Shopify development costs $800–$15,000+ depending on scope. A basic store using a pre-built theme starts around $800. A custom-built professional store runs $1,500–$3,000. Shopify Plus or enterprise builds with custom integrations start at $3,000 and scale significantly from there. Here's exactly what you get at each price point.
Shopify Development Cost by Project Type
| Project Type | Cost Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Basic store (pre-built theme) | $800 – $1,200 | 5–7 days |
| Professional custom build | $1,500 – $2,500 | 10–14 days |
| Figma to Shopify conversion | $1,500 – $3,000 | 10–14 days |
| Store redesign | $1,200 – $2,500 | 10–14 days |
| Shopify Plus build | $3,000 – $8,000+ | 3–6 weeks |
| CRO audit + implementation | $800 – $2,000 | 1–2 weeks |
| Speed optimization | $400 – $900 | 3–5 days |
| Monthly retainer | $800 – $3,000/mo | Ongoing |
What Drives the Cost Up
Custom Design vs Pre-Built Theme
The biggest cost lever in Shopify development is whether you're using a pre-built theme or building custom from scratch. A pre-built theme (Dawn, Debut, Prestige) already has all the layout and logic built — you're customising it. A fully custom build means every section, every layout, every animation is coded from zero. Custom builds take longer and cost more, but there's no ceiling on what they can look like or do.
Number of Custom Sections
Each custom Liquid section — a testimonial carousel, a product feature grid, a video hero — adds time and cost. A basic store might have 8–10 sections. A complex editorial brand store might have 25+. Every custom component needs to be built, styled, made responsive, and integrated with the theme editor.
Third-Party App Integrations
Connecting Shopify to Klaviyo, Recharge (subscriptions), Judge.me, Gorgias, or a custom ERP adds scope. Most app integrations are straightforward, but custom API work — syncing inventory with a warehouse management system, for example — can add significant cost.
Shopify Plus Features
Building on Shopify Plus adds scope because you're working with additional capabilities: custom checkout scripting, B2B portal development, Shopify Flow configuration, Launchpad setup. Each of these takes time to build and test correctly.
Freelancer vs Agency: What You Actually Get
| Cheap Freelancer ($300–$800) | Mid-tier Freelancer ($800–$2k) | Agency / Expert ($1,500–$5k+) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | Slow, often missed deadlines | Variable | Fixed, reliable delivery |
| Quality | Template-based, limited | Decent for simple builds | Custom, conversion-focused |
| SEO setup | Usually ignored | Basic at best | Full technical SEO built in |
| Post-launch support | Rarely included | Sometimes | Standard 30 days included |
| Communication | Inconsistent | Variable | Direct, senior-level |
The real cost of cheap development: A $400 build that needs to be rebuilt in 6 months costs $400 + $1,500 + the revenue lost while your store underperformed. Hiring well the first time is almost always cheaper than fixing a bad build.
What's Included at MerchantUp's Price Points
Our Shopify development starts from $800 for a Starter build, $1,500 for Professional, and $3,000+ for Enterprise. Every project — regardless of tier — includes:
- Mobile-first, fully responsive design
- 90+ PageSpeed score target
- SEO foundation (title tags, meta, schema, canonical setup)
- 30-day post-launch support at no extra cost
- Fixed price — no surprise invoices
See the full breakdown on our pricing page.
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