Nautilus Marketing's blog : Understanding Shopify Costs in the UK: A Comprehensive Breakdown

Nautilus Marketing's blog

Shopify has established itself as a leading e-commerce platform, empowering countless entrepreneurs and businesses to build and scale their online stores. As the platform continues to evolve, understanding the cost structure of Shopify in the UK becomes crucial for anyone considering it for their e-commerce needs. This article provides a detailed breakdown of Shopify costs in the UK for 2024, helping you make an informed decision about your investment in this powerful platform.

Shopify offers several pricing tiers, each catering to different business needs and budgets. As of 2024, the main plans are:

  • Basic Shopify (£24/month): Ideal for new businesses or those with limited product ranges, this plan includes all the essentials to get started, such as an online store, unlimited products, and 24/7 support. However, it does not include advanced reporting and other higher-tier features.

  • Shopify (£69/month): This plan is designed for growing businesses that need more advanced features. It includes everything in the Basic plan, plus professional reports, gift cards, and better shipping discounts. It's suitable for businesses that are starting to scale and require additional functionality.

  • Advanced Shopify (£259/month): Aimed at larger businesses with complex needs, this plan offers advanced reporting, third-party calculated shipping rates, and the ability to set up multiple locations. It’s ideal for businesses that require more customization and extensive reporting.

  • Shopify Plus (Custom Pricing): For enterprise-level businesses, Shopify Plus provides a highly customizable and scalable solution with dedicated support. Pricing for Shopify Plus is customized based on the needs and size of the business.

While the monthly subscription fees cover a lot, there are additional costs that you should consider when budgeting for Shopify:

  • Transaction Fees: Shopify charges transaction fees if you use a payment gateway other than Shopify Payments. These fees range from 0.5% to 2% depending on your plan. Shopify Payments, which is Shopify’s own payment gateway, eliminates these fees but does have its own processing fees.

  • Credit Card Fees: If you use Shopify Payments, you will be charged credit card fees on each transaction. For the Basic plan, this is 1.9% + £0.20 per transaction; for the Shopify plan, it’s 1.6% + £0.20; and for the Advanced plan, it’s 1.5% + £0.20. These rates can vary based on your business location and payment method.

  • Apps and Add-Ons: Shopify’s App Store offers a wide range of apps that can enhance your store’s functionality, such as email marketing tools, inventory management systems, and customer service solutions. While some apps are free, many come with their own monthly fees or one-time costs. The cost of apps can vary significantly based on their complexity and features.

  • Themes: Shopify provides a range of free themes, but premium themes can cost between £100 and £300. These themes offer advanced customization options and unique designs that can help set your store apart.