Shopify Ecommerce Agency

How Much Does It Cost To Start A Shopify Ecommerce Agency? (In 2024)

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 6th, 2024

Looking to start a shopify ecommerce agency?

But curious about:

how much it costs to start a shopify ecommerce agency?
what are the typical shopify ecommerce agency startup costs?
or the actual cost of starting shopify ecommerce agencies?

Well, we have the data to prove it, supported by real shopify ecommerce agencies and how much they actually cost to start.

Let's go over it.

What is the average cost of starting a shopify ecommerce agency?

Based on our data reported by actual shopify ecommerce agency founders, the average cost of starting a shopify ecommerce agency is between $6 and $100,000.

Additionally, our data shows that the the median startup costs for a shopify ecommerce agency are around $10K.

Remember, though, not all shopify ecommerce agencies are the same - and neither are people's budgets. It's important to distinguish between different levels or types of shopify ecommerce agencies

Real World Examples: How much does it cost to start a shopify ecommerce agency?

We asked real shopify ecommerce agency founders and business owners how much it actually cost to get started?

Here is what they said:

Oliver Green

Founder of Create Circus ($24K/month)

"With everything, it took less than $2,500USD to officially launch Create Circus."

Oliver is the founder of Create Circus, a Shopify development agency that started during the pandemic and now turns over around $24,000 a month.

Read this case study

Read by 2,889 founders

Leighton Taylor

Founder of Envision ($30K/month)

"I built this website in WordPress, probably spending 2-3 days setting it up."

Leighton Taylor is the founder of Envision.io, an eCommerce marketing agency that helps businesses sell more on Shopify. The business started in 2012 and currently generates approximately $30k per month.

Read this case study

Read by 7,682 founders

Eldar Galiev

Founder of Growave ($110K/month)

"One of the lessons that we learned from the Growave launch is that we took over six months to launch the product, costing everything. Thanks to profits from ThinkLab, we managed to pull it through. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be possible to release Growave to the market."

Eldar is the founder of Growave, an all-in-one marketing tool for Shopify brands.

Read this case study

Read by 7,287 founders

Narek Vardanyan

Founder of The Crowdfunding Formula ($300K/month)

"We optimized everything for learning during the first 3 years, until we started to understand how things worked in crowdfunding and started to generate revenue that covered our costs."

Narek Vardanyan is the founder of The Crowdfunding Formula, a crowdfunding marketing agency that raises millions of dollars for creators and maintains an average raise per launch of over $1.2M.

Read this case study

Read by 4,055 founders

Moshe Lugasi

Founder of Importify ($75K/month)

"At this time, I had already invested 10k in the main code alone, and to go ahead with my plan, I would need another 10k."

Moshe Lugasi is the founder of Importify, a dropshipping automation app that integrates with platforms like Shopify, Wix, and WooCommerce.

Read this case study

Read by 5,494 founders

Vishal Goswami

Founder of Friction Studio ($20K/month)

"This venture of Friction Studio has been a roller coaster ride. It reminds me how back in the days, I had started this agency with just $100."

Vishal Goswami is the founder of Friction Studio, a Shopify Agency that makes $10k/month on average.

Read this case study

Read by 5,267 founders

Enjoyed reading these real world examples?

Our platform is full of case studies of successful shopify ecommerce agencies that you can learn from.

Starting a Shopify ecommerce agency - what you should know:

Launching a Shopify ecommerce agency involves various cost considerations that can significantly impact your budget.

Initial Setup Costs

Setting up a Shopify ecommerce agency generally requires an initial investment in terms of software, licenses, and basic infrastructure. Shopify offers various subscription plans, with the Basic Shopify plan costing $29 per month, and the Advanced Shopify plan costing $299 per month. You may also need to invest in a domain name, which typically ranges from $10 to $50 annually. Additionally, purchasing a professional theme from the Shopify Theme Store can cost anywhere from $140 to $350.

Staffing and Expertise

Hiring skilled professionals will likely constitute one of your major expenses. The cost of hiring a full-time Shopify developer can range from $50,000 to $90,000 annually, depending on their experience and location. If you choose to hire freelance developers, rates can vary from $30 to $150 per hour. Moreover, you may also need to hire experts in marketing, customer support, and project management, each averaging $40,000 to $70,000 a year.

Marketing and Client Acquisition

Marketing efforts to attract clients will require a dedicated budget. Online advertising campaigns through Google Ads or Facebook Ads can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 per month, depending on your target audience and competition. Investing in content marketing, SEO, and email marketing tools can add an extra $500 to $1,500 per month to your expenses.

Operational Costs

Ongoing operational costs include maintaining software licenses, paying for coworking space or office rent, and covering utilities and office supplies. Co-working spaces may charge anywhere from $300 to $800 per month per person, while maintaining essential software subscriptions like project management tools and CRM systems can add an additional $100 to $300 per month.

By understanding these cost factors and planning accordingly, you can better manage your budget and set realistic financial goals for your Shopify ecommerce agency.

Potential Costs of Starting a Shopify Ecommerce Agency

Starting a Shopify ecommerce agency involves a myriad of costs, from tools and software to labor and marketing investments. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the potential expenses you might encounter:

Expense Category	Item/Service	Cost Estimate	Notes
Software	Shopify Partner Program	Free	Required to create and manage client stores
	Shopify Subscription (Per Store)	$29 - $299/month	Clients usually pay, but for demo/staff stores you may need this
	Shopify Theme	$0 - $180 (one-time)	There are free and premium themes available
	Shopify Apps	$0 - $200/month per app	Depend on client needs (e.g., SEO, marketing apps)
	Project Management Software	$10 - $99/month per user	Examples: Asana, Trello, Basecamp
	Design Software	$20 - $50/month per user	Examples: Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma
	Development Tools	$0 - $30/month	Examples: GitHub (free/basic tiers available)
	Email Marketing Platforms	$15 - $300/month	Examples: Mailchimp, Klaviyo