What does a custom online store cost? Comparing quotes

Why isn’t there one price for every store?

A store selling twenty straightforward products is different from a catalogue with sizes, colours, business customers and customer-specific prices. Both have a basket and a checkout, but the work behind those screens is not the same. A number without a description of what it covers therefore does very little to help you choose a provider.

At Minds on Web, we quote after a free initial conversation. We first discuss what you sell, who buys it and how you process orders. We then set out the features we will build and the cost. Launch, Business and Growth are packages for business websites, not online stores with product catalogues and payments. Keeping them separate prevents you from planning around a price that does not match your project.

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Your catalogue is more than a product count

The number of products is a starting point, not a complete measure of complexity. A single shirt might come in ten sizes, several colours and different images. A made-to-order item may need personalisation or a specific delivery estimate. A useful quote considers variants, filters, stock rules and the information required on each product page, not just how many items are listed.

If you already have a shop or a spreadsheet, bring it to the initial discussion. Clean data can make an import easier. Missing photos, duplicate item codes and inconsistent categories need preparation first. Agree who will correct the information and check it afterwards. Product entry should not be assumed to be unlimited simply because a provider is building your store. That responsibility needs a clear place in the scope.

What should the quote actually describe?

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Payments and shipping are more than buttons

A payment provider processes the transaction, but the shop must distinguish a successful payment from a rejected or abandoned one. Customers should not place an order twice because a confirmation is delayed. Refunds and missing confirmation emails deserve attention too. Ask about the scenarios that will be tested rather than accepting a list of payment logos as proof that everything is covered.

Bancontact is relevant for Belgian customers. The cards and mobile payment options you can offer depend on your provider and merchant account. Shipping also requires decisions: fixed rates, free delivery above an order value, collection or different countries. Automatic labels and pickup-point selection involve integration work. These features should be named in the quote rather than left open to interpretation once you have approved it.

What costs continue after launch?

Building the store is a one-off project, but keeping it available and maintained has ongoing costs. Allow for the domain, hosting, maintenance and any subscriptions for shipping, email or accounting services. Your payment provider may charge per transaction or apply other fees. These are not development charges from the agency, but they still matter to the total amount you spend running the business.

Ask for a separate breakdown showing who bills each item. A shop with occasional orders may not need the same setup as a busy store with several integrations. Our website hosting plans are therefore not an automatic price promise for every store. Suitable hosting and maintenance are agreed in your quote. This also gives you a clearer idea of what might change when you add features or your operational needs grow.

Getting the copy ready without writing everything yourself

You do not need to arrive with a fully written website. We prepare as much of the website copy as possible using your information and the priorities that matter to you. You know your products, customers and processes. We still need accurate details such as materials, measurements, delivery arrangements and the story behind your business. Those facts make the text useful rather than generic.

For a large catalogue, we agree separately how many product descriptions and translations are needed. Writing a few main pages is not the same job as preparing hundreds of unique product descriptions. We go through the copy and website together before finalising them. Legal terms and certain product claims may need checking by a qualified adviser. Building the technical store does not replace that review or remove the seller’s responsibility for correct information.

Compare quotes using the same brief

Finally, think about the tasks you will do every day. Can you change a price, hide a sold-out product and find an order quickly? A good-looking storefront matters, but awkward management slows you down with every sale. Ask how a failed payment and a return will be handled too. Those situations belong in the project just as much as the first successful purchase, even if they are less exciting to discuss.

1. Give each provider the same product list and description of your order process.
2. Ask what is included and what will be quoted as an extension.
3. Separate build costs, subscriptions and transaction charges.
4. Check the access you receive and who manages the domain and service accounts.
5. Agree design feedback, test orders and post-launch support.

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