An online store can cost a few hundred dollars or tens of thousands. Both numbers can be right; they just describe very different shops. This guide explains what drives the cost of an e-commerce website in 2026, the running costs people forget, and exactly what our fixed-price e-commerce website package includes for $500.
Three ways to build an online store
1. A hosted shop platform, set up by you
You sign up for a hosted e-commerce platform, pick a template and add products. The cost is a monthly subscription, often paid apps for extra features, and payment fees. It is fast to start and very good for many shops. The catch: the monthly bill never stops, apps add up, and moving away later takes work.
2. A shop built for you at a fixed price
A developer builds a straightforward store with your branding, products, payments and delivery options, then hands it over. This is our $500 package. You pay once for the build, then only for hosting, the domain and payment fees.
3. A custom e-commerce build
For shops with complex catalogues, wholesale pricing, subscriptions, integrations with inventory or accounting systems, multi-vendor marketplaces, or very high traffic. This is a software project, priced by the job and often running into many thousands. See what a custom web app costs.
What drives the price of an e-commerce build
- Number of products and variants. Ten products is an afternoon; a thousand products with sizes and colours is a data project.
- Who loads the products. Writing descriptions, editing photos and entering prices takes time.
- Payment methods. Card payments, PayPal, local gateways, bank transfer, cash on delivery.
- Delivery rules. Flat fees, by area, by weight, pickup, scheduled delivery.
- Integrations. Inventory, accounting, shipping labels, point of sale.
- Custom features. Subscriptions, bookings, product configurators, customer accounts with special pricing.
- Design. Adapting a clean design versus a fully custom brand experience.
What our $500 e-commerce package includes
Our fixed-price e-commerce website is designed for small shops that want to start selling online properly without an agency project:
- Up to 25 products loaded for you, with categories and variants such as size and colour.
- Cart and checkout with card payments through Stripe or PayPal, or a local payment gateway where those are not available (gateway approval and fees are separate).
- Delivery and pickup options with your own fees.
- Order confirmation emails to you and your customer.
- A simple admin to manage products, stock and orders.
- A mobile-friendly design using your logo and colours.
- Basic SEO setup and launch on your domain.
- A training session and 14 days of fixes after launch.
Delivery takes about two weeks once we have your product information and photos.
What is not included
- Product photography and long product descriptions written from scratch.
- More than 25 products (we quote the extra loading, or you add them yourself after training).
- Integrations with inventory, accounting or point-of-sale systems.
- Ongoing changes after the fix period (see the website care plan).
Running costs to budget for
| Cost | Notes |
|---|---|
| Hosting | Depends on the platform; small shops can be modest |
| Domain | A small yearly fee, in your name |
| Payment processing | A percentage and/or fixed fee per sale; usually the biggest variable cost |
| For order emails; often free at low volumes | |
| Maintenance | Updates, security and small changes; DIY or a care plan |
| Marketing | Ads, social and email to bring buyers |
Ask any provider to estimate your monthly costs at your expected order volume, not just the build price.
Payments when you are outside the US and Europe
If your business is registered in a country where the best-known payment providers do not operate, plan payments first. For example, at the time of writing Stripe does not accept businesses registered only in Jamaica. Options include local bank gateways and regional providers, PayPal (useful for buyers abroad), bank transfer and cash on delivery. Each has its own application process and fees. Our guide to website costs in Jamaica covers this in more detail.
Do you really need a full shop?
Sometimes not. Alternatives that cost less:
- A simple website with a WhatsApp order button and payment on delivery. Many local businesses start here. See what a $300 website includes.
- A landing page for one product, with a payment link. See landing pages for paid ads.
- Selling memberships rather than products? Ghost handles subscriptions without a shop. See Ghost vs WordPress.
Questions to ask before you hire anyone
- How many products are included, and who loads them?
- Which payment methods, and who applies for the gateway?
- How do delivery fees and pickup work?
- Can I add products and see orders myself?
- Who owns the site and its code after payment?
- What are the monthly running costs at my volume?
- What happens when something breaks after launch?
A launch checklist for a small online shop
Whatever you build with, these items decide whether the shop works on day one:
- Products: clear photos on a plain background, honest descriptions, sizes or options, and the price including any taxes you must show.
- Delivery: where you deliver, how much it costs and how long it takes. Put this on every product page, not hidden in a policy.
- Payments: test a real payment with a real card and refund it. Check that the money arrives in your account.
- Emails: order confirmation, shipping notice and a contact address customers can reply to.
- Policies: returns, refunds, privacy and terms. Short and honest beats long and legal.
- Phones: place an order from start to finish on a phone. Most customers will.
- Stock: decide who updates stock levels and how often.
- Contact: a WhatsApp button or phone number for questions before purchase.
Running the shop after launch
A shop is not finished at launch. Plan for:
- Adding products. Make sure you can do it yourself, with photos, without calling a developer.
- Seasonal changes. Sales, holiday hours, new delivery areas.
- Abandoned carts. Some platforms can email people who left items in their cart. It is often worth turning on.
- Reviews. Ask happy customers for reviews and show them on product pages.
- Reports. Look at what sells, what does not, and where customers come from, once a month.
Avoiding the most expensive mistake
The most expensive mistake is building more shop than the business needs. A custom shop with features nobody uses costs more to build and more to maintain. Start with what you need to take orders reliably, prove that people buy online, and add features when real customers ask for them.
Getting found once the shop is live
A new shop needs visitors. Set up a Google Business Profile if you have a physical location, connect Google Search Console, write a clear description for each product category, and share products where your customers already are, such as WhatsApp groups and social media. Ask early customers for reviews, and reply to every enquiry quickly.
Security basics for a shop
Use strong, unique passwords for the shop admin and payment accounts, turn on two-step sign-in, and never store card details yourself. Let the payment provider handle cards.
Bottom line
A small online store does not need to cost thousands. A clear, fixed-price build with your products, payments, delivery options and training gets you selling; complex catalogues and integrations are where costs rise. Whatever you choose, budget for payment fees and maintenance, and make sure you own what you pay for.
Ready to sell online? See our e-commerce website package for $500, or tell us about your shop and we will recommend the simplest setup that works.
Frequently asked questions
Our package includes up to 25 products loaded for you, cart and checkout with card payments, delivery and pickup options, order emails, a simple admin for products and orders, a mobile-friendly design, basic SEO setup, launch on your domain, training and 14 days of fixes.
Hosted platforms are fast to start and charge a monthly fee plus apps. A custom or self-managed shop has lower ongoing platform fees and more control, but someone must maintain it. Small shops with few products often do well with either.
Hosting or platform fees, the domain, payment processing fees on each sale, any paid apps or plugins, email, and maintenance. Payment fees are usually the biggest variable cost.
Yes. Some well-known payment providers do not accept businesses registered only in Jamaica, so Jamaican shops often use a local gateway, PayPal, bank transfer or cash on delivery. We help you choose as part of the build.
