Short answer: a small online store in India (up to about 50 products) usually costs ₹25,000 to ₹60,000 to build. Larger catalogues and custom features run from ₹60,000 to ₹2 lakh and more. On top of that come running costs: hosting or a platform subscription, payment gateway fees on every order, and shipping.
This guide covers what the build costs, how Shopify, WooCommerce and custom stores compare, and the monthly costs that decide whether your store is actually profitable.
E-commerce build cost by store size
| Store size | Products | Typical build cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter store | Up to 50 | ₹25,000 – ₹40,000 | 2–4 weeks |
| Growing brand | 50 – 500 | ₹40,000 – ₹1,00,000 | 3–6 weeks |
| Large catalogue or custom flows | 500 + | ₹1,00,000 + | 6 weeks + |
Shopify vs WooCommerce vs custom
| Shopify | WooCommerce (WordPress) | Custom (e.g. Next.js) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront build cost | Low – medium | Low – medium | Highest |
| Monthly platform fee | Yes, plus paid apps | No; you pay for hosting | No; hosting only |
| Transaction fees | Gateway fees; check whether Shopify adds its own | Gateway fees only | Gateway fees only |
| Ease of running | Easiest | Easy once set up | Depends on the admin built |
| Flexibility | Limited by themes and apps | Very flexible | Unlimited |
| Best for | D2C brands that want to launch fast | Most Indian SMEs; content + store | Unique checkout flows, very high traffic |
For most small and mid-sized Indian businesses we recommend WooCommerce or Shopify. Custom stores make sense when you need something the platforms can’t do well, such as B2B pricing tiers, complex product configurators or deep ERP integration.
Running costs most people forget
- Payment gateway fees. Razorpay, PayU, Cashfree and CCAvenue typically charge around 2% per transaction on standard domestic plans, more for international cards. Check each provider’s current rates and settlement times.
- Shipping and COD. Shipping aggregators charge per shipment, plus a COD fee. Returns (RTO) on COD orders can quietly eat your margin.
- Hosting. A WooCommerce store needs better hosting than a brochure site, typically ₹5,000 to ₹15,000 a year for a small store.
- Apps and plugins. Reviews, WhatsApp notifications, invoicing and abandoned-cart tools are often paid monthly.
- Product photography and data entry. Good photos sell. Budget for them, or for someone to upload and describe your catalogue.
- Marketing. A store with no traffic makes no sales. Plan for SEO, social media or ads from day one.
What pushes the build cost up
- Number of products and variants (sizes, colours, materials).
- COD, multiple payment gateways and EMI options.
- Shipping integration with automatic rates and tracking.
- GST-compliant invoices and B2B (wholesale) pricing.
- Inventory sync with a physical store, POS or ERP.
- Subscriptions, gift cards, loyalty points or custom product builders.
What we charge for online stores
| Plan | Price (one-time) | Products | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter Store | ₹24,999 | Up to 50 | Payment integration, mobile design, basic SEO, 3 months support |
| Growth Store | ₹49,999 | Up to 500 | Multiple gateways, shipping integration, advanced SEO, 6 months support |
| Enterprise | Custom quote | Unlimited | Custom features, integrations, dedicated support |
See everything that is included on our e-commerce website development page, or our WordPress and WooCommerce options.
Before you build: a quick checklist
- GST registration and a current account for gateway settlements.
- Return, refund, shipping and privacy policies (payment gateways ask for these).
- Product photos, names, prices and descriptions in a spreadsheet.
- A decision on COD and which pin codes you ship to.
- A plan for your first 100 orders: who you will market to, and how.
E-commerce cost: common questions
A small store with up to about 50 products usually costs ₹25,000 to ₹60,000 to build. Stores with hundreds of products or custom features cost ₹60,000 to ₹2 lakh or more. Our Starter Store is ₹24,999 and our Growth Store (up to 500 products) is ₹49,999.
WooCommerce has no platform fee, so it is often cheaper to run long term; you pay for hosting and any premium plugins. Shopify has a monthly subscription and paid apps, but is easier to manage yourself. The right choice depends on your product count, how hands-on you want to be and the features you need.
Most major gateways charge around 2% per successful transaction on standard domestic plans, with higher rates for international cards and some payment methods. Rates change and can be negotiated at higher volumes, so check current pricing with each provider.
Yes. We can enable cash on delivery and connect a shipping aggregator so rates, labels and tracking update automatically.
A Starter Store typically takes 2 to 4 weeks, depending mostly on how quickly product data and photos are ready. Larger stores take 3 to 6 weeks.
