An eCommerce website in Australia typically costs A$5,000–$35,000 to build in 2026. A focused Shopify or WooCommerce store sits around A$5,000–$12,000; a custom-designed store with integrations runs A$15,000–$35,000; complex headless or enterprise work starts higher. Those are planning ranges, not a market tariff—the product catalogue, content, data migration and integrations decide the quote.
Building an online store involves more variables than a standard business website. Platform choice, catalogue size, payments, shipping, photography and operations all move the number. Below is a transparent AUD breakdown, including current published platform fees checked on 27 August 2026, so you can separate the build from the cost of running the store.
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+ |
Platform costs checked 27 August 2026
| Shopify | WooCommerce | Custom / headless storefront | |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Best for** | Predictable hosted operations and a quick path to market | Ownership, WordPress content and flexible infrastructure | A differentiated buying journey or unusual integration needs |
| **Core platform** | Paid monthly or annually | Free, open-source WooCommerce core | Still needs a commerce backend, payments and hosting |
| **Published platform cost** | Basic A$56/mo, Grow A$149/mo, Advanced A$575/mo when paid monthly | No platform subscription; hosting and extensions are selected separately | Depends on the selected backend and infrastructure |
| **Typical professional build** | A$5,000–$15,000 | A$6,000–$20,000 | A$30,000+ |
| **Extra transaction fee** | Applies when using a third-party payment provider; the rate depends on plan | WooCommerce takes no revenue share; the payment provider sets processing fees | Set by the commerce and payment providers |
| **Operational model** | Shopify hosts and operates the platform | You choose and manage the WordPress hosting stack | Your team or partner owns more technical responsibility |
Shopify's Australian pricing page also lists annual equivalents of A$42/month for Basic, A$114/month for Grow and A$431/month for Advanced. Prices and payment rates change, so verify the current Shopify Australia pricing before approving a budget. WooCommerce confirms that its core platform has no monthly subscription or revenue share; hosting and extensions are modular on the official WooCommerce pricing page.
Still deciding between the two? Our deeper Shopify vs WooCommerce comparison covers editing, ownership, SEO and long-term operating responsibility.
What the platform choice changes
Shopify
Shopify bundles hosting, checkout, product management and support into the subscription. It is usually the cleaner choice when the owner wants predictable operations and the store can work within Shopify's platform model. Budget beyond the plan for a theme or custom design, paid apps, content migration, payment processing and any specialist integration work.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is free software, but a production store still needs WordPress hosting, backups, security, updates and any paid extensions. It suits businesses that value ownership, content flexibility or control over infrastructure—and are prepared to maintain that stack properly.
Custom or headless storefront
A custom storefront does not remove the commerce platform underneath it. It replaces the customer-facing layer while retaining a backend such as Shopify or WooCommerce for catalogue, orders and checkout. Choose this route only when a distinct experience, performance requirement or integration justifies the extra build and ongoing development cost.
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
Rates vary by provider, card type and plan. Confirm the rate against your expected order value and payment mix rather than using one headline percentage.
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 publishes an additional fee when a third-party payment provider is used; WooCommerce itself takes no revenue share. Payment processing charges still apply either way.
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 a platform subscription, payment processing, maintenance, security, premium apps or extensions, and ongoing content. Shopify may also charge an additional fee when a third-party payment provider is used; using Shopify Payments removes that extra platform fee, not the underlying card-processing cost.
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.