The honest answer is that it depends on scope, but that is not much use on its own. In practice most businesses spend somewhere between Rs 35,000 and Rs 3L and above on development, plus Rs 2,000 to 25,000 a month in ongoing platform and app costs. Here is what sits behind those numbers.
What it actually costs, by project type
Three bands cover the overwhelming majority of Shopify projects. Work out which row describes what you are asking for before you compare quotes, because a quote against the wrong row tells you nothing.
| Project type | Typical range | Typical timeline | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic store build | Rs 35K to 65K | 3 to 4 weeks | Custom theme, up to 8 sections, up to 100 SKUs, payment gateway setup, mobile optimised. |
| Custom feature store | Rs 65K to 1.5L | 4 to 7 weeks | Custom product page features, a native wishlist, a complex catalogue, conversion fundamentals built in. |
| Enterprise or Plus build | Rs 1.5L to 5L+ | 8 to 16 weeks | Shopify Plus, B2B wholesale, multi-storefront, Checkout Extensibility, integrations. |
All figures exclude GST, and they are market bands rather than a quote for your project.
Why the range is so wide
Number of custom sections and pages
A five-page store built from standard sections costs far less than a fifteen-page store with custom interactive features on every page. Section count is the single most reliable predictor of where a quote lands.
Catalogue size and complexity
A hundred simple SKUs is a different scope from two thousand SKUs with twenty or more variants each, all needing custom filtering to be navigable.
Integrations required
ERP connections, custom shipping logic and CRM sync each add development time well beyond a standalone store, because each one has to be built, tested and then kept working.
Design complexity
A layout close to a standard template costs less than one with bespoke illustration, animation or interactive elements running through it.
Migration versus a fresh build
Bringing existing products, customers, orders and SEO redirects across from another platform adds cost on top of a from-scratch build. Our Shopify migration cost guide covers that side in detail.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Shopify monthly subscription cost count separately?
Yes. Development cost is separate from Shopify's own monthly plan fee, which starts at around $39 a month for Basic and runs up to custom pricing for Shopify Plus. An agency builds the store, Shopify charges for the platform underneath it.
What ongoing costs should I budget for after launch?
Shopify's monthly plan, any paid apps you use, a domain at roughly Rs 1,000 a year, and optionally a maintenance retainer, which typically runs Rs 8,000 to 25,000 a month for updates and support.
Is a Rs 10,000 Shopify store a red flag?
Usually. That price point normally means a barely customised free theme with no real development work behind it. Fine for testing an idea, not for a brand you intend to scale.
Can I reduce cost by starting smaller and adding features later?
Yes, and it is a sensible approach. Launch with the core functionality, then add things like recommendations or a loyalty programme in a second phase once the store is validated and generating revenue.
