- Your main costs are the Shopify plan, a theme, apps, payment gateway fees, and design and setup work.
- Platform and app costs are monthly; theme and setup are mostly one-time.
- A DIY store can start small, while a professionally built store costs more upfront but usually converts better.
- Always check Shopify's India pricing page for current plan prices before budgeting.
1. The Shopify plan
Shopify charges a monthly subscription. In India it offers several plans, from an entry-level plan for new stores to advanced plans for larger brands, and the prices change from time to time. Paying annually is usually cheaper than paying monthly. Check shopify.com/in/pricing for current numbers before you budget.
Most new D2C brands start on the entry-level or standard plan and upgrade later when order volume, staff accounts or reporting needs grow.
2. Theme: free or premium
Shopify has good free themes, and premium themes from the Shopify Theme Store are a one-time purchase. A premium theme gives you better layouts and features out of the box, which saves design and development time.
Fully custom designs cost more but help premium brands stand out. For most brands, a well-customised premium theme is the best value.
3. Apps and integrations
Apps add features such as reviews, WhatsApp chat, upsells, subscriptions, loyalty and advanced filters. Many have free plans, but popular paid apps are billed monthly, often in US dollars. Costs add up quickly, so we recommend starting with only what you need:
- Reviews and ratings
- WhatsApp chat or order notifications
- Shipping and tracking (for example Shiprocket)
- SEO and image optimisation where needed
4. Payment gateway and transaction fees
To accept UPI, cards, net banking and wallets in India you connect a gateway such as Razorpay, Cashfree, PhonePe or PayU. Gateways charge a percentage per transaction, and Shopify may also charge its own transaction fee on some plans when you use a third-party gateway. Check both before deciding.
Cash on delivery is popular in India but increases returns. Many brands offer COD with a small fee or limit it to certain pin codes.
5. Design, setup and content
This is where costs vary the most. You can build a store yourself, hire a freelancer or work with an agency. A professional setup usually covers:
- Theme customisation and mobile-first page design
- Product upload, collections and variants
- Payments, shipping rules, taxes and GST invoices
- Policies, legal pages and contact details
- SEO basics, Google Analytics 4 and Meta Pixel
Product photography and copywriting are often the most underrated costs, and the ones that most affect conversion rates.
6. Cost summary
| Cost head | Type | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify plan | Monthly / annual | Plan level, billing cycle |
| Theme | One-time | Free vs premium vs custom |
| Apps | Monthly | Number and type of apps |
| Payment fees | Per order | Gateway, plan, payment method |
| Design & setup | One-time | DIY, freelancer or agency; catalog size |
| Marketing | Monthly | Ads, SEO, social media, content |
7. Should you hire an agency?
If you have more time than budget, building it yourself is possible. If you want a store that looks premium, loads fast on mobile and is set up properly for payments, shipping, SEO and tracking from day one, a specialist saves you months of trial and error.
At Bombay Marketing we quote a fixed price after a free call, so you know the full cost upfront. See our ecommerce website development service and our recent stores.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shopify expensive for a small Indian business?
Shopify has a monthly fee, but it includes hosting, security and updates. For many small brands the time saved and the reliability are worth it. If you need the lowest possible running cost and have technical help, WooCommerce can be cheaper to run.
Do I need a GST number to start a Shopify store?
GST registration requirements depend on your turnover and the products you sell, and selling online across states has specific rules. Speak to your chartered accountant before you launch.
Can I accept cash on delivery on Shopify?
Yes. Shopify supports cash on delivery, and Indian shipping partners can collect COD payments for you.
How long does it take to launch a Shopify store?
A focused store with a few dozen products can go live in a few weeks once products, photos and content are ready.