E-commerce solution pricing
Costs for an e-commerce solution can range from the hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars. Pricing usually depends on what type of back end system you choose, as well as the size and complexity of the store. See what other BuyerZone users paid for e-commerce development.
Off-the-shelf e-commerce software can be purchased for as little as a few hundred dollars. When considering total costs, remember to include the time it will take your employees to learn the software, create the store, and integrate it with your website.
Initial development costs for a low-end e-commerce website from an e-commerce development company can be as little as $1,500. However for that price you'll get very little in the way of support for multiple product options, connections to inventory systems, or customization. For an average online store, typical prices are $3,000 to $5,000. Added features such as extensive cross selling, advanced search, and custom integration will add to your total cost. Keep in mind that e-commerce sites are more technically challenging to build than static web sites, since they require the services of a programmer or experienced e-commerce developer.
E-commerce packages
When using an e-commerce development vendor, you may be offered a "packaged" store option that includes everything you'll need for one set price. This can be a good deal for more straightforward stores. However even if you start with a package deal, you'll probably want some customization or additional features, which are usually be billed by the hour (from $50 to $200).
More complex development projects are usually billed by the hour from the beginning, based on an estimate the vendor will provide. Make sure you have a clear understanding of how far over the estimate they can go before they have to come back to you for approval.
When thinking about packages or hourly billing, keep in mind that many e-commerce providers offer additional services, including:
- Social media profile setup and management
- Blog setup, writing, and management
- Search engine optimization (SEO) services
- Additional web design services
- Consulting
- Store and website maintenance
If you expect to need these types of services, you may be pay for blocks of time in advance, and you may get discounts for buying more hours. For example, 10 pre-paid hours could cost $400, but 100 only $2500. Or, they may be included in a package deal. Pricing options vary widely, so our best advice is to get the details in writing from each provider you talk to so you can accurately compare them later.
Ongoing costs
Once your site is developed, expect to pay $10-$50 per month if you chose an online e-commerce solution, depending on the number of products, options, and your store's volume. If you run the e-commerce system in-house, you won't have to concern yourself with that monthly fee.
