partially customized. Customized designs should be created for individual products. The best solution is to contact a qualified web designer. With their help, the web design will be SEO-friendly. Then success is guaranteed. This service costs 3,000 - 5,000 euros. Up to 50,000 euros are spent on complex store designs. You should not save money, because some buyers will quickly recognize a high-quality design.

Design your shop window - select suitable photos and videos, write interesting texts

In order to increase sales opportunities, the products should be presented attractively. The manufacturer usually provides its own texts and images. They should be unique and of high quality. The use of this content and photos is an advantage. The product videos are individually designed and professionally edited. This allows the webshop to stand out from the competition. Videos of this type cost from 3,000 euros. It takes between 20 and 250 euros per image to professionally design images and it is important to provide detailed product information. If the texts are convincing, the customer will make a positive decision more quickly. They should also be optimized according to SEO criteria. If the website has a high online visibility, customers will find it more quickly. Then you will also sell more.

Other factors that influence the cost of setting up an online store

All webshop costs depend on several aspects. To make your webshop popular among customers and sell your services or products faster, you need to think more about good advertising. A proper marketing strategy must be developed for this. The hosting service and legal security are also very important. This can significantly optimize the search engine ranking and increase the conversion rate considerably. The webshop should inspire customer confidence.

Marketing

One of the most important points that strongly influence the overall costs is marketing. Good advertising plays a major role for the webshop. It requires major expenditure and is not a one-off action. B2B and B2C companies take special care to ensure that their stores are found quickly and encourage purchases. This increases the customer base and boosts sales.

A distinction is made between one-off setup, ongoing and monthly marketing costs for managing and spending the campaign for the online store. Costs are needed to ensure that the product information is distributed on various channels (marketplaces, price search engines). They include the purchase and development of interfaces and modules.

Webhosting & Domain

In addition to the webshop creation costs, there are also additional monthly costs for hosting. These vary depending on the provider and the size of the store. For small and medium-sized stores, the price ranges from 15 to 300 euros. Large solutions cost several thousand euros. A domain is a decisive factor for the ranking. It is important to choose the right domain. Domain prices vary from 10 to 100 euros per year.

Legal certainty

The operators of online stores must pay attention to the legal aspects. Legal certainty includes general terms and conditions, cookies and data protection, terms of use and revocation instructions. As far as costs are concerned, you should pay for legal advice, the appointment of a data protection officer and third-party software for cookies. There are ready-made templates on the Internet that small and medium-sized companies can use. To avoid receiving warnings in the event of legal violations, the help of a data protection lawyer or attorney is required. The prices for their services range from three to four figures.

FAQ

How much does an online store cost?

The online stores cost from 2,000 euros and range up to 250,000 euros.

What does it cost to set up an online store?

Simple online stores with basic functions cost 8,000 euros. A store with a customized design costs between 15,000 and 60,000 euros.