A Shopify store has two kinds of cost: the monthly platform fee and the one-off cost of setting the store up. At the time of writing (October 2026), Shopify’s Australian pricing page lists the Basic plan at A$56 a month, or A$42 a month on annual billing. A professionally built template-based store typically costs about $2,000 to $8,000 to set up, according to Australian cost guides, while custom themes run $10,000 to $30,000 and migrations from another platform $3,000 to $15,000.
This guide separates the fixed and variable costs so you can build a realistic first-year budget. Market ranges are indicative figures from third-party sources, not a NumLogic quote, and Shopify’s own prices can change, so check shopify.com/au/pricing before you commit.
Shopify store costs at a glance
| Cost | Indicative amount (AUD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify Basic plan | $56/month, or $42/month billed annually | Shopify’s pricing page, October 2026 |
| Shopify Grow plan | $149/month, or $114/month billed annually | Shopify’s pricing page, October 2026 |
| Shopify Advanced plan | $575/month, or $431/month billed annually | Shopify’s pricing page, October 2026 |
| Shopify Plus | From $3,700/month | For large, high-volume stores |
| Professional store setup (template-based) | $2,000 to $8,000 | Whatsthedamage; ProjectCostEstimator |
| Custom theme build | $10,000 to $30,000 | Whatsthedamage; ProjectCostEstimator |
| Migration from another platform | $3,000 to $15,000 | Whatsthedamage; ProjectCostEstimator |
Plan prices are from Shopify’s Australian pricing page, viewed in October 2026. Setup ranges are from Whatsthedamage and ProjectCostEstimator. Check whether prices are shown ex-GST before comparing.
The monthly cost: Shopify plans
Most small stores start on Basic or Grow. Higher plans lower your card processing rates and unlock extra reporting and staff accounts. Per Shopify’s Australian pricing at the time of writing, online card rates with Shopify Payments are 1.7% + 30c on Basic, 1.55% + 30c on Grow and 1.35% + 30c on Advanced. Using a third-party payment provider adds a transaction fee of 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow and 0.6% on Advanced.
The practical point: if you sell a lot, the plan fee is not your biggest cost. Payment processing is. Run your expected monthly sales through each plan’s rates before choosing.
The one-off cost: setting the store up
DIY
Shopify is built for self-setup, and many small businesses launch with a free or low-cost theme. The cash cost is low, but expect to spend significant time on product data, shipping rules, policies and tax settings.
Freelancer or agency
For a professional build, you are paying for design, theme setup, collection structure, payments and shipping configuration, legal pages and testing. At NumLogic, our Shopify store development has a launch package at From A$1,990 and a growth package at From A$4,990. See the pricing page for what is included. The hands-on work is done by our vetted team in Pakistan, which is part of how we keep these prices at the lower-middle of the Australian market.
Moving from another platform
Migration cost depends on the number of products, customers, orders and URLs to redirect. If you are leaving WooCommerce, Wix or Squarespace, see our Shopify migration service, and our comparison of Shopify vs WooCommerce if you are still deciding.
Costs people forget
- Apps: reviews, email marketing, subscriptions, search and shipping apps often charge monthly. Ten small subscriptions can easily exceed your plan fee.
- Premium theme: a one-off licence fee, if you do not use a free theme.
- Domain: renewed every year, whichever platform you use.
- Product photography and copy: often the largest hidden cost.
- Transaction fees: payment gateway costs on every sale.
- Shipping and returns: not a Shopify cost, but vital to your margins.
- Marketing: a store does not bring its own traffic. See e-commerce SEO and SEO costs in Australia.
- Ongoing care: theme updates, app conflicts and speed checks. Our website maintenance plans include store care, and our guide to maintenance costs sets out the market ranges.
- GST: if your turnover reaches the GST threshold you must register. Shopify can handle GST in your settings, but check with your accountant.
A sample first-year budget
Here is how the pieces add up for a small store with a template-based build on Shopify Basic with annual billing. The calculation uses published prices at the time of writing and the lower and upper ends of the market setup range, with a placeholder for apps.
| Item | Low end | High end |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify Basic, 12 months on annual billing (A$42 x 12) | $504 | $504 |
| Professional setup (market range) | $2,000 | $8,000 |
| Apps (your choice, say $20 to $100 a month) | $240 | $1,200 |
| Domain and sundry | Varies | Varies |
| Approximate first-year total before photography, stock and marketing | $2,744 | $9,704 |
The apps line is an assumption for illustration, not a market statistic. Your own list will differ.
Shopify plan or custom build: which budget fits?
Most small stores do not need a custom theme. A well-built template, with sensible collections, clear product pages and fast images, covers the large majority of needs. Custom themes make sense when your brand relies on a distinctive experience, or when you have unusual product configuration. Treat the $10,000 to $30,000 range as something to earn through proven sales, not a day-one requirement.
A staged approach lowers risk. Launch with a clean template build, learn from real customers for three to six months, then invest in the parts that clearly hold sales back, such as product page layout, checkout speed or search. This is cheaper than designing everything up front on assumptions.
Finally, remember that selling online has costs beyond the store: stock, packaging, customer service and returns. A store that costs $5,000 to build but has no marketing plan will not sell by itself. Budget for traffic from day one, whether that is SEO, email, social or paid ads.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Is the price fixed, and does it include theme setup, payments, shipping, tax and legal pages?
- Who adds the products, and is that in scope?
- Which apps will you install, and what do they cost monthly?
- Do I own the Shopify account and the theme?
- What happens after launch: training, bug fixes, support?
- Will you redirect old URLs if I am migrating, to protect my SEO?
- Is the quote ex-GST or inc-GST?
- Who does the work and who is my contact?
How to get an accurate quote
List the number of products and variants, any existing platform, the shipping zones you sell to, payment methods, and integrations such as accounting or inventory. Include an example store you like. That allows a provider to quote scope rather than guess. For a clear view of what we offer, see how we work.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Shopify cost per month in Australia?
At the time of writing (October 2026), Shopify’s Australian pricing lists Basic at A$56 a month on monthly billing or A$42 on annual billing, Grow at A$149 or A$114, and Advanced at A$575 or A$431. Plus starts from A$3,700. Check shopify.com/au/pricing for current figures.
How much does it cost to set up a Shopify store?
Cost guides suggest about $2,000 to $8,000 for a professional template-based store, $10,000 to $30,000 for a custom theme, and $3,000 to $15,000 for a migration.
Can I build a Shopify store myself?
Yes. Many do. The trade-off is time and design polish. A professional build tends to pay off when the store is a core revenue channel.
Does Shopify charge a fee on every sale?
Yes, in the form of payment processing fees, and an extra transaction fee if you use an external payment provider instead of Shopify Payments.
Do I pay GST on Shopify fees?
This depends on your registration and how Shopify bills you. Check your invoices and ask your accountant.
Is Shopify cheaper than WooCommerce?
It depends on volume, hosting and apps. Our Shopify vs WooCommerce comparison covers it.
Want a fixed-price Shopify quote with the scope in writing? Tell us about your products and we will come back within 1 business day.