How much does a Shopify store cost in India?

“How much will my store cost?” is the first question almost every brand owner asks us. It is a fair question, and the honest answer is: it depends on what you need. But that does not mean it has to be a mystery.

Here is every cost involved in a Shopify store, so you can plan properly and compare quotes with confidence.

1. The Shopify subscription

Shopify charges a monthly fee to host and run your store. There are several plans, and the main differences are staff accounts, reporting and transaction fees. Most new and growing brands start on the entry-level plan and upgrade later.

Prices change from time to time and there are often discounts on annual billing or introductory offers, so always check Shopify’s official pricing page for current numbers.

2. Your domain

Your web address (like yourbrand.com or yourbrand.in) costs a small yearly fee. If you already own one, you can connect it to Shopify.

3. Theme

Shopify offers good free themes, and premium themes are a one-time purchase. A premium theme usually gives you more design flexibility and features, which makes it easier to build a store that feels truly premium.

4. Apps

Apps add features like product reviews, WhatsApp chat buttons, size charts, advanced filters or COD controls. Some are free, many charge a monthly fee.

This is where costs quietly add up. A good developer will keep your app list lean, using only what actually improves sales, and building simple features directly into the theme where it makes sense.

5. Payment gateway fees

Every online payment carries a small fee charged by your payment gateway (such as Razorpay, Cashfree or PayU). Rates vary by payment method, so check your gateway’s current pricing. Depending on your Shopify plan and gateway, Shopify may also charge its own transaction fee.

These fees are a percentage of each sale, so they grow with your business rather than being an upfront cost.

6. Shipping

Shipping costs depend on your courier partner, parcel weight and delivery zones. Most Indian brands use an aggregator like Shiprocket to compare courier rates and manage everything from one dashboard. Remember to account for COD charges and return-to-origin (RTO) costs if you offer cash on delivery.

7. Design and development

This is the biggest variable, and it depends on:

• How custom the design is. Adjusting a theme is quicker than designing every page from scratch around your brand.
• How many products need uploading, with variants, sizes and photos.
• Features you need, such as custom product options, bundles, wholesale pricing or integrations.
• Content. Whether you have product photos and descriptions ready, or need help preparing them.

Broadly, you have three options:

1. Do it yourself. Lowest cash cost, highest time cost. Fine for testing an idea, but hard to make it look premium.
2. A freelancer. Cheaper than an agency, but quality varies a lot and support after launch can be difficult to get.
3. A specialist studio. Higher upfront cost, but you get a polished, conversion-focused store, a clear process and ongoing support.

8. Running the store

This is the cost most people forget. After launch, someone needs to:

• List new products and update prices
• Refresh banners for sales and new collections
• Process orders and book couriers
• Keep apps and the theme updated
• Fix things when they break

You can do this yourself, hire staff, or use a store management service. The right choice depends on how much your time is worth and how fast you are growing.

So what should you budget?

Think of your store in two parts:

• One-time costs: design, development, theme and setup.
• Ongoing costs: Shopify plan, apps, domain, payment fees, shipping and management.

A premium store is an investment that should pay for itself through more sales, fewer abandoned carts and less of your time spent on admin. A cheap store that looks untrustworthy often costs far more in lost sales.

How we quote

We do not believe in surprise invoices. After a short chat about your products, catalogue size and goals, we share a clear, fixed quote that spells out exactly what is included, along with an honest estimate of your monthly running costs.

Get your free quote and find out exactly what your store would cost.