Building a Shopify Store: Costs, Tips and Real Stories from Business Owners
Shopify has emerged as one of the leading choices of entrepreneurs as a platform for building an eCommerce website. According to builtWith, the platform has 7M+ customers and 4M+ live websites.
With its user-friendly interface, customizable features, and extensive support, Shopify has empowered countless business owners to turn their ideas into profitable online stores. Read this article for valuable insights on the costs involved, along with essential tips for successful Shopify website development. This post also shares some real Shopify success stories from business owners.
Understanding Shopify website development costs
The associated costs are one of the first considerations of building a successful Shopify store. While Shopify offers a range of pricing plans to suit different business needs, several vital expenses must be considered.
Shopify subscription fees
Shopify offers different subscription plans, and each comes with its own set of features and pricing. The available plans are:
- Basic Shopify: Starting at $29 per month
- Shopify: Starting at $79 per month
- Advanced Shopify: Starting at $299 per month
- Shopify Plus: Custom pricing for enterprise-level businesses
These subscription fees include necessary costs related to website hosting, SSL certificate, abandoned cart recovery, and access to Shopify’s admin panel.
Domain name
Establishing a unique domain name is essential for branding and credibility. While Shopify provides a free ‘myshopify.com’ domain, businesses often purchase a custom domain for a unique brand identity. Domain registration typically costs around $10 to $20 per year, depending on the chosen domain registrar.
Theme and design
Shopify offers a variety of free and premium themes to customize the appearance of your website. Free themes provide basic customization options, while premium themes offer more advanced features and design elements. The pricing of premium themes ranges from $100 to $300, depending on the complexity and functionality.
Transaction fees
Along with the monthly subscription fee, you will also have to pay a transaction fee (when not using ‘Shopify payments’) for every purchase made through your store.
Alternatively, you can use Shopify Payments, Shopify’s integrated payment gateway, which eliminates transaction fees for sales made through this system.
Shopify store optimization
Depending on your technical expertise and requirements, you may need to opt for expert assistance for your Shopify store optimization needs. This decision may entail hiring Shopify developers for tasks such as theme customization, custom app development, integration with third-party systems, and SEO optimization. The cost of development and customization services can vary significantly depending on the complexity of the project and the rates charged by developers or agencies.
Tips for building a successful Shopify store
Choose the right theme
Your store’s theme plays a crucial role in creating a visually appealing and user-friendly customer experience. Shopify offers a variety of free and premium themes, so take the time to explore your options and choose a theme that aligns with your brand and product offerings.
Optimize Shopify store to make it mobile-responsive
With an increasing number of consumers shopping on mobile devices, ensuring your Shopify store is optimized for mobile users is essential. This can be done by choosing a responsive theme that adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes. Once you optimize your Shopify store, test its performance on different devices frequently. However, executing these tasks necessitates technical expertise. Therefore, if you lack the necessary technical support, you should not invest much time in struggling with these tasks; instead, opt for Shopify development services from professional developers.
Invest in quality imagery
Top-notch product images play a crucial role in effectively showcasing your products and enticing customers to make a purchase. You must invest in professional photography or utilize high-resolution images to ensure your products appear at their best in your online store. This will ensure that the intricate details of the product are perfectly projected.
Streamline the checkout process
A smooth and efficient checkout process can significantly impact your conversion rates. It is essential to minimize the number of steps required for customers to complete a purchase. You must offer multiple payment options and provide clear instructions to guide customers through the checkout process.
Real Shopify success stories from business owners
Let’s delve into the inspiring success stories of two businesses that have harnessed Shopify’s potential to achieve remarkable growth and success.
Angelus Direct
Source: shopify.com/in/success-stories/angelus-direct
Angelus Direct is a leading provider of premium shoe care and customized products. They have brilliantly used Shopify’s features and functionalities to build a visually appealing online store with seamless navigation and intuitive user experience.
Using Shopify as their website development platform, they set up an appealing online store and reached a global audience of sneaker enthusiasts and artists. The firm has seen a growing demand for its niche products with the Shopify store.
By leveraging Shopify’s extensive app ecosystem, including MailChimp, Referral Candy, Adroll, Shipstation, and others, they enhanced their store with features such as product customization tools, automated order processing, and personalized customer engagement.
However, in addition to choosing Shopify for website development, Angelus Direct leveraged marketing initiatives and collaborations with influencers and artists. This helped it to successfully position itself as a leader in the shoe care and customization industry, driving significant growth and brand recognition.
Silk Laundry
Source: shopify.com/in/success-stories/silk-laundry
Silk Laundry is a fashion brand specializing in luxurious silk clothing. It has used Shopify and leveraged its extensive customization options to develop a visually appealing online store. This helped it showcase its timeless designs and elevate the online shopping experience for its customers.
Furthermore, with Shopify’s ability to seamlessly integrate with social media platforms, Silk Laundry has extended its customer reach and engaged with its target audience effectively, driving traffic and sales.
By prioritizing customer satisfaction and investing in quality products and customer service, Silk Laundry has cultivated a loyal following of fashion-forward individuals who appreciate the brand’s commitment to style, sustainability, and craftsmanship.
Conclusion
Building a Shopify store offers business owners a powerful medium to showcase their products and reach a global audience. While costs are involved, the potential for success is limitless with the right development strategies and dedication. Following the tips outlined in this article and drawing inspiration from Shopify success stories, aspiring eCommerce entrepreneurs can start their online businesses with confidence and enthusiasm.
Author Bio : Nathan Smith is an experienced web and app developer, currently working with TechnoScore- a leading eCommerce development company. As a technology enthusiast, he is passionate about sharing his web and application development knowledge through his articles. Nathan keeps himself up-to-date with all the latest trends, innovations, and disruptions happening in and around the IT industry. He is also keen on sharing his ideas and understanding of the innovations in the IT domain with individuals and entrepreneurs interested in the trade.
