An eCommerce website in Australia typically costs A$5,000–$35,000 to build in 2026. A simple Shopify or WooCommerce store sits around A$5,000–$12,000; a custom-designed store with integrations runs A$15,000–$35,000; headless or enterprise builds start around A$40,000+. Ongoing platform, apps, and payment fees usually add A$100–$500+/month on top of the build.
Building an online store involves more variables than a standard business website. Platform choice, catalogue size, payments, and shipping all move the number. Below is a transparent 2026 AUD breakdown — including a direct Shopify vs WooCommerce vs custom comparison — so you can budget properly before you get quotes.
eCommerce Website Cost Summary
| Store Type | Initial Build (AUD) | Typical Monthly Costs |
|---|---|---|
| DIY Platform | $0–$2,000 | $30–$300 |
| Basic Store | $5,000–$12,000 | $50–$200 |
| Custom Store | $15,000–$30,000 | $100–$500 |
| Enterprise / Headless | $50,000–$200,000+ | $500–$5,000+ |
2026 Platform Pricing: Shopify vs WooCommerce vs Custom
| Shopify | WooCommerce | Custom / Headless | |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Best for** | Fast launch, non-technical owners | Ownership + content + flexibility | High volume, unique UX, max speed |
| **Build cost** | A$3,000–$15,000 | A$5,000–$20,000 | A$30,000–$150,000+ |
| **Platform / hosting** | A$39–$400+/mo | A$20–$100/mo hosting | A$50–$500/mo |
| **Transaction fees** | Platform + gateway (unless Shopify Payments) | Gateway only (~1.75–2.9%) | Gateway only |
| **First-year total** | A$5,000–$25,000 | A$6,000–$25,000 | A$40,000–$200,000+ |
| **Ownership** | Platform lock-in | You own the site | You own the stack |
Still deciding between Shopify and WooCommerce? Our deeper comparison of Shopify vs WooCommerce in Australia walks through ease of use, SEO, and long-term cost.
Platform Comparison
Shopify
Best for: Beginners, small-medium stores, quick launch
Costs:
- Basic plan: $59/month
- Shopify plan: $159/month
- Advanced: $599/month
- Transaction fees: 0.5-2% (unless using Shopify Payments)
- App costs: $0-$500/month depending on needs
Design/Setup costs: $3,000-$15,000 for professional setup
Total first year: $5,000-$25,000 including setup
WooCommerce (WordPress)
Best for: Full control, content-heavy stores, WordPress users
Costs:
- WooCommerce plugin: Free
- Hosting: $20-$100/month
- Theme: $0-$200
- Essential plugins: $200-$500/year
- Payment processing: 1.75-2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
Design/Setup costs: $5,000-$20,000 for professional build
Total first year: $6,000-$25,000 including setup
BigCommerce
Best for: Growing businesses, multi-channel selling
Costs:
- Standard plan: $39/month
- Plus plan: $105/month
- Pro plan: $399/month
- No transaction fees (payment processor fees still apply)
Design/Setup costs: $5,000-$20,000
Total first year: $7,000-$30,000 including setup
Custom/Headless
Best for: High-volume stores, unique requirements, maximum performance
Costs:
- Development: $30,000-$150,000+
- Hosting: $50-$500/month
- CMS/backend: $0-$500/month
- Ongoing development: Variable
Total first year: $40,000-$200,000+
What Affects eCommerce Website Cost?
1. Number of Products
Under 50 products: Simpler setup, lower cost
50-500 products: Medium complexity
500+ products: Needs robust organisation, filtering, search
Large catalogs need better navigation, search functionality, and often custom category pages.
2. Design Complexity
Template customisation: $2,000-$5,000
Custom design: $8,000-$20,000
Premium/unique design: $20,000-$50,000+
Custom product page layouts, unique checkout experiences, and branded packaging previews all add cost.
3. Required Features
Standard features (usually included):
- Product catalog
- Shopping cart
- Basic checkout
- Order management
- Customer accounts
Premium features (add $500-$5,000 each):
- Subscription/recurring orders
- Product customisation/configurator
- Advanced filtering and search
- Multi-currency support
- Loyalty/rewards program
- Advanced inventory management
- Wholesale/B2B functionality
- Custom shipping calculations
4. Integrations
Each integration with external systems adds cost:
- Accounting software (Xero, MYOB): $500-$2,000
- Inventory management: $1,000-$5,000
- Shipping providers: $500-$1,500
- CRM systems: $1,000-$3,000
- POS integration: $2,000-$10,000
5. Content and Photography
Product photos make or break online stores.
DIY photography: $500-$1,000 in equipment
Professional photography: $50-$200 per product
Lifestyle shoots: $1,000-$5,000 per shoot
For 100 products with professional photography: $5,000-$20,000
Ongoing eCommerce Costs
Platform/Hosting: $30-$500/month
Depends on your platform choice and traffic levels.
Payment Processing: 1.5-3% per transaction
Stripe, PayPal, Square — they all take a cut. Factor this into your margins.
Apps and Plugins: $0-$500/month
Reviews, email marketing, upsells, shipping apps. They add up quickly.
Maintenance: $100-$500/month
Updates, security, backups, minor fixes.
Marketing: Variable
SEO, Google Ads, social media — budget separately from website costs.
Transaction Fees: Platform dependent
Shopify charges 0.5-2% on top of payment processing unless you use Shopify Payments.
Cost by Business Stage
Just Starting Out: $5,000-$10,000
- Shopify or WooCommerce
- Template-based design
- Core features only
- DIY photography
- Minimal integrations
Established Business Going Online: $15,000-$30,000
- Custom design
- Professional photography
- Key integrations
- Migration of existing products
- SEO setup
Scaling Business: $30,000-$75,000
- Fully custom solution
- Advanced functionality
- Multiple integrations
- Performance optimisation
- Conversion optimisation
Enterprise: $100,000+
- Custom development
- Complex integrations
- Multiple stores/regions
- High-volume infrastructure
- Dedicated support
Hidden Costs to Budget For
SSL Certificate
Usually free with most hosts now, but verify.
Domain Name
$15-$50/year for .com.au
Email Marketing
Klaviyo, Mailchimp: $0-$500/month depending on list size
Returns Processing
Software and staff time to handle returns.
Customer Service
Chat widgets, help desk software: $0-$200/month
Tax Compliance
GST handling, potential accounting software costs.
Fraud Prevention
May need additional tools for high-volume stores.
Making the Right Investment
Don't Overbuild Initially
Start with what you need. Add features as you grow and understand your customers better.
Invest in Photography
Product photos matter more than fancy features. Budget appropriately.
Plan for Mobile
Over 60% of eCommerce traffic is mobile. Prioritise mobile experience.
Factor in Marketing
The best store means nothing without traffic. Budget for marketing from day one.
Consider Total Cost of Ownership
The cheapest platform isn't always cheapest long-term. Transaction fees, app costs, and development limitations add up.
Getting Quotes for Your Store
When requesting quotes, provide:
- Product count and types
- Must-have features
- Integration requirements
- Photography status
- Expected monthly orders
- Growth plans
- Budget range
This helps developers give accurate, comparable quotes.
Our eCommerce Pricing
At Blu Mint Digital, our eCommerce website design projects typically range from A$8,000 to A$35,000 depending on complexity. We work with WooCommerce, Shopify, and headless solutions — and we'll recommend the right fit rather than push a house preference. Melbourne retailers can also explore eCommerce website design in Melbourne.
Every project includes:
- Custom, conversion-focused design
- Mobile-first checkout experience
- SEO setup and product schema
- Payment and shipping configuration
- Training and documentation
Ready for a tailored quote? Get in touch. If you're still comparing platforms, our WordPress website design service covers WooCommerce builds, and our general how much a website costs in Australia guide puts store pricing in the wider market context.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an eCommerce website cost in Australia?
A professional online store typically costs A$5,000–$35,000 depending on product count, custom design, and integrations. Simple Shopify or WooCommerce stores sit at the lower end; bespoke or headless builds with complex catalogues sit higher. First-year totals including platform fees usually land between A$6,000 and A$25,000 for most small Australian stores.
Is WooCommerce or Shopify cheaper?
Shopify has lower upfront cost but ongoing monthly fees and transaction charges. WooCommerce has a higher build cost but no platform fees and full ownership. Over a few years the totals are often similar — the right choice depends on how hands-on you want to be. See our Shopify vs WooCommerce comparison for the full trade-off.
What ongoing costs come with an online store?
Budget for hosting or platform subscription, payment gateway fees, maintenance and security updates, and any premium apps or plugins. Shopify also charges a monthly subscription on top of transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments.
Can I start small and scale my online store later?
Yes. Many businesses launch with a focused catalogue and core features, then expand as sales grow. Building on a flexible platform from the start makes scaling far cheaper than rebuilding later.
How long does it take to build an online store?
A focused Shopify or WooCommerce store usually takes 4–8 weeks. Larger catalogues, custom design, or complex integrations (inventory, accounting, wholesale) typically run 8–12 weeks. Product photography and content readiness are the biggest timeline variables.