How much does it cost to set up an online store?

Setting up an e-store is more than just creating a website. Many people, when planning to launch their own e-business, are unaware of the elements that make up its construction and functionality. From technology selection, through graphic design, to payment integration - each of these steps means costs. Check what the price of a ready-made e-store is.

Can you set up an online store for free?

Want to avoid large initial investments? Theoretically, free solutions exist, but they often come with limitations For example, you can use Open Source software (such as WooCommerce or PrestaShop). By using it, you will set up the store without incurring license costs, but you must take care of hosting, domain, and any modifications and technical support yourself. The question is, therefore, whether it is a cost-free solution.

Using free plugins can also be associated with, for example, the lack of your own domain or very limited personalization options. Or, as in the case of the Wix ecosystem - with a small space on the servers. Free hosting offers 500 MB of memory and 500 MB of bandwidth, which is sufficient for a small assortment, but may be insufficient for larger traffic or a growing assortment.

What does the price of creating an online store depend on?

Free solutions may be suitable for testing ideas (just as in Przelewy24 you can test payment solutions in a demo store), however, if you are planning to develop your business, sooner or later investments in more advanced functions and professional infrastructure will be necessary. The cost of creating an online store tailored to your needs will consist of:

purchasing a domain, i.e. the address of the website under which the store will operate - the cost depends on the ending (.com, .pl, .eu, etc.) and the registrar's commission and can range from several dozen to several hundred zlotys per year. The cheapest domains include those with .pl or .online endings, to definitely more expensive, m.in. .art, .expert or .diet. When buying a domain, pay attention to the price of its extension in the following years;
SSL certificate - to take care of security of your website and customer data, think about appropriate security measures. One of them is an SSL certificate, i.e. an encrypted version of the http protocol. Most often, the certificate can be ordered from your domain registrar, the price depends on the degree of security and the type of verification. For small stores, the price is approx. PLN 150 per year (in the first year you can count on promotions), for large companies approx. PLN 400/year;
hosting, i.e. space on the server where the files of your store will be stored - prices start from about PLN 100 per year for basic packages, but with more traffic or more demanding functions can reach several hundred zlotys per month;
e-commerce platform - this will be one of the most important factors influencing the total cost of creating and maintaining the store. You can choose free Open Source software, such as WooCommerce or PrestaShop. However, as we mentioned, although theoretically it is free, you will probably have to bear the cost of its installation and configuration by a web developer (this usually means a one-time expense of several or several thousand zlotys depending on the size of the project and additional implementations), and additionally you have to reckon with fees for hosting, plugins and updates. Alternatively, you can use SaaS platforms (e.g. Shopify, Shoper), which offer ready-made solutions in a subscription model. In this case, the monthly fee ranges from about 50 to even several hundred zlotys, depending on the functions and package;
graphic design and personalization - ready-made templates are often free. However, if you care about a unique design, you have to reckon with an expense of several to several thousand zlotys for the work of a professional graphic designer and developer who will implement his design;
integration with the payment system - in the case of Przelewy24, integration of the e-store with the payment system does not require a subscription fee. At the start, you only pay an activation fee (PLN 59), which is refundable provided you make 10 transactions within the first two months of cooperation. We also offer free, ready-made plugins for the most popular e-commerce platforms such as WooCommerce, PrestaShop, Magento and Shopify in various versions.

What payment methods offered by Przelewy24 will you make available in your store?

How to finance the setting up of an online store?

The costs mentioned above add up to an amount from several hundred to even several tens of thousands of zlotys, depending on the scale and specifics of the project. If you do not have sufficient funds to start, there are several ways to finance the setting up of an online store. It can be a loan for companies (such as PragmaGo x Przelewy24 Finance, now also available for new Przelewy24 partners), an EU or government subsidy, crowdfunding or leasing software or equipment. However, please note that the last option, unlike the first, does not give the possibility of, for example, paying for the work of a specialist who will implement the software, marketing or training in the use of the e-commerce platform.

The method of financing for the company should be taken into account already at the planning stage of setting up an online store. If you are looking for flexible solutions tailored to the needs of your business, check the PragmaGo x Przelewy24 Finance offer, which will allow you to cover the costs associated with launching and developing an e-store.