How much should I budget for a website for my store? Honest 2026 numbers
The honest answer ranges from ₹0 to several lakhs ($0 to $10,000+), depending on how you build it. Most small stores massively overspend. Here's a realistic budget for each route — free builders, paid plans, freelancers and agencies — and exactly when each one is worth it.
For most small stores, budget ₹0 to ₹6,000 a year ($0–$180). You can build and publish a real online store for free on SitesPlaced — unlimited products, UPI, COD and WhatsApp checkout, 0% commission. Want your own domain and card payments? That's ₹499/month ($14.99). You only need a freelancer or agency budget (₹5k–₹5L+) when your store genuinely needs custom features.
TL;DR
- • Bare minimum: ₹0 — a free no-code builder gets a real store live today.
- • Recommended for most sellers: ₹499/mo ($14.99) for your own domain, online payments and AI — and a person who sets it up.
- • Freelancer route: ₹5,000–₹50,000+ ($50–$1,000+) one-time; quality and support vary widely.
- • Agency / custom build: ₹30,000–₹5,00,000+ ($1k–$10k+) — only worth it for complex, bespoke web apps.
- • The trap: domains, transaction fees, paid apps and maintenance are where budgets quietly balloon.
What a store website actually costs in 2026
| Route | Price | Domain | Sale fees | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free no-code builder | ₹0 to start & publish | Free subdomain | 0% (SitesPlaced) | Fastest way to go live; small badge on free tier |
| Paid no-code store | ₹499–₹2,500/mo ($15–$30) | Custom domain incl. or ~₹900/yr | 0%–2% | Own domain, payments, AI, done-for-you setup |
| Freelancer (Fiverr etc.) | ₹5k–₹50k+ one-time ($50–$1,000+) | You buy (~₹900/yr) | Gateway only | Quality + ongoing support varies a lot |
| Agency / custom build | ₹30k–₹5L+ ($1k–$10k+) | Included in project | Gateway only | Best for complex, bespoke web apps |
| WordPress (DIY) | Software free + ₹3k–₹15k/yr hosting | ~₹900/yr | Plugin/gateway-dependent | Theme + plugins often paid; you maintain it |
| Shopify | From ~$29/mo (₹2,400+) | Paid add-on | Up to ~2% if not Shopify Payments | Apps often add monthly cost |
All figures are approximate, entry-tier and region/2026-dependent — always confirm current rates. Freelancer and agency ranges depend heavily on scope and location. SitesPlaced figures are the published rate.
Build your budget from the line items
A store website is really five costs bundled together. Knowing them stops you from over- or under-paying:
- 1. The platform. Free on a no-code builder, ₹499–₹2,500/mo for a paid store plan, or a one-time build fee if you hire someone.
- 2. The domain. Roughly ₹900–₹1,500/year ($10–$18) for a .com/.in — included on SitesPlaced's paid plan.
- 3. Hosting. Bundled with hosted builders; ₹3,000–₹15,000/year if you self-host WordPress.
- 4. Sale fees. A 1–2% cut on every order. On ₹5 lakh of yearly sales, 2% is ₹10,000 gone. SitesPlaced takes 0%.
- 5. Extras & maintenance. Invoices, shipping, abandoned-cart emails, plugin updates, bug fixes. Bundled on a good builder; billable hours with a developer.
When paying a human is genuinely worth it
We won't pretend hiring is never right. Budget for a freelancer or agency when:
- • You need custom functionality — a booking engine, subscriptions, a marketplace, ERP/CRM integrations.
- • You want a bespoke design built to a brand spec that no template can match.
- • You have the budget for ongoing maintenance and a long roadmap, not a one-off site.
For a standard product catalogue, checkout and payments, though, paying ₹30,000+ for what a no-code builder does for free is simply overspending. If you're weighing it up, see build vs hire a developer and what it costs to hire a developer.
The smart budget for most sellers: ₹0, then ₹499
Start at zero. Build your store on SitesPlaced for free — list every product, take orders via UPI, COD and WhatsApp, send PDF invoices, run coupons — all at 0% commission, no code. Validate that people actually buy. Then, when you're ready to look fully professional, upgrade to the Ecommerce plan at ₹499/month ($14.99) for your own custom domain, the badge removed, online card/UPI payments via Razorpay, AI product descriptions, order tracking, abandoned-cart follow-ups, Shiprocket shipping — and a dedicated person who sets the whole thing up for you. That replaces the freelancer and the agency for the vast majority of stores. Students publish free, and it's always 0% commission.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget for a website for my store?
For most small stores in 2026, budget ₹0–₹6,000 a year ($0–$180) and you can have a real online store. A free no-code builder like SitesPlaced lets you build AND publish a store for ₹0 with UPI, COD and WhatsApp checkout at 0% commission. If you want your own domain and online card payments, the Ecommerce plan is ₹499/month ($14.99). Hiring a freelancer typically costs ₹5,000–₹50,000+ one-time, and an agency custom build runs ₹30,000–₹5,00,000+ ($1,000–$10,000+). Spend more only when your store genuinely needs custom features.
Can I build a store website for free?
Yes. SitesPlaced lets you build and publish one online store for free on a yourname.sitesplaced.com address — unlimited products, unlimited orders, COD + UPI + WhatsApp checkout, inventory, coupons and PDF invoices, all at 0% commission with no coding. The free tier shows a small SitesPlaced badge and has 500 MB storage and no AI; everything you need to start selling is included.
What are the hidden costs of a store website?
Watch for four: the domain (often charged separately after year one), transaction/commission fees on every sale (1–2% adds up fast), paid apps or plugins for invoices, shipping and pop-ups, and ongoing maintenance if a developer built it. SitesPlaced bundles the domain, payments and core features and charges 0% commission, so the published price is what you pay.
Is it cheaper to use a builder or hire someone?
For a standard product catalogue and checkout, a no-code builder is far cheaper — you can be live for ₹0–₹499/month versus ₹5,000–₹50,000+ for a freelancer or ₹30,000+ for an agency. Hiring makes sense when you need genuinely custom functionality, integrations, or a bespoke web app. On SitesPlaced you get a no-code build AND a dedicated person who sets it up for you on the Ecommerce plan, so you avoid both costs.
Do I need to pay for hosting and a domain separately?
Not with a hosted builder. Hosting and a custom domain are included in the SitesPlaced Ecommerce plan (₹499/month). With self-hosted WordPress you pay for hosting (~₹3,000–₹15,000/year) and a domain (~₹900/year) on top of any paid theme or plugins. Budget for both if you go the self-hosted route.
Start at ₹0, scale when you're ready
Build and publish a real store for free. Upgrade to your own domain and online payments for ₹499/month — with a person who sets it up. 0% commission, always.