Web shop costs: a complete overview for 2026
What are the costs of a web shop in 2026? Whether you want to start a small online store or build a large e-commerce platform, web shop costs vary enormously. In this complete overview we discuss all the cost items you can expect when you start a web shop, from hosting and software to marketing and maintenance.
What determines web shop costs?
The total web shop costs depend on several factors. The platform you choose, the size of your product range, the design and the functionality you need all play a role. Below we discuss the main cost items one by one.
One-time start-up costs
When starting a web shop you face one-time investments. Think of registering a domain name (from €8 per year), choosing a hosting plan and possibly having a professional theme designed. These start-up costs form the basis of your web shop costs.
| Cost item | Budget option | Average | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domain name (.nl) | €8/year | €12/year | €15/year |
| Web hosting | €3/month | €10/month | €30+/month |
| SSL certificate | Free (Let's Encrypt) | Free | €50-200/year |
| Theme/design | Free | €50-100 | €500-2,000 |
| Web shop software | Free (WooCommerce) | €29/month | €79+/month |
Monthly recurring costs
Besides one-time costs, there are recurring expenses to take into account. Hosting, software subscriptions, payment providers and any marketing together make up your monthly web shop costs. A realistic estimate helps you avoid surprises.
Comparing web shop costs by platform
The choice of a web shop platform has the biggest influence on your total web shop costs. Every platform has its own pricing model, pros and cons. Below we compare the most popular options.
WooCommerce (WordPress)
WooCommerce is free open-source software that you install on your own web hosting. The software itself is free, but you do pay for hosting, a domain name and any premium plugins. The total web shop costs with WooCommerce range between €5 and €50 per month, depending on your hosting plan and the number of paid plugins you use.
- Pros: Fully customizable, no transaction fees, huge plugin library
- Cons: Technical knowledge required, you are responsible for updates and security yourself
- Suitable for: Entrepreneurs who want control and are willing to learn
Shopify
Shopify is an all-in-one platform where hosting, software and security are included. Web shop costs at Shopify start from €36 per month for the basic plan. On top of that you pay transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments. For an average web shop you end up at €36-€99 per month.
- Pros: User-friendly, everything included, good support
- Cons: Transaction fees with external payment providers, less flexible than open-source
- Suitable for: Beginners who want to start quickly without technical knowledge
Magento (Adobe Commerce)
Magento is a powerful enterprise platform for large web shops. The open-source version is free, but requires powerful VPS hosting (from €20-50/month). The commercial version (Adobe Commerce) costs thousands of euros per year. Web shop costs with Magento for the open-source version range between €50 and €200 per month including hosting.
- Pros: Extremely scalable, suitable for large catalogs, extensive features
- Cons: Complex, expensive hosting needed, a developer required
- Suitable for: Larger web shops with 1,000+ products
Lightspeed
Lightspeed is a Dutch platform that combines a web shop and a point-of-sale system. Web shop costs start from €59 per month. There are no transaction fees on top of the payment provider. For entrepreneurs with a physical store and a web shop, this is an interesting option.
- Pros: Dutch support, combination of online and offline, no transaction fees
- Cons: More expensive than WooCommerce, fewer theme options
- Suitable for: Retailers with a physical store who also want to sell online
Comparison table of web shop costs by platform
| Platform | Monthly cost | Transaction fees | Hosting included | Technical knowledge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WooCommerce | €5-50 | None | No (separate) | Medium |
| Shopify | €36-99 | 0-2% (external) | Yes | Low |
| Magento OS | €50-200 | None | No (separate) | High |
| Lightspeed | €59-119 | None | Yes | Low |
| PrestaShop | €5-30 | None | No (separate) | Medium |
Hidden costs to take into account
When calculating web shop costs, many entrepreneurs forget a number of important items. These hidden costs can inflate your budget considerably if you are not prepared for them.
Payment provider costs
Every web shop needs a payment provider to process online payments. Popular options in the Netherlands are Mollie, MultiSafepay and Adyen. The costs vary per payment method:
- iDEAL: €0.29 per transaction
- Credit card: 1.8-2.9% + €0.25 per transaction
- Bancontact: €0.39 per transaction
- Klarna: 2.99% + €0.29 per transaction
- PayPal: 2.9% + €0.35 per transaction
At 500 orders per month with iDEAL on average, you already pay €145 per month in transaction fees alone. This is a significant item in your web shop costs.
Plugin and extension costs
Most web shop platforms have basic functionality, but for extra features you need plugins or extensions. Think of SEO tools, email marketing integrations, inventory management or advanced shipping options. Premium plugins cost on average €30-100 per year per plugin. An average web shop uses 5-10 paid plugins, which comes to €150-1,000 per year.
Professional photos and content
Product photos are crucial for a successful web shop. Professional product photography costs €10-50 per product. With a range of 100 products, that is an investment of €1,000-5,000. In addition, you need product descriptions that are well written and SEO-optimized.
Marketing and advertising
A web shop without visitors generates no revenue. Count on a marketing budget of at least €200-500 per month for a starting web shop. This can be spent on:
- Google Ads (Shopping and Search)
- Social media advertising (Facebook, Instagram)
- Email marketing software (Mailchimp, Klaviyo)
- SEO optimization
Web shop costs by budget: three scenarios
To give you a realistic picture of web shop costs, we have worked out three scenarios. From a budget-friendly start to a professional setup.
Scenario 1: budget web shop (€50-100/month)
For starters who want to begin with a limited budget. You choose WooCommerce with cheap web hosting, a free theme and only free plugins. The web shop costs in this scenario:
- Hosting: €5/month
- Domain name: €1/month (€12/year)
- SSL: free (Let's Encrypt)
- Theme: free
- Plugins: free
- Payment provider: €30-50/month (at 100-150 orders)
- Total: €36-56 per month
Scenario 2: average web shop (€150-300/month)
For growing web shops that want to look professional. You choose a reliable platform with a premium theme and essential plugins. The web shop costs in this scenario:
- Hosting or platform: €30-60/month
- Domain name: €1/month
- Premium theme: €5/month (€60/year)
- Paid plugins: €10-30/month
- Payment provider: €80-120/month (at 300-400 orders)
- Email marketing: €20-50/month
- Total: €146-262 per month
Scenario 3: professional web shop (€500-1,500/month)
For established companies with a large range and high revenue. Including VPS hosting, professional design and extensive marketing. The web shop costs in this scenario:
- VPS hosting: €30-80/month
- Platform/licenses: €50-200/month
- Premium plugins and integrations: €50-100/month
- Payment provider: €200-400/month (at 700+ orders)
- Marketing: €200-500/month
- Technical maintenance: €50-150/month
- Total: €580-1,430 per month
How do you save on web shop costs?
There are several ways to lower web shop costs without giving up on quality. With the right strategy you can save hundreds of euros per month.
Choose the right hosting plan
Do not start with the most expensive hosting. A shared web hosting plan is more than enough for most starting web shops. Only when you grow to thousands of visitors per day do you need a VPS or dedicated server. At Theory7 you find reliable hosting from €3 per month that is suitable for WooCommerce and other web shop platforms.
Use free alternatives
Many paid plugins have free alternatives that work just as well. Use Let's Encrypt for your SSL certificate instead of a paid certificate. Choose a good free theme as a base and customize it to your house style.
Do it yourself where possible
You can already take professional product photos with a modern smartphone and a light box. You can write product descriptions yourself with the help of AI tools. And you can learn basic website maintenance with online tutorials.
Negotiate on payment costs
At higher volumes you can often negotiate lower transaction rates with your payment provider. Mollie, for example, offers volume discounts from 1,000 transactions per month. That quickly saves tens of euros per month in your web shop costs.
Web shop costs vs a physical store
A frequently asked question is how web shop costs compare to a physical store. The short answer: a web shop is almost always cheaper to start and maintain.
| Cost item | Web shop | Physical store |
|---|---|---|
| Rent/hosting | €5-80/month | €500-3,000/month |
| Fit-out/design | €0-500 (one-time) | €5,000-50,000 (one-time) |
| Staff | Not needed at start | At least 1 FTE (€2,000+/month) |
| Inventory | Dropshipping possible | Physical inventory needed |
| Reach | National/international | Local |
| Opening hours | 24/7 automatically | Limited |
The average web shop costs for a starting entrepreneur are around €100-200 per month. A physical store quickly costs €3,000-5,000 per month in fixed expenses. This makes a web shop the ideal way to do business with little risk.
When is it worth investing?
Not all web shop costs are equal. Some investments directly generate more revenue, while others are mainly expenses. Invest above all in:
- Product photography: good photos increase your conversion by 20-30%
- Fast hosting: every extra second of loading time costs you 7% conversion
- SEO optimization: free traffic in the long term, a higher ROI than advertising
- Email marketing: on average €36 return per euro invested
Save, on the other hand, on:
- Expensive custom designs (a good premium theme is usually enough)
- Too many paid plugins (start with the basics, expand later)
- Advanced features you do not need yet
Frequently asked questions about web shop costs
What does a web shop cost per month on average?
The average web shop costs are between €100 and €300 per month for a medium-sized web shop. This includes hosting, software, a payment provider and basic marketing. A budget web shop can start from €50 per month, while professional web shops cost €500-1,500 per month.
Can I start a web shop for free?
Completely free is difficult, but you can minimize web shop costs. With WooCommerce (free software), cheap hosting (€3/month) and free plugins you end up at less than €5 per month for the technical costs. You then only pay transaction fees per order.
Which is cheaper: Shopify or WooCommerce?
WooCommerce is almost always cheaper in terms of web shop costs. You only pay for hosting (from €5/month) and any plugins. Shopify starts from €36/month. The difference gets smaller if you need many premium plugins with WooCommerce.
What hidden costs does a web shop have?
The most frequently forgotten web shop costs are: transaction fees from your payment provider (€0.29+ per order), premium plugin licenses (€30-100/year per plugin), product photography (€10-50 per product) and marketing costs (€200-500/month).
How much does it cost to have a web shop built?
Having a professional web shop built by an agency costs between €3,000 and €15,000 for a standard web shop, and €15,000-50,000+ for a custom web shop. Building it yourself with a platform such as WooCommerce or Shopify is much cheaper.
When will I earn back my web shop investment?
With an average profit margin of 30% and web shop costs of €200/month, you need around €667 in revenue per month to break even. Most web shops reach this point within 3-6 months after launch.
