How Much Does It Really Cost to Start an Online Store in 2026?

E-COMMERCE PRICING

The real cost of starting an online store, broken down honestly

Almost every e-commerce platform advertises a "start free" banner, and almost none of them tell you upfront what you will actually be paying once the store is live: a domain, a payment processor cut, hosting if it is not bundled, and often a jump in price the moment you need more than the absolute basics. None of that makes starting a store a bad idea — it is genuinely one of the lowest-cost businesses to launch — but knowing the real numbers up front avoids an unpleasant surprise in month two.

The five real cost categories, explained

A custom domain (yourbrand.com instead of yourbrand.platform.com) typically runs $10–$20 a year — small, but not zero. Payment processing takes a percentage of every sale (commonly 2.5–3% plus a small fixed fee) regardless of which platform you use, because that fee goes to the card networks and processor, not the store builder. Hosting is sometimes bundled into the platform price and sometimes a separate line item, so it is worth checking explicitly rather than assuming.

Beyond that, most platforms gate real functionality — enough products to actually run a business, multiple languages, your own payment account, shipping integrations — behind a paid tier once the free plan's limits are hit. The honest way to compare platforms is to price the tier you will actually need in three months, not the free tier you start on today.

A realistic first-year budget breakdown

to launch a basic store on a free tier

$10–20

a year for a custom domain

~3%

payment processing fee per sale, industry-wide

$15–49

a month for a paid tier with real growth features

How to avoid overpaying

Check the real free-tier product limit

Some "free" plans cap you at 5–10 products, which is not enough to actually run a store — compare the real limit, not just the price.

Confirm hosting is actually included

A platform that looks cheaper on paper can end up more expensive once you add separate hosting and a domain-connection fee.

Watch for a currency-only trial trap

Some platforms show attractive local pricing but bill in a different currency at checkout — always confirm what currency the actual charge happens in.

Price the tier you will need in three months

Compare the paid tier that unlocks your own payment account and enough products for real inventory, not just the entry-level free plan.

Frequently asked questions about e-commerce pricing

Can I really start an online store with $0?

Yes — a free tier with a subdomain, a working payment setup, and a reasonable product limit is enough to launch and start selling. The costs above (domain, payment fees) mostly scale with your actual sales, not with starting the store.

Why do platforms take a percentage of every sale?

That fee goes primarily to the payment processor and card networks, not the store builder — it is close to universal across platforms because it reflects the real cost of processing a card payment securely.

Is a custom domain worth the yearly cost?

For a business you plan to run for more than a few months, yes — a subdomain (yourstore.platform.com) looks noticeably less professional and can affect customer trust at checkout.

What is the biggest hidden cost people forget?

Multi-language support and shipping integrations, if you plan to sell beyond one country — these are frequently locked behind a higher paid tier and are easy to underestimate when comparing platforms on price alone.

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

Compare Wommerce plans