What Does It Really Cost to Start an Online Store in the UK? (2026)

E-COMMERCE PRICING

The real cost of an online store in the UK, honestly broken down

Almost every e-commerce platform leads with "start for free", and almost none spell out what you'll actually pay once the store is live: a domain, a cut of every payment, hosting if it's not included, and often a price jump the moment you need more than the bare minimum. None of that makes running a store a bad idea — knowing the real numbers upfront just avoids an unpleasant surprise in month two.

The five real cost categories, explained

A .co.uk domain typically costs £10-15 a year. Payment processing takes a percentage of every sale (usually 2.5-3% plus a small fixed fee), regardless of platform. Hosting is sometimes bundled into the platform price, sometimes billed separately.

Beyond that, most platforms lock real functionality — enough products to run a proper store, a genuine payment account, shipping integrations with UK couriers — behind a paid tier. And if you want to trade legally, check whether terms of service, a privacy policy and UK GDPR cookie consent come included in the base price or get sold as a pricey add-on.

A realistic first-year budget in the UK

£0

for a basic store on a free plan

£10-15

a year for a .co.uk domain

~2.5-3%

typical payment processing fee per sale

£15-49

a month for a paid plan with real growth features

How to avoid overpaying

Check the free plan's real product limit

Some "free" plans cap at 5-10 products, not enough for a real store.

Check that legal pages are included

Terms, privacy policy and cookie consent should be auto-generated, not sold as an extra.

Confirm hosting is genuinely included

A platform that looks cheaper on paper can end up pricier with separate hosting.

Price the plan you'll need in three months

Compare the paid tier that unlocks a real payment account and enough products — not just the free entry plan.

Common questions about e-commerce pricing in the UK

Can I really start an online store for £0?

Yes — a free plan with working payments and a reasonable product limit is enough to launch and make first sales.

Do I have to pay extra for legal pages?

Not if your store builder generates them automatically from your business details — missing legal pages is a common, costly compliance gap in the UK.

Is a .co.uk domain worth the yearly cost?

For a business you plan to run long-term, yes — a subdomain looks noticeably less professional and trustworthy to UK customers.

What's the most commonly missed hidden cost?

Legal pages and payment methods like buy-now-pay-later, often locked behind a pricier paid tier.

Start a real online store free — see the real pricing before you commit.

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