What is an eCommerce System?
An eCommerce system is a digital platform that enables businesses to sell products or services online. It provides an end-to-end shopping experience, including product browsing, ordering, payment processing, and shipping management.
For businesses looking to expand their reach and sell online, having a well-built eCommerce system ensures smooth transactions, secure payments, and a seamless customer experience. Whether you’re selling physical products, digital downloads, or subscription-based services, the cost of building an eCommerce system varies based on features, platform choice, and the level of customisation required.
But what exactly determines the cost of an eCommerce system, and how can businesses budget for it? Let’s break it down.
Factors That Impact eCommerce Website Costs
Building an eCommerce website isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. The cost depends on multiple factors, including the number of products, product variations, payment methods, shipping options, and platform choice.
1. The Number of Products and Product Variations
The size of your inventory plays a major role in determining costs. A store with 10 products is much easier and more affordable to set up than one with 1,000+ products.
Additionally, if your products come in multiple variations (e.g., size, color, material), this adds complexity to the store setup. Each variation requires proper inventory management, SKU tracking, and user-friendly selection options on product pages.
For small businesses selling a limited range of products, a simple store setup can be achieved with platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, or WooCommerce at a lower cost. However, large enterprises often require custom-built solutions with advanced features.
2. Payment Methods and Processing Fees
The type of payment gateways you choose affects both setup costs and ongoing transaction fees. Common payment methods include:
- Credit/Debit Cards – Processed through gateways like Stripe, Square, or Authorize.net
- PayPal – Popular for buyer protection and international transactions
- Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) – Services like Afterpay, Klarna, and ZipPay are growing in demand
- Cryptocurrency Payments – Some stores are now accepting Bitcoin and Ethereum
Each payment processor charges transaction fees, typically between 1.5% - 3% per transaction, which can impact overall profitability. Businesses should compare processing fees and choose payment solutions that align with their customer preferences and business model.
3. Shipping and Fulfilment Integration
eCommerce success depends not just on selling products but also on efficient order fulfilment and shipping logistics. The more shipping options and delivery methods a store offers, the higher the setup complexity and cost.
Shipping calculators integrate real-time rates from providers like:
- Australia Post (for domestic shipping)
- TNT & FedEx (for international shipping)
- DHL Express & UPS (for fast delivery services)
For high-volume sellers, third-party fulfilment solutions like ShipBob, Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA), and local 3PL providers can help automate shipping and reduce manual processing. These services, however, come with additional costs, including storage fees, per-order fulfilment charges, and shipping surcharges.
4. eCommerce Platform Choice
Choosing the right eCommerce platform is crucial, as different platforms offer varying levels of customisation, security, and scalability.
Popular eCommerce Platforms:
- Shopify – Great for small to medium businesses, with monthly fees starting at $39/month.
- BigCommerce – Scalable solution with advanced SEO tools, starting at $29/month.
- WooCommerce (for WordPress) – A flexible, open-source solution with lower upfront costs but requires more maintenance.
- Magento (Adobe Commerce) – Best for enterprise-level eCommerce with high customisation but higher development costs.
Platform fees vary, and businesses should compare long-term costs, transaction fees, and feature availability before making a decision.
How Much Does an eCommerce Website Cost?
The cost of building an eCommerce website depends on whether you choose a DIY platform, a template-based solution, or a fully custom-built store.
Estimated eCommerce Website Costs:
- Basic eCommerce Website (1-10 products) – $1,000 - $5,000
- Mid-Range eCommerce Website (50-500 products) – $5,000 - $15,000
- Advanced eCommerce Store (500+ products, custom features) – $15,000 - $50,000
- Enterprise-Level eCommerce (Custom development, API integrations) – $50,000+
For businesses just starting out, a basic store with one product can be set up for as little as $1,000, providing an optimised landing page with secure checkout, payment processing, and shipping selection.
Larger businesses requiring multi-vendor marketplaces, AI-driven recommendations, or custom API integrations will need custom development, which significantly increases costs.
Can I Sell Online With Just One Product?
Yes! Even if you only have one product, you can still launch an eCommerce store.
Starting from $1,000, we can create a single-product landing page with a seamless checkout experience. Customers will be able to:
- View the product with high-quality images and descriptions
- Choose their preferred shipping option
- Securely complete their purchase with trusted payment gateways
This is an ideal solution for entrepreneurs, startups, and businesses launching a flagship product. It provides a cost-effective way to test the market and generate online sales without investing in a full-scale eCommerce store.
Hidden Costs of Running an eCommerce Website
Beyond the initial setup, eCommerce websites come with ongoing operational costs that business owners should consider:
- Domain Name & Hosting – Annual costs range from $20 - $300, depending on hosting speed and security requirements.
- SSL Certificate – Essential for security, typically $50 - $300 per year (some platforms include this for free).
- Website Maintenance – Regular updates, bug fixes, and security patches may cost $100 - $500 per month.
- Marketing & SEO – Paid advertising (Google Ads, Facebook Ads) and SEO services may require an ongoing budget of $500 - $5,000 per month.
- Customer Support Tools – Live chat, AI-powered chatbots, and CRM systems often add $20 - $500 per month in expenses.
Businesses must budget for both initial development costs and long-term operational expenses to ensure profitability and scalability.
Get an Obligation-Free Quote for Your eCommerce Store
PixelForce has custom eCommerce solutions that fits businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re launching an online store with thousands of products or just one flagship product, we create tailored solutions that are:
- User-friendly – Optimised for seamless shopping experiences.
- Scalable – Built to grow with your business.
- Secure – Designed with strong encryption and fraud protection.
Ready to take your business online? Contact us for an obligation-free quote, and let’s build an eCommerce system that works for you.
Call us at (08) 7006 3226 | Visit pixelforce.com | Book your FREE consultation here