How Much Does It Cost to Build an eCommerce Platform on Shopify Plus?

As businesses expand their operations worldwide, the need for a scalable eCommerce platform becomes paramount. Shopify Plus, a premier enterprise eCommerce platform offered by Shopify, emerges as a strategic partner for enterprises that want to elevate their brand’s digital presence to unprecedented heights.

Enterprises, with their expansive product catalogs and diverse customer bases, require a digital storefront that transcends the ordinary store. An eCommerce platform built on Shopify Plus becomes the nerve center, facilitating seamless transactions, managing intricate inventories,  and crafting unparalleled online experiences. It is not just a means of selling; it is a manifestation of a brand’s commitment to excellence.

When it comes to Shopify Plus website development cost, companies often grapple with the development expenses for Shopify Plus eCommerce website. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to answer it, it varies depending on numerous factors, including the project’s size, complexity, and industry (more details later).

On average, the cost to develop an online store on Shopify Plus could range from $25,000 to $200,000 or more. The costs include not only developing the platform but also the license fee and the ongoing expenses of keeping the platform appealing to its users. In some cases, it also includes the cost to upgrade from Shopify to Shopify Plus.

Let’s delve deeper to understand the Shopify Plus website development cost, its features, and the process of building one for your growing brand.

Shopify Plus – An Exemplary Platform for eCommerce Store Development

Launched in 2014, Shopify Plus is trusted by many successful companies worldwide, including Heinz, Red Bull, Kylie Cosmetics, Tesla, Fashion Nova, Nestle Nespresso, and more. The Plus option is geared toward the needs of high-growth brands, online merchants, and enterprise-level businesses.

It boasts an array of features designed to empower large-scale businesses. This includes advanced automation tools, multi-channel selling capabilities, and unlimited bandwidth. The platform’s robust API infrastructure allows for seamless integrations with third-party applications, enhancing functionality and providing a tailored experience for both businesses and customers.

The platform is optimized to handle high volumes of orders, transactions, inventory, and visitors, providing a streamlined approach to eCommerce. With a focus on providing seamless user experiences, this premium eCommerce platform guarantees faster checkout times, a 99.99% uptime promise, and access to valuable integrations like Shop Pay, Shopify Flow, and Launchpad.

While several eCommerce platforms exist, Shopify Plus stands out for its balance of power and user-friendliness. A comparison with other platforms like Magento or WooCommerce will highlight the differences in scalability, ease of use, and overall cost of eCommerce platform development.

Factors Affecting Shopify Plus Website Development Cost

Building an eCommerce website on Shopify Plus involves many factors contributing to the overall development cost. Understanding these elements is essential for businesses calculating the cost to develop an online store on Shopify Plus or a similar venture. Here are some key factors that influence the custom Shopify website cost:

1. Custom Themes and Design

The complexity of the design elements and the need for a seamless user experience contribute to the overall website development cost. While Shopify Plus provides 100+ customizable themes, crafting a digital storefront that resonates with your brand identity requires investing in custom themes and design.

2. Features and Functionalities

The heart of user satisfaction lies in the functionality of your eCommerce platform. Introducing advanced features, such as personalized shopping experiences, AI-driven recommendations, chatbots, and a seamless checkout process, enhances user engagement while intensifying the complexity of development. Each added feature brings both technical intricacies and associated expenses.

3. Project Size and Complexity

Another important factor that affects the Shopify Plus website development cost is the project’s size and complexity. A larger online store with tons of pages and product categories costs way more than a basic website.

4. Third-Party App Integration

Enhancing the functionality of your eCommerce platform often involves integrating third-party apps. These apps bring diverse capabilities, from marketing tools to advanced analytics. While their integration can significantly elevate your platform, it also incurs additional costs. The strategic selection of third-party apps that align with your business objectives is key to optimizing these integration costs.

5. Payment Gateway

While Shopify has its own in-house payment gateways, it might be possible that your customers don’t use Shopify’s payment system. It is where businesses need to incorporate third-party payment gateways like Google Pay, Apple Pay, credit & debit cards, etc. Shopify supports 100+ payment gateways.

The integration of a payment gateway into your eCommerce platform is a critical decision. Beyond the initial setup costs, transaction charges, and potential currency conversion fees, the choice of payment gateways profoundly influences the overall cost structure.

6. Importing Product Data

Migrating your product catalog to Shopify Plus involves more than a simple transfer. The intricacies of product attributes, images, and descriptions necessitate meticulous planning and execution. The more extensive the product catalog, the more resources are required for a seamless transition, influencing the cost and effort involved.

7. Regulatory Compliances

Depending on your industry, there may be compliance requirements and regulatory costs. Ensure your platform aligns with relevant standards and regulations. This may require platform developers to navigate complex regulatory landscapes and implement essential features to meet specific industry standards. Ensuring a robust and compliant eCommerce operation requires additional effort and resources, thus adding to the overall development costs.

8. Maintenance and Updates

Ensuring the long-term success and performance of your eCommerce platform necessitates ongoing maintenance. This includes regular updates for security patches, bug fixes, and general platform upkeep. Therefore, allocating resources for maintenance is a strategic investment. Neglecting maintenance can lead to vulnerabilities, glitches, and potential downtime, incurring higher costs in the long run.

9. Shopify Plus License

Gaining access to the advanced features and dedicated support offered by Shopify Plus comes with a subscription cost. This recurring license fee is an essential consideration in the overall eCommerce app development cost. The license grants you entry into a realm of scalability, customization, and reliability tailored for enterprise-level operations.

While it adds to the operational expenses, calculating this expense is essential to ensure the sustained success of your eCommerce venture. The Shopify Plus plan costs $2,000 monthly for standard setups. The fee option flexes for more complex and higher-volume businesses.

10. The Developer’s Locations

Just like in any area, the cost to develop an eCommerce website on Shopify Plus can be smaller or larger depending on the geographical locations of the eCommerce development services provider. For instance, developers in the UK, US, and Australia often charge higher than those in Asia or Africa.

Shopify Plus Features for eCommerce Development

Shopify Plus, tailored for enterprise-level e-commerce, boasts a robust set of features that empower businesses to create and manage scalable online stores. Here are essential Shopify Plus features for eCommerce development:

1. Scalability

Shopify Plus is designed to grow with your business. It provides a robust and scalable infrastructure capable of handling high volumes of traffic, transactions, and product listings. This scalability ensures that your eCommerce store can adapt to your business’s evolving needs and users’ demands.

2. Customization

Shopify Plus allows for extensive customization of your online store. From the user interface to the checkout process, businesses can tailor the platform to match their brand identity and unique requirements. This level of customization fosters an immersive shopping experience for customers.

3. Security and Compliance

Shopify Plus offers robust features to protect against cyber security fraud, data breaches, and other malicious threats. The platform also complies with SCIM and SAML protocols and industry regulatory standards, reducing the burden on businesses to manage these aspects independently. Shopify Plus upholds PCI Level 1 compliance for credit card processing, showing its commitment to maintaining the industry’s most stringent server compliance standards.

4. Advanced Analytics and Reporting

Shopify Plus provides businesses with analytics tools to gain deep insights into customer behavior, sales trends, and website performance. This data-driven approach empowers businesses to make informed decisions and optimize their marketing strategies for better results.

5. Automated Operations

The platform includes automation tools that streamline various operational processes. From order processing and inventory management to marketing campaigns and customer segmentation, automation enhances efficiency and reduces manual workload.

6. Reliability and Uptime

Shopify Plus is hosted on a secure and reliable infrastructure, providing high uptime for your eCommerce store. This reliability is essential for businesses that cannot afford downtime, ensuring a consistent and seamless shopping experience for customers. An eCommerce store on Shopify Plus boasts an impressive uptime of 99.99%.

7. Multi-Channel Selling

Shopify Plus enables businesses to sell across multiple channels. Whether through social media (supports 100+ social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok)), marketplaces (80+ marketplaces like Amazon and eBay), or in-person through point-of-sale (POS) systems, the platform provides a unified dashboard for managing inventory, orders, and customer data across various sales channels.

8. Dedicated Support

Shopify Plus provides 24/7 priority support and a dedicated account manager, ensuring businesses have timely assistance for troubleshooting and strategic guidance. The real-time support is especially valuable for enterprises where the stakes are high, and reliability is paramount.

Shopify Plus Website Development Process

Developing a website on Shopify Plus involves a strategic process to ensure a seamless and effective outcome. Here is an overview of the Shopify Plus website development process:

1. Analysis and Planning

The first step starts with conducting thorough market research to identify competitors, target audience, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This analysis will help form strategic decisions in terms of design, functionality, and user experience, essential for the eCommerce store’s success.

2. Design

Now, it is time to translate the plan into interactive mockups and wireframes. At this stage, designers create compelling UI/UX designs for various screen sizes, covering typographical hierarchy, interactive elements, button states, spacing, and more.

3. Development

Once the website design is ready, it is time to bring your project plan to life. At this stage, the skilled developers incorporate desired features, such as product pages, shopping cart functionality, secure checkout, and custom functionalities specific to the business’s unique branding and functional requirements.

4. Testing

Before you finally bring your product to the market, you must conduct rigorous testing to identify and resolve any bugs, errors, or issues. This includes testing across different browsers and devices to ensure a consistent user experience. Assess the website’s performance, including load times and responsiveness, to ensure optimal speed and functionality.

5. Deployment

Now, it is show time. Once you are sure your Shopify Store is all set to succeed, you can deploy it to the live environment, making it accessible to the public.

Why Partner with Your App Developer to Build an eCommerce Website on Shopify Plus?

Building an eCommerce website on Shopify Plus is not just a strategic investment; it is a fruitful partnership for sustained success. From its scalable infrastructure and advanced customization to dedicated support, the platform provides a robust foundation for enterprise-level growth.

While the Shopify Plus website development cost encompasses several components, including development efforts, licensing, and operational expenses, its benefits far outweigh these initial considerations.

Your App Developer, as your trusted tech partner, further elevates these benefits with its award-winning eCommerce app development services. Known for our innovative solutions, unparalleled development expertise, and extensive portfolio, we ensure a seamless development of your eCommerce store on Shopify Plus.

We have been a leading provider of eCommerce solutions ranging from PWAs, apps, and web portals, delivering immersive user experiences to businesses in different niches. Adidas, 6th Street, Edamama, and IKEA are some of our esteemed clients, demonstrating our expertise in eCommerce platform development through their digital stores.

Interested in building similar solutions like these reputed brands and taking your eCommerce business to greater heights? Let’s connect! Together, we can win in today’s competitive scenario.