How much does it cost to build and host an eCommerce website? The answer to this question isn't one-size-fits-all, as you probably guessed. A platform could cost anywhere from $5,000 to more than $5 million, depending on the requirements and platform.
Additionally, the price of building an eCommerce website extends beyond the initial website development cost. You should also count in costs associated with improved functionality, improvement of the user experience, and marketing.
A look at how eCommerce platforms impact costs. It may be possible for costs for similar functionality to vary dramatically depending on how complex or simple the eCommerce platform is as well as what the licensing costs are.
There are industry-specific solutions, integrated solutions based on ERP platforms, and software as a service (SaaS) offerings that are simple to set up and configure by business owners themselves. Our guide to selecting an eCommerce platform as well as an eCommerce requirements worksheet can be helpful if you would like more detailed information about eCommerce platforms.
In the worst-case scenario, SaaS offerings can cost as little as $20-$30 per month without any outside assistance (my colleague John Proctor gave a great interview on how to get started with these platforms).
Businesses without technical knowledge should not attempt to set up more configurable, customizable offerings like Magento and Magento Enterprise. Those who want to set up their store and incorporate basic configurations and training will spend a minimum of $5,000 with a good domestic vendor.
eCommerce Cost Is Affected By Web Design Choices.
Many platforms and software offerings offer design galleries, themes, and templates that can be easily applied to your website. Though they may not be the best fit for your business or give you a substantial competitive edge, these templates will save you lots of time and money.
Buying a theme will cost you $0 to $250, and making minor changes and customizations will cost $1,000 to $2,000 (more than changing the logo, but not a completely customized design). Getting into the custom design can lead to extremely expensive expenses. In a similar vein, a custom theme can cost anywhere between $10,000 and $100,000 depending on the scope, requirements, and level of customization.
The Impact Of Custom Programming And Functionality On Cost
You can integrate functionality developed by others into your website by using modules or extensions offered by many platforms (that are far less expensive than developing it independently).
Be sure to check for existing extensions before writing custom code before creating custom features. You should be aware, however, that some of the extensions are poorly written or implemented. Before recommending extensions to clients, Atlantic BT checks the extensions for quality, security, features, and support.
Custom development can quickly become costly if it isn't a known extension. Code that is 100% reliable, thoroughly tested, and secure will be developed by an eCommerce agency. It is more costly to build custom code than toss it together as fast as possible, but it can withstand more abuse in the long run. Extensions, for example, may break when you upgrade the core system, so even if it works at first, poor code may be costly later.
These questions should be considered when starting a Magento store, and there are several things to consider before doing so.
A Look At How Web Hosting Impacts eCommerce Costs
There are fewer variables and more predictability in hosting costs. Many SaaS offerings include some type of hosting as part of their package. The included limits for things such as storage, traffic, products, customers, and orders are something you will want to verify.
As your company grows and your needs expand, these solutions become increasingly expensive. Hosting costs range from $20 to $250 a month for a typical SaaS solution before you need to expand. The cost of hosting a custom eCommerce system likely starts somewhere around $300 a month for decent service and support, but that will not provide PCI (credit card security) compliance.
Hosted in a cloud or grid environment, the monthly hosting cost of a successful site that drives large volumes of traffic (with average requirements for redundancy, speed, scale, and security) can be upwards of $1,000 - $2,000 per month.
Summing It Up!
Online businesses that sell goods and services online have become increasingly popular. Nevertheless, before you can start one up, you'll need to invest in a professional eCommerce website design, a secure web hosting service, and more. Everyone needs the best eCommerce website development services for their business, and for this, you need to have the right understanding of the cost of developing an eCommerce website. We hope this article was able to give you the right insights of developing an eCommerce website so that you leave no room for mistakes while creating your perfect website.
Sign in to leave a comment.