eCommerce websites have experienced a significant upsurge in recent years, enabling customers to purchase from anywhere, at any time. More customers are shopping online for anything from groceries to luxury goods as more companies migrate to online platforms. As more and more manufacturers see benefits from conducting business online, they are moving their operations online. Why would they not? By moving to the digital universe, they may connect with clients who have never heard of certain establishments, saving money on rent and sales managers' wages. Additionally, internet trade eliminates physical boundaries because you may now offer your goods to people who live thousands of kilometers away. There has never been a better time to launch an eCommerce business than it is right now, with the trend of people making purchases online across different devices growing daily.
But often the question is ‘how much does an ecommerce website cost?
You've decided to create an eCommerce website and are ready to launch your online store. Before you start creating your eCommerce website, take into account the following cost that you are likely to incur:
- Cost of software
Ecommerce website cost varies based on their degree of service, kind of software they offer, and their out-of-the-box features. Selecting the best platform is a crucial first step in starting an online business out of the many available options. Let's examine some of the platforms you could think about. Most businesses today employ a pre-built, off-the-rack software solution rather than building anything from scratch. This is because:
- It is significantly less expensive.
- A whole staff is devoted to updating the programme, you don't need to worry as much about security.
There are plenty of options available which vary based on functionality and the overall cost. One of the popular software being across industry are WooCommerce and Shopify, which again are way different from each other.
For instance, WooCommerce is free, open-source, and self-hosted WordPress platform with core WordPress itself free and comes at zero cost. However, if you decide to go with Shopify, it comes at a cost. Your business has to set a monthly fee for as long as you want to run your store. Shopify’s cheapest plan costs $29 per month, and plans range up to $299 per month.
Hence, the overall cost of your ecommerce website cost will depend on the type of software you decided to go with.
- Cost of Domain name
Another ecommerce website cost that you need to consider is the cost of your domain name. However, your business needs to decide whether to pay at once or pay monthly. The price of a domain name ranges from $2 to $20 each year. The cost varies depending on where you buy it and the domain extension you choose, like.com or. Shop. Typically, buying at an auction or from a private seller will cost more. However, a ".com" domain name from a normal registrar shouldn't cost you more than $10 a year, and some servers may even provide one for free.
- Hosting platform fees
Once you have decided on your domain name, the next ecommerce website cost is the hosting platform fee. Web hosting is included with the subscription for cloud-hosted products like BigCommerce and Shopify. You won't have to look for or manage third-party hosting, so that saves you time. The price for self-hosting an e-commerce business varies from $80-$730 a month and is determined by the volume of traffic the store receives, the features it offers, and automated services like site backups.
However, you won't have to worry about buying your own hosting if you choose to utilize a hosting solution like Shopify or Squarespace Commerce as they have their own hosting platform included in the package. Moreover, you'll need to buy your own hosting if you want to utilize one of the self-hosted systems like WooCommerce or Magento.
- SSL certificate fee
An SSL certificate encrypts the transfer of data from your website which is another ecommerce website cost. Due to the sensitive nature of the data you are handling, securing your business is an imperative must for an eCommerce website. Nowadays, SSL certificates are really available for free, which is good in terms of security.
The Extended Validation Certificate (EV), also known as an Organization Validated Certificate, is something you would wish to purchase from the standpoint of trust (OV). These certifications need to be verified and are therefore often a little more reliable. The cost of an SSL certificate varies from $20 to $70 per year. However, this might be the costliest factor that your business can incur.
- Cost of designing your website
Creating a distinctive user experience with website design that represents your brand and encourages repeat business is a part of building your ecommerce store. There are certain common charges associated with the design of your online business.
- Design cost
The cost of designing can vary and depends on different factors. Some themes might not add to the fee you currently pay to use the site, while others can cost between $60 and $200 each theme.
- Plug-ins cost
Another cost is fees that you have to pay to acquire plug-ins. However, cost varies significantly. For instance, With BigCommerce, you have the choice of free or paid add-ons. A premium add-price might vary, and it typically works on a subscription basis. Compared to Shopify, BigCommerce's out-of-the-box capabilities may save retailers between $5,800 and $30,000 or more annually on app subscription fees. Similarly, Shopify gives you access to hundreds of both free and paid applications, and the price varies depending on the specific app.
Conclusion
Depending on the features you want for your business to flourish, you may be able to establish an e-commerce website for less than $1,000. An online store has many various features, so you may pick and select the things you need and simply pay for them.
You won't be uncomfortably startled by the upfront fees or continuing expenses if you undertake the task in advance. Putting your company online offers an excellent opportunity to expand your audience and boost revenue. Do the math right now and assess whether your company will profit from the investment.
