Guide
What it costs to run a Shopify store in India
Published 4 min read
“How much does a Shopify store cost?” has two answers: what it costs to build, and what it costs to run every month. This guide is about the second, because those are the costs that stay with you after launch. The amounts depend on the plans and providers you choose, so we’ve explained what each cost is and where to check the current price, rather than quoting numbers that change.
| Cost | When you pay | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify plan | Monthly or yearly | Shopify |
| Domain name | Yearly | Domain registrar or Shopify |
| Theme | Free, or a one-time price for paid themes | Theme developer |
| Apps | Free, or usually monthly | App developers |
| Payment fees | On each online payment | Payment provider and Shopify |
| Shipping | On each parcel | Shipping partner |
The Shopify plan
Shopify charges a subscription for the platform: the website, checkout, product catalogue and order dashboard. There are several plans, and paying yearly usually costs less per month than paying monthly. Prices for India are on Shopify’s India pricing page (opens in a new tab). Most new stores start on the entry plan and move up when sales justify it.
Domain name
Your own web address, such as yourbrand.in or yourbrand.com, renewed every year. You can buy it through Shopify or any domain registrar.
Theme
The theme is the design template that controls how the store looks. Shopify has free themes, and paid themes are usually a one-time purchase. A free theme, set up well, is enough for many stores.
Apps
Apps add features such as product reviews, COD order forms or WhatsApp notifications. Some are free; many charge monthly, often in US dollars. Apps are the cost that grows quietly: a few small subscriptions add up, so review your app bills every month and remove what you don’t use.
Payment fees
Every online payment carries your payment provider’s fee, plus GST on that fee. Because Shopify Payments isn’t available in India, Shopify also charges a fee for using an outside provider, which depends on your plan. Cash-on-delivery orders don’t carry Shopify’s fee. Our payment provider guide explains this in more detail.
Shipping
You pay per parcel, based on weight, size and distance. COD orders usually cost extra, and parcels that come back (RTO) are often charged both ways. See our shipping guide for what to compare.
Costs outside the store
Packaging, product photography, marketing and ads, and accounting are part of running an online business too. Ask your accountant about GST and any other registrations your business needs.
And our fee?
Building the store is a separate, one-time project. We quote it after a short discovery conversation, based on what your store needs. The running costs above are paid directly to each provider, and in discovery we talk through which are likely to apply to you.
What to take from it
- The regular costs are the Shopify plan, domain, apps, payment fees and shipping.
- Check current prices on each provider’s own pricing page; they change.
- Online payments carry both the provider’s fee and Shopify’s fee in India.
- Review app subscriptions monthly: they add up.
Planning a new store? Answer 5 quick questions or tell us what you sell.