Quick answer
- Lean start: roughly $30–$60/month (Basic plan + domain + free theme/apps).
- Typical new store: about $80–$200/month including a few paid apps.
- Plus one-off costs: inventory, samples, a premium theme (optional), and marketing.
Shopify store costs at a glance
| Cost | Lean | Typical | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify plan | $29/mo (Basic, yearly) | $39/mo (Basic, monthly) | $79/mo (Grow) |
| Domain | ~$1–$2/mo | ~$1–$2/mo | ~$1–$2/mo |
| Theme | Free | Free | Premium (one-off, a few hundred $) |
| Apps | $0 | $20–$80/mo | $100–$300+/mo |
| Email marketing | Free tier | $0–$30/mo | $50+/mo |
| Payment processing | Per sale | Per sale | Per sale (lower rate) |
| Marketing/ads | Organic only | $100–$500/mo | $1,000+/mo |
Estimates for planning only. Your costs depend on your products, apps and marketing.
1. Your Shopify plan
Most stores start on Basic. You'll begin with the free trial and $1 months, then pay the regular price. Switching to yearly billing saves about 25%. Full details: Shopify pricing.
Check Shopify's current offer (opens in a new tab)
2. Domain name
A .com typically costs $10–$20 a year from Shopify or any registrar.
3. Theme
Free themes are fine for launch. Premium themes are a one-time purchase. See best Shopify themes.
4. Apps
This is where budgets leak. Start with free Shopify apps and add paid ones only when they solve a proven problem. See best Shopify apps.
5. Payment processing
Expect around 3% of revenue plus a small per-order amount. Use Shopify Payments to avoid extra fees. See Shopify transaction fees.
6. Inventory, packaging and shipping
Holding stock is usually the largest upfront cost. Order samples first, start with small quantities, and budget for packaging. Models like print on demand and dropshipping remove most of this upfront cost but have thinner margins.
7. Business setup
Depending on where you live: business registration, a seller's permit, and possibly an accountant. Our how to start an online store guide covers the steps.
8. Marketing
You can start with organic social, SEO and email, which mostly cost time, but most stores eventually pay for ads. Read how to get your first Shopify sale for low-budget tactics.
Our verdict
You can launch a real Shopify store for well under $100 a month. Spend the minimum on software and put the rest into products and getting customers. That's what decides whether the store succeeds.
Start your store for less (opens in a new tab)Frequently asked questions
Can I start a Shopify store with $100?
Yes, if you keep it lean: a short free trial and $1 introductory months, a free theme, free apps, and a business model without upfront inventory like print on demand or dropshipping. Marketing will be your biggest constraint.
What is the biggest cost of a Shopify store?
For most stores it's marketing and inventory, not Shopify. Budget more for getting customers than for software.
Is Shopify worth the monthly cost?
For most product businesses, yes. The plan replaces hosting, security, checkout and many tools you'd otherwise pay for separately. See our Shopify review.