What a Shopify build really costs
Quotes for Shopify work vary by an order of magnitude, which tells you the question is underspecified rather than that someone is overcharging.
The variation comes from a small number of factors, and once you can name them you can read a quote properly — and predict the cost that arrives after launch.
Typical build ranges#
| Scope | Usual range | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Standard theme, light customisation | $2,000 – $10,000 | Catalogue size and data quality |
| Serious theme build or migration | $15,000 – $50,000 | Real data, redirects, integrations |
| Custom app or integration | From $10,000 | Number of systems and their APIs |
| Headless storefront | Higher, plus ongoing team | Everything you now own |
What actually moves the number#
- Product data quality — the single largest hidden variable in any quote.
- Number of integrations, and whether their APIs are documented.
- How far the theme must move from standard.
- Number of markets, each with its own tax and content work.
- Whether anyone has written down what makes an order correct.
The bill after launch#
Plan, payment processing, apps and maintenance continue forever. Budget roughly 15–25% of build cost per year for maintenance — not because the code rots, but because the platform moves underneath it and somebody has to keep up.
A store with no maintenance budget does not stay still; it quietly falls behind until a rebuild is the only option.
How to compare two quotes#
Ask both to state their assumptions about product data, integrations and markets. The cheaper quote is usually cheaper because it assumed clean data and no integrations. Once assumptions are equal, the numbers converge remarkably fast.
Frequently asked questions
Why do quotes vary so much?
Because scope is usually underspecified. Data quality and integrations move the number more than design does.
Is a fixed price realistic?
For a well-defined theme build, yes. For a migration with unknown data quality, a phased approach protects both sides.
What should I budget for year two?
Plan and processing, app subscriptions, and 15–25% of build cost for maintenance.
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