What does an online store really cost to build in Canada?

ByStandpoint
THE SHORT ANSWER

Most small Canadian stores cost between a few hundred and a few tens of thousands of dollars to build. Building it yourself usually costs a few hundred to about two thousand dollars in cash, plus your time. A freelancer typically charges $2,000 to $10,000, and an agency $8,000 to $40,000. On top of the build come monthly running costs, and the marketing system behind the store, which is scoped and priced separately.

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What does an online store cost to build in Canada?

The platform is rarely what makes a store expensive. Five things decide where your build lands.

  1. 1Who builds it. Yourself, a freelancer or an agency: the widest spread in price.
  2. 2How much is custom. A theme adjusted to your brand costs a fraction of a design made from scratch.
  3. 3Products and content. Entering products, photos and descriptions is often the largest hidden job.
  4. 4Integrations. Each connection to inventory, accounting or a marketplace adds setup and testing.
  5. 5What comes after launch. Monthly running costs, and the marketing system that brings visitors back.

All amounts are rounded market ranges in Canadian dollars, not quotes. Platform prices and fees change; check current details with each provider.

FREE PDF · 13 PAGES

What’s inside the full guide

Every part of a store build, what drives the price, and a worksheet to estimate your own.

  1. 01The twelve jobs a store build is made of
  2. 02Building it yourself: cost, time and a middle path
  3. 03Freelancer or agency, side by side
  4. 04Running costs after launch
  5. 05The marketing system behind the store
  6. 06Eight things a Canadian store must get right
  7. 07Nine things that push the price up
  8. 08Six red flags in a quote
  9. 09A checklist to compare quotes
  10. 10A worksheet to estimate your own build
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Common questions

How much does a Shopify store cost in Canada?

The platform plan is only part of it. The build depends mostly on who does it: a few hundred dollars in cash if you build it yourself, low thousands with a freelancer, and more with an agency. Then add the monthly plan, apps and card fees.

What does an online store cost to run each month?

A lean store typically runs about $150 to $600 a month before advertising: platform plan, apps and tools. Card payment fees add roughly 2.5% to 3% of each sale.

Is the marketing system included in a store build?

Usually not. Email capture, automated emails and tracking are a separate piece of work, typically $1,500 to $8,000 to set up, plus tools that start free and grow with your number of contacts.

Should I build my online store myself?

It can make sense with a small catalogue and a tight budget. Put a value on your own hours: 100 hours of setup is often worth more than a freelancer’s fee.

Building stores, and the marketing systems behind them, is what we do in e-commerce development and marketing automation.

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