Ready to Start Selling on Shopify? Here’s What They Don’t Tell You…
You’ve heard the hype. You’ve seen the success stories. Shopify is everywhere. But there’s one burning question on every aspiring entrepreneur’s mind in 2025:
How much does it actually cost to launch a store on Shopify—from setup to scale?
Spoiler alert: You can technically get started for just $1/month… but if you’re serious about selling, the real investment goes much deeper. And here’s the twist—it’s not just about price. It’s about strategy.
In this guide, you won’t just discover the dollar amounts. You’ll uncover the decisions that determine whether you’re wasting money—or building a profitable ecommerce empire.
Let’s break it all down, piece by piece.
The True Cost of Selling on Shopify: Quick Snapshot
Here’s a high-level overview before we dig into the details:
- Startup Budget: You can launch with $1/month, but we recommend setting aside at least $300 to start smart.
- One-time or annual expenses: $0 – $409.95+
- Monthly costs: Can range from $1 to $2,739, depending on your tools, traffic, and strategy.
Now—how do these costs add up? And what’s worth your money?
Let’s explore each piece of the Shopify puzzle.
1. Shopify Subscription Plans: Where Your Journey Begins
Every Shopify store starts with a subscription—and not all plans are created equal.
Shopify makes it easy to launch with a low barrier to entry. You’ll get:
- 3-day free trial
- Then just $1/month for 3 months (A steal!)
- After that, regular pricing kicks in depending on your chosen plan.
2. Transaction Fees: The Hidden Cost You Might Overlook
Here’s something beginners often ignore: The percentage Shopify takes from every sale.
Yes, even after paying for your monthly plan, Shopify charges processing fees based on your chosen plan—unless you use Shopify Payments.
Transaction Fees by Plan:
- Starter – 5%
- Basic – 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
- Shopify – 2.75% + $0.30
- Advanced – 2.5% + $0.30
- Plus – 2.15% + $0.30
🧠 Reality check: These fees matter a lot once you begin generating real revenue. The difference between 5% and 2.15% could be thousands of dollars annually.
3. Shopify Apps: Power Tools or Budget Drainers?
Let’s get one thing straight: Shopify out of the box is solid—but limited.
To take things to the next level—whether it’s email automation, upsells, reviews, or shipping management—you’ll need apps. Some are free; others come with a monthly price tag.
Typical App Costs:
- Free apps: Limited functionality but useful for getting started
- Pro apps: Range from $5 to $200/month
Examples of popular paid apps:
- Klaviyo: Email marketing
- Loox: Product Reviews
- ReConvert: Upsells & Thank You Pages
💡 Warning: Costs can spiral quickly if you’re not careful. Be selective.
Estimated costs: $0 – $200/month
4. Themes: Free vs Paid—Which Is Worth It?
Your Shopify theme controls your storefront’s look, feel, and user experience. And believe it or not, your design plays a big role in conversions.
Options:
- Free Themes – Clean and simple (e.g. Dawn, Sense, Refresh)
- Paid Themes – More features + customization
- Monthly: Around $29/month
- Lifetime Licenses: $350 – $400 (one-time)
🌟 Pro Tip: Start free, but upgrade once you’re getting traffic.
Theme costs: $0 – $150/month or $400 one-time
Domain Name: Your Brand’s First Impression
Using your free Shopify subdomain (e.g. yourstore.myshopify.com)? It looks… amateur.
If you want to be taken seriously, go for a custom domain.
Domain Pricing:
- Free: Subdomain (not recommended)
- Custom domain via Shopify: $16/year
- Custom domain via Namecheap or Google Domains: As low as $9.98/year
✅ A professional domain builds trust—and it’s a tiny cost with a big ROI.
Domain costs: $0 – $16/year
6. Shopify POS (If You’re Also Selling Offline)
Planning to sell in physical locations too? Shopify’s Point Of Sale (POS) system has options.
Shopify POS Costs:
- POS Lite (included): $0
- POS Pro (advanced features): $89/month
📦 Who needs this? Brick-and-mortar business owners or those doing pop-up shops.
POS costs: $0 – $89/month
Additional (Surprising) Costs Worth Noting
These optional costs can sneak up on your budget, depending on how professional and scalable you want your store to be.
Other Expenses:
- Logo design: Free (Shopify’s logo maker) or $25 – $150+
- Custom web design/development: $50 – $500+
- Payment processor fees (non-Shopify Payments): 0.15% – 3.49% + $0.30
- Ongoing maintenance/freelancers: Varies
⏳ These costs are optional, but investing in a strong brand and fast site can pay long-term dividends.
Real Talk: So, Can You Start on Shopify for Free?
Technically, yes. But let’s be honest…
Without a custom domain, apps, or a proper theme, your store will look like a side hustle—not a serious business.
Minimum “realistic” startup stack:
- Shopify Basic Plan: $39/month
- Custom Domain: $10 – $16/year
- 2-3 Essential Apps: ~$25/month
- Paid Theme (Optional): ~$29/month
Total (Month 4+): Around $75 – $95/month, not including marketing.
Is Shopify Worth It? Or Overhyped?
Shopify isn’t the cheapest. But is it overpriced?
Not even close. You’re getting:
- Reliable hosting
- Built-in marketing tools
- Powerful integrations
- Premier design flexibility
- A network of experts, apps, and community support
For what you get, Shopify may be the smartest ecommerce investment on the planet in 2025.
Your Shopify Launch Checklist
Still not sure whether it’s time to dive in? Use this final action list:
- ✅ Know your budget (Aim for $300+ upfront)
- ✅ Choose your Shopify plan wisely
- ✅ Test free apps, then upgrade as needed
- ✅ Invest in a custom domain immediately
- ✅ Consider additional launch tools (theme, logo, etc.)
- ✅ Be strategic—spend where it matters
Your First Dollar Could Be The Start Of A Million
Shopify makes it temptingly simple to launch your first store—with starter plans as low as $1/month and an interface that even your grandma could figure out.
But here’s the truth: Sellers who succeed treat their Shopify store like a business… not a digital lemonade stand.
That means budgeting wisely, understanding the real costs involved, and making every expense move you closer to revenue.
🎯 So if you’re ready to go from side-hustle to six-figure brand—Shopify is your playground.
Now you know the true cost—are you ready to launch?
