How Much Does It Cost to Set Up a Shopify Store in 2026?

If you’re planning to launch an online store, one of the first questions is simple: how much does it cost to set up a Shopify store? The honest answer is that it depends on the Shopify plan you choose, your theme, the apps you need, and whether you set the store up yourself or hire help.

This guide breaks down each cost so you can build a realistic budget before you start. Shopify prices below were checked in October 2026. Always confirm the latest numbers on Shopify’s pricing page.

Quick answer: the main Shopify setup costs

1. Shopify plan cost

Your Shopify subscription is the only cost every store has. Shopify currently offers these plans:

Shopify also runs a trial offer (at the time of writing, 3 days free and then $1/month for the first 3 months), which lets you build and test your store before paying full price. Most new stores start on Basic and upgrade later as sales grow.

2. Shopify theme cost

Your theme controls how your store looks and works. Shopify’s Theme Store includes free themes and paid themes, with prebuilt themes ranging from $0 to about $500 as a one-time purchase. A free theme is enough for many new stores. A premium theme can make sense if you need specific features, such as advanced product filtering, mega menus, or layouts designed for your industry.

3. Domain name cost

A custom domain (like yourbrand.com) usually costs about $10–$30 per year, depending on the extension and where you buy it. You can buy it through Shopify or connect a domain you already own.

4. Shopify app costs

Apps add features such as product reviews, email marketing, upsells, and subscriptions. Many apps have free plans, while paid apps usually charge a monthly fee based on features or order volume. To avoid surprise costs, start with the apps you truly need for launch and add more once you see what your customers use.

5. Payment processing fees

Every online card payment has a processing fee. With Shopify Payments, the rate depends on your plan (for example, 2.9% + 30¢ on Basic). If you use a third-party payment provider instead of Shopify Payments, Shopify adds an extra fee of 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced, and 0.2% on Plus. These fees are per sale, so plan for them in your product pricing.

6. The cost of professional Shopify store setup

You can set up a Shopify store yourself. The main cost is your time: learning the settings, configuring payments, shipping and taxes, setting up the theme, and adding products correctly. Mistakes in these areas are common and can cost sales later.

If you’d rather launch faster with everything configured properly, you can hire help. Costs vary widely. Shopify notes that fully custom-built sites can range from $2,000 to $20,000 or more, depending on complexity. Most new stores don’t need a fully custom build, though. A fixed-price setup package is usually the more practical option.

At Primora Commerce, our Shopify store setup services start at $299:

You can compare everything that’s included on our Shopify store setup plans, or see a real project in our Meme Beauty Depot Shopify case study.

How much does Shopify cost per month?

Most new Shopify stores spend about $29–$69 per month after launch. The Shopify plan is the fixed part of that. Apps and payment fees grow as your store grows.

Plan prices are Shopify’s published rates. App ranges are typical estimates, and card processing fees are extra because they depend on your sales. Shopify’s trial offer (3 days free, then $1/month for the first 3 months at the time of writing) keeps your first months much cheaper while you build.

How much does Shopify cost per year?

Paying for your plan yearly saves about 25% compared with paying month to month:

A lean first year on Shopify looks like this: Basic plan billed yearly ($348) + a .com domain (about $16 through Shopify) + a free theme + free apps = about $364, before card fees. Add a professional setup package such as our $299 Starter plan and the first year comes to about $663.

Example Shopify budgets

These examples show how the costs add up. They’re illustrations, not quotes, and your numbers will depend on your choices.

• DIY lean launch: Basic plan ($39/month, or $29/month billed yearly) + free theme + a domain (about $10–$30/year) + free apps. Your main investment is your own time.
• Professionally set up starter store: the same running costs as above, plus a one-time setup package such as our $299 Starter plan.
• Growing brand: Basic or Grow plan + a premium theme (up to about $500 one-time) + a few paid apps + a setup package for design, integrations, and SEO.

How to keep your Shopify setup costs under control

• Start on the Basic plan and upgrade only when your sales justify the lower transaction rates of higher plans.
• Try a free theme first. Many free Shopify themes are fast and well designed.
• Install apps only when you need them. Review your app subscriptions every few months.
• Use Shopify Payments where it’s available to avoid the extra third-party transaction fee.
• Get the setup right the first time. Fixing payment, shipping, tax, or SEO mistakes after launch usually costs more than setting them up properly.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Shopify cost per month?

Shopify’s Basic plan costs $39/month billed monthly or $29/month billed yearly. Grow costs $105 or $79, and Advanced costs $399 or $299. With a few apps, most new stores spend about $29–$69 per month in total.

How much does Shopify cost per year?

Billed yearly, Shopify costs $348 for Basic, $948 for Grow and $3,588 for Advanced. That is about 25% less than paying month to month.

Are there hidden Shopify costs?

Not hidden, but easy to miss: paid app subscriptions, card processing fees on every sale, an extra transaction fee if you use a payment provider other than Shopify Payments, premium themes, and your yearly domain renewal.

Do I pay Shopify transaction fees with Shopify Payments?

No extra transaction fee. With Shopify Payments you only pay the card processing rate for your plan, such as 2.9% + 30¢ per online sale on Basic. The extra 2% (Basic), 1% (Grow) or 0.6% (Advanced) applies only when you use a third-party payment provider.

How much does it cost to move my store to Shopify?

It depends on how many products, customers and orders you need to move. See our Shopify migration cost guide or our Shopify migration services.

Can I set up a Shopify store for free?

You can start building during Shopify’s trial, but you’ll need a paid plan to keep selling. At the time of writing, Shopify’s Basic plan starts at $29/month when billed yearly.

How long does it take to set up a Shopify store?

It depends on your product count and how much customization you need. Most of our Shopify store setup projects are completed within 5–10 business days.

Is it worth paying someone to set up my Shopify store?

If you’re short on time or want payments, shipping, taxes, and SEO configured correctly from day one, a fixed-price setup package can save you time and help you avoid costly mistakes. If you enjoy learning the platform and have time, setting it up yourself is a valid option too.

Ready to launch your Shopify store?

If you’d like help, our team can set up your store, products, payments, shipping, and SEO so you can focus on selling. Explore our Shopify store setup services or contact us for a free consultation.