How Much Does an Online Store Cost? The Honest Guide
The answer is rarely as simple as the price of a subscription. There are a wide range of expenses that many new online store owners overlook—from payment processing fees and design customization to ongoing operations and marketing.
Platform Costs—The Monthly Subscription
| Platform | Monthly Price (excl. tax) | Transaction fee | Hosting incl. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoporama PRO | 1,400 DKK | 0% | Yes |
| Shoporama FLEX | 0 kr. | 5% | Yes |
| Shopify Basic | approx. 270 DKK (39 USD) | 2% (for external payments) | Yes |
| WooCommerce | 0 DKK (plugin free) | 0 | No (typically 100–500 kr/month) |
| DanDomain | Starting at approx. 499 DKK | Varies | Yes |
A low monthly price can be misleading. Shopify’s add-on apps can quickly add up to an extra 500–2,000 DKK per month. WooCommerce is “free,” but hosting, plugins, and maintenance cost time and money. See Shoporama’s prices.
Payment Solutions and Fees
- Stripe — 1.5% + 1.80 kr per European card
- QuickPay — starting at 0 kr/month + transaction fee starting at 0.25 kr
- ePay/Bambora — starting at approx. 149 DKK/month
- MobilePay Online — typically 1 DKK per transaction
- Klarna and ViaBill — typically 2–3.5% of the order value
Realistic estimate: Expect total payment fees of 1.5–2.5% of your revenue. At 100,000 kr/month, that’s 1,500–2,500 kr. Keep in mind that Shoporama PRO charges 0% in platform fees on top of that— unlike Shopify.
Design and themes
Free themes: Most platforms offer free themes. Price: 0 DKK.
Premium themes: Typically 500–2,500 DKK as a one-time purchase.
Custom design: 10,000–150,000 DKK, depending on complexity. For most new online stores, a free theme is more than enough.
Operation and Maintenance
- Domain: 30–80 kr/year
- SSL: Included with Shoporama and Shopify. WooCommerce: Free via Let’s Encrypt or 200–800 DKK/year
- Newsletters: Shoporama: 1 DKK per 100 emails. External providers: 500–2,000 DKK/month for growing mailing lists
- Accounting: e-conomic, Dinero, Billy — typically 100–400 DKK/month
- Shipping: Typically 30–55 DKK per package for domestic shipping
- Add-ons: Shoporama: server-side tracking 89 DKK/month, newsletter 1 DKK per 100 emails. Shopify: apps typically 1,000–3,000 DKK/month
Marketing budget
Marketing is the largest and most underestimated cost.
- Google Ads: At least 2,000–5,000 DKK/month to get started
- SEO: Professional help 3,000–10,000 DKK/month
- Social media: 1,500–3,000 DKK/month for advertising budget
- Product photos: 50–300 DKK per product
Rule of thumb: Allocate 15–25% of expected revenue to marketing in the first year.
The Big Picture — A Realistic Annual Budget
Scenario A: Low-Budget Startup
| Item | Annual cost |
|---|---|
| Platform (Shoporama FLEX) | 0 DKK + 5% of revenue |
| Domain | 50 DKK |
| Payment gateway | approx. 1.5% of revenue |
| Marketing | 24,000 DKK (2,000 DKK/month) |
| Total (excl. revenue fees) | approx. 25,000 DKK |
Scenario B: Professional online store
| Post | Annual price |
|---|---|
| Platform (Shoporama PRO) | 16,800 DKK |
| Payment gateway | Approx. 2% of revenue |
| Marketing | 60,000–120,000 DKK |
| Accounting | 3,600 DKK |
| Product photos | 10,000–15,000 DKK |
| Total (excl. transaction fees) | approx. 95,000–160,000 DKK |
For 1,000,000 kr in revenue, approximately 20,000 kr in payment processing fees apply, but there is a 0% platform fee with Shoporama PRO. See the Shopify comparison and the WooCommerce comparison.
Conclusion
Marketing is the biggest expense —not the platform. Whether you pay 0 or 1,400 kr/month, marketing is what determines whether your online store will be successful.
Watch out for hidden fees. Transaction fees and add-on apps can double your monthly expenses. Choose a platform that’s transparent about its pricing.
Think long-term. As your revenue grows, platforms with fixed prices and 0% transaction fees offer the best value. Read more about affordable online store solutions.
See also free online stores, online stores for startups, or Shopify alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to start an online store?
You can start for less than 100 DKK/month with Shoporama FLEX (0 DKK + 5% of sales) plus a domain (approx. 70 DKK/year). The biggest expense is typically marketing, not the platform.
What are the hidden costs of an online store?
Transaction fees (up to 2% on some platforms), paid apps/plugins, hosting (WooCommerce), and marketing. Shoporama PRO has none of the first three.
How much should I spend on marketing?
As a rule of thumb: 15–25% of expected revenue in the first year. Start with 2,000–5,000 DKK/month on Google Ads and adjust based on results.
Get started with a realistic budget. Check out Shoporama’s pricing and start your free trial today.